Tag Archives: Shizuoka Tourism

静岡美食, 観光, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Manholes, Photography, Shizuoka, Tourism, 浜松市

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 12: Hamamatsu City

December 13, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

The mint of an old sewer manhole cover!

Hamamatsu City is the largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture both in area (Number 1 in Japan, too) and population in Shizuoka Prefecture and counts a lot of varieties in manhole covers, not accounting for towns and cities recently merged in which will be for the next posting!

A mint for sewer manhole cover with a kite to advertise the Hamamatsu Kites Festival held every year during the first week of May!

The same without the colors!

An unusual sewer manhole cover with the drawing of a “kappa”!

Soles/groupers!

A rectangular manhole cover also with a sole!

Now, what could be that fish?

A very old one representing bamboo tree decorated with “Tanabata” Festival motive messages!

Swallows!

Rain water manhole cover!

The one above and the two below have already been introduced in another article but I added them to complete the Hmamatsu City report!

Seen in Hamamatsu City.

Seen in Hamamatsu City!

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Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Mount Fuji, Nature, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Shizuoka Prefecture, Mount Fuji and Green Tea on Stamps!

December 12, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Japanese Postal Office have just issued a series of stamps and one special sheet describing Mount Fuji and Green Tea Fields in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Advertisement in side Shizuoka City Main Post Office!

Such can be bought only at post offices inside Shizuoka Prefecture as this is a regional issue

The special block/sheet!

These stamps and special block/sheet are commemorating the recognition of Mount Fuji as a World Cultural heritage.
The 5 different stamps can be bought separately in sheets of 20 or in singles, pairs, etc. at 80 yen each, the basic letter postage sue, or in a special block of 5 different stamps for 400 yen.

The stamp block is sold inside a sealed special pack, making a nice souvenir or present!

There is a (Japanese) explanation of each stamp photograph in the margins of the sheet!

The green tea fields!

Hurry up as I don’t think they will last long what with the end of the year celebrations coming!

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 11: Kakegawa City

December 11, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

One of the Kakegawa Castle Mints!

Kakegawa City in central west Shizuoka Prefecture is a city has certainly grown big, at least in area, when many surrounding towns were merged into it.
It also boasts a castle, a copy made in late 20th Century.

The same as above on a pavement!

Another mint in different colors!

There were older designs as the three below prove:

“Autumn Leaves Street!”
Water Duct Manhole Cover.

The same as above but over a Fire Station Water tank!

A version of the Kakegawa Castle without the colors!

This particular manhole covers commemorates the fact that Hisaka In Kakegawa City was the 25th Station of the Old Tokaido Road as painted by Hiroshige!

The same on a pavement!

Another mint in different colors!

The same on a pavement without the colors!

A rain water manhole cover!

Probably a sewer manhole cover!

A beautiful mint for Kamiuchida District!

Manhole cover in Daito Cho which has since been merged into kakegawa City!

Electric cable access manhole cover in Ogasayama Sports Center!

Another electric cable access manhole cover in Ogasayama Sports Center!

the mint for a sewer manhole cover in Osuka Town which has been merged since with Kakegawa City!

Another mint for a manhole cover in Osuka Town which has been merged since with Kakegawa City!

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Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 5: Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City with Atsuko Kurata!

December 10, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Beautiful Kura in Hongo Cho!

“Kura” (in japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditonal Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

This posting features sights by My good friend, Mrs. Atsuko Kurata who found them in her native Shimizu Ku in Shizuoka City!
Incidentally Atsuko’s family name includes the word Kura/倉, the modern form of kura/蔵!

Another picture of the above kura in Hongo Cho which is big and seems inhabited or used!

Some kuras like the above may be seen only for far away them being completely isolated by surrounding buildings!

The roof tip of another one!

This particular one has definitely become an abode!

This one is located behind Seiyu Department Store!

A closer view of the same protected by a barbed-wired wall!

This one is old, tall and so solid!
It certainly deserves a few more photographs as seenn below:

The side wall actually shows traces of another building which has disappeared a long time ago!

The window shutter is kept open so it is definitely still used!

Caught in the sun it does not look as forbidding as the side wall!

Note the light which has been added!
It could be interesting to see what it looks like at night!

It is located in Yamazaki and apparently belongs to a building company!

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静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Mosaic, Pavement art, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Crafts, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tiles, Tourism

Pavement Tile Art in Miyuki Street, Shizuoka City!

December 9, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fantasy 1)

If you go along either side of Miyuki Street from the crossroads with Egawa Street to Route 1 in front of Shizuoka JR Station you should notice some interesting square mosaics of comparatively small size on the pavement.
They are all different in design, colors and size of pieces as the mosaics are made of broken colored tiles!
Artistic recycling!
I have sorted them into 4 groups to make their viewing easier.
Naturally the classification can be completely different according to one’s tastes!

Fantasy 2)

Fantasy 3)

Fantasy 4)

Fantasy 5)

Fantasy 6)

Fantasy 7)

Fantasy 8)

Fantasy 9)

Fantasy 10)

Fantasy 11)

Fantasy 12)

Fantasy 13)

Fantasy 14)

Clock 1)

Clock 2)

Clock 3)

Clock 4)

Rising Sun 1)

Rising Sun 2)

Rising Sun 3)

Rising Sun 4)

Rising Sun 5)

Rising Sun 6)

Rising Sun 7)

Soccer Ball 1)

Soccer Ball 2)

Soccer Ball 3)

Soccer Ball 4)

Soccer Ball 5)

Soccer Ball 6)

I wonder if I could find similar art elsewhere in Shizuoka Prefecture?

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Garbage “Hall” in Mariko, Shizuoka City!

December 9, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

Garbage, especially domestic garbage, disposal has always been a vital problem in this cleanliness-conscious (at least inside households) country.
In Mariko, a nationally-known tourist spot in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City, you can actually discover how and from where it was conducted in Japan as far back as in the Edo Period!

Inhabitants were regularly (on precise days designated by the local “governments”) depositing their garbage, usually burnable as most organic garbage was recycled into agriculture, in t\such “halls/sheds” whose doors could be locked to fend off animals, especially monkeys, bears, racoon dogs and wild boars.

The sign ahs been replaced/ or placed!

“町内/machinai” means “inside the village/town”.
“ゴミ/gomi” means “garbage/trash/refuse”.
“の/no” means (of”.
“館/kan or yakata” means “hall/building/annex”!

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 10

December 7, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Beautiful Shimizu City (before it was merged with Shizuoka City) manhole cover for “river waters” discovered by my good friend Atsuko Kurata in Sodeshi, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

For this particular blog let me come back to Shizuoka City where I found more “technical information”!

The “mint” of the above manhole cover!

An old manhole cover in Shimizu City (now Ku) for soil running.

A yellow version of the original orange type in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

The same without enamel coating!

An old Shimizu City (now Ku) sewer manhole cover!

A big double manhole cover in Shimizu City (now Ku)!

I found this one on the Internet describing a commemorative manhole cover inside the Shizuoka Prefectural Park, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

I will have to investigate for bigger pictures!

The same as above in different colors!

Unknown motif on a manhole cover in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

A beautiful Fire Hydrant manhole cover in Yui Cho before it became Yui in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Another fire hydrant manhole cover in Yui Cho before it became Yui in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

A gate bulb Manhole cover manhole cover in Yui Cho before it became Yui in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
Note the sakura ebi/cherry shrimp motif!

The same as above in different color over a fire hydrant!
Also not Mount Fuji you can see from Yui!

Fire hydrant Manhole cover in Kambara, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 9: Western Shizuoka Prefecture

December 6, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Fire hydrant in Iwata City!
Iwata City is the home of the Iwata Jubilo Soccer Club whose symbol is the “Sankouchou/Paradise Fly Catcher”, which is also the bird of Shizuoka Prefecture

For this posting I decided a move to the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture with pictures I have again found on Japanese blogs until I can investigate further on my own!
The above manhole cover is over a water access.
Obviously a commemorative one, it extols the virtues of Ryuuyoo Town inside Iwata City: A Town of Water, sunshine and Greenery!

The same as above but with a landscape of shore, marine pine tree and lighthouse!

A sewer manhole cover in Iwata, Ryuuyoou Town!

An already old fire hydrant manhole cover installed in Ryuuyoo Town, Iwata City in 1985!

A manhole cover in Hamamatsu City representing Sakekawa River in Hamamatsu City!

Another splendid manhole cover in Hamamatsu City in Gouryuu Distroct!

Another simpler manhole cover in Hamamatsu city but note the motif at the center!

Tenryuu in Hamamatsu City! Water access manhole cover with a beautiful bird design!

A splendid flowery manhole cover in Toyoka Mura in Hamamatsu City!

A water access manhole cover in Mikkabi, Hamamatsu City, introducing the joys of sailing!

A colorful fire hydrant manhole cover again in Mikkabi!

An old manhole cover in Mikkabi over the access to a fire department water tank!

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静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 8: Atami City!

December 5, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Taken in Atami city, a sewer “manhole” representing the famous story of the “Izu Dancer”!

I and my friends can’t be everywhere in the Prefecture of Shizuoka, which accounts for almost 4,000,000 souls, the equivalent of New Zealand or Ireland!
Moreover distance are pretty awesome due to its shape. It takes 3 hours by train non-stop to travel from Shinjohara in the west to Atami in the east and more to to travel to Shimoda at the southern tip of Izu Peninsula.
English reports or postings on manholes in Shizuoka do not exist and this is a pity, but there are many Japanese blogs, live or defunct which depict them! I certainly found a lot, and until I can travel and confirm them, as well as find more, I will try to run a kind of compilation to help all who are interested in such an unusual form of art!

This particular post show pictures taken as far back as the 17th of July, 2007 in Atami City for a blog which has ceased quite a few years ago. I did travel to Atami City and remember most of them!

Another rectangular sewer “Manhole cover” in relation with the one above depicting not cherry blossoms but plum blossoms for which Atami City is famous!

This large type blending in its surroundings also exists elsewhere but with a small and important difference, the little central hot spring motif!
After all, Atamai City is arguably the most famous hot spring resort town in Japan!

But I think this sewer type manhole cover also blending in its surroundings can be found only in Atami City!

Again this type is found all over the Prefecture but not with the central hot springs motif!

Unusual manhole cover over an access to hot springs hot water!

A double spent waters manhole cover with the central hot springs motif!

This gas and electricity meter manhole cover can be seen all over the Prefecture.

The same for this gas manhole cover although I haven’t noticed the central motif yet!

Fire hydrant manhole cover with a central hot spring motif!

Another hot spring hot water access manhole cover!

Fire hydrant manhole cover found all over the Prefecture!

Loads more coming soon!

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静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 7

December 4, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

My friend Atsuko Kurata discovered this old manhole cover in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City.
“出雲式” or (“Bursting Cloud Systme”) was apparently developed by a single company called Miyoshi Shokai.

I already know of many blogging friends in Japan taking pictures of manhole covers all over this country.
The reason is simple enough: as there is little chance of them being stolen (I can’t say the same thing back in our countries!) the local/municipal government often use them as touristic advertisements !

I keep on looking for them during my many travels through the Prefecture.
And this time again I was lucky to enjoy some great help from a new friend working for the Shizuoka City Touristic Information, namely Atsuko Kurata!
Like me she is chasing all kinds of cultural artifacts, especially the unusual ones!
I’m pretty sure that we should be able to come with a “Ten Best” very soon, at least for the year 2013!

Actually I have found some interesting sources of defunct and live Japanese blogs which should direct me to dozens more soon in the whole Prefecture!
Some are real works of art!
Keep tight!

Until then the present post will be slightly “technical”!

Atsuko found the above and the two below in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City.
They seem different but they are actually the same type!

They seem to point in different in different directions.

They seem to do so, but in fact the outer rim is fixed whereas the cover is movable!

I found this in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City.
I wonder what a “gas bulb” stands for?

Another very large rectangular manhole cover in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

I found this one in front of the Shizuoka Main Police Station in Aoi Ku.
It was produced by Kaneso Foundry Co.
It seems that the police have their very own manhole covers as the character “警” of “警察” meaning “police” tends to indicate!

Another,almost rare, old type in Aoi ku, Shizuoka City!

It was made by yet another foundry called Daidore Co Ltd.

A very large one for Chubu Denryoku Electric Company in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Not all the manhole covers of Chubu Denryoku/中部電力” are marked such!

A smaller one with an indicator in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

This is a reminder of a type found in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City which comes in different color or with none, and can be subdivided into groups, one station “shi no hana aoi/市の花葵”/”Shizuoka Flower: Hollyhock” or with a “T” foolwed by a number!

No color and “T-14”!

No color and “T-25”!

A medium-sized one for a fire hydrant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

We see more and more of these large ones blending into the surrounding decor in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

The same type as above blending into the surroundings but for NTT/National Telephone & Telegraph Co.in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

I don’t have a clue what ” Gas P” stands for!

Some beauties coming next!

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静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, History, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life in Japan, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tombs, Tourism, Tumulus

Miikeidaira Tumulus: Keyhole Tomb in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

November 27, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Courtesy of Atsuko Kurata!

If your are keen on Japanese history, and I mean ancient history, it might be an excellent idea to combine tourism and study by visiting one of the few remaining funeral tumuli left in Japan by visiting the Miikeidaira Tumulus/三池平古墳 in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

one easy way is to take the bus to the National Training Center from Bus Platform 4 on the west side of Shimizu JR Station (bear in mind there is only one every hour!) and go till the last stop!

And check the return schedule!

National Training Center in Shimizu Ku is a vast (by Japanese standards) training center especially dedicated to high level soccer teams from all over Japan!

You should be able to see the tumulus and find the right way to walk uo there!

The tumulus is not only visible but its surroundings are well equipped including washrooms!

Check the map before climbing the stairs!

now, do you understand why it is also called a “keyhole tomb”?

Plenty of indications!

As you climb the tumulus you will realize that you can benefit of vast views at the same time!

The tumulus!

Take your time and read the explanations both in Japanese and (somewhat quaint) English!

The Miikedaira Tumulus was built as a key-holed shaped mound tomb at the beginning of the 5th century A.D.
The total length/diameter of the tumulus is 68 meters.
The inner/underground structure reveals a type of tomb belonging to comparatively ancient times and the like of ones very few in Shizuoka prefecture and even in the entire West Japan.

Have a good look at the diagram!
Such tombs are not open to the public and even scientists and historians need a permission to inspect them.

These stones were brought here more than 1,500 years ago!

A sobering thought!

You will be able to admire a view extending as far as the Izu peninsula beyond the ocean!
Walk down the other side to discover what’s beyond!

Mind your steps!

Steeper than the front!

Well indicated again!

You will discover a very old Shinto Shrine dating back to the beginning of Edo Era!
What you see in the forefront under blue tarp is a sumo wrestling mound!

A sumo meet is held there every year in October!

This Shinto Shrine is called Toga Jinja!

The area is famous for its citrus fields and orchards!

Very expensive “dekopon” oranges!

A different type (I found more than half a dozen!) of oranges!
I did taste them (except the dekopon!) and they are about ripe enough!

beautiful, aren’t they?

A visit to combine history, tourism and gastronomy!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 6

November 26, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Courtesy of Atsuko Kurata!
Shizuoka Fire Department Water tank Access!
She found this very unusually patterned manhole cover in her neighborhood near Kusanagai JR Station in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

The next 4 picture all taken by Atsuko Kurata show the variations on a beautiful design!

The manhole cover above and the next three below were ordered by the Municipal Government of Shizuoka Prefecture. “道路・維持” could be loosely translated as “Road Development”.
The above was discovered at the gate of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, at the foot of mountain, in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

The above was discovered in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City, at the Ishida crossroad, right in front of the APITA shopping mall!

The above was discovered in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, at the front entrance of the Shizuoka Prefectural Government Office!

Manhole covers are sometimes designed to blend with their surroundings, but this one was “blinded” by a relief marker to help blind people walk along pavements!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this extraordinary double manhole cover near Manseicho crossroads in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City one her way to Satsuki Street from S-Pulse Dream Plaza.
It is made of two known manhole covers to allow for two different sizes of access!

I found this one and the ones below near the National Sports Training Center in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City.
The one above is the smaller size manhole cover by Kojima Foundry Co. for ”汚水” or waste waters.

This large one is of an old design for electric cables with an interesting notice!

Can bear up to 5,000 kg! Wow

The same type (also seen at Kikugawa JR Station!) but for “雨水” or rain waters but a different notice at the bottom allowing for maker’s identification!

Kojima Seisakusho Co/Kojima Foundry!

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Mount Fuji: Urban Sights from Shimizu JR Station!

November 26, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mount Fuji is an ever-changing sight and can be caught in most interesting situations if you one corner of your eye at the horizon especially in the Fall and Winter!

Just coming out of Western Exit of the Shimizu JR Station on the Tokaido Railway Line I noticed Mount Fuji far away in distance through a fence!

Mount Fuji behind barbed wires!

Mount Fuji held prisoner by a blue cross sect?

On my way I noticed a marked change of color!
Can you see the train run by?

Taking the train to Mount Fuji!

Just before my train back to Shizuoka I even managed a somewhat psychedelic picture of Mount Fuji from upstairs!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life in Japan, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 5

November 25, 2013 dragonlife 1 Comment

Courtesy of Atsuko Kurata!
She found this brightly colored manhole cover in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, outside Shimizu JR Station West Exit near bus stand No 3!

I keep on looking for them during my many travels through the Prefecture.
And this time I was lucky to enjoy some great help from a new friend working for the Shizuoka City Touristic Information, namely Atsuko Kurata!
Like me she is chasing all kinds of cultural artifacts, especially the unusual ones!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this beautiflly patterned one along the promenade to the Prefectural Museum from Kenritsu BijutsuKan Shizutetsu Railway Line Station!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this unusually double square cover placed by the Chubu Denryoku Electrical Company along Sengen Shrine Street in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku!

Atsuko Kurata discovered the one above and the next one along Miho no Tsubara Beach!
The one above states “河川”, “Kasen/River”!

The second one states “雨水”, “amamizu/rainwater”!

I found a series of this very old type along one single street in neighborhood in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, and they are definitely municipal sewers manhole covers as stated by “市”/”City”! I doubt they exist elsewhere as their weight would cost much!

I discovered the above near a primary school in my neighborhood in Aoi Ku, Shziuoka City!
“流量軽計室” means “running water flow measuring machine”!

The above is the largest one I have found so far. It must lay above a a real manhole as it is wide enough for a strong man. It is a Prefectural one, probably over underground cables!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this very large one, most probably over a hole leading to underground cables in front of Shimizu JR Station West exit in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

It must be a pretty old one as it is marked “清水市”/Shimizu City, that is before it was merged to Shizuoka City!

There are similar manhole covers in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, but in different colors.
This one is a bit excepyiona as this the first one of this type also mentioning “市の花”/”City Flower” as the Hollyhock/Aoi/葵 is the official flower of Shizuoka City!

A different color from others of the same type witten witten “T-14” instead of “市の花”, but the colors might have changed due to the natural elements, unless it is a lot older!

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