As of 2023, the cumulative number of Japanese tourists has exceeded 1 million!
If you want a new, special trip to Japan,
Shizuoka, a must-visit travel destination!

It is the background of the popular anime [Your Name] and [Maruko-chan is Nine Years Old].
The most famous mountain representing Japan, Mt. Fuji, and the land of green tea,
A stroll through small Japanese towns in Shizuoka and its surrounding areas!

With the recent reopening of borders that had been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of international travelers is increasing, and the number of Japanese tourists is showing an unusual increase.
But when we say 'Japan', only familiar regions like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka still come to mind.
While famous tourist destinations are great, if you need some healing, why not consider a trip to a smaller, less crowded city? For those seeking a unique perspective on Japan, along with its quiet charm, the author strongly recommends Shizuoka.
Why does the author choose Shizuoka, among all the small cities in Japan, as a place to discuss? Shizuoka is home to Mount Fuji, and its panoramic views are readily available from anywhere.
This is a region where you can enjoy and see many of the symbols that come to mind when you think of Japan, such as green tea, hot springs, and railways.
Moreover, Shizuoka has frequently appeared as the setting for popular animations, including [Your Name], [Maruko-chan], and [Great Mazinger].
In particular, the author recommends a trip to Shizuoka to readers who want to take a break from their busy daily lives through travel.
If you visit Shizuoka Prefecture, you will be able to fully enjoy the relaxed and quiet atmosphere created by the warm climate that continues day after day compared to other regions.
"Shizuoka, A Small Town in Japan" introduces Shizuoka's hidden, but actually famous tourist destinations and travel information that are among the best in Japan.
Moreover, the book blends Japanese culture and history in each tourist area, so you will fall in love with the charm of Shizuoka and Japan just by reading this book.

When it comes to travel, you can see as much as you know, and enjoy as much as you know.
If you learn about the history and culture of the Tokai region through this book, your trip will be more enjoyable and meaningful.
--- p.7, 「Prologue

And around the turn of the 20th century, Shizuoka's wooden model manufacturers evolved once more into a plastic model industry using molds, leading to the present.
Sunpu, a city of crafts during the Edo period, has transformed into Shizuoka City, a city of plastic models, in modern times.
p.20, "Shizuoka City, the hometown of Bandai and Tamiya"

Seikenji Temple is called the 'Joseon Tongsinsa Museum' because it houses many writings and drawings left by the envoys.
At the entrance to the temple hangs a plaque with the words “Donghae Myeonggu?” written by Hyeon Deok-yun, an interpreter for the 8th envoy in 1711.
Donghae Myeonggu means ‘a beautiful place in the eastern sea.’
--- p.78, “Traces of the Joseon Tongsinsa, Seikenji and Sattatoge”

For the next 17 years, Hamamatsu Castle was used as a base for Ieyasu, who laid the foundation for unifying the country.
In particular, Hamamatsu Castle is called "Chuseok Castle" because all the lords of the castle, including Ieyasu, who achieved unification, were appointed to important positions in the Edo shogunate.
Currently, the area, like Sunpu Castle, has been developed into Hamamatsu Castle Park.

--- p.90, "Sunpu Castle and Hamamatsu Castle, Places Where Ieyasu's Glory and Disgrace Are Embedded"

Below Nihondaira, the town of Shimizu Ward and Shimizu Port spread out, and the night view is truly fantastic.
Nihondaira has become a place that every Japanese person wants to visit at least once in their lifetime, having won first place in the Mainichi Shimbun's "100 Best Japanese Tourist Attractions" in 1950 and first place in the Yomiuri Shimbun's "100 Best Japanese Tourist Attractions Contest" in 1980.
It was designated as a national scenic spot in 1959 and a Japanese night view heritage site in 2016.

--- p.101, from “Japan’s Best Scenic Spot, Nihondaira”

The Oigawa Railway, known as a mecca for railway enthusiasts, is also famous for its unique route that runs through rugged mountains and its beautiful scenery.
The scenery outside the window of the Ikawa Line continues to be spectacular.
Senzu Station, where the Ikawa Line departs, is at a high altitude of 299.8 meters above sea level, and trains departing from here run at a slow pace, following the flow of the Ooi River as if threading a mountain ridge.

--- p.121, from “The Mecca of Railroad Enthusiasts, Oigawa Railway”

There are several ways to get to Shizuoka Prefecture, but if you are departing from Korea, the basic method is to enter through Shizuoka Airport.
The best way to properly explore Shizuoka Prefecture is by car.
However, in Japan, the driver's seat is on the opposite side and traffic signals and laws are different from those in Korea, so you need to be careful when driving.
Fortunately, Shizuoka Prefecture's public transportation network is surprisingly dense and designed to provide access to most tourist destinations.

--- p.146, from “Before Traveling to Shizuoka Prefecture”

Hida Furukawa became even more famous after appearing as the main setting for the 2016 anime [Your Name].
This internationally popular anime is about a boy living in Tokyo and a girl living in a mountain village in the Hida region who switch bodies.
The place that became the setting for the mountain village in the Hida region where the girl lives is Hida Furukawa.
--- p.238, from "Hida Furukawa, the setting of the anime [Your Name]"

Nagoya, the representative city of Aichi Prefecture, is, to be exact, a city of B-class gourmet.
Nagoya's unique food is nicknamed Nagoya Meshi, meaning "Nagoya rice."
If you go to Nagoya, you must try at least one or two types of Nagoya Meshi.

--- p.267, from “Nagoya, the City of Gastronomy”