'''Shizuoka prefecture''' (______ ''Shizuoka-ken'') is in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu.
Understand
Western Shizuoka was once the province of '''T?t?mi-no-kuni''' (___]__), also known as '''Ensh?''' (___B), which you'll still see in many company names and placenames in the area today. The eastern part of the prefecture was once the province of '''Suruga-no-kuni''' (_x____), while the Izu Peninsula was its own province, '''Izu-no-kuni''' (______)
The famous mountains are '''Mt. Hakone'''_i_____R_j, '''Mt. Amagi'''_i_V___R_j, '''Mt. Fuji'''_i_x_m_R_j and '''Mt. Akaishi'''_i_____R___j.
Cities
Shizuoka - the prefectural capital
Atami - seaside hot spring resort a short hop from Tokyo
Fuji
Fujinomiya - famous for Yakisoba (Japanese stir-fried noodle)
Fukuroi
Hamamatsu - the largest city in the prefecture
Iwata
Kakegawa
Numazu
Izu - the home of famous hot springs of '''Shuzenji''' that is nicknamed "Small Kyoto in Izu Peninsula", and that has many tasteful ''Ryokans'' with Japanese gardens.
Mishima - it is nicknamed '''city of water''' in Japan with fountain of meltwater from Mt. Fuji. It is also famous for its '''Mishima Taisha''' shrine.
Izunokuni - the home of '''Izu-Nagaoka''' hotsprings and many historical spots in former Nirayama town (that has been merged into '''Izunokuni City''')
Ito - a famous hot springs city on the east coast of Izu Peninsula.
Shimoda - the southern city in Izu Peninsula.
Gotemba - is located on the foot of Mt. Fuji and has summer resort because of the cool climate.
Oyama-cho - Famous for Fuji Speedway (hosted F-1 Grand-prix)
Other destinations
The scenic Izu Peninsula
Talk
The dialect in Western Shizuoka is known as Ensh?-ben (___B__).
Get in
By plane
Although there are no major airports in Shizuoka prefecture, there is a direct bus from Chubu International Airport that runs through Hamamatsu to Iwata. However, the Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport is currently under construction and is scheduled to open on June 4, 2009.[http://www.pref.shizuoka.jp/kuukou/contents/english/en_flights.htm] Flights to Kumamoto and Kagoshima by Fuji Dream Airlines; to Sapporo-Chitose and Fukuoka by JAL; to Naha, Okinawa by ANA; and to Seoul, South Korea by Asiana Airlines are all planned. [http://en.airportnews.jp/headline/6/]
By train
By bus
Get around
See
There is a lot of nature to see in Shizuoka: mountains, gorges, waterfalls, sand dunes, beautiful beaches and more. And if you want to see something historical, There are some castles and ruins, too.
Famous spots are
'''Atagawa tropical and Alligator Garden'''_i_M___o_i_i___j___j
'''Fuji Safari Park'''_i_x_m_T_t_@___p_[_N_j
'''Hamamatsu Castle'''_i_l_____j
Mount Fuji
Ito Peninsula
Do
Climb '''Mount Fuji'''. There are [http://mountfujiguide.com/guide/Fujinomiya_Trail Fujinomiya Trail] in Fujinomiya, [http://mountfujiguide.com/guide/gotemba_Trail Gotemba Trail] in Gotemba, and [http://mountfujiguide.com/guide/subashiri_Trail Subashiri Trail] in Oyama-cho.
Eat
Local specialties include '''eel''', '''turtle''', and '''melons'''.
In the place near the port, you can eat fresh fish.
Sawayaka. _______. ttp://www.genkotsu-hb.com/. This Shizuoka-only chain has many locations all over the prefecture, specializing in beef dishes such as their famous ''genkotsu'' hamburger steaks the size of your fist.
Drink
Shizuoka is famous for its '''green tea'''.
Get out
Yamanashi Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture