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Three Slow Travel ‘Secrets’ in Shizuoka

For When You Need A Serene Overnight Escape from Tokyo

Located about an hour away from Tokyo by bullet train, Shizuoka prefecture might just be the ideal destination for anyone looking for a quick escape from the big city. Not only is it easy to get to, but it also has a variety of stunning sea and mountain scenery, fantastic tea (because it’s a major tea-producing region), and lovely hot springs. Mt. Fuji is also part of the prefecture, meaning awesome views of Japan’s most famous mountain are available in many spots in Shizuoka!

Even so, Shizuoka is still a relatively underrated travel destination, with spots that some locals would certainly include in their list of favourite ‘secret’ places, especially during off-peak seasons.

Here are three fantastic things to do in Shizuoka when all you want is a slow, relaxing weekend away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Best of all, these activities are doable year-round.

Go for A Slow, Scenic Train Ride towards Sumatakyo Gorge

There are a lot of reasons to discover Sumatakyo Gorge. Nestled deep in the Southern Alps of Shizuoka prefecture, Sumatakyo is popular with hikers, nature photographers, or people simply wanting to get outdoors, and for good reason. The turquoise waters of the Sumata River are simply dreamy when viewed from the 90-meter-long, aptly named ‘Dream Suspension Bridge.’ (It’s said that you’ll experience romantic success if you pray in the middle of the bridge!) Plus, a dip in the hot springs of nearby Sumatakyo Onsen will leave your skin silky smooth. What’s not to like?

©Oigawa Railway Co., Ltd

You can drive or take a bus to Sumatakyo. But one of the coolest ways to get there is to ride an old-fashioned steam locomotive along the Oigawa Main Line, which starts from Shin-Kanaya Station and ends at Senzu Station. To enjoy spectacular views of the gorge along the Oi River, you’ll want to ride the bright red Abt Rack Rail SystemTrains (specially developed for mountain railways) along the Ikawa Line connecting Senzu station to Ikawa station (also known as the Southern Alps Abt Line).

One of the most popular photo spots for train enthusiasts along the Ikawa Line is at Oku-Oi Kojo Station, where you can watch trains rattling across a red bridge (known as the Oku-Oi Rainbow Bridge) that looks like it’s floating on an emerald-green lake in a valley deep in the mountains. Another highlight is Seki-no-Sawa Bridge, which has the tallest railway viaduct in Japan (measured from the riverbed).

Slow travel by train is an experience in its own right — especially if you’ve bought an ekiben (railway bento) to enjoy along the way — and allows you to really take in the scenic views of the gorge as the train trundles past slowly. Steam-powered trains are also now rare in Japan, which makes the experience even more special!

As the Oigawa Railway operates a number of different types of trains, what you end up seeing or riding may vary with schedule or availability. Heritage trains consisting of Steam Locomotives built in the 1930s and retro carriages dating back to the 1950s are bound to be a sure hit for rail buffs. You can even purchase tickets to ride on Thomas the Tank Engine — yes, that one!

To make travel along the entire route hassle-free, you can pick up the Oigawa Free Ticket, which gives you unlimited rides along the Oigawa Main Line — don’t forget that you’ll need to purchase an additional limited express ticket for any special Steam Locomotive rides.

Even better is the Oigawa Excursion ticket, which gives you unlimited rides on all Oigawa Main Line, Ikawa Line and Sumatakyo Line buses and Kanzo Line buses.

Location information

Name: Sumatakyo Gorge
Address: 377 Senzu, Kawanehon-chō, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka-ken 428-0411, Japan
Public transportation: 40-minute bus ride from Senzu Station
Website: https://yumenotsuribashi-sumatakyo.com/

Name: Shin Kanaya Station Address: 11122, 2 Kanaya Azuma, Shimada City, Shizuoka 428-0013
Public transportation: 4-minute train ride from Kanaya Station
Website: https://daitetsu.jp/en/access.html

Soak in the Hot Springs of Shuzenji Onsen

Soaking in an onsen is a great way to slow down — especially because you can’t bring your phone into the bath! While there’s no shortage of onsens in Japan, one of Shizuoka’s finest (and oldest) is Shuzenji Onsen, a small, picturesque hot spring town nestled in the hills of the Izu Peninsula named for its 1,200-year-old Zen Buddhist temple downtown.

The pace of life in Shuzenji Onsen is slow and serene; it’s also fully walkable, which makes exploring it on foot a breeze. Everyone likes soaking their feet in the free ashi-yu (foot bath) in the centre of town, but Shuzenji is also awash with ryokan and hot springs. One of the most famous is Arai Ryokan, a historic Japanese inn that’s been designated as a registered tangible cultural property. It has hosted many of Japan’s most famous writers and artists on creative retreats — maybe you’ll write your next novel here!

Location Information

Name: Arai Ryokan
Address: 970 Shuzenji, Izu City, Shizuoka 410-2416
Public transportation: 10-minute bus ride from Shuzenji Station
Website: http://arairyokan.jp/en/

Chill with Capybaras and Cacti in the Izu Shaboten Zoo

Another way to slow down in Shizuoka is to take your cue from nature. Ration at least half a day because you’ll want this much time to explore the Izu Shaboten Zoo in Ito City at your leisure.

Located at the foot of Mt. Omuro, this place is a wonderful mix of botanical and zoological. For one, it has over 1,500 species of cactuses and succulents. You can also go cactus-picking here: pick the ones you like and the staff will make a succulent arrangement for you, something like a spiky bonsai!

Then there are the animals, which rarely fail to delight visitors. For starters, the zoo is home to about 140 species of animals, including llamas, parrots, penguins and free-roaming squirrel monkeys and peacocks. The highlight at Izu Shaboten Zoo, however, are the capybaras. You’ll feel relaxed just looking at these serene creatures. If you visit between mid-November and early April, you’re likely to see them chilling in open-air hot baths — a sight sure to calm even the most agitated, stressed visitor!

Location Information

Name: Izu Shaboten Zoo
Address: 1317-13 Futo, Itō City, Shizuoka 413-0231
Public transportation: 44-minute bus ride from Ito Station, or 23-minute drive
Website: https://izushaboten.com/lang/

Travel can be fast-paced, fun and exciting — but slow travel has its own benefits, and Shizuoka is a great place to experience a more leisurely mode of exploration. If you’re looking for a more relaxed holiday in Japan, why not consider some of the places above?