Page 145 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

CENTR AL HONSHU  143

8 Mount Fuji and
the Fuji Five Lakes
See pp144–5.
9 Shizuoka
Shizuoka
Shizuoka & Yamanashi prefecture.
* 720,000.£ n in JR stn (054)
252­4247. _ Shizuoka Festival (1st
weekend Apr). ∑ pref.shizuoka.jp
Settlement in this area stretches
back to AD 200–300. Later a
stop on the old Tokaido road,
and the retire ment home of
Tokugawa Ieyasu (see p60),
A statue of The Izu Dancer by a waterfall near Kawazu, Izu Peninsula Shizuoka is today a sprawling
urban center, the city in Japan
over the crest of the hill is the 7 Izu Peninsula at greatest risk of a major
fascinating Owaku-dani (“valley of Izu Peninsula
earthquake. As a result it is
great boiling”), an area of sulfu­ probably the only place that
rous steam vents. This is an Shizuoka prefecture. £ n Atami, is fully prepared.
active volcanic zone, so some­ Ito, and Shuzenji stns. _ Fireworks The Toro ruins near the
Festival (Jul 22–23, Atagawa), Anjin
times the ropeway or sections Festival (Aug 8–10, Ito). port have well­explained
of this area are closed to visitors re constructions of ancient
due to safety reasons. A picturesque, hilly peninsula build ings and an excellent
The ropeway continues to Lake with a benign climate, Izu is inter active museum. The view
Ashi, where replicas of historical popular for its numerous hot from Nihondaira plateau, in
Western­style boats run to springs. It was a place of exile the east of the city, to Mount
Hakone-machi and Moto- during the Middle Ages, and in Fuji and Izu is superb. Nearby is
Hakone. In clear weather there the early 1600s was home to Kunozan Tosho-gu, one of the
are stunning views of Mount Fuji. the shipwrecked Englishman three top Tosho­gu shrines.
At Hakone­machi is an interesting William Adams, whose story
re construction of the Seki-sho was the basis of the James T Toro Ruins
Barrier Gate, a checkpoint that Clavell novel Shogun. Shimoda, Museum: Tel (054) 285­0476.
used to control the passage of on the southern tip, became Open Tue–Sun. &
people and guns on the Edo­ a coaling station for foreign
period Tokaido road between ships in 1854, then opened Environs
Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. to US traders. Today Shimoda West of Shizuoka, Kanaya
From Hakone­machi it is a has little of interest besides has one of Japan’s largest
short walk to Moto­Hakone. pretty gray­and­white walls, tea plantations. Fields and
In a prominent position on a reinforced against typhoons processing plants can be
hilltop overlooking Lake Ashi, with crisscross plasterwork. visited, and the elegant Ocha
Narukawa Art Museum exhibits Izu’s east coast is quite no Sato museum portrays
1,500 artworks by modern devel oped, but the west has tea lore. Nearby, the Oigawa
Japanese masters, and has charm ing coves and fishing steam railroad takes you
spectacular views of the villages, such as Toi and Heda, right into the untamed
surrounding mountains. Over offer ing delicious long­legged South Alps.
a pass beyond Moto­Hakone crabs and other seafood. The
is the Amazake-chaya tea­ center is also relatively unspoiled, P Ocha no Sato
house, and Hatajuku village, with wooded mountains and Tel (0547) 46­5588. Closed Tue. &
known for yosegi-zaiku, a form rustic hot springs, including
of decorative marquetry. Shuzenji onsen and a chain of
villages from Amagi Yugashima
P Open-Air Museum to Kawazu. These latter were
Tel (0460) 82­1161. Open daily. & the setting for Yasunari
P Hakone Art Museum Kawabata’s short story
Tel (0460) 82­2623. Open Fri–Wed. & The Izu Dancer,
commemorated
 Seki-sho Barrier Gate across Izu. Two­day
Tel (0460) 83­6635. Open daily. &
transportation
P Narukawa Art Museum passes cover parts
Tel (0460) 83­6828. Open daily. & of the peninsula. A reconstructed dwelling at the Toro site, Shizuoka

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