8 reasons to experience Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan 

Bright green tea fields stretch like a saturated photograph against the mountains in this small prefecture between Tokyo and Nagoya. An abundance of cherry shrimp and Meguro tuna comes from the long coast on Sagami Bay and, inland, a healthy harvest of chestnuts, soft fruit and tea leaves supply the family-run restaurants and dessert shops of Atami, Hamamatsu and Iwata. Shizuoka’s most famous resident is Mount Fuji, whose iconic ash-stained peak rises above the landscape. With its tranquil forests and quiet coastal towns, it’s hard to believe that Shizuoka is just a 50-minute ride on the bullet train Tokaido Line from central Tokyo, making it the perfect break between cities to get out and explore Japan’s natural beauty, artistic heritage and traditional gastronomy. 

The MOA (Mokichi Okada Association) Museum of Modern Art is one of three private galleries dedicated to housing and curating the sprawling art collection of Mokichi Okada – the founder of the World Church of Messiah. This imposing, glass-fronted structure is built into slopes above Atami town, like a Bond villain’s lair. From the museum’s entrance, the deep blue of Sagami Bay seems to stretch infinitely before you. There’s plenty to explore inside with Buddhist sculptures, calligraphy, ancient Chinese ceramics and lacquerware on display in spotlessly minimalist rooms. Pause for reflection in the tranquil Japanese garden and admire the tea houses and noh theatre (noh is a form of classical Japanese dance-drama). 

Juzen Jubi takes the fruits of Shizuoka’s verdant landscape and beyond, and turns it into decadent, towering French desserts in a glass. Everything that goes into each parfait is made in-house and the chefs are dedicated to their craft. The signature parfait changes with the season – a rich citrus and chocolate parfait for spring and refreshing strawberries and watermelon for summer, for example. Each creation is concocted in the “Juzenjubi Lab” on the second floor where chefs tweak and test recipes with the precision and obsession of scientists. The parfait experience can be elevated with paired mocktails, showing this place takes its desserts as seriously as a Michelin-starred chef takes their tasting menu. 

One of Atami’s oldest restaurants (Furuya Ryokan restaurant) and Kyoto’s famous chestnut shop combine to create Kiito, an establishment specialising in the intriguing Mont Blanc dessert. This delicate sweet treat was born on the boulevards of 19th-century Paris – chestnut puree is piled in tendrils like spaghetti and topped with a dollop of whipped cream like a snow-capped mountain – hence the name. At Kiito, the subtle nuttiness of chestnut marries with a little sweetness to create a subtle, light dessert. It’s an intimate space inside and a plush seat at the bar lets you watch the dessert chef at work. Champagne pairings are on offer, for a truly indulgent experience.  

Cascading down the hillside of Atami, Acao Forest is the perfect place for a stroll in nature. The picture-perfect gardens burst with blooming flowers at every turn. Rose-lined walkways splashed with candyfloss pink, crimson and white are a photographer’s dream and mossy stone walkways weave between the wildflower meadows. At the Land Art Park, you can catch a thought-provoking art installation celebrating nature or perhaps witness a live piano concert to the backdrop of the never–ending Pacific Ocean. Each season brings something new to Acao – tulips, cherry blossom and taiko drumming in spring and a riot of Christmas lights and craft fairs in winter. 

Between the famous rose gardens of Acao Forest, Coeda House certainly catches the eye. This imposing structure, which means ‘house of small branches’, was created by a world-renowned architect by stacking cedar boards on top of each other. The effect is a clean, warm Scandinavian space inside. Shuttle buses run from the entrance of Acao Forest to Coeda House so you can pause in the cafe for a lemongrass tea, coffee and one of their signature orange cheesecake tarts before perusing the gardens. The cafe’s huge windows and open feel make the most of the view of Sagami Bay from its hilltop vantage. 

On the fringe of Acao Forest, Not A Gallery began life as a creative space displaying local artworks and providing a collaborative work environment for creatives. In 2024, Not A Gallery restaurant opened within the same walls. This fine-dining French restaurant plates its dishes with the precision and care of an artist but also offers a unique dining experience. The diner is given free rein to choose the leading ingredients and how they should be cooked. The cooking style may be French, but the menu is an ode to Shizuoka’s produce with Izu wild boar and golden-eye snapper for Sagami Bay as the highlights. Perched on a hill above the sea, the views are magnificent too. 

Mohei Honda is the fifth-generation tea master at Marumo Tea Garden – a sprawling tea farm almost in the shadow of Mount Fuji. The earth around Japan’s iconic peak is rich in minerals thanks to Fuji’s volcanic past, so tea harvested here carries a distinct and complex flavour. On a tour of the Marumo Tea Garden, you can learn how the tea leaves are harvested as Mount Fuji watches over you. You can also discover how tea is produced and try your hand at blending your own unique concoction. The experience is complete with a tea sampling session where you might taste the aromatic sweetness of Hojicha (Marubi roasted tea) or embrace the gentle warmth of rested black tea. 

There’s something special about sipping tea surrounded by the verdant green terraces from which the leaves were harvested. At Chanoma, wooden decks have been built into the hillside – lavish picnic spots where you can bring your own tea set and admire a stunning panorama as you sip. At Obuchi Sasaba Tea Terrace, Mount Fuji stands proudly above the stacked terraces where green tea leaves are plucked. Golden Tea Terrace offers something a little different with a spectacular view over Kogane Midori fields where this special golden-hued leaf glows against the mountains when the sunlight hits the fields.