Okitsu Travel Guide

  Viewed from Okitsu Mt. Fuji Looks Shy
by taigaa001
 
  • Viewed  from Okitsu Mt. Fuji Looks Shy
      Viewed from Okitsu Mt. Fuji Looks Shy
    by taigaa001
  • The book that made Okitsu famous worldwide
      The book that made Okitsu famous...
    by taigaa001
  • Perfect Satta Pass View Except Mt. Fuji
      Perfect Satta Pass View Except Mt. Fuji
    by taigaa001
  • Start of Minobu Road at Okitsu
      Start of Minobu Road at Okitsu
    by taigaa001
  • Ojima Jinya is about one hour away
      Ojima Jinya is about one hour away
    by taigaa001
 

Explore Okitsu

Things to Do  

Mt. Hamaishi (Hamaishi-dake)

Mt. Hamaishi (Hamaishi-dake), Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  Mt. Hamaishi (Hamaishi-dake) is the highest peak of the mountain range extending northward from Satta Pass. It is 707 meters(2319 feet) above sea level. There are a number of routes up to the mountain but vast majority of people start the climb from Yui station and the most... 

Old Minobu Road: Overview

Old Minobu Road: Overview, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  Minobu Road is the nickname of the highway linking Suruga province (currently central part of Shizuoka Prefecture) and Koshu (currently Yamanashi Prefecture) about eighty kilometers long from Okitsu to Kofu. It is officially named as Koshu Okan(from Shizuoka side) and Sunshu... 

Kurokawa Shizen-en

Kurokawa Shizen-en, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  Kurokawa Shizen-en of the Shimizu Forest Park Yasuragi No Mori is a place so that the visitors can learn and feel about the nature around the pond, pure spring water used for wasabi horseradish fields. 

Shimizu Forest Park, Yasuragi No Mori: Overview

Shimizu Forest Park, Yasuragi No Mori: Overview, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  Shimizu Forest Park is a complex of a number of facilities such as a day-trip onsen, biotopes, observatory and hiking trails. Its nickname is "Yasuragi No Mori", meaning "stress-relieving forest". When I first went there on July 23rd. I did not have enough time so I could... 

Ojima Jinya

Ojima Jinya, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  Jinya is literally a fortified house but it is recognized as sub-castle or quasi-castle. It was used as a residence of feudal lord, Matsudaira Takiwaki clan with the domain of 10,000 koku(1,800 metric tons of rice) between 1704 and 1868 before Tokugawa Gvernment was... 

Seikenji Temple and Tokaido Main Line

Seikenji Temple and Tokaido Main Line, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  Seikenji Temple is a popular place for railway photographers because the railway line runs between the gate and the temple buildings uphill. Particularly the photo frame of running train under the bell tower is popular. 

Okitsu-shuku Park

Okitsu-shuku Park, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  It's a neat park with a restroom and guideboards in both English and Korean. In Okitsu maybe this park is your only chance to take the photo of Mt. Fuji. 

Zagyoso Villa

Zagyoso Villa, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  The Villa of early-20th-century politician Kinmochi Saionji who retained great political influence even after having been retired from his premiership was recently reconstructed. The inn-like villa was used as an accommodation for big shots who sought counsel from a retired... 

Minaguchiya Gallery

Minaguchiya Gallery, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  Once a grand inn of Okitsu-shuku, and brimmed with latter-day glory brought by the book "Japanese Inn" the inn closed silently in 1985. Then in 1999 a part of former grand inn was open to public, free of charge, showcasing the items used in Minaguchiya Inn and the photo of... 

afterlife wheel

afterlife wheel, Okitsu

 cheesecake17 Says:  Found in front of many temples. When you say your wish while turning the wheel downward, a wish for the afterlife will be granted. When you turn the wheel upward, a wish for your present life will be granted. 

Scenic spot of japan....

Scenic spot of japan...., Okitsu

 cheesecake17 Says:  The garden was built in the 18th Century, and is designated as the "SCENIC SPOT OF JAPAN"There are statues of 500 Disciples of the Buddha priests (made in the 18th Century)These are people who have been credited for editing the buddha books...They were also students of SHAKA... 

Seikenji Temple

Seikenji Temple, Okitsu

 cheesecake17 Says:  Traditional temple of Rinzai sect, Myosinji group. Seikenji is in Okitsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is Station #17 (from Tokyo) on the Old Tokaido Highway. When Tokugawa-Ieyasu was a child, he was sent to this temple as a hostage of the Imagawa Family.The history of this... 

BELL TOWER

BELL TOWER, Okitsu

 cheesecake17 Says:  The site has the main building, big study room, reception room, library and bell room, overlooking Suruga Bay.Every temple has a bell tower, which is used during New Years Eve.The bell at the temple rings 108 times on New Year's eve, corresponding to the Buddhist concept of... 

Apricot tree....

Apricot tree...., Okitsu

 cheesecake17 Says:  Japanese apricot tree planted by Tokugawa-Ieyasu...becuase I went in january it was not flowering.....I am sure in the spring it will look very pretty....need to be back again..:)) 

Moon viewing

Moon viewing, Okitsu

 cheesecake17 Says:  Known as the good place to watch the moon, and this is the temple................there is a tradition in Japan history where japanese traditionally celebrate the full moon on 15th August by the luna calender (it actually comes around 15th of September). Dumplings made from... 

Rebuilding the temple

Rebuilding the temple, Okitsu

 cheesecake17 Says:  ASHIKAGA TAKAUJI rebuilt the temple in 1342 and during the ASHIKAGA and EDO ERA the temple flourished greatly..The present building was constructed in 1702 and is therefore about 250 years old..Climbing up the hill behind the temple you will be able to see the Port of... 

Transportation  

Getting to Okitsu
taigaa001 profile photo
taigaa001 779 reviews

1. From Tokyo: Take Shinkansen Kodama express and change trains to local line at MISHIMA. From Mishima take trains bound for either Okitsu, Shizuoka, Shimada, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi or Ogaki. Okitsu is the next stop from Yui station.

2. From Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and western part of Japan: Take Shinkansen Kodama express bound for Tokyo or change from HIKARI, NOZOMI to KODAMA at Nagoya station. Change to local train at Shizuoka and take the train bound for Okitsu, Fuji, Numazu, Mishima, or Atami. Okitsu is the next stop from Shimizu.

3. From Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport. Get the bus bound either for Shimada, Fujieda or Shizuoka and take Tokaido Main Line train bound for Shizuoka, Okitsu, Numazu, Mishima and Atami. If the train stop at Shizuoka change trains from there.

Written Oct 5, 2012

Related to:
 Trains

Was this review helpful?

Tourist Traps  

Time Management
taigaa001 profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

taigaa001 779 reviews

When going to Sattatoge Pass trail many choose first to go westward to Seikenji temple then turn back and go eastward. Given the duration from Okitsu station to Yui town about three hours take aside at least two extra hours if you also want to visit Seikenji temple, Minagushiya, and Zagyoso. So plan the trip so that you can take at least five or six hours in both Yui and Okitsu areas.

Updated May 7, 2011

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Hiking and Walking

Was this review helpful?

Sports & Outdoors  

Tokaido Hike From Okitsu To Ejiri 2

Tokaido Hike From Okitsu To Ejiri 2, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  After passing Zagyoso villa boring modern road goes on and on. Lone pine tree along the road is the surviving tree of once a pine avenue. About one and half hours from Okitsu I found something of Tokaido relic. It was formerly a pine avenue but none remained. In Ejiri it is... 

Tokaido Hike From Okitsu to Ejiri 1

Tokaido Hike From Okitsu to Ejiri 1, Okitsu

 taigaa001 Says:  Walking Tokaido from Okitsu to Ejiri(Shimizu) seems to prove my oft-mentioned statement that there are only a few segments in Tokaido that walkers can truly enjoy. So this guide is intended for perfectionists who believe that every Tokaido trail must be covered. The hike... 

Comments

Map of Okitsu