Shizuoka Off The Beaten Path

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Tsutano Hosomichi is the older Tokaido Highway used during around 8th to 16th century. It is running parallelly east about six hundred meters from Tokaido Highway. Tsutano Hosomichi (literally Narrow Vined Path) is the nickname of the highway because the path, according to the poet in 9th century, was narrow, dark and covered with vines. (Another interpretation is the path was winded like a vine). The path had been left to ruin since newer Tokaido route was developed during late 16th century by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The trail was rediscovered and rerouted during 1960s and now the old trail is a popular walking trail for Tokaido Hikers. The start of the walk from Shizuoka is the Michi No Eki Utsunoya and from Okabe side there is a route from Sakashita area. While current Tokaido has seen a number of changes since Meiji Era and the tunnel construction during 1950s when the road was widened for the passage of automobiles, the trail still has the atmosphere of old trail.

Former residence of Japanese Living National Treasure of Katazome stencil dyeing is open only on Sundays and on National Holidays. I have been to Toro-Iseki a couple of times but I have never been to this house. I will report in detail in my Toro-Iseki travel page when I have a chance to be there.

How to get there?
First you will have to reach Toro Ruins Park. The house is located close to Toro Museum so you will not miss it.

The first Daidogei World Cup in Shizuoka was held in 1992 after 3 years of planning.
The 9thWorld Cup last year had a record making 1.66 million visitors during its 4 days. It has definitely begun to spread throughout Japan with visitors from outside of the prefecture increasing every year .

The Daidogei World Cup in Shizuoka It uses the street corners and parks as its stage and is supported by many volunteers, resident clowns, commercial sponsors, government, many fantastic audience members (who sometimes become performers) and performers from all over the world.

Its held usually the first 4 days in november...

Book schedules are sold in bookstores a few weeks in advance which is nice to have in order to plan out your route for the different shows you wishes to see..the cost of the book is 500 yen.

This year 2009 most of the major events and most popular shows where in the sumpu castle area but they are a few that are on the street area downtown..

A little canvas chair or a plastic sheet is nice to carry around for when you are able to be one of the few bunch of people in the front row but if you can not make it so early a good little light weight ladder(2 step) would be great to look over the crowd..:-)

View Travelogs pictures of this year events(2009)
PART 1
PART 2

DAIDOGEI 2009 video