Yaizu Things to Do

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Nihonzaka Pass (elevation: 302m) is located between Mochimune area of Shizuoka and Hanazawa Area of Yaizu atop the tunnels for Shinkansen Super Express JR Tokaido Line and Tomei Expressway. According to the ancient history chronicles, Yamatotakeru, legendary prince of 5th century crossed this pass to attack the enemies in Eastern Japan. In mid 7th century this trail was designated as an official highway by the Imperial court. Today Nihonzaka Pass is a major landmark for hikers who climb to Mt. Hanazawa or Mt. Manganho, popular hikers' destination.

From: JR Mochimune Station
To: JR Yaizu Station
Length: About 9 kilometers
Duration: Four and an half hours
Level: D+ Manageable for Novice hikers accompanied by a seasoned hiker.
Features: Osaka Area, Crossroads of various hiking routes, Hanazawa Area. Jizos and Koshin Towers
Ideal Hiking Season: January-May October-December
Season to Avoid: Rainy Seasons, From June-September. After Heavy Rain.
Caution: Poorly directed. Map reading and local info required. Some unstable and collapsible parts.

Wikiloc Map: Nihonzaka Pass Trail(Ancient Tokaido)

**Currently the route between Hanazawa and Nihonzaka Pass is closed due to bad trail condition such as fallen trees after Typhoon damage in last September. Trail condition has been improving but it is still necessary to go with local hikers.

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Kiyomita Park is the huge park next to the Yaizu Bunka Center. It is one of the most popular parks in Yaizu and during summertime the fountain area is full of children playing with the water passage.
It is one of the most popular cherry-viewing sites in Yaizu and during late November, gingko trees show impressive yellow leaves.

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Tochiyamagawa Park is a natural park along the old river flows of Tochiyama river. The park is divided with two areas. The main area consists of two swampy ponds and a narrow stream and the other area is a park with playsets for children. The park is a nice place to observe birds, wild plants, insects, frogs, dragonflies and butterflies. Also a nice place to stroll.

Hanazawa area is located at the northeastern part of Yaizu along the ancient highway crossing Nihonzaka Pass. This area is known by the historical buildings and traditional houses. Recently this area has become very popular among tourists as well as hikers.

There are a number of ways to express this place in English. Yaizu Fish Market, Yaizu Sakana Center or so. It is a huge shopping complex of marine products, fish, and local souvenir goods. It is one of the most popular shopping places for tourists who come to Yaizu. Many of those are led to this place without realizing this is Yaizu at all. One of the most popular shopping spaces in Shizuoka Prefecture as well.

Yaizu is one of the places Lafcadio Hearn who named himself Koizumi Yakumo stayed for a short period of time. Hearn wrote some stories and essays on Yaizu such as "At Yaizu". It introduces his life and his works. His ideas and friends in Yaizu. It is one of the sections of Yaizu Bunka Center next to the library.

..."Sometimes Japanese gods get lonely and bored sitting all alone in their shrines."......

That's why local neighbourhood residents like to take their god for a little stroll around the neighbourhood in a portable shrine once or twice a year. :)

These Mikoshi festivals are among the most colourful and exciting festivals in Japan.

Every summer, from Hokkaido to Kyushu you will see Mikoshi festivals, where people carry huge portable shrines through their neighbourhoods for hours on end.

It takes a team of 50 to 100 people, working in shifts of 30 to 50 to carry a Mikoshi, which can weigh several tons.

After the festival, most of the participants sport huge welts and bruises on their shoulders that take weeks to heal, but people who carry Mikoshi always claim that, despite the anguished expressions on their faces, they are having fun..:) yeah yeah...

Carrying Mikoshi is a uniquely Japanese activity, emphasizing harmony and group action and PAIN....hehehheh

As the people walk, they bounce the Mikoshi up and down while chanting. If one person is out of step it makes it difficult for the rest of the people, so it takes a great deal of teamwork and synchronization to move these heavy and unwieldy objects.

YAIZU SHRINE HELD ON AUGUST 12 AND 13.EVERY YEAR..

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Just beyond the PARK at Discovery by the sea there is a path for biking or walking....

..It was late morning and no one was here....but early morning and late afternoon people are often seen strolling around....

I wont recommend night walk alone...even if japan is said to be safe...

Its a shame that this area is not for swimming...Mt fuji can be view from here too

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...NANAKOROBI YAOKI, JINSEI WA KORE KARA DA......

TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH MEANS..........

......TO FALL SEVEN TIMES,
TO RISE EIGHT TIMES,
LIFE STARTS FROM NOW.........

This may be an unsual gift from japan its call DARUMA DOLL..

THESE FIGURES- ROUNDED, USUALLY RED, AND OFTEN MADE OF PAPER-MACHE- CAN BE FOUND VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE IN SHOPS...DESPITE THEIR POPULARITY, THE TRUE ORIGINS OF THE DOLL ARE OFTEN UNKNOWN ....

The story of the daruma goes something like this..."

DARUMA WAS AN INDIAN PRIEST ORIGINALLY NAMED, BODHIDHARMA, AND THE FOUNDER OF ZEN BUDDHISM...

ACCORDING TO HISTORY, HE IS NOTED FOR MEDITAING IN A CAVE FOR 9 YEARS WITHOUT MOVING OR BLINKING HIS EYES....BECAUSE OF THIS INTENSE EXPERIENCE, HE REPORTEDLY LOST THE USE OF HIS ARMS AND LEGS, AND THEREFORE, DARUMA DOLLS ARE GENERALLY WITHOUT ARMS OR LEGS...

This is what you do when you buy one of these...

THE EYES OF THE DOLLS ARE WHITE CIRCLES WITHOUT PUPILS.TO MAKE USE OF THE DARUMA DOLLS POWER, YOU MUST MAKE A WISH OR CREATE A GOAL, FILLING IN THE PUPIL OF THE DOLLS "RIGHT EYE"...WHEN THE WISH OR GOAL IS REALIZED, THE PUPIL OF THE REMAINING EYE IS FILLED IN...

PEOPLE OFTEN HOPING FOR GOOD LUCK AND SUCCESS FOR A SPECIFIC OCCASSION, PURCHASE DARUMA DOLLS.....SPECIALLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, DURING "OSHOGATSU" (JAPANESE NEW YEAR)....

TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE, THESE DOLLS ARE A SYMBOL OF DETERMINATION...AFTER ALL, WHEN THESE ROUNDED DOLLS TIP OVER, THEY QUICKLY RIGHT THEMSELVES....KEEPING IN CHARACTER WITH THE JAPANESE THEMSELVES.....

MOST ARE KEPT FOR ONLY 1 YEAR WHEN THEY ARE COLLECTED AND BURNED AND BLESSED BY A PRIEST IN A RITUAL CALLED.."DARUMA KUYO"

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Yaizu fishing port is the heart of the city...

.... is an important fishing base for distant water fishing vessels.The annual landings of tuna and skipjack are incomparable in Japan.

Many restaurant in Yaizu are famous for fresh tuna dishes, like sashimi..

When you come to yaizu please dont miss eating sushi its the best in the area...

It is also a great spot to view Mt fuji