Japanese Culture in New York - Chopsticks NY

Along the popular route between Tokyo and the western region of Japan, there is a lot to see:  Shizuoka is one of the prefectures that a lot of people passing through without recognizing its beauty and rich local culture.  Located in southwestern side of Mt. Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture observes Mt. Fuji from a different direction, and has been culturally rich as the mild climate blossoms high-quality agricultural products, and the mid point of the Tokaido passage that connects Edo (today’s Tokyo) and Kyoto for centuries.

Izu Peninsula

Shizuoka’s Izu Peninsula is a famous getaway for natural hot springs, calm weather and fresh seafood, and is very popular destination for residents from the greater Tokyo area.  Numazu City is the gateway to the Peninsula, where people greatly appreciate the milder climate than Tokyo:  In the past, even the Japanese Imperial Family chose Numazu for their vacation house in 1893.  After the three generations, the Numazu Imperial Villa was opened to the public as the Imperial Villa Memorial Park with a fabulous Japanese garden, a panoramic view of Mt. Fuji over the city of Numazu, and the architecture that perfectly combined traditional Japanese and the 19th century Western craftsman style.

Ryokans of Treasure
South of Numazu starts Izu Peninsula:  Numerous hot springs and rolling hills are the trait of the Peninsula’s geography, and with the fabulous views of Pacific Ocean and Mt. Fuji as well as the natural hot springs, Izu is home to several high quality ryokans for luxurious weekend trip from the nation’s capital.  Arai Ryokan, which operates in the Japan’s national treasure property since 1872, is known for the ryokan where celebrated Japanese artists and writers spent days for inspiration.  The ryokan’s location provides peaceful natural view from every guest room, and its architecture has artistic elements such as painters’ designs for hot spring bath rooms and details from paintings in ceramic roof tiles.  They provide facility tours in English, introducing each architectural detail.  The facility is built upon such perfectionism, and the harmony with the surrounding nature is the asset of this ryokan.  Arai Ryokan received two stars by world’s renowned guidebook Michelin in 2009 for the view of Katsura Stream and the bamboo path that runs nearby.  This is the perfect indulgence getaway accommodation for both relaxation and inspiration for new creativity.  Service is available in English.
www.arairyokan.net (Japanese only)

You’ll also find hot sptings in Izu with breathtaking ocean views.   Yamatokan is a ryokan in Shimoda, a city in a southern Izu peninsula, and their entire fifth floor is dedicated to hot springs with six large bathing rooms, and each of them has a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.  Thanks to the beachside location of this ryokan, the ocean view is also available at guest rooms.  For more indulgence, Yamatokan offers private outdoor bath in their suites:  The bath is on the outside terrace of each suite, and the hot spring water creates a natural aroma from the cedar bathtub.  The heavenly view of the ocean, beach and rolling hills in a distance is the tranquilizer.  Yamatokan’s highlight is the Spa Villa:  Open for hourly use as well, the spacious wood deck has a Zen style relaxing bath with an ocean panorama.  Soaked in the natural hot spring water and breathing the ocean air, the Spa Villa is the ultimate escape from today’s urban life.
www.shimoda-yamatokan.co.jp (Japanese only)

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SURUGA BAY FERRY

Mt. Fuji is visible from the ride when the weather allows.  The ferry connects Shimizu Port in the middle of Shizuoka to Doi, the gateway to Izu Peninsula with full of hot spring spots and ryokan culture.  The ferry is often accompanied by schools of flying fish, and seagulls asking for food from passengers.  Sushi lunch in Shimizu before the ferry ride and move on to stay in Izu for hot springs at ryokan.
http://www.dream-ferry.co.jp/

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Kawana Resort Golf Course

Another popular resort activity is golf:  Izu’s accessible and relaxing location has been chosen for a golf destination since the early days of golf in Japan.  A renowned British golf course architect from the early 20th century Charles Alison laid out one of the first golf courses in Japan in Kawana of Izu Peninsula in 1936, and you will see why he chose this location once you play in Kawana Resort Golf Course.  With the majestic Mt. Fuji beyond the green and the coastline reminiscent of California’s Pebble Beach, Kawana Resort is a well-known public golf course within a two-hour-drive from greater Tokyo.  This historic golf course hosts the annual professional golf tournament in Japan as well in its challenging 18 holes.
http://www.princehotels.co.jp/kawana-e/index.html

Shizuoka’s Rich Agricultural Products

Green Tea in Makinohara

Just as the Mediterranean climate is a natural fertilizer for fabulous grapes for wine, Shizuoka’s mild warm weather makes the region Japan’s top green tea manufacturing region.  Many of Shizuoka’s green tea plantations are located in Makinohara City, where 20% of Japan’s tea leaves are produced.  Greenpia Makinohara, a green tea related in western Shizuoka, offers visitor tea related programs and authentic tea drinking workshops.   The tea picking programs are available from May to early October, followed by tea processing and authentic tea drinking workshops.  Visitors can also go to a factory tours in the property as well as enjoy green tea cuisines in a 120 years old plantation house.

Wasabi in Shizuoka City

Wasabi, the green horseradish, is a necessity for good Japanese food, particularly when fresh seafood is the center of the plate.  There are much more recipes of wasabi than garnish for sushi, and Shizuoka City, the capital of the Prefecture, is the largest wasabi manufacturing region in Japan.  Wasabi requires very clean pure water to grow, and Shizuoka has been a large wasabi manufacturing region since late 16th century, and people discovered several wasabi recipes such as crackers, sorbet and noodles.  Stop by local restaurants in Shizuoka City for super fresh wasabi cooking.

ART

Hiroshige Museum

Shizuoka is located on the famous Tokaido passage that connects Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto for centuries, and most of best views of the passage are in Shizuoka and are chosen by many artists for their works.  One of them was the legendary ukiyo-e painter Hiroshige Utagawa, who produced paintings of all 53 stations of this passage, including several sceneries of the passage as well as people’s lives in Shizuoka.  This museum exhibits 1300 pieces of Hiroshige collection paintings as well as Edo style café and ukiyo-e related exhibitions.  Admission is 500 yen, closed on Mondays and December 28 through January 4).  297-1 Yui, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Phone +81-(0)54-375-4454

Hyuga Mansion

Another architectural landmark in Izu is the Hyuga Mansion:  The Hyuga family, succeeded in international trade in the early 20th century, had a German architect Bruno Julius Florian Taut to design the interior of their summer house in Atami, the northern Izu Peninsula.  Taut was already famous for his modernism and expressionism in his work in Germany, and the Mansion remains a great showcase of modern Japonisme.

——– Nori Akashi : Public Relations Manager at the New York Office of JNTO

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Coming up IN SHIZUOKA

Hamamatsu City is hosting the International Mosaiculture 2009 from September 19 to November 23, 2009.  The event showcases large sized live plant sculpture installations from the world.  The exhibition takes place every three years, and Hamamatsu is the venue of this year’s event.  Find more at www.mih2009.com.

Representing Japanese green tea country, the World O-CHA (Tea) Festival 2010 takes place in Shizuoka.  As the title implies, the event covers teas from all over the world and tea-oriented culture and the tea industry.  Japan’s tea culture is of course one of the highlights during the event.  Go to http://www.o-cha2010.jp/english/index.html for details.

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Japan National Tourism Organization
New York Office
One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY 10020
TEL: 212-757-5640  www.japantravelinfo.com