Buzz
We decided to pack our bags and head to the bustling capital Tokyo for an adventure. However, upon arrival, my friend suddenly changed our plans. Instead of exploring big cities, she persuaded me to visit Shizuoka.
Exploring Shizuoka: a serene retreat in Japan's land of the rising sun
'You've seen enough of the modern big cities, saturated in newspapers and on TV. It's time for a taste of rural Japan!' she advised, and ultimately decided. Reluctantly, I agreed, taking the high-speed Shinkansen train from Tokyo to Shizuoka.
Shizouka – a tranquil town
Shizouka Prefecture lies between the capital Tokyo and Nagoya. If you take the bullet train, it's about 1.5 hours from Tokyo and 50 minutes from Nagoya. The train is not just fast but incredibly smooth; perhaps even smoother than a plane, making the journey seem like a breeze.
Yasu, a friend of my friend, was waiting for us right at Tokaido station. He had studied in Vietnam for nearly 2 years, so his Vietnamese was quite good. However, he still complained that he had almost forgotten it now. The place we arrived at was the town of Shizouka near the city of Shimoda.
Exploring Shizouka, I was truly surprised by such a peaceful town in this modern and dynamic land of the rising sun. Red-tiled houses nestled amidst expansive gardens.
Surrounding the houses were fences made of low bamboo and wooden lattices, enough to enclose the houses but not obstruct the view. Each house had wooden gates with signs bearing the owner's name, as if to display their hospitality.
The town still retains many traditional Japanese wooden houses. Those houses must have been standing for a long time as the wooden pillars have weathered.
But upon seeing the neatly trimmed fences, the clean garden spaces, and the tiled roofs arranged like undulating waves, one knows that the owners of those houses have taken meticulous care of their homes.
Yasu told me that in each house here, the ancestral altar is placed in the main room at the most solemn position, beneath which is a small hearth for the elderly during the winter.
My curiosity was satisfied when I captured a photo of Yasu's family altar: simple yet elegant and cozy.
While here, I felt like I was back in my hometown, still hearing the sound of frogs after rain and the crowing of roosters in the morning. The most abundant gift that nature has bestowed upon this land is its fresh air.
Nature has blessed this land with the mildest climate in Japan. That's why Shizuoka is famous for its green tea plantations, Navel oranges, and Wasabi – a type of root used in fresh dishes.
When exploring Shizouka, imagine waking up each morning to inhale the crisp mountain air, with hints of orange and the scent of lush vegetation. What a blissful life. No traffic jams, no crowded trains; life here is truly 'refreshing' in every sense of the word.
The most famous landmark in Shizuoka is Mount Fuji. Standing at 3,776 meters above sea level, Mount Fuji has become the symbol of the land of the rising sun.
Conquering the summit of Mount Fuji is the dream of many when visiting Shizouka, but not everyone has the ability to do so.
So, I decided to admire the mountain from afar and explore the nature surrounding its foothills. Right at the base of this mountain, many Vietnamese people live, and you can have a meal at Saigon restaurant before visiting the picturesque Hamanako Lake.
I also learned that Riyo Mori – the former Miss Universe 2007 – hails from this peaceful town.
Shiraito Falls at the foot of the mountain is also a very attractive destination for tourists. The unique feature of this waterfall is the water cascading straight down from a height of 20 meters, making it look like a silk ribbon stretched across the mountains from afar.
The white bands of water sweep over the moss-covered rocks at the base of Mount Fuji. Spanning 130m, this gentle waterfall creates shade, coolness, and excellent moisture for the surrounding vegetation.
The next day, we visited Shizuoka's equally famous attraction as Mount Fuji – the Horai Bridge. The 897m-long bridge is entirely made of wood. The wooden beams are closely fitted and stretch across the Oi River, connecting the two banks. Built in 1879, the bridge has been recorded in the Guinness World Records as the longest wooden bridge in the world.
We decided to leave our shoes behind and walk barefoot on the bridge. The sensation of our bare feet touching the wood was amazing. Yasu proudly told me that this bridge has now become a familiar sight on Japanese screens...
Impressions Before Goodbye
The days in Shizuoka were truly memorable. What stuck most in my mind was the people of Shizuoka. Unlike the fast-paced life in big cities, life here seems to slow down, pausing with time.
Living here, you feel like living in childhood. There are old people here, but they don't get any older, and children remain innocent forever. Yasu's family spans four generations under the same roof.
Grandpa Yashimazu, nearly a hundred years old, still wanted to take a walk with us to introduce the various plants in Shizuoka. Yasu's grandmother spent the entire evening preparing traditional root dishes for us.
Though not accustomed to the taste, I still had to admit… it was delicious. From post-World War II Japan to today, society has given rise to a 'workaholic' culture – people who only know work and sadly sometimes 'die' for it.
Shimada is like an oasis in that world. People here work, but they work to 'live and enjoy,' not just to 'exist.' If someone thinks Shizuoka is sad, then I quite like the 'sadness' of Shizuoka.
Parting ways with Shizuoka, in a fleeting moment, I suddenly see Shizuoka as a 'sleeping beauty in the forest,' and I want her to keep sleeping like this so I can see her more beautiful than ever.
Source: Minh Van/Tuoi Tre
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourFebruary 26, 2018
