Cityscapes

• Gallery
• Sunpu Castle (2014)
• CBD of Shizuoka City (2020)
• Skyline of Shizuoka City (2021)
• Downtown of Shichikenchō (2021)
• Konyachō (2021)
• Ryōgaechō (2021)
• Port of Shimizu (2022)
• Sunrise of Shizuoka City (2020)

Basic data

• Area of densely populated region
  • 103.99 km² (40.15 sq mi)
• Urban planning area
  • 234.80 km² (90.66 sq mi)
• Area zoned for urbanization
  • 104.0 km² (40.2 sq mi)

Nature

Climate

On the south-central Pacific coast Shizuoka has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), which is hot and humid in the summer, and rarely snows in the winter.^[7] It is close to the warm Kuroshio Current and is wet even by Japanese standards with only slightly less precipitation than Kanazawa on the opposite side of Honshū, but it is paradoxically the sunniest of Japan's major cities owing to the absence of summer fog and its sheltered location from the northwesterly winds off the Sea of Japan. Further north, the mountainous Ikawa area is part of the Japanese snow country, where there are ski areas.

Area

Demographics

As of August 2019,^[update] the city had an estimated population of 704,989 in 286,013 households^[2] and a population density of 507 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,310/sq mi).

Bordering municipalities

Ancient history

The area that is now the city of Shizuoka has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Numerous kofun have been found within the city limits, and the Toro archaeological site indicates that a major Yayoi period (circa 400 BC–300 AD) settlement existed in what is now part of the central city area.

Suruga was established as a province of Japan in the early Nara period. At some point between the year 701 and 710, the provincial capital was relocated from what is now Numazu, to a more central location on the banks of the Abe River at a location named Sunpu (駿府) (a contraction of "Suruga no Kokufu" (駿河の国府)) or alternatively "Fuchū" (府中).

Pre-modern Shizuoka

During the Muromachi period, Sunpu was the capital of the Imagawa clan. The Imagawa were defeated at the Battle of Okehazama, and Sunpu was subsequently ruled by Takeda Shingen, followed by Tokugawa Ieyasu. However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi relocated Ieyasu, and installed Nakamura Kazutada to rule Sunpu. After the Toyotomi were defeated in the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu recovered Sunpu, reassigning it to his own retainer, Naitō Nobunari in 1601. This marked the start of Sunpu Domain.

In April 1606, Ieyasu officially retired from the post of shōgun, and retired to Sunpu, where he established a secondary court, from which he could influence Shōgun Tokugawa Hidetada from behind the scenes. Subsequently, aside for brief periods, Sunpu was tenryō (territory under direct administration by the Shogunate), ruled by the Sunpu jōdai (駿府城代), an appointed official based in Sunpu.

From the Meiji period to World War II

In 1869, after the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, the former shogunal line, headed by Tokugawa Iesato was sent to Sunpu and assigned the short-lived Sunpu Domain. The same year, Sunpu was renamed "Shizuoka". Shizuoka Domain became Shizuoka Prefecture with the abolition of the han system in 1871, which was expanded in 1876 through merger with the former Hamamatsu Prefecture and western portions of Ashigaru Prefecture in 1876. Shizuoka Station on the Tōkaidō Main Line was opened on 1 February 1889. The same day, a fire burned down most of downtown Shizuoka.

The modern city was founded on 1 April 1889. At the time, the population was 37,681, and Shizuoka was one of the first 31 cities established in Japan.

An electric tram service began in 1911. In 1914, due to heavy rains caused by a typhoon, the Abe River flooded, inundating the downtown area.^[11] In the national census of 1920, the population of Shizuoka was 74,093. The area of the city continued to expand through the 1920s and 1930s through merger with outlying towns and villages. In 1935, the city was struck by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, resulting in much damage. Although soon rebuilt, a large fire in 1940 again destroyed much of the center of the city.

During World War II, Shizuoka lacked targets of major military significance, and was initially only lightly bombed during several American air raids. However, in a major firebombing raid of 19 June 1945, the city suffered an extreme amount of damage with high civilian casualties.

Post-war Shizuoka

The area of the city continued to expand through the 1950s and 1960s through merger with outlying towns and villages. On 1 October 1964, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen began services to Shizuoka, and on 25 April 1969 the city was connected to the Tōmei Expressway. On 7 July 1974, the Abe River flooded, and landslides occurred during heavy rains, killing 23 people.^{[citation needed]} On 16 August 1980, a major gas leak in an underground shopping center near Shizuoka Station resulted in an explosion, killing 15 people and seriously injuring 233 others. The Shizuoka City Hall moved to new premises in 1986. On 1 April 1992, Shizuoka was designated a core city by the central government, giving it increased autonomy.^[12]

The 1 April 2003 merger with Shimizu City (current Shimizu Ward) greatly expanded the area and population of Shizuoka,^[13] which then became a designated city on 1 April 2005,^[14] and was divided into three wards. ^{[citation needed]}

Despite being somewhat geographically isolated from the rest of the city, the town of Kanbara (from Ihara District) was merged into Shizuoka on 31 March 2006,^[15] becoming part of Shimizu-ku. On 1 November 2008, the town of Yui (also from Ihara District) was also merged into Shimizu-ku, resulting in the dissolution of Ihara District.^[16]

Mayors

Administration

Twin towns – Sister cities

Shizuoka has twin and friendship relationships with several cities.^[17][18]

International

Sister cities

More information City, Country ...

City	Country	State	since
Stockton	United States	California	October 16, 1959
Omaha	United States	Nebraska	April 1, 1965
Shelbyville	United States	Indiana	November 3, 1989
Cannes	France	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur	November 5, 1991[19]

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Friendship cities

More information City, Country ...

City	Country	State	since
Huế	Vietnam	Thừa Thiên Huế province	April 12, 2005

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National

Sister cities

More information City, Prefecture ...

City	Prefecture	region	since
Muroran	Iburi	Hokkaidō region	December 24,1976
Jōetsu	Niigata	Chūbu region	October 12, 1995

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Friendship cities

More information City, Prefecture ...

City	Prefecture	region	since
Saku	Nagano	Chūbu region	October 12, 1989

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Agriculture

Green tea

Varieties such as Motoyama and Yabukita are grown in all corners of the city, and the varieties grown especially in the Warashina area in Aoi Ward and the Ryōgōchi area of Shimizu Ward are known for their high quality

Strawberries

"Stonewall strawberries" (石垣いちご, ishigaki ichigo) are strawberries that grow in holes on inclined stone walls, grown especially along an 8 km (5 mi) stretch of Kunō Kaidō (route 150), also known as "Strawberry Road", along the coast of Suruga Bay.^[24]

Wasabi

especially in areas such as Utōgi in Aoi Ward

Mandarin orange and other citrus fruits

especially Satsuma, a seedless and easy-peeling citrus mutant, known as mikan (みかん) or formally unshū mikan (ウンシュウミカン)^{[25][26][27][28]}

Lotus roots

especially in the Asahata area of Aoi Ward

Roses

especially in the Ihara and Okitsu areas in Shimizu Ward

Peaches

especially in the Osada area:::

Potatoes

Especially the Sebago potato. Originally exported to Crookwell

Fishery

Shimizu Port boasts the largest haul of tuna in all Japan.^{[citation needed]} Kanbara Harbour enjoys a prosperous haul of sakura ebi, and Mochimune Harbour enjoys a prosperous haul of shirasu sardines.

Products

Abekawa Mochi is a type of rice cake (or mochi) made with kinako soy flour that is a specialty of Shizuoka.

Shizuoka has a long history of being involved in the craft industries going back over 400 years ago, using trees, including hinoki cypress. The model industry goes back to the late 1920s when wood was used to produce model toys, using sashimono woodworking joinery techniques, purely for educational purposes. Craftsmen later moved on to lighter woods including balsa, but following the war, with the importation of US built scale models, many companies either turned to plastic models to compete or went under.^[29][30]

The town has since become internationally notable for its plastic scale model kits^[31] and is resident to long-established companies such as Aoshima, Fujimi, Hasegawa, and Tamiya. Another model brand, Bandai, produces its Gundam models exclusively at its Bandai Hobby Center plant in the city.^[32] The city hosts the long-running Shizuoka Hobby Show annually in May at Twin Messe Shizuoka.^[33]

Print media

The Shizuoka Shimbun is the area's primary newspaper.

The book trilogy “Paper Gods” by Amanda Sun takes place in this city.

Broadcast media

Colleges and universities

• Shizuoka University

National university, founded 1949. Main campus in Suruga Ward. Abbreviated to 静大 (Shizudai).

• University of Shizuoka (Shizuoka Prefectural University)

Public university whose main campus is in Suruga Ward, close to Kusanagi Station.

• Tokai University

Shimizu campus of the Tokyo-based private university

• Tokoha Gakuen University

Private university founded in 1946

• Shizuoka Eiwa Gakuin University

Co-educational private university in Suruga Ward, founded by missionaries from the Methodist Church of Canada with the support of the Shizuoka prefectural government. First institution in Shizuoka Prefecture to offer secondary education for girls, it became a four-year coeducational university in 2002.

• University of Shizuoka Junior College

Junior college in Suruga Ward, affiliated with University of Shizuoka.

• Tokai University Junior College

Junior college in Aoi Ward, affiliated with Tokai University.

• Tokoha Gakuen Junior College

Junior college in Aoi Ward, affiliated with Tokoha Gakuen University.

Primary and secondary education

Shizuoka has 91 elementary schools, 57 middle schools and 27 high schools. In addition there are 29 vocations schools and 12 public libraries.

Airways

Railways

Shizuoka lies on the Tōkaidō Main Line, the JR Central main railway line from Tokyo to Osaka, and is well-served by the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, limited express and regional trains. The central station of Shizuoka is in the city centre. Shizuoka also has an LRT line, the Shizuoka Railway, administered by the Shizuoka Railway Co., Ltd. at Shizuoka Station. The under construction Chūō Shinkansen will pass through the mountainous area in the northern tip of the city. However, the line is not planned to have a station in Shizuoka.

Buses

Roads

Seaways

Local attractions

Major attractions

• Nihondaira
• Miho no Matsubara

Historic spots

Festivals

Daidogei World Cup (大道芸ワールドカップ, Daigougei Waarudo kappu)

The Daidogei World Cup is an annual international street performers' festival, held over various locations around the city in November over four days. It was first held in 1992.^[37]

Shizuoka Festival (静岡まつり, Shizuoka Matsuri)

The festival, which begun in 1957 but whose origins date back to traditions hundreds of years old, takes place in April, during the high point of the year for cherry blossoms. A flower-viewing procession echoes the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu's custom of taking daimyōs (feudal lords) to Sengen Shrine to view the cherry blossoms in the 17th century.^[38]

Abekawa Fireworks (安倍川花火, Abekawa Hanabi)

A gigantic fireworks display held upstream on Shizuoka's Abekawa River in late July. It was first held 1953, to remember those who died during World War II and to pray for a national revival. Today, around 15,000 fireworks are .^[39]

Cuisine

Oden

a Japanese dish consisting of several ingredients such as boiled eggs, daikon radish, konnyaku, and processed fish cakes stewed in a light, soy-flavoured dashi broth. Oden in Shizuoka uses a dark coloured broth flavoured with beef stock and dark soy sauce. All ingredients are skewered. Dried, ground fish (sardine, mackerel, or katsuobushi) and aonori powder (edible seaweed) are sprinkled on top before eating.

Gyoza

Soba noodles

Seafood

Zōni soup

rice cakes in a broth cooked with vegetables, popular at New Year

Tororo-jiru

A grated yam soup. Chojiya, a tororo-jiru restaurant founded in 1598 in Mariko-juku area of Shizuoka, west of the Abe River, was made famous by Hiroshige when he depicted it in his series of ukiyo-e prints of the 53 stops along the Tōkaidō.

Shizuoka Performing Arts Center

The Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC) was founded in 1995 by the Shizuoka Prefecture.^[40] The building was designed by architect Arata Isozaki^[41] and was opened in 1999 for the second Theatre Olympics.^[42]

The arts center is the first publicly funded cultural organization in Japan to have its own troupe of actors and other staff to manage its own venues and facilities for artistic purposes. Suzuki Tadashi was the first Artistic Director, appointed in 1997 and staying in the position until March 2007, after which Miyagi Satoshi took up the appointment.^[40] SPAC has organised the World Theatre Festival Shizuoka each year since 2011,^[43] as well as creating its own theatre productions (some of which tour abroad), having students to learn at the center, and other theatrical activities.^[40]

The World Theatre Festival Shizuoka was formerly called the Shizuoka Spring Festival (2000-2010^[43]), being changed to "World Theater Festival Shizuoka under Mt. Fuji" in 2012 by the artistic director of the centre, Miyagi Satoshi. His intention was "to connect Shizuoka to the world through theater", to have performances from every corner of the world, for "people to see that the world isn't a set and finished quantity and there is still plenty of room for change. I wanted to communicate that theater is a window to the world".^[41] The festival includes stage plays, puppetry, film, dance and other performance arts.^[43]

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on 3 April that the festival, scheduled to begin from 25 April to 6 May, would be cancelled. Instead, Miyagi staged an online version of the festival.^[44]

Sport

With the Shimizu merger, Shimizu S-Pulse became the major football club in the city. Recently, however, a new rival club, Fujieda MYFC (from nearby Fujieda), has been rising in the regional league ranks as a contender for a place in the Japan Football League. The city hosted the official Asian Basketball Championship for Women in 1995 and 1999.

• IAI Stadium Nihondaira
• Konohana Arena