Main image: Kawazu Zakura courtesy of Tourism Shizuoka Japan
Just one hour by bullet train from Tokyo and home to Mount Fuji, Shizuoka offers an array of events. From early cherry blossoms, giant kites and doll festivals to spectacular firework displays and green tea celebrations. The team at Tourism Shizuoka Japan have summarised some of the unmissable seasonal events in the region.
Winter – Japanese Noon Tea, Early Blossoms and Dolls
Shizuoka is Japan’s top producer of green tea. The region’s famous produce can be enjoyed with a Suruga Noon Tea at vendors in the central area until February. Expect distinct tea blends paired with exquisitely prepared sweet treats.
Shizuoka is also home to some of the earliest blooming cherry blossoms in Japan. Travellers can see vast displays of flowers at the Itokawa Promenade Sakura Festival and the Kawazu Cherry Blossoms Festival .
Each year in Japan, a Doll Festival (Hina Matsuri) takes place on the 3rd of March. Families celebrate their female children and pray for their continued health and happiness by displaying traditional Hina dolls. Before the festival Kasuisai Temple holds the Kasuisai Doll Festival. Attracting huge crowds keen to catch a glimpse of the ancient temple decorated with over 1,000 intricately made dolls.
Spring – Giant Kites and Green Tea
One of the most famous spring events held in Shizuoka is the 3-day-long Hamamatsu Festival (3rd – 5th May). The event sees large decorated kites battling in the skies above Nakatajima Dune. At night , illuminated floats parade through the streets, each representing a local neighbourhood.
Celebrating the region’s links to green tea, The Kanaya Tea Festival draws the crowds. Held every 2 years on the 2nd weekend of the month, coinciding with the first picking of the new green tea leaves. This festival includes green tea-themed food stalls, green tea tasting and preparation demonstrations, traditional floats with music, and over 1,000 dancers dressed in traditional tea-picking costumes parading through the streets.
Summer – Fantastic Fireworks and the Start of Mount Fuji’s Climbing Season
Shizuoka is famous for its firework displays, with the most popular pyrotechnic summer event being the Fukuroi Enshu Fireworks Festival each July. Here, professional teams gather from all over Japan to compete and visitors are treated to awe-inspiring displays that light up the skies.
July also marks the start of the Mount Fuji climbing season, with locals and visitors ascending the famous mountain for spectacular views across the prefecture. There are three different routes in Shizuoka to climb the mountain, each ranging in ability and duration.
Autumn – Fall Foliage and Street Performers
As autumn arrives, the changing leaves in Shizuoka are just as beautiful as the region’s famous cherry blossoms, making it an ideal time to visit. From mid-November until early December, visitors can enjoy the Atami Baien Momiji Festival for a seasonal display of foliage in fall colours. The garden’s spectacular Japanese maples are a highlight with their vivid orange and red hues.
Also held each autumn for more than 30 years, the DAIDOGEI World Cup is an event dedicated to street performance artistry in Shizuoka City. The international event is one of Asia’s top street performance festivals, attracting talent from around the globe, taking place in November.
Find out more or plan your own adventure using the website below.
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