A short drive from Tokyo, Shizuoka is home to the iconic Mount Fuji and boasts an incredible natural environment, including the idyllic Izu Peninsula often described as “Japan's Riviera”. The region is steeped in history, is home to a wide variety of onsen hot springs and is a gourmet paradise producing some of country's best food and drink. Travelling by campervan allows visitors to move from place to place in their own space without constantly packing and unpacking, giving more time to explore the best that Shizuoka has to offer, from major tourism sites to beautiful off-the-beaten track locations just waiting to be discovered. Departing from Dream Drive's Tokyo depot just 1.5 hours from Shizuoka, highlights of the four-day itinerary include:

Day One: scenic stops at Tanuki Lake with views of Mount Fuji and the Shiraito Falls, home to a 150- meter stretch of cascading volcanic water.

Day Two: the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, a street food style lunch of the region's famous Fujinomiya Yakisoba noodles and a visit to the ancient Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha shrine along with impressive mountainous roadside views.

Day Three: A visit to charming Shuzenji, one of the oldest hot spring resort towns on the Izu Peninsula, exploring the Shuzenji Temple and taking a stroll down the Katsura River's baboo forest path before a picturesque drive on the West Izu Skyline, a winding road that offers panoramic views of countryside below.

Day Four: Waking to ocean views, day four takes in the dramatic stone formations and coastal cliffs of Dogashima before visiting the mesmerising Kawazu Seven Waterfalls, then heading back to Tokyo via the distinctive double spiral Kawazu Nanadaru Loop Bridge, that stems 45-meters out of a valley into the mountain side.

Full details of the Shizuoka itinerary, with tips on where to camp, local food and must-see attractions, can be found on Dream Drive's website and a video of Dream Drive's co-founders Tyson, Jared and Hajime exploring the route, can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVpmnU-wbDc 

Dream Drive offers 5 different, custom-designed campervans, from the compact Kago which sleeps up to 2 adults to the Kuma, which sleeps 2 adults and 2 children (or 3 adults) and is perfect for families. They can be hired from as little as 12,900 JPY (approximately £88) per night plus a one-off cleaning fee of 3,500 JPY (approximately £24) per hire and include linens, cooking and eating equipment.

For more information on Shizuoka, visit: https://exploreshizuoka.com/ 
For more information about Dream Drive, visit: https://www.dreamdrive.life/