Shizuoka, just an hour from Tokyo by bullet train, is welcoming visitors with a host of new experiences that spotlight its scenery, flavours and culture. This season brings the opening of Bentenjima Cycle Gate on the shores of Lake Hamana, offering bicycle rentals and a new beginner-friendly route, the return of the popular Suruga Afternoon Tea and the debut of the Soratto Makinohara roadside station - making it an ideal time to explore the region.

Explore Lake Hamana on Two Wheels

A new bicycle rental shop, Bentenjima Cycle Gate, has opened in Bentenjima Seaside Park, offering a fresh way to explore the shores of Lake Hamana. Just steps from Bentenjima Station on the JR Tokaido Line, it gives visitors easy access to one of Japan's largest lakes, known for its unique mix of freshwater and seawater and its calm, scenic views.

There is also a new 12 km one-way route from Bentenjima to Kanzanji Onsen, perfect for beginners with mostly flat terrain and stretches of bike-only paths. This self-guided ride is easy to follow and ideal for enjoying lake breezes, wide-open scenery and local favourites such as hot springs, cafés and Hamamatsu's famous grilled eel.

Bicycle rentals start from JPY 2,000 (approx. £9.80) per bike for rentals returned on the same day by 4:00 pm or 4:30 pm, depending on the season. For more information, visit

https://exploreshizuoka.jp/activities/places/cycling-lake-hamana/

Savour Suruga's Seasonal Tea Experience

The Suruga Afternoon Tea experience has returned for the season after proving hugely popular last year, now bigger and better with an expanded line-up of 32 participating cafés, restaurants and tea farms across the Suruga region. Each venue offers its own afternoon tea set, pairing locally produced Shizuoka teas with beautifully crafted sweets.

Running now until 28 February (with some venues offering it year-round), the programme highlights the region's deep tea heritage - Shizuoka produces nearly 40% of Japan's tea - and invites visitors to enjoy its flavours in a relaxed, modern setting. With strong demand from both locals and travellers, Suruga Afternoon Tea continues to grow as one of the region's most distinctive seasonal experiences.

A full list of participating venues, along with further details, is available here: https://suruga-noontea.com/

Visit the New Soratto Makinohara Station

A new roadside station, Soratto Makinohara, has opened in Makinohara - an area famous for its sweeping tea fields - offering travellers an easy and flavour-packed stop as they explore Shizuoka. The market showcases fresh produce from nearby farms, seafood from Suruga Bay and matcha-based sweets made with the region's renowned tea.

Visitors can also enjoy regional dishes at the on-site restaurant, serving tea-infused soba, Suruga Bay whitebait, Yaizu bonito and Yumesaki beef, a branded beef from Shizuoka. Conveniently located just six minutes from Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport, it is an ideal first or last stop for those flying into the region.

More information is available here: https://michinoeki-makinohara.com/

ENDS

About Shizuoka

Just one hour from Tokyo by bullet train, Shizuoka prefecture is home to the iconic Mount Fuji. It boasts a spectacular natural environment of coastline, mountains and lakes, including the beautiful Izu Peninsula, which has been described as “Japan's Riviera” and was designated as a Global Geopark by UNESCO in April 2018. The region is steeped in history, has a huge choice of traditional ryokan inns and onsen hot springs, and is also a gourmet paradise. Its natural environment produces some of the country's best food and drink, from green tea and wasabi to fresh seafood. Shizuoka is Japan's biggest producer of green tea.

For more information, contact: Laura Boo (Laura@humewhitehead.co.uk) or Richard Hume (Richard@humewhitehead.co.uk) or call 020 3375 4050.