Located just 100 km from Tokyo, the city of Numazu, in Shizuoka Prefecture, is less than an hour's ride away on the Hikari bullet train. Numazu merged with a neighboring city in April and today has a population total of over 211,000 and a land area of 187.1 sq. km.
Blessed by a mild climate and abundant nature, this city has beautiful ports and sweeping shorelines that are accentuated by a magnificent, dynamic view of Mount Fuji beyond. Loads of fresh seafood are caught every day from surrounding waters, prepared as superb sushi and "kaisen" seafood dishes and served at popular, famous restaurants dotting Numazu Harbor. The warm weather also contributes to the cultivation of a wide variety of produce, such as the city's famous mandarin oranges and Japanese tea that are shipped throughout the nation.
Representative of places of interest, View-O is recommended to those seeking to get an aerial view of the entire city and the surrounding landscape. As one of the largest water gates in Japan, View-O links the port of Numazu with the outer sea, protecting the populated 50-hectare area from tsunami. The 360-degree panoramic view from this 30-meter observatory is truly spectacular, offering glimpses of Mount Ashitaka, Mount Fuji, the Southern Alps down to the city of Shimizu on a clear day, the steep peaks of Hakone and the Numazu Alps, the Ganyudo shore just below, as well as Osezaki Cape, located on the tip of Suruga Bay.