Category:Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture is located in the Chūbu region along the Pacific coast and stretches around the southern slopes of Mount Fuji. The prefecture includes coastlines, tea-growing highlands, river valleys, and volcanic ranges, creating a landscape strongly tied to agriculture, craftsmanship, and travel. Historically, Shizuoka lay along the Tōkaidō route, linking Kyoto and Edo, which shaped its cultural exchange and economic development.

The cities of Shizuoka and Hamamatsu developed as important political and commercial centers. Shizuoka is known for its historical proximity to the Tokugawa family and for its tea culture, while Hamamatsu became a center of instrument making, woodworking, and later modern industry. Smaller towns preserve local craft workshops rooted in community and natural resources.

Culturally, Shizuoka is strongly associated with lacquer, bamboo craft, woodworking, textiles, and tea-related crafts. Many traditional workshops are connected to everyday life and ceremonial practices, reflecting the prefecture’s combination of coastal openness and mountain craftsmanship.

Signature Crafts of Shizuoka Prefecture

• Suruga lacquerware (駿河漆器) – lacquer objects with smooth finishes and refined surface decoration.
• Suruga bamboo craft (駿河竹細工) – delicate bamboo work used for baskets, trays, and decorative pieces.
• Hamamatsu textiles (浜松織物) – cotton and patterned fabrics linked to historic weaving traditions.
• Woodworking and instrument making – including pianos, furniture, and fine hand tools produced in Hamamatsu and surrounding areas.