Hanazawa no Sato Village

The historical landscape and traditional wooden buildings of Hanazawa no Sato have been well maintained since the Edo era (1603–1868). The 30 local-family households and the surrounding nature exist in perfect harmony here. The stunning landscape has remained unchanged since the town’s founding.

As you leave the village café inside one of the traditional Japanese houses, you'll find Hokkeji Temple, another symbol of this secret paradise. Walking a bit further from the temple, you'll come across the starting point of a hiking trail to the 470-meter-high Mankanho Hill, the mountain ridge that stretches out toward Suruga Bay. Ascend the hill to follow in the footsteps of local tea farmers. At the summit, you can see Mt. Fuji, Nihondaira Hill, Kuno Beach (famous for strawberry greenhouses), and the Izu Peninsula beyond Suruga Bay, which is the deepest bay in Japan. 

Highlights

•  Late March / April - Cherry Blossom Season
• Late May / June - Bougainvillea blossoming
• October / November - Mandarin Season

Access

• About 15 minutes by car from the Yaizu IC on the Tomei Expressway