Jun 22, 2016

Green Tea Ink calligraphy lesson at the residence of the last Shogun.

Hello, Welcome to my blog!

We are a local travel agency and providing taxi tour service
for the cruise ship passengers at Shimizu Port!

Do you have a plan to visit Shimizu Port by cruise ship on July 18th 2016 ?

Today let me introduce a special calligraphy lesson at "Fugetsuro"
 (It was the residence of the last Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu ).

Website of Fugetsuro (Japanese language),  Click here.
About Fugetsuro (English language) Click here

We are sure that it will be a memorable experience in Japan.

Date: July 18th, 2016

 ① 11:00 ~ 12:15 (Leave Shimizu Port at 10:15 by taxi)
 ② 12:30 ~ 13:45 (Leave Shimizu Port at 11:45 by taxi)

Capacity:10persons for each lesson
Price:JPY 15,000 per person

Included: Calligrapy lesson (equipments are all included),
green tea,one way transportation cost



Calligraphy is a figurative art which consists in writing Chinese characters (Kanji)
 or Japanese characters (Kana) in black ink using a special kind of brush. 

It  is very popular in Japan and China. Indeed, every educated person in these countries is supposed to learn and master some basic techniques of calligraphy.

Though it is a difficult and sophisticated art, it has also a flexible and extemporaneous character, and even if you have never written Chinese or Japanese characters in your life, 
you can try to write them in your own way and create your original piece of work in calligraphy.


In this short lesson, you learn how to write your name in Kanji and write your name or any other word you like on a piece of Japanese paper, with a special brush and green tea ink. 

It will be your first original work in calligraphy, and you can bring it back home as a souvenir. It will surely be a memorable experience in Japan.




The last Shogun,Tokugawa Yoshinobu
(1837~1913)


The entrance of Fugetsuro
It is located in the central of Shizuoka City.
Shogun Yoshinobu lived here.(1869-1888).


Fugetsuro is a very beautiful, elegant building !


There is also a beautiful garden which was designed by a famous gardener
 Jihei Ogawa Ⅶ, and it is regarded as the best Japanese garden in Shizuoka.



A wedding couple at Fugetsuro. 
The building and the garden are often used for wedding ceremonies.

"Shoran", the teacher of the lesson, is a talented calligraphy artist. 
She has also good experience in teaching calligraphy to foreign students.. 

Japanese calligraphy artist Shoran.


Green Tea Ink Japanese calligraphy !!

  Calligrapher Shoran Ohba was born in Japan, but educated in Australia and the U.S. 
  
After working for 3 years as a flight attendant  in Japan, she decided to become calligraphy master because she grew up in calligraphy environment and influenced by Master Calligrapher of her grand farther.   
She attended the Japan Calligraphy Academy  and studied under supervision of renowned calligraphy master. 


 Shoran was teaching her class in California
with Cultural Exchange Artist Visa issued by the U.S. State Department.




With the credential of the academy, she opened her calligraphy school in Japan.


Shoran and Lesson room at Fugetsuro.


  How would you like it?

We are looking forward to seeing you at Shimizu port!


We are providing chartered taxi tour at Shimizu Port.


If you are interested in this class, and want to make a reservation,
please send us an e-mail.



Thank you !







Jun 15, 2016

3.5 hour taxi tour from Shimizu Port for the cruise ship passengers(3/3).

Hello, Welcome to my blog!

Do you have a plan to visit ShimizuPort by cruise ship?


We are local travel agency and providing taxi tour service
for the cruise ship passengers.
 at Shimizu Port!

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Miho-no-Matsubara → NihondairaKunozan Toshogu Shrine → 
Nihondaira → Shimizu Port

Approx.3.5hours/JPY 22,000 per one taxi ( not per person )

This is a fully satisfactory course to visit 3 popular spots including one world heritage site!


Today, I will write about Kunozan Toshogu Shrine.


Unchanged for 4 centuries, a beautiful and decadent shrine.

On Trip Advisor site,it ihas been certified 1of 136 things to do
 in Shizuoka. and got certificate of exellence.



I am sorry. For wheel chair users, it is difficult to visit 
because there are many stone steps.


This beautiful shrine is for giving worship to Tokugawa Ieyasu(1543~1616)
the first shogun of the Edo period.

The main shrine was built 400 years ago, and designated a National Treasure in 2010.
The shrine complex is historically invaluable and has remained in excellent condition 
from the time of its founding.

The mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu

Tokugawa Ieyasu laid the foundation for the Edo period, a time of peace that lasted nearly 300 years. 
He passed away at the age of 75, an astounding longevity for his time.

That is why Kunozan Toshogu has come to be a symbol of health,
safety and recovery from illness.

Wedding ceremony at a national treasure.
Website (※Japanese language)  It is so nice isn't it?


You can get to the shrine in just  5 minutes by using the gondola
from the top of Nihondaira.
You can buy the tickets at the top of Nihondaira.
(Nihondaira station).
About tickets & coupon, click here. 

Please note that they accept only Japanese yen, cash only.


How was Kunozan Toshogu Shrine?

We are looking forward to seeing you at Shimizu port!

For more information about chartered taxi tour from Shimizu Port,










Jun 9, 2016

3.5 hour taxi tour from Shimizu Port for the cruise ship passengers(2/3).

Hello, Welcome to my blog!

Do you have a plan to visit Shimizu Port by cruise ship?

We are local travel agency and providing taxi tour service for the cruise ship passengers.
 at Shimizu Port! We are looking forward to seeing you!

Miho-no-Matsubara → Nihondaira → Kunozan Toshogu Shrine → 
Nihondaira → Shimizu Port

Approx.3.5hours/JPY 22,000 per one taxi ( not per person )

This is a fully satisfactory course to visit 3 popular spots including one world heritage site!

Today, I will write about Nihondaira.


A view capturing the essence of Japan, through all four seasons.

Nihondaira is a hilly area, 307 meters above sea level.
Designated as one of Japan’s most scenic spots, from the summit you can admire Mount Fuji, Miho no Matsubara and Suruga Bay.



Green tea picking at Nihondaira Ocha Kaikan
From Mid-April to October 
( JPY500 per person )


The observatory 
The highest Mt.Fuji and the deepest Suruga bay,
Shimizu Port, Izu peninsula, Japanese Southern Alps also can be seen.
(It depends on the weather, please understand.)



There are slopes for the wheel chair users.
Wheel chair users also can visit the observatory.


Although there are many places to get great views of Mt. Fuji, 
Nihondaira is unique for its seasonal elements.

In February, plum trees bloom red and white, and in April, the road to the summit is lined with cherry trees bursting with pink.

How was Nihondaira?

We are looking forward to welcome you at Shimizu Port!

For more information about chartered taxi tour from Shimizu Port,














Jun 8, 2016

3.5 hour taxi tour from Shimizu Port for the cruise ship passengers(1/3).

Hello, Welcome to my blog!



Do you have a plan to visit Shimizu Port by cruise ship?

We are local travel agency and providing taxi tour service for the cruise ship passengers.
 at Shimizu Port! We are looking forward to seeing you!

Miho-no-Matsubara → Nihondaira Plateau Kunozan Toshogu Shrine → 
Nihondaira Plateau → Shimizu Port

Approx.3.5hours/JPY 22,000 per one taxi ( not per person )

This is a fully satisfactory course to visit 3 popular spots including one world heritage site!


Today, I will write about Miho-no-Matsubara


An incredible view of Mount Fuji, with blue sea and verdant pines.
With 30,000 pine trees along a 7km coastline, this is one of Japan’s most beautiful sights.


A subject of many paintings and poetry since ancient times, the pine forest leading to the coastline boasts views of Mount Fuji and the Izu Peninsula across the bay.

The blue sea and white crashing waves, woven with the green pines, together create a landscape not unlike a painting. 


The wedding ceremony in Japanese style.
If you visit, make sure to take a stroll down Kami-no-Michi, or the "road of the gods".

The pine trees stretch over 500m, leading from Miho Shrine to the coast. 
Miho Shrine is famous for bringing couples together.

You’ll get a feeling like nothing else as you walk down this boardwalk, wrapped in the scent of pine and a fresh sea breeze.


From here, it is difficult for wheel chair users to enter.
Over there is sand beach.


"Monument to Elene," 
which consoles the soul of a French dancer, Elene Giuglaris, who was linked to the place by fate. She was touched by the beauty of the legend of hagoromo in learning of a Noh play and came to make a dance work entitled "Hagoromo." 

It was her dream to visit Miho Pine Grove some day, but she fell ill and died at the young age of 35 despite her desire. Her hair is placed in this monument following her will.


After walking, how would you like Shizuoka green tea & Abekawa-mochi(rice cake)?




mail: localtravelpartners@gmail.com

Thank you !