Heda, dissolved municipality in Tagata district, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan
Heda is a former independent village on the coast of Suruga Bay, on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture. It sits around a sheltered natural harbor and consists mainly of fishing docks, narrow streets with traditional houses, and a handful of hot spring facilities.
The village grew over the centuries as a fishing settlement in a sheltered bay and became a known stop for ships passing through the region. In 2005, Heda was absorbed into the city of Numazu and lost its status as an independent municipality.
Around the harbor, fishing boats come and go, and the docks stay active through most of the day with workers handling the daily catch. The restaurants along the waterfront serve seafood that comes directly from the bay, making the connection between the water and the table easy to see.
Heda is most easily reached by bus from Numazu or Shuzenji, along winding coastal mountain roads. Once there, the harbor and main streets are easy to walk, and local hot springs nearby are a good reason to stay for a few hours.
Around 1854, a Russian warship called Diana sank in the bay after a tsunami, and the local villagers helped the stranded crew build a new vessel to sail home. The ship built with their help is considered one of the first Western-style boats ever constructed in Japan.
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