Shimizu-ku

Shimizu-ku is an administrative ward on the Pacific coast in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, stretching along the coastal plain of Suruga Bay up into the hills. The port occupies large sections of the waterfront and combines fishing with industrial shipping.

The place was developed into an international trading port in 1899 and exported mainly green tea to Britain and the United States. Trade routes for fishery were added soon after and expanded the economic importance of the region.

The ward is home to the manga series Chibi Maruko-chan, which shows scenes from the daily life of a family and is known throughout Japan. Author Momoko Sakura grew up here and many locations from her stories can be recognized in the neighborhood.

Road and rail connections run through the ward and link the port zone with the inner city districts. Visitors can navigate the coastal areas easily, while the hills to the east are somewhat more remote.

Five old post stations from the Edo period are preserved in the ward and formerly served travelers as rest stops on the Tōkaidō between Kyoto and Tokyo. These stations still show the original architecture of the roadside inns from the 17th and 18th centuries.