Hiking Yatsuyama in Shizuoka

The center of Shizuoka City is pretty solidly urban, but you don't have to go far to find a complete escape into nature. Starting from Kiyomizuyama Park a little way east of the downtown core, Yatsuyama has several kilometers of hiking trails, the natural setting almost completely unspoilt. The trails go up gentle slopes, through thick forest and past groves of swaying bamboo, with frequent beautiful views out over the surrounding scenery, forested hills to the north, the ocean to the south.