This is where it will all happen (Allsport).

Situated on the Pacific coast of the central Honshu region, Shizuoka Prefecture occupies the core section of the old Tokaido Road which has connected Tokyo and Kyoto since the Edo period (1603-1868).

Although the former Tokaido Road was replaced by the Tokaido Shinkansen super-express and the Tomei Expressway today, Shizuoka's scenic splendors represented by Mt. Fuji, the symbol of Japan, has remained unchanged.

Shizuoka is the focal point for two of Japan's major natural attractions - the Fuji-Hakone-Izu and the Southern Alps national parks - and hot spring and outdoor leisure opportunities abound.

Shizuoka has the reputation of being a tourist showplace.

Accommodation

There are a great variety of places to stay, from luxury hotels to reasonably-priced ones in the transport hubs of Hamamatsu and Shizuoka.

Fukuroi and Kakegawa, the cities near the stadium, also have a wide range of accommodations. Shizuoka boasts many well-known hot springs. Choose the accommodation of your choice from reasonably priced minshuku, a private Japanese-style house providing a bed and meals, to quality ryokan or Japanese-style inns

Places of Interest:

Mt. Fuji: Easily the most recognized symbol of Japanese scenic beauty. Geographically located in the heart of Japan and along the Pacific Ocean, Shizuoka extends 155 km east and west, 118 km north and south, and covers an area of 7,773 sq. km( 3000 sq. mi.). It boasts a rich natural environment such as mountains and lakes as well as a 500 km long coastline.

Sumpu Castle: Historic landmark where the first Tokugawa shogun Ieyasu passed his retirement year.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu: National Park with an abundance of attractions.

Southern Alps: Combines stunning scenery with a host of outdoor leisure opportunities.

Local Delicacies:

Ocha (Green Tea): A flourishing business with green tea plants grown on hillsides throughout the regions.

Mikan (Mandarin Oranges): Shizuoka's mikan are grown on sunny slopes, such as the north shore of Lake Hamanako in the west and along the coast of Suruga Bay in the east.

Strawberries: This seasonal delicacy is available throughout Shizuoka, where spring comes a little earlier than elsewhere in the country.

Melons: More musk melons are produced in Shizuoka than anywhere else in Japan.

Biwa: This fruit has a distinctive thick skin and fresh, sweet juice.

Wasabi (horseradish): A specialty of the region since the Edo period, wasabi is suited for cultivation in Shizuoka because of the prefecture's abundance of spring water.

Sakura ebi ("cherry" shrimps): Suruga Bay is the only place in the world where these small(4-5 cm.) shrimp can be found. No matter how they are eaten raw, dried or boiled sakura ebi are delicious.

Other products from the sea: In addition to tuna and bonito from Yaizu and eel from Lake Hamanako, the wonderful variety of fresh seafood that can be enjoyed in Shizuoka includes Ise ebi, which resemble lobsters, takaashi-gani (giant Japanese crab), abalone, horse mackerel, sardines, aji (mackerel) and ayu (sweetfish).

Where To Eat:

Shizuaka has a wide variety of restaurants varying from the traditional Japanese dishes to western foods. The most popular are the local seafood houses with the variety of local products available to them.

To the World Cup stadium :

From Kansai Airport head for JR Shin-Osaka Station which is a one-hour journey. Then take the train to JR Kakegawa Station - a journey which lasts two hours. From JR Tokyo Station 1 hr 30 min by Shinkansen Line takes you to the JR Kakegawa Station. 5 min by JR to JR Aino Station to the Shizuoka Stadium.