Put down your smartphone and head to the forests of Shizuoka City. A digital detox journey for adults in Okushizu, Ikawa.

The deep mountainous region that makes up about 80% of Shizuoka City's area is "Okushizu." This region is affectionately called "Okushizu." It is another face of Shizuoka City, far from the hustle and bustle of daily life, where clear rivers, deep forests, and the traditional lives of the people who live there still remain.

Okushizu is divided into several areas, but this time we will focus on the "Southern Alps Zone (Ikawa Area)" located at the northernmost tip. This is a globally valuable region registered as a "UNESCO Eco Park" as an area where the magnificent nature of mountain ranges reaching 3,000 meters and the lives of people living at their foot are beautifully harmonized. We propose a journey based at the "Southern Alps UNESCO Eco Park Museum," which will celebrate its first anniversary on July 12, 2026 (Sun), in the Ikawa area, the gateway to the Southern Alps.

Escape from smartphone notifications and enjoy activities with spectacular panoramic views, local traditional cuisine, and visits to a whisky distillery harmonizing with nature... We offer an ultimate detox experience that allows you to deeply liberate your mind and body by immersing yourself in the breath of nature and analog time.

4 Detox Experiences in the Ikawa Area: Immerse Yourself in Nature and Analog Time

1) Experience the magnificent nature and life of the Southern Alps. The entrance to the Eco Park that invites you to the extraordinary.

The "Southern Alps UNESCO Eco Park Museum" was created as an experiential hub to transmit and inherit the grandeur of the Southern Alps' nature, as well as the history and culture of the Ikawa region. This summer, as we celebrate our first anniversary, we will hold a gratitude festival for all who love the Southern Alps.

1 1st Anniversary Event "1st Anniversary"

This is a special day where luxurious content coveted by mountaineering and outdoor fans gathers.

Date and Time: July 12, 2026 (Sun) 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: Southern Alps UNESCO Eco Park Museum (708-1 Ikawa, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City)

Guests: Shogo Mochizuki, Hiroyuki Takeuchi, Kenichi Yamamoto

Admission Fee: Free (※TJAR Photo Exhibition is charged: Adults ¥500, Elementary school students and younger free)

Main Programs:

We will hold a photo exhibition for the first time, conveying the charm of the Trans Japan Alps Race, which runs 415 km from the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean, crossing mountains of 3,000 meters class.

In addition, we have many other attractive programs that outdoor fans will love.

Talk session with Hiroyuki Takeuchi and Shogo Mochizuki

Public recording of "Let's Meet in the Mountains with Yamaken & Mocchy!" (podcast)

Stamp Rally First Round Live Lottery Drawing

Click here for event details. https://www.mi-museum.jp/1stanniversary

2 Other Event Information

<Digital Stamp Rally & Live Lottery Drawing>

The "Southern Alps Ikawa Secret Land Adventure Stamp Rally," a tour event where you download the official app "MEGURUWAY" and collect digital stamps by visiting various spots in the Ikawa area, is currently underway. If you clear all the spots, you can enter a lottery to win a G-SHOCK, Mochizuki Shogo model! The results of the first round of this stamp rally (deadline July 10) will be announced on the event day, July 12, by Shogo Mochizuki himself in a live lottery drawing.

<Marché & Garapon Lottery Drawing>

On the event day, a marché filled with local charm and a Garapon lottery drawing will also be held simultaneously to liven up the festival.

3 Facility Overview and Experience Programs

This is an experiential facility where you can learn about nature symbiosis and wisdom for sustainable living for the future, with the concept of "M:I (Mission of Ikawa / Minami Alps Ikawa)."

<Southern Alps Panorama Theater>

A theater space where you can virtually experience the magnificent panorama of the Southern Alps and landscapes of overwhelming scale through video.

<Restaurant AKAISHI>

In a comfortable space overlooking Ikawa Lake, you can enjoy meals that utilize local ingredients, such as gibier burgers made with venison and wild boar, and one-plate meals using mixed grains and local ingredients.

<Experience Content (E-bike Rental)>

Electric assist bicycles (YAMAHA CROSSCORE) are available for rent (from 2 hours / ¥3,300~). With the light riding comfort unique to e-bikes, you can enjoy a refreshing cycling experience while feeling the wind of nature through Ikawa's famous spots and hidden gems.

Facility Name: Southern Alps UNESCO Eco Park Museum (https://www.mi-museum.jp/)

Address: 708-1 Ikawa, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Phone: 054-295-5005 Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Thu - Sun)

Admission Fee: Free (※We ask for a contribution for operations and Southern Alps environmental protection)

2) Stroll through nostalgic spots that evoke a sense of the extraordinary

Abandoned Railway Path On the "Abandoned Railway Path," which has been developed as a walking path while preserving the abandoned railway section leading to the material loading station at the time of the Ikawa Dam construction, you can enjoy a different kind of walk by walking on the actual tracks, passing through tunnels, and resting on benches by the lake. Address: 1956-1 Nishi-yama-sawa, Ikawa, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Phone: 054-260-2211 (Shizuoka City Hall Ikawa Branch) Business Hours: Free to stroll

Bridge of Dreams (Ikawa) If you extend your walk from the abandoned railway path, you will find the "Bridge of Dreams," which is 80 meters long and 50 meters high. From the bridge, which has a capacity of 5 people, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the deep nature, and it offers an ultimate detox experience where you can feel the breath of nature with your whole body, forgetting about smartphone notifications. Address: Ikawa, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture (West side, deep into the abandoned railway path) Phone: 054-221-1071 (Shizuoka City Sports Promotion Division) Business Hours: Free to stroll (※Nighttime is dangerous, so strolling during daylight hours is recommended)

Ikawa Lake Ferry

After experiencing the thrill and spectacular views from the suspension bridge, enjoy a cruise on Ikawa Lake surrounded by nature. This ferry service, which began in 1958 for residents who lost their means of transportation to the other side of the lake due to the construction of the Ikawa Dam, is now also popular as a regular sightseeing boat, and tourists can ride it for free. Board the "Reiwa Sei," which has a capacity of 20 people, and enjoy a luxurious cruise around Ikawa Lake for about an hour (reservation required). While admiring the scenery of the four seasons, you can spend the best detox time, blown by the pleasant lake breeze.

Address: 599-8 Ikawa, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture (Ferry waiting area)

Phone Number: 054-260-2505

Business Hours/Operating Hours: Closed on weekdays and holidays from the second week of December to the third week of April of the following year. (Operates on Saturdays and Sundays.)

How to Book: Please make a reservation through the online reservation site "Okushizu Batta."

(https://okushizuoka.comp-re.com/)

3) A heartwarming cafeteria unique to Ikawa, where you can savor mountain blessings and human kindness

After enjoying the outdoor activities, head to the Ikawa Agricultural and Forestry Products Processing Center "Alps no Sato." This is a dining place where friendly locals will welcome you. You can enjoy simple and warm local dishes unique to Ikawa, such as handmade soba noodles, seasonal wild vegetable tempura, and dam curry.

Facility Name: Ikawa Agricultural and Forestry Products Processing Center "Alps no Sato" Address: 2765-1 Ikawa, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Phone: 054-260-2573 Business Hours: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Regular Holidays: Mondays, New Year holidays

<Souvenirs featuring local ingredients>

We introduce specialty products carefully made in Ikawa as souvenirs of your trip.

"Ikawa no Rarriya" Zosai Cookies These are handmade baked goods using pesticide-free and fertilizer-free local crops and grains (homokoroshi, kinako, Ikawa tea, awa, etc.) cultivated in Ikawa. They are characterized by their simple yet robust flavor and are a perfect item to accompany your travel memories.

Sales Locations: Southern Alps UNESCO Eco Park Ikawa Visitor Center (964 Ikawa, Aoi-ku), Southern Alps Akaishi Onsen "Shirakabaso" (1110-5 Tashiro, Aoi-ku), etc.

※Harvest volume is limited, and there may be no stock.

Please contact each facility in advance regarding stock status.

4) Two unique whisky distilleries nurtured by the great nature of Okushizu

Ikawa Distillery

Located in the great outdoors at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters, surrounded by the mountains of the Southern Alps, this is "Japan's highest altitude distillery." Whisky making, packed with the blessings of majestic nature, takes place in clear air and a cool, humid climate. Please enjoy the deep flavor of Japanese craft whisky, a terroir that Okushizu boasts, at home as a lingering memory of your trip.

Address: 1299-1 Oharuki, Tashiro, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Phone Number: 054-260-2245

Remarks: Information on new products, retailers, and tours will be posted on social media.

Official Website: https://juzan.co.jp/ X: https://x.com/juzan_ikawa

Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery

This is a distillery where whisky is slowly aged, benefiting from the rich nature of Okushizu and the underground water flowing from the Southern Alps. Whisky making rooted in the local climate is carried out, including fermentation tanks made extensively from Shizuoka cedar and pot stills that distill using local firewood.

Furthermore, its quality is highly regarded internationally, with whiskies made from Japanese barley winning numerous gold medals at the "World Whiskies Awards (WWA)," a prestigious international whisky competition.

Under the guidance of staff, you can observe the unique manufacturing process up close during a roughly 60-minute tour and experience the depth of whisky making. After the tour, paid tastings are available in a beautiful tasting room (※ miniature bottles for takeaway are also sold). You can enjoy an adult luxury time, perfect for the end of your trip.

Facility Name: Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery

Address: 555 Ochiai, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture Phone: 054-292-2555

Business Hours: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (※Tours require advance reservation and are subject to a fee)

Regular Holidays: Depends on the tour schedule