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The Mountain House, built in Ikoino Hiroba (area for recreation and relaxation) between the hills. It is made exclusively of wood, and is called Yamanoie. About one hundred twenty visitors can stay there at one time, and they can smell the fresh aroma of the wood. The bathtubs are made of Japanese cypress. Nearby is the Ikumi River, and visitors can enjoy fising for… Shimada City Central Park is the largest park in Shimada. This comprehensive park is surrounded by water and greenery. It has the Shimada City Central Gymnasium, the Shimada City Indoor Swimming Pool, and much equipment for outdoor sports. Shimada City Central Gymnasium is used for vollyball, basketball, badminton, table tennis and so on. It is also used as a sports… Due to the results its of a citizens’ ques tionaire Shimada City Rose Hill Park was built. This park features large rose gardens, a big green-house and a tunnel-shaped greenhouse. There are 8,500 rose bushes (285 kinds), in the park. In the east ernpart of the park, one can see 100 types of roses (8,700 rose plants of about 350 varieties, covering an area of… Uda-ji Temple, the oldest in Shimada, attracts visitors for its Oyakushi (Big Buddha of Medicine). The Waniguchi (a kind of gong) has some Chinese characters on it for good luck. This temple is also famous for holding the Shimada-mage Festival. Shimada-mage is the origin of Japanese traditional hair styles for women. Adress and Contact: Uda-ji Temple 1195 Noda… 
Shimada-mage is said to have been designed by Toragogen in the 13th century. Shimada-mage has many traditional hair styles for Japanese women. On the third Sunday in September, the Shimada-mage Festival is held. Female beauticians who wear Shimada-mage parade or dance in the downtown district and Uda-ji Temple. Address Shimada-mage Festival Hon Dori 7-chome, Obi Dori… The Oi River was one of the most dangerous parts of Tokaido. The Tokugawa Shogunate established a system of crossing across the Oi River. In the Edo Period, it was prohibited to ferry travelers or to build bridges across the Oi River because of fear that the Edo Castle would be attacked by those wishing of overthrow the Shogunate. Travelers could only cross on the… Shimada summer Festival, held in the downtown district, attracts visitors and residents of all ages. For three days at the beginning of August, the festival features bamboo ornaments, street stalls, Bon Festival Dances and so on. At that time, there is also a big citizens’ parade. Shimada-Juku was crowded with travelers who could not cross the Oi River because of Kawadome (a rule prohibiting the crossing of the river when the water level was too high due to rain fall). Kawadome often forced travelers to stay in Shimada-Juku for up to 28 days. Their stay promoted the development and culture of Shimada-Juku. They can call it “The Kawadome… The float processions are dance that take place on the floats and on the streets. Five of the float procession groups compete for the best performance. Competing groups invite master singers and musicians of Nagauta (long epic ballads) from Tokyo. In the late part of the 17th century, people of Shimada-Juku suffered from an epidemic disease. They danced to pray for protection from the disease. Dancers dance facing backwards. It is said that the first Obi Matsuri was held in 1699. In those days, brides offered their obis (sashes) to the Oi Shrine to pray for painless childbirth. To show residents their beautiful sashes, Oyakko (the Great Footmen) began carrying sashes on their swords in the procession of a load and his retainers. Shimada City, “City of water and lumber”, is located in the middle of Shizuoka Prefecture once prospered in an important position between east and west. Shimada was nameed after the delta topography due to its close proximity to the Oi-River. Early in the 17th century, Shimada-Juku was one of the fifty-three post towns set up along the Tokaido. In the Meiji Era, the…
