In Shizuoka City's Suruga Ward, the special historic site Toro Ruins turns golden each autumn, and from October 4 (Sunday) the site's annual "Red Rice Harvest Experience" returns to its reconstructed rice paddies. Alongside the hands-on rice harvest, the season also brings a nighttime museum opening with a piano concert, an illuminated ruins site, and the lively Toro Matsuri festival. Nearby, visitors can round out the trip with a taste of Shizuoka tea and the region's traditional wasabi pickles, making for an autumn route that traces Shizuoka's history and food culture for travelers of all ages.
The Roots of Rice Farming, and Life From 2,000 Years Ago: Toro Ruins and Toro Museum
Toro Ruins is one of Japan's leading archaeological sites, where remains of Yayoi-period rice paddies, dwellings, and raised-floor storehouses dating back roughly 2,000 years were uncovered. Together with the adjoining Toro Museum, it offers a hands-on field where visitors can experience the "life of the ancients" in a way textbooks alone can't convey.
Autumn Event: Red Rice Harvest Experience in the Reconstructed Paddies
The red rice that was hand-planted in the reconstructed paddies of Toro Village back in May and June is now ready for harvest. Visitors can try their hand at Yayoi-period farming methods amid paddies glowing golden — a signature autumn program unique to Toro.
Dates: October 4 (Sunday), 11 (Sunday), 12 (Monday, national holiday), 17 (Saturday), 18 (Sunday), 25 (Sunday)
Hours: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (last entry 2:30 PM)
Location: Reconstructed rice paddies within Toro Ruins
Fee / Reservation: 100 yen per person, no reservation required
Activity: Harvest rice ears using a stone reaping knife
Info: https://www.shizuoka-toromuseum.jp/event_info/14799/
Autumn Event: "Ruins Illumination" and Night Museum Opening
After dark, the dwellings and raised-floor storehouses of Toro Ruins are lit up for a fantastical nighttime scene not normally visible. The Toro Museum will also host a piano concert, offering a different side of the museum after hours.
Date: October 18 (Sunday)
Hours: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Toro Museum and Toro Ruins
Fee / Reservation: Free, no reservation required
Autumn Event: The 64th Toro Matsuri Festival
Held to give thanks to the ancestors who thrived here during the Yayoi period, when rice cultivation first spread, this lively festival celebrates the autumn harvest. Visitors can try their hand at fire-starting, sample ancient rice, and connect with local history and culture.
Dates: October 10 (Saturday), 11 (Sunday)
Hours: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Oct 10), 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM (Oct 11)
Location: Plaza in front of Toro Museum
Year-Round: Become a Yayoi Villager at the Mini Toro Village
This indoor exhibit on the museum's first floor lets visitors step into Yayoi-period life regardless of weather. Highlights include trying on the "kantoi," a Yayoi-era woven garment, simulated farm work in "tageta" wooden mud shoes, and a simulated rice-planting experience suited even for children — all playful ways to learn what it was like to live as a Yayoi villager.
Shizuoka City Toro Museum
Address: 5-chome-10-5 Toro, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka
Open: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed: Mondays, the day after national holidays, and the New Year holiday period
Website: https://www.shizuoka-toromuseum.jp/
Learning the Spirit of Hospitality From a Japanese Tea Instructor
A Two-Minute Walk From JR Shizuoka Station's South Exit: Free Tea-Brewing Lessons at Shizuoka O-CHA Plaza
Just a two-minute walk from the south exit of JR Shizuoka Station, this spot serves as a hub for information on Shizuoka tea.
Certified Japanese tea instructors are on hand to explain the appeal of Shizuoka tea and offer easy-to-follow lessons on the water temperature and pouring technique that bring out tea's natural flavor. Brewing a cup becomes a calming, refined moment that reflects Shizuoka's warm hospitality.
Shizuoka O-CHA Plaza
Address: Mizunomori Building 3F, 14-1 Minami-cho, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka
Hours: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed: Weekends, national holidays, and the New Year holiday period (irregular closures may also apply)
Website: https://www.o-cha.net/kyoukai/ochaplaza.html
A Traditional Shizuoka Staple: Watch Wasabi Pickles Being Made, a Craft Dating to the Meiji Era
Learn About Shizuoka's Wasabi and Condiment Culture at Step In Tamaruya
At Step In Tamaruya, run by long-established wasabi pickle maker Tamaruya Honten, which has been in business since the Meiji era, visitors can combine a factory tour with shopping. The tour includes a room where guests can experience wasabi's sharp, tingling kick, plus a look at the packaging line for wasabi products. The adjoining shop offers samples of wasabi pickles, the shop's signature wasabi soft-serve ice cream, and a wide range of wasabi goods to browse and buy.
Step In Tamaruya
Address: 5-34-20 Shimokawara, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka
Hours: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Closed: Open year-round (except January 1); factory tours run 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on operating days (Monday to Saturday)
Website: https://www.tamaruya.co.jp/
This autumn, Shizuoka City pairs 2,000 years of history with the food culture carried into the present day, set against a backdrop of rich nature and hospitality.
Official website (Shizuoka City tourism): https://www.visit-shizuoka.com/index.html
Official website (Toro Museum): https://www.shizuoka-toromuseum.jp/
