Shizuoka

Shizuoka sits on Japan's Pacific coast between Tokyo and Nagoya, at the heart of the country's biggest green-tea growing region, terraced tea fields covering the hills that ring the city on nearly every side. Tokugawa Ieyasu retired here after unifying Japan, and Sunpu Castle's remaining moats and stone walls mark the site of his retirement residence. On clear days, Mount Fuji rises directly north of the city, close enough to dominate views from the waterfront and the tea terraces alike. The port at Shimizu, now part of the city, handles a large share of Japan's tea exports. Wasabi, another local specialty, grows in spring-fed paddies in the hills above the city. Talent covering Shizuoka lists here on a subscription basis, and the platform handles the booking and the payment.