Satta Pass

Satta Pass (Satta Toge) is a mountain pass facing Suruga Bay, once praised as “the best view on the Tokaido.” The scenery of Suruga Bay and Mt. Fuji—also depicted in Utagawa Hiroshige’s famous series “The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido” (the Yui station)—remains beautiful today and attracts many visitors as a photography spot. Located in present-day Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City, between Yui-juku and Okitsu-juku, Satta Pass was a difficult section of the old Tokaido. Looking down from the pass, you can see the Tomei Expressway, the Tokaido Main Line, and National Route 1 crossing, reminding you that this is a key transportation corridor. If you drive, head to the Satta Pass Observatory Parking Lot; note that to reach it you must pass through narrow roads between houses, so drive carefully. The lot accommodates about 8 standard cars. From the back of the parking lot, it’s only a few minutes to the observatory, where Mt. Fuji appears like a ukiyo-e print. Walking from JR “Yui” Station south along the old Tokaido takes about 50 minutes to reach the observatory. A hiking course from JR “Okitsu” Station over Satta Pass to the neighboring JR “Yui” Station takes about 2.5 hours, letting you stroll through townscapes that still retain the old Tokaido atmosphere.