The prefecture of Shizuoka is the home of Japan's most famous landmark, Mount Fuji, the sacred mountain that is just a short drive away from one of the 10 Japanese World Cup venues.

Shizuoka Prefecture is located in the centre of Japan, easily accessible from Tokyo and the western part of the country. It is also one of the most attractive areas, with its Pacific shoreline to the south and many scenic spots inland.

The region's population of 3,8 million makes it the tenth largest of Japan's 47 prefectures.

Mount Fuji is, of course, the focal point. The distinctive peak, 3,776 metres high, changes its appearance with the seasons and is the eternal source of inspiration for artists and poets as well as a favourite destination for tourists who struggle up its long and graceful slopes or admire the perfect funnel-shaped conical volcano from one of the many vantage points in the surrounding countryside.

In Shizuoka, green tea is grown just about everywhere, as its climate is ideally suited for tea production, both in terms of quality and quantity, claiming about 45% of the total national crop.

But Shizuoka has another claim to fame apart from Mount Fuji and green tea: football.

Even outside the region, it is recognised as probably the most football-mad region in the whole country, and is proud that there are more players in the Japanese League from here than from any other part of Japan.

The Shizuoka Football Association has approximately 40,000 players in 1,300 clubs and two Japanese League teams, Jubilo Iwata and Shimizu S-pulse based in the prefecture. As Asian champions, Jubilo had been looking forward to competing in this year's FIFA Club World Championship, which has been postponed to 2003.

The FIFA World Cup brought the opportunity for the region to build a brand-new stadium.

The Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, completed in March 2001, is quite a way out of town, but easily accessible by a ten-minute walk from the new JR Tokaido railway station. It nestles in an area of gentle hills in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture.

The exterior of Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa is inspired by its surroundings, designed to reflect the image of the beautiful nearby Ogasayama Mountains and incorporating a variety of environment-friendly features.

The 51,000-seater will be the main feature of the newly created Ogasayama Sports Park and includes over 5,000 retractable seats to advance spectators closer to the football pitch in the centre of the athletics track.

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