[samurai007]

I passed through Shizuoka prefecture on my way back from Tokyo to Wakayama prefecture, but I didn't stop except for lunch. It had some nice scenery as I recall... Mt Fuji is in the prefecture, I believe.

As for living there and not speaking the language, I was able to do it for 2 years on the JET program. All I knew before I left was arigato, and not much else. But I learned enough to get by, and you might be surprised by how much you can do with just minimal Japanese... I took an 8 day trip through western Japan to Nagasaki and back by myself less than 6 months after I arrived, and had no problems.

Try to look at it as a learning experience and a great adventure, and later in life you'll look back on your time there and really appreciate the opportunity you had. I know I do.