If you are traveling along the Tokaido Bullet Train and looking for a way to fill in a day, Kakegawa is a great option that has something for the whole family.
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CHARMING CASTLE TOWN WITH A ETERNAL HISTORY
Step off the Tokaido Shinkansen and you are in Kakegawa City one of the more important Post Stations on the Ancient Tokaido Road due to its strategic positioning, its well established castle and as its importance as a trading post for salt, a valuable commodity at the time, being transported up to Nagano from the Pacific Ocean.
Shizuoka Prefecture grows about 40% of all green tea produced in Japan and many of the green tea fields in the Prefecture are in close proximity to Kakegawa City.
GREEN TEA – Higashiyama Ippukudokoro
If you would like to enjoy green tea, there is no better place to go on your journey through Japan. Kakegawa is one of Japan’s leading tea producing areas and there are a number of experiences around the station. You can learn more about how green tea is grown, harvested and processed from local tea farmers staying at a traditional Japanese Farm House.
If you are interested in purchasing or drinking locally grown green tea, there are a number of stores and cafes that sell green tea and related products. One of the tea shop is “Higashiyama Ippukudokoro”. The “Fukamushi-cha” (deep steamed green tea) of Kakegawa is well-known, with its deep taste and a rich natural sweetness. Inside the shop, visitors can find those Kakegawa tea made from the “Shizuoka’s Traditional Tea-Grass Integrated System” along with other agricultural products and handmade processed goods. Please enjoy a pleasant time with friendly shop assistants while sipping on delicious tea.
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30 minutes by bus Higashiyama Line from JR Kakegawa station, get off at the last stop “Higashiyama”.
CASTLE GROUNDS
Kakegawa Castle was originally built in the 15th century and was a strategic fortified region for centuries. During the Edo Period the castle helped manage travelers on the Ancient Tokaido Highway as the made their way between Kyoto and the Capital of Edo (Tokyo).
Unfortunately, the original castle was destroyed by the Ansei earthquake in 1854.
The Castle was rebuilt in 1994 and is one of the only Japanese castles restored using traditional Japanese carpentry.
Today you are able to visit Castle and it is free to stroll through the castle grounds.
You get the chance to immerse yourself in a time of samurai.
Pick up a Kakegawa Experience – Day Passport to get discounts on the Castle, Museums and other attractions in the area.
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Kakegawa Castle and the castle grounds are all a short walk from JR Kakegawa station.
A great way to get around is to rent a free bicycle.
KAKEGAWA FLOWER AND BIRD PARK
Kakegawa Flower and Bird Park (Kachoen) is a large flower and bird park just South of the Bullet Train Station. It houses a large number of different birds including flamingoes, emu, penguins, colorful toucan and other exotic birds.
Many of the birds are flying free through the indoor greenhouse which also houses a large water lily pond. Many of the birds are happy to perch on your arm and be feed with food for sale.
With a restaurant on site and daily bird shows in which staff demonstrate the owls and other birds (in a controlled environment).
The park is a fun half day especially for young ones and families.
Kakegawa Flower and Bird Park Website
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Around 15 minutes on foot from JR Kakegawa station (3 minutes by taxi).
A great way to get around is to rent a free bicycle.
MORE INFORMATION
If you are looking for things to do in Kakegawa, please visit here.
There are a number of different stores in Kakegawa City -including Japanese sweets, crafts, sake and souvenirs
If you are looking for local restaurants and cafes, please also check the following web sites.
For many traveling on the Tokaido Bullet Train, Kakegawa is just another brief stop on their journey between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Those who stop discover a delightful castle town steeped in history and famous for its World Class green tea that offers something for the whole family.