The western region is centered on the city of Hamamatsu, which is known for its manufacturing, especially of automobiles and musical instruments. In addition to the attractions of the city, the western region also boast abundant gifts of nature, such as the beautiful views from the shores of Lake Hamana, the tea plantations spread out among the mountain villages, and the view of the horizon from the cape at the southernmost point in Shizuoka Prefecture.

In the western region, you can enjoy seasonal flowers at theme parks or relax at the hot springs by the lake. Don’t forget to add historical attractions such as Hamamatsu Castle and Kakegawa Castle to your list of places to visit, and make sure to try some of the local specialties such as eel and Hamamatsu gyoza dumplings. Those who are into more active pastimes can find possibilities for water sports and cycling.

We hope you will enjoy a variety of sightseeing options to suit your personal interests.

Tourist attractions

If any tourist destination were to represent the western region, it would have to be Lake Hamana. It is both a lively entertainment zone and a picturesque scenic spot, with hot springs and gourmet food to boot.
Tourists can relax at the Hamamatsu Flower Park and Hamanako Garden Park while savoring the charm of seasonal flowers and gardens. For those who want to take in the scenery, the Kanzanji Ropeway offers a great view from above the lake, and the Hamanako Cruise service is also highly recommended. Children can play their hearts out at the Hamanako Pal Pal amusement park with its thirty or so attractions. After a full day of hard play, Kanzanji Onsen on the lake shore offers the chance to relax and recharge in a hot spring. Why not take a refreshing dip in the hot water with its high salt content and health benefits?

At the top of Mt. Awagatake in Kakegawa City, marked by the massive Chinese character for “tea” written on the mountainside, stands the Chagusaba Terrace. Here you can enjoy a panoramic scenery created by the vast tea plantations that preserve the traditional tea-grass integrated system of cultivation.

The cape at Omaezaki is home to one of only sixteen lighthouses in Japan that one can climb, and the trek upwards is well worth it for the views of the horizon where the shining blue sea meets the sky. If the weather is good, you can even see the Izu Peninsula, southern Alps and Mt. Fuji.

For those who want to spend some time quietly reflecting on history, how about Ryotanji Temple, or the three Enshu Sanzan temples of Hattasan Soneiji, Kasuisai , and Yusanji, which collectively represent the Enshu region? In Mori Town stands the historic Okuni Jinja shrine. Built over 1,400 years ago, it was the highest ranking shrine in what used to be Totomi Province, and it is highly recommended for a visit. After paying a visit to the shrine, you can take a stroll through the 99-hectare (245-acre) old forest or take a break at a cafe in Okuni Kotomachi Yokocho.

Other key attractions for any history buff are Hamamatsu Castle and Kakegawa Castle. Not only did Tokugawa Ieyasu stay at Hamamatsu Castle for 17 years, it later came to be nicknamed Shussejo (Promotion Castle) due to the tendency of its lords to receive high positions in the Edo government. Kakegawa Castle, meanwhile, has been selected as one of the top 100 castles in Japan.

Cuisine

When people think of specialty foods from the western region, one of the first things that comes to mind is Lake Hamana eel. The history of eel farming in Lake Hamana is over 120 years old, and there are many long-established and famous restaurants in Hamamatsu City that specialize in dishes made with locally produced eel. Grilled over charcoal and dipped in sauces that have been continuously replenished from generation to generation, the eel tastes sublime, with its fragrant aroma, crispy outside and plump flesh. There are many variations to try, such as the classic Kabayaki (grilled eel with sweetened soy sauce), Shirayaki (grilled eel without sauce, served with wasabi), and Mabushi Chazuke (chopped eel on rice with hot tea poured over it).

Along with eel, another Hamamatsu delicacy you cannot miss are Hamamatsu Gyoza dumplings. Stuffed full of locally grown cabbage and other vegetables, these gyoza dumplings strike an exquisite balance between the sweetness of the vegetables and the richness of the pork. They come in a characteristic serving arrangement, with the dumplings arranged in a circle with freshly boiled bean sprouts in the middle.

Other specialty foods you should try when you visit the western region include the large, flavorful oysters from Lake Hamana; Kankan Musume corn from Mori Town, that is said to be as sweet as melon; and Enshu Yumesaki beef, a fatty, tender meat with full flavor.

Neither should you miss the desserts and snacks made from local specialties. A good place to start would be a tea cafe, situated among expansive tea plantations as can only be found in this region. The cafe San Grams is run by a tea processing factory that has been in business for over 100 years. It offers carefully brewed “single tea leaf” teas that allow you to taste the unique characteristics of each tea producer, together with sweets that complement the tea. During the new tea season, the Japanese cafe Enshu Chaya, located next to the popular confectionery shop Takoman, serves a special Mont Blanc made with tea. In addition, the Japanese Tea KIMIKURA and its sister shop KIMIKURA CAFE offer many different varieties of tea sweets, of both Japanese and western origins.

Popular souvenir gifts include the classic Shizuoka souvenir Unagipie eel pastries, the fluffy, baked Daisakyu bouchées, and the famous Hamamatsu snacks called Ageshio. Beloved by locals, these sweets and snacks are sure to be delicious.

The central region is centered on Shizuoka City, a city of excellent convenience where you can enjoy shopping and delicious food options in the city center. To the north lie the unexplored areas of Oku-oi and the southern Japanese Alps, while the west is home to the Makinohara Plain with its vast stretches of tea plantations. The region is dotted with areas that retain the unique atmosphere of a historical post town along the old Tokaido Highway, as well as spots associated with the Tokugawa family, so you can enjoy a trip to feel the history and culture of the early modern period. If you board the Suruga Bay Ferry, which connects the Port of Shimizu to Toi Port in western Izu Peninsula, you will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji from the sea.

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In terms of the food and drink, the region is well-known for its Shizuoka Tea, but its ports also boast an abundant variety of excellent seafood, such as the tuna and bonito caught along the Suruga Bay coast and hauled into the Port of Shimizu and Yaizu Port, the sakura shrimp of Yui Port, and the whitebait from Mochimune Port. The central region is a place to be enjoyed with all five senses. Read on to learn about some of its highlights.

Tourist attractions

When visiting the central region, the tourist attractions you cannot afford to miss are Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, Nihondaira Yume Terrace, and Miho no Matsubara all to be found within the borders of Shizuoka City.

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was built by the second Tokugawa shogun Hidetada in accordance with his father Ieyasu’s will. The lacquered, colorfully resplendent shrine built in the Gongenzukuri style has been designated a national treasure.

Located in the scenic Nihondaira area that once took first place in a competition for the top 100 sightseeing destinations in Japan, Nihondaira Yume Terrace is a great spot for viewing Mt. Fuji and the 360-degree observation deck offers panoramic views of Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay, Shizuoka City and the distant southern Alps. In addition to the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine and Nihondaira Yume Terrace, Nihondaira is also home to other popular destinations such as Nihondaira Zoo and Nippondaira Hotel, from which you can see Mt. Fuji.

Miho no Matsubara is famous for its scenic beauty where you can capture stunning views of Mt. Fuji over the sea. The superb scenery created by the green of the pine forests, the white waves lapping against the shore, and the blue of the sea have long fascinated people, and have even been depicted in ukiyo-e woodblock prints by Utagawa Hiroshige.

S-Pulse Dream Plaza is also a great place to visit. It includes many unique shops, museums and other attractions, such as Chibi Maruko-chan Land, featuring the popular cartoon character; Shimizu Sushi Yokocho, with its many sushi restaurants; souvenir shops; the Shimizu Canned Market; the Ramune Museum; and the Shimizu Sushi Museum. With its mini-amusement park Shimizu Marina Circus, it is a commercial complex for the whole family to enjoy.

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Up in the mountains, Oku-oi Kojo Station and the Bridge of Dreams suspension bridge in Kawanehon-cho Town are popular as instagrammable spots. Kawanehon-cho is known for its hot springs and Kawane Tea. A great way to get there is to take the steam locomotive operated by the Oigawa Railway. The “Kojo” in Oku-oi Kojo Station means “on a lake,” and as the name suggests, Oku-oi Kojo Station is a train station that “floats” above a lake. Get off at the station and walk along the railroad tracks while looking at surrounding mountains and the dam lake below. Before you know it, you will find yourself relaxing in body and soul, soothed by the untrodden nature around you. The Bridge of Dreams in the Sumatakyo Gorge is a much talked-about tourist destination, once selected by Trip Advisor among the world’s “top 10 suspension bridges you have to walk across before you die.” The view of the mountains, the emerald green water from the lake, and the interweaving colors of fresh, green foliage and autumn leaves is truly something to behold.

If you visit the Makinohara Plain, a major producer of Shizuoka Tea and home of the Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport, you absolutely must go and view the vast tea plantations. The endless green carpet of tea plantations shows the original landscape of Japan itself. It is also worth paying a visit to the tea-themed facilities where special products from Shizuoka Prefecture are available for purchase, such as the Tea Museum, Shizuoka; Grinpia Makinohara; and Gyokuro no Sato.

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Cuisine

The central region is home to two of the leading fishing ports in Japan, the Port of Shimizu and Yaizu Port, so when you visit, you must try the tuna and bonito. You can go on a gourmet tour of places like S-Pulse Dream Plaza, Shimizu Kashi no Ichi market, and Yaizu Fish Center, and try a variety of lunch options such as the kaisendon rice bowl topped with fresh seafood and the magurodon rice bowl topped with tuna. Local processed products such as kurohanpen fish cakes and dried bonito flakes work great as gift souvenirs.

Furthermore, in all the world, sakura shrimp can only be caught in the waters of Taiwan and Suruga Bay, and they are brought to shore in Shizuoka Prefecture at Yui Port and Yaizu Oikawa Port. The exquisite, crispy sakura shrimp kakiage tempura is a gourmet specialty of the central region that you must try at least once. During the fishing seasons of spring and fall, it is also possible to taste raw sakura shrimp – something that’s only possible in its place of origin.

If you are planning to spend one or more nights in Shizuoka City, you should try Shizuoka Oden, which is available in many Japanese-style izakaya bars in Aoba Oden Alley, Aoba Yokocho and elsewhere in the city. Shizuoka Oden is gaining popularity as an affordable yet tasty delicacy. Its distinctive taste comes from the black broth enriched with beef sinews simmered in soy sauce and the powdered toppings made from sardine flakes and dried seaweed powder.

If you visit the central region, you should also drop by a tea cafe, where you can enjoy a beautiful cup of Shizuoka Tea with a side of tea sweets. You can try Shizuoka Tea sweets at any of the fashionable tea cafes that can be found all over Shizuoka Prefecture, the tea capital of Japan, including Nanaya, whose wildly popular Matcha gelato is said to be the most intensely flavored Matcha ice cream in the world, and Maruzen Tea Roastery, which is run by a tea wholesaler that has been in business for over 70 years.

Popular gift souvenirs from the central region include the traditional Shizuoka sweets Abekawa Mochi and Kuroyakko, the bonito-based snack Bari Katsuo-kun, the Sakura Ebino Mai rice crackers made with Sakura shrimp, and the cream-filled Marifuku Daifuku Mochi from the tea wholesaler Gashoan.