The Hamamatsu Festival takes place every year on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, located in the Chubu region of Japan.

As the 2025 Hamamatsu Festival approaches, we would like to introduce the festival to you.

The Hamamatsu Festival offers exciting attractions, including the spectacular “Kite Battle” with over 170 towns, and the brilliant “Goten-yatai Procession” with more than 80 floats illuminating the streets at night.

▲Photo provided：Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana Tourism Bureau

The event fills both participants and spectators with excitement and joy.

The year starts with the festival and ends with the festival.

The energy of the people of Hamamatsu bursts out in a big way!

You’ve probably heard of Kyoto’s matcha, but did you know that Shizuoka is one of Japan’s top green tea-producing regions?

Shizuoka Prefecture is known in Japan as “Shizuoka Prefecture when it comes to green tea,” and in fact, Shizuoka Prefecture is one of the top green tea producers in Japan, even more so than Kyoto, known as the home of green tea!

There are many varieties (regional brands) of “Shizuoka green tea” produced in Shizuoka Prefecture, such as Motoyama tea in Shizuoka City, Kakegawa tea in Kakegawa City, Kawane tea in Shimada City, and Tenryu tea in Hamamatsu City are well known.

▲Photo provided: Kakegawa City (Cold Fukamushi (Deep-Steamed) Kakegawa Green Tea)

If you’re looking to experience tea picking, learn about green tea, and of course, enjoy some tea, here are some of the best green tea spots in Shizuoka Prefecture for you to explore!

Outside of Japan, “Shizuoka Prefecture is associated with tea” may not yet be widely known.

Why not enjoy tea in Shizuoka Prefecture ahead of your friends?

▲Photo provided：Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana Tourism Bureau

The Hamamatsu Volunteer Tourism Guide Association is a group of Hamamatsu guides who come together to promote the tourism industry, including Hamamatsu’s history, culture, and industry.

As of the end of February 2025, the group has 130 members, making it the largest volunteer guide group in the prefecture.

They are active at Hamamatsu Castle, Hamamatsu Station, Saigagake Museum, and Hamamatsu Festival Hall.

Each member guides visitors with a spirit of hospitality, not only from outside the prefecture, but also to people from Hamamatsu city and surrounding cities and towns, with the hope that they will “rediscover Hamamatsu’s wonderful history and culture.”

In 2020, the association’s activities were recognized and it was awarded the “Fujinokuni-Shizuoka Tourism Award Encouragement Award” by Shizuoka Prefecture.

Cherry blossoms start blooming simultaneously with the arrival of spring. Usually, cherry blossoms bloom in late March at cherry blossom viewing spots near Hamamatsu.

As of March 25, 2025, blooming has been confirmed at various locations.

The best time to see them is scheduled for early April, and last year in 2024, they were in full bloom in various locations around April 5-7.

This article introduces the highlights of cherry blossom viewing spots in the suburbs of Hamamatsu, as well as information on events.

If you come to Japan, there are many beautiful landscapes that you should definitely see.

Here we will introduce 5 amazing views from the Chubu region.

We will introduce six famous flower viewing spots in the Central Japan.

You can enjoy a variety of flowers depending on the season.

If you’re interested, please come and visit.

*Please check the flowering status at each spot.

Japan has many festivals and traditional events that have been handed down since ancient times.

This time, we will introduce four festivals and traditional events in the Chubu region.

If you’re interested, why not come to Japan during the festival?

*Please check the official website for the dates of the festival.

🍁What if a single autumn moment could take your breath away?

Japan is home to countless stunning fall foliage spots—but did you know that some of the magical, photo-worthy, and breathtaking autumn landscapes are quietly tucked away in Central Japan?

Think secluded valleys embraced by mountains, fiery leaves reflected on tranquil lakes, and maple trees shedding their colors over quiet, historic streets.

It’s like stepping into a scene from a movie—and it’s all waiting for you.

In this article, we’ve handpicked five of Central Japan’s most enchanting autumn spots—each one touched by the magic of the season.

From breathtaking views that’ll have you reaching for your camera, to photo-perfect scenes made for your feed, and even peaceful hidden gems that soothe the soul—these places are pure autumn bliss.

Still deciding where to go this autumn? Let this guide spark your next adventure.🍁

By the end, you’ll probably be ready to hit the road.

*Please check the latest foliage conditions for each location before your visit.

Cherry blossoms herald the arrival of spring.

This time, we will introduce four cherry blossom spots in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Check the peak blooming period and be sure to go out and enjoy the cherry blossoms.

Beautiful fireworks displays that light up the summer night sky are a summer tradition in Japan.

Many fireworks festivals are scheduled to be held in and around Hamamatsu City this year as well. In this article, we will introduce detailed information on the fireworks festivals that will be held in Hamamatsu City and its surrounding areas in 2024.

Please use this as a reference for your summer outings as we introduce the event dates and times, locations, and access methods.

The “*4-shaku piano” owned by the Hamamatsu City Museum is a small grand piano manufactured in the 1930s. Its small, cute appearance and beautiful tone make it a valuable asset that tells the history of Hamamatsu City’s musical instrument industry.

*”Shaku” is a unit that represents something unique to Japan.

1 shaku is approximately 30cm.

Even after nearly 90 years, this small grand piano has been preserved in its original state, and there are many hidden dramas behind it.

This time, we spoke to Hamamatsu City Museum’s director, Kazuyu Suzuki, and curator, Mitsuru Hashimoto, about the background to the birth of this small grand piano and the history of Hamamatsu’s musical instrument industry that can be seen in it.

Instruments that appear in various stories such as manga, novels, and dramas.

The Hamamatsu City Musical Instrument Museum is Japan’s first public musical instrument museum, where you can see and hear musical instruments from all over the world up close.

There is also an experience room where you can actually play musical instruments, which is popular for both adults and children.

In this article, we will introduce the charm of Hamamatsu City Musical Instruments Museum with many photos.