Hamamatsu Sights and Landmarks Guide, Japan

Hamamatsu is more widely known as the home of industrial giants such as Suzuki, Yamaha or Honda then for its touristic appeal. At the first sights, Hamamatsu indeed seems like a generic Japanese industrial metropolis, but like many Japanese cities, it hides some intriguing historical sites and temples. Hamamatsu might not have the historical appeal of Osaka or even Tokyo, but there are at least three castles and a dozen shrines that make Hamamatsu worth visiting. If Japanese culture is not on your list of interests, you might enjoy a visit to Hamamatsu for the sheer wealth of hi-tech gadgets that you can buy practically at every street corner. Discover a few of Hamamatsu’s most impressive sky-scrapers, monuments, parks and temples through this brief Hamamatsu Sights Guide.

Hamamatsu Sights Guide - Buildings and Museums

Hamamatsu has only one building that can be called a sky-scraper, but it is so impressive and famous that there is no need for more in the city. Act Tower was built to resemble a gigantic harmonica, because Hamamatsu has long been known under the name of “City of Music” thanks to its numerous music events and its conservatory. The tower hosts shopping centers, hotels and a restaurant, and its beautiful rooftop garden offers a great panoramic view of the city. From the Tower Observatory you can even see Mount Fuji if the sky is clear.

Don’t forget to visit the statue of Chopin in the rooftop garden, a perfect replica of the famous Art Nouveau monument in Warsaw. There is a wide array of museums in Hamamatsu, with displays that vary from art to aircrafts. Go to Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art for paintings and sculptures by various Japanese artists. Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments displays a fascinating collection of musical instruments from around the world. This Hamamatsu Travel Guide recommends that you visit the Lake Hamana Music Box Museum where you can see music boxes from every part of the world.

Hamamatsu Sights Guide - Castles and Shrines

Hamamatsu Castle was built in the 15th century, and it used to be the seat of Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the most famous shoguns in Japanese history. The castle is especially beautiful in springtime when the surrounding cherry trees are in bloom, but it is a very interesting place to visit in any season. The castle hosts a miniature model of medieval Hamamatsu. Futamata Castle is yet another place where important events in Japanese history took place, but unfortunately only the castle walls have survived to this day. There are many shrines in Hamamatsu and each one is charming in its unique way. Makaya-ji Temple hosts several old artifacts, and Ryotan-ji Temple is especially praised for the beauty of its gardens.