16 things to do in the historic city of Hamamatsu

No trip to Hamamatsu is complete without a quick visit to Hamamatsu Castle. The fortress is a fundamental part of Japanese history, as shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu himself spent nearly 20 years using it as his living quarters and strategic base. The structure has since been reconstructed into a museum, housing artefacts like replicas of Ieyasu's armour, various earthenware and a large diorama of the city with an accompanying screen of bilingual history lessons on the area. Plus, you'll get a fantastic view of the city from the wrap-around balcony on the top floor.

Entry is ¥200 for adults, and free for junior high students and younger – the castle is open daily 8.30am-4.30pm. After your visit, feel free to take a stroll through the park grounds.

Time Out tip: The ceiling on the top floor of the castle is decorated with various Japanese family crests painted in gold. Test your knowledge and see how many you can identify.

Located on the grounds of Hamamatsu Castle Park is the tranquil Shointei Teahouse, a cosy wooden affair with understated yet tasteful decor of seasonal flower arrangements and decorative scrolls. With its quiet atmosphere and lovely garden view, you'll almost forget you're in the middle of a city.

Here you can get tea and wagashi (Japanese sweets) for ¥500, with either matcha or sencha (steeped green tea) depending on which is available that day. It's a nice little place to rest and recharge.

Time Out tip: If you're a stickler for etiquette, there's a preferred order to eat and drink your tea and sweets depending on the type of tea you select. According to the staff at the teahouse, if you're having sencha, drink the first cup, then eat the wagashi, then finish your second cup. For matcha, eat the wagashi first, then drink your matcha. These rules aren't written in stone though, so feel free to enjoy your treats at your leisure.

City Hall doesn't usually come to mind as a must-see location during a trip, but Hamamatsu's got something special up its sleeve. From now until January 25 2026 (closed December 29 – January 3), the city is displaying a six-metre-tall replica of Eva-01 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Evangelion franchise.

The statue is open for public viewing from 8.30am to 5.15pm on weekdays and from 10am to 4pm on weekends. (If you come on a weekend, grab your free viewing pass from the reception desk at the entrance). Whether you're a fan of Eva or not, it's certainly worth a visit just for the photo op.

Time Out tip: Scan the QR code next to the statue and fill out Hamamatsu's quick tourism survey to receive a Hamamatsu x Evangelion sticker.

Tenryu Futamata Station serves as the main station of Tenryu Hamanako Railway, which runs east to west throughout Hamamatsu. The station was constructed all the way back in 1940 and has been a National Tangible Cultural Property since 1998, but it has another, more modern claim to fame: it was the model for Village-3 in Evangelion's fourth and final film, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.

For ¥600 (¥300 for children) you can get a 40-minute tour of the facilities (in Japanese only, but a printed English guide is available). You'll see the railroad turntable in action, take a peek at the station's former bathhouse, and pay a visit to a little museum showcasing some of the train equipment and other paraphernalia used during the station's heyday – it's a nifty glimpse into the past.

Time Out tip: Snap your pics quickly during the museum portion of the tour. You'll only get a few minutes inside, so make them count.

The restaurant Reishoan is one of the traditional-style buildings located on the grounds of Mangoku Shoya Park, which once served as the living quarters of the prestigious Suzuki family. Charming pieces like seasonal ikebana (flower arrangements) and decorative bonsai with miniature origami cranes as leaves add to the charm of the venue.

The Western-inspired set meals include items like roasted pork loin, grilled whitefish and other seafood dishes, though the menu changes with the season. Lunch hours are 11am-2pm, with meals from ¥2,400. The café is open 2pm-5pm and dinner is 6pm-9pm, from ¥6,900. Reservations are required for dinner – call 053 434 0105 (Japanese only). The restaurant is closed Wednesdays. After your meal, wander the grounds to take in a bit of nature and see the former archery range and ancestral shrine.

Time Out tip: This is a shoes-off kind of venue – make sure you've got socks on to enter.

Established in 1864, Hananomai Sake Brewery sells a wide selection of sake, shochu, liqueurs and more. It offers one-hour tours (in Japanese only) that accommodate up to 12 people; you can reserve your spot up to a day in advance on the brewery's website. During the tour you'll see the machines the brewery uses to make its sake and learn all about the sake-making process.

The brewery saves the best for last: for the final part of the tour you'll get to filter your very own batch of moromi (raw sake material) into a bottle to take home. It's a particularly rare treat, as this kind of unpasteurised sake can't be found in stores. Afterward, browse the brewery's broad range of (pasteurised) sake on offer, all of which are available for tasting.

Time Out tip: The slower you pour the moromi, the clearer your sake will be. Take your time or pour a bit faster, depending on how you want your final product to turn out. Fermentation will still be taking place, so the brewery staff recommend finishing your bottle within two weeks.

Easily one of Hamamatsu's most iconic sites, the torii gate of Bentenjima Seaside Park is a must-see for your itinerary. The 18m-tall attraction overlooks the small, human-made Bentenjima Beach, a popular hotspot for a little dip in the summertime. Take in the view as you walk along the park's 500m-long walkway, or reserve a rental bike online starting from ¥2,000.

In the winter months, the sun sets between the torii gate, making for incredibly Instagrammable shots. Visit around the time of the winter solstice in late December to get the best bang for your buck.

Time Out tip: Come early to find a good spot for your wintery sunset photoshoot; you certainly won't be the only one hunting for the perfect pic.

Hamamatsu is known for eel, and at unagi speciality restaurant Hajime it's clear to see why. In fact, the place has got the stamp of approval from the mayor Yusuke Nakano himself. The restaurant serves up high-quality, succulent unagi in the delightfully crispy Kansai style. Our recommendation? Try the shirayaki (unagi without the sauce) – you can really taste the true flavour of the eel with this dish.

Hajime is open 11am-2pm for lunch, 5pm-8pm for dinner, and closed Mondays. Just FYI, the place can get packed during mealtime rush hour, so either come early or prepare to queue.

Time Out tip: Hajime is one of the mayor's favourites, but he recommends shopping around. 'There are over 100 eel restaurants in Hamamatsu,' he says. 'Visitors should explore for themselves. Every place has its own secret sauce!'

For a little relaxation during your trip, look no further than Hanasaki no Yu. The onsen and spa features more than 20 baths of various temperatures and types, from carbonated pools to mineral-rich hot springs, plus steam and dry saunas. Get a massage at one of the venue's massage stations starting from ¥2,380 for 20 minutes, or choose to recline in one of the dozens of massage chairs spread across the venue's two floors for just a few hundred-yen coins instead. Rubdowns aside, there are several relaxation areas for casual lounging, including a manga corner for the bookworms.

As for refreshments, have a cuppa at the little café on the ground floor or a full meal at the indoor restaurant serving up classics like udon, soba and tempura. Hanasaki no Yu is open daily from 10am-11pm (last entry 10pm), with entry from ¥1,100 for adults and from ¥660 for children.

Time Out tip: Try the ¥100 foot massage machine with adjustable power settings tucked away in one of the lounge rooms on the second floor. It's an experience you won't soon forget.

The gorgeous Ryotanji Temple was established in 733 and has served as the ancestral family temple of the illustrious Ii clan since the early 11th century. The Zen Buddhist temple is officially registered as a National Site of Scenic Beauty. The 33,000sqm grounds house six halls, among which you'll find various artefacts like traditional folding screens, books, wood carvings of the Buddha and more.

The temple's Zen garden is a year-round sight to behold with its cherry blossoms and azaleas in the spring, lotus blossoms in the summer and gorgeous autumn and winter foliage. Ryotanji Temple is open 9am-4.30pm daily – entry is ¥500 for adults, ¥200 for children.

Time Out tip: The creaking floors of the main building don't need fixing. Made with the uguisubari (nightingale floor) method, they're designed to creak for security purposes. So, walk normally and don't be worried about falling through the floorboards.

The stalactites and stalagmites of Ryugashido Cavern, the largest limestone cave in the Tokai region, have been forming for over 250 million years. The first 400m of the kilometre-long cave are open to the public for ¥1,000 (¥600 for middle school and elementary school students) year-round from 10am to 5pm.

The crown jewel of the cave is the 30m underground waterfall located about halfway through the path, named 'The Grand Golden Waterfall' for the way its droplets resemble flecks of gold in the light. At the end of the route, there's a little exhibit of fossils and cave artefacts, plus a gift shop full of stones, jewellery and other goodies to browse.

Time Out tip: Come between 11am and 2pm to see the staff feed the fruit bats that live in the cave. Also, the cave stays a cool 18C year-round, so bring a jacket if you're visiting in the warmer months.

Hovering nearly 100 metres above Lake Hamano, Kanzanji Ropeway is the only cable car in Japan that passes over a lake. (Like Hajime mentioned above, the ropeway is another of the mayor's favourites.) The ride lasts around four minutes and offers a stunning view along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for the 16m-tall statue of the Japanese Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon, located amongst the foliage.

After the ride, head up to the observation deck to get a 360-degree view of the city. A one-way ticket is ¥700 (¥350 for children) and a round-trip ticket is ¥1,300 (¥650 for children), with cars running every 10 minutes from 10am to 4.10pm (Kanzanji Station entrance) or 4.30pm (Okusayama Station entrance). Before heading out, stop by the Hamanako Orgel Museum to see an impressive collection of music boxes.

Time Out tip: The coin-operated binoculars on the rooftop are out of service, so bring your own binoculars if you'd like to get a close view of the city.

The humble Hamanako Orgel Museum houses over 70 music boxes from all over the globe, ranging from 19th-century to modern-day models. The size of the collection may sound daunting, but half an hour or so is plenty of time to see everything. Don't miss the enchanting 15-minute concerts that happen twice an hour, in which the staff will turn on a music box or two for the audience to hear.

Entry is ¥1,000 (¥500 for children), or you can bundle your ticket with a Kanzanji Ropeway ticket for a discounted price. By the way, the downstairs gift shop is equally musical with its wide variety of music boxes to choose from, and if you fancy, you can even decorate your own starting from ¥1,870 at the shop's arts and crafts station. Simply pick a melody from the shop's list, then assemble and decorate your music box right there in the shop to take home.

Time Out tip: For the anime fans, some of the gift shop's music boxes play tunes from popular shows and films like Spirited Away, My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer – hunt around and try to find your faves.

The sprawling 300,000sqm Hamamatsu Flower Park boasts over 3,000 species of flowers that bloom throughout the year, from springtime cherry blossoms to winter plum blossoms. If you find the immense grounds too much to explore on foot, board the on-site train from one of six locations in the park for just ¥100 (¥50 for children 3 to 11) to take a 15-minute loop around some of the major areas. Don't forget to check out the greenhouse – it contains plants from all over the world, which are swapped out regularly to provide year-round variety.

Prices for the flower park range from ¥1,000 to completely free of charge depending on the time of year and state of the flowers. While you're enjoying all the blossoms, swing by the large fountain in the centre of the grounds, which puts on a six-minute show with lights and music every thirty minutes.

Time Out tip: Try the rose-flavoured soft serve sold at a little shop inside the greenhouse – it's a fragrant, floral, flavourful treat you can enjoy for ¥450.

The Hamanako Terrace offers a high-end dining experience with a lovely view of Lake Hamana. The seasonal set menu comes courtesy of seasoned chef Yoshiaki Tohyama, who had been crafting French-inspired dishes for over 20 years in hotel restaurants across Japan before gracing the Terrace's kitchen. Locally sourced ingredients are the main focus here – think mainly seafood and veg, but also heartier dishes like braised pork shoulder.

The lunch menu is priced at ¥5,500, while dinner is ¥8,800. Reservations can be made by phone at 053 543 5519 (Japanese only).

Time Out tip: Ask to head up to the roof to get an even better view of the lake and surrounding area.

Suzuki Plaza is a museum dedicated to – you guessed it – Suzuki. In this three-storey building you'll learn all about the company, starting from its humble beginnings in 1909 as a loom maker to its current status as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of automobiles, motorcycles and more.

The third floor highlights the history of the company, showcasing models of looms and vehicles past; the second floor shows how present-day Suzuki makes its cars from initial digital planning to real-world assembly, with plenty of displays that show each step. Both floors have bilingual videos and signage placed among their exhibitions to give visitors a better understanding of what they're seeing. (The first floor is currently under construction.)

Suzuki Plaza is open 9am-4.30pm, closed Mondays and during New Year and summer holidays. Entry is free, though reservations are required, which can be made on Suzuki Plaza's website (in Japanese only).

Time Out tip: In the words of the staff at Suzuki, 'Start from the top floor and work your way down for the best experience.' We tried it; we agree.