It was the son of a local blacksmith who attached a small engine to a bicycle and therefore became the originator of the “Pon-pon” the pet name for the first generation of motorcycles. His name, Soichiro Honda. Torakusu Yamaha started out fixing broken organs, and wound up forming the Yamaha Corporation. This sort of creativity is the foundation of Hamamatsu. When talking of motorcycles, there is Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, and in musical instruments there is Yamaha and Kawai, all companies born in Hamamatsu that have gone on to become world leaders.
At the center of Hamamats’s pride for the local traditional and high-tech textile industry is the famous summer yukata. Nowadays, traditional ways are being fused with new technology to create the latest fashions.
Hamamatsu Photonics opto-technology supplies the world with a wide array of useful products in the areas of medical instrumentation and biotechnology. Having the ability to witness the progress of such corporations adds to Hamamats’s appeal.
Refreshed the Hamamatsu Way
The mild climate, the ocean, the lakes and mountains, this greatly favored natural environment also adds to Hamamatsu’s appeal. There are many places of interest including Lake Hamana, the Hamamatsu Flower Park and Zoo, the Castle Park, the Festival Pavilion, Nakatajima Dunes, Shijimizuka Ruins, and the various museums. Hamamatsu also offers a variety of events including among the many the Hamamatsu Festival, the Fall Festival, and numerous concerts.
If you would like to take a plant tour at a company facility, you may need a reservation. Please call to confirm the schedule before visiting.
SUZUKI PLAZA
Various products and other relevant materials collected since Suzuki’s foundation are exhibited at the museum. Visitors can learn about the current automobile production processes and Suzuki’s passionate craftsmanship based on their concept of continually offering top-quality products to their customers. The industry’s first 300HP 4-stroke was Suzuki’s top of the range outboard, the DF300 and winner of the IBEX 2006 Innovation Award from NMMA. This was the first outboard to utilise an electronic remote control. Its progressive technology includes Suzuki Precision Control (Electronic Throttle and Shift System) and its 4 litre V6 24-valve engine is the largest displacement in V6 4-stroke outboards.
Contact – Suzuki Plaza
1301 Zoracho, Minami Ward (Minami-ku), Hamamatsu City (Hamamatsu-shi), Shizuoka Prefecture 432-8062, Japan Access: From Hamamatsu Station, By TRAIN; Tokaido Main Line get off at “Takatsuka”station (5min) and Walk (10min). Tel/Fax: 053-440-2020 Tour hours: 9:00—16:30 (reservations are necessary) Closed – Mondays, New Year’s holidays, and summer holidays etc.
Website: https://www.suzuki-rekishikan.jp/
Fashion Hall Daiwa Dyeing Co.,Ltd.
A collection of various natural fiber materials and processed materials, accumulated over many years, is displayed in the exhibition room. Plant based dye materials are also exhibited. You can stop by at the shop downstairs where fabric is available in various sizes.
Contact – Fashion Hall Daiwa Dyeing Co.,Ltd.
3-1 Kidocho, Hamamatsu, Naka Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 430-0806, Japan Access: By car 10 minutes from JR Hamamatsu Station Tour hours – 9:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00 (reservations are necessary). Closed – Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays (please call to confirm). Tel: (053) 461-2121 Fax: (053) 464-0546
Website: http://www.dywa.co.jp/
Shizuoka University Takayanagi Memorial Hall
The history of Mr.Kenjiro Takayanagi, called “the father of television”, is outlined in this memorial. Mr.Takayanagi succeeded in projecting the letter “i” in Japanese onto a screen using the electric signal of a cathode-ray tube image system. Valuable photos and exhibits can also be seen here.
Contact – Takayanagi Memorial Hall
3-5-1 Johoku, Hamamatsu, Naka Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 432-8011, Japan Access: From Hamamatsu Station – By BUS: The 16th bus terminal station All of Line (20 minutes), get off at “Shizuoka University”. By TAXI (15 minutes) Tel: 053-478-1402 Hours: 10:00-16:00 Closed: Mondays (Tuesday instead if Monday is a national holiday)
Email: t…@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp
Website: http://www.nvrc.rie.shizuoka.ac.jp/takayanagi/index.html
Kyowa Leather Cloth Co.,Ltd.
Kyowa Leather’s market share is the largest nationally and the 2nd largest globally in the automobile interior material industry. The company provides a wide variety of products including materials for housing, wall paper, furniture, bags and shoes.
Contact – Kyowa Leather
1876, Higashi-machi, Minami Ward (Minami-ku), Hamamatsu City (Hamamatsu-shi), Shizuoka Prefecture 430-0822, Japan Access: By car 20 minutes from JR Hamamatsu Station.15 minutes from Tomei Hamamatsu I.C toward the Kaketsuka Bridge across the Tenryu river. Tour hours: 9:00—11:30, 13:00—16:00 (reservations are necessary) Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays (please call to confirm) Tel: 053-425-2121 Fax: 053-425-3929
Website: http://www.kyowale.co.jp/
Heian Corporation – Miyakoda System Laboratory
This company is involved in the development and manufacturing of carpentry equipment and other industrial machines. Both the automated building materials process plant and the development facility can be observed.
Contact – Heian Corporation
1-5-2 Shin-miyakoda, Hamamatsu, Kita Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 432-2103, Japan Access: By bus 56 Hagioka Techno Miyakoda Line from JR Hamamatsu Station (Entetsu bus stop 13), get off Sawakamiguchi bus stop and 5 minutes on foot. Tour hours: 9:00~16:00(reservations are necessary, please call to confirm) Closed: Saturdays and Sundays TEL: 053-428-5321 FAX: 053-428-5631
Website: http://www.heiancorp.com/eng/index.html
Tenjingura / Hamamatsu Sake Brewery
This sake brewery, which uses the underflow water from the Tenryu River, was founded in 1871. Visitors can observe both sake brewing fin winter) and local beer brewing processes. After the tour, visitors can browse the shop and gallery at the facility or enjoy a meal at the restaurant.
Contact – Tenjingura Sake Brewery
3-57, Tenjinmachi, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu City (Hamamatsu-shi), Shizuoka Prefecture 430-0808, Japan Access: By car 15 minutes from JR Hamamatsu Station Tour hours: 10:30-11:00,14:00~16:00 (reservations are necessary) Closed: Tuesdays TEL: 053-461-6145 FAX: 053-463-3851
Website: http://www.tenjingura.com/
Hana no Mai Sake Brewery
Visitors can observe the sake brewing processes performed in the traditional method, using local rice and water.
Contact – Hana no Mai Sake Brewery
632 Miyaguchi, Hamamatsu, Hamakita Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 434-0004, Japan Access: By car 25 minutes from the Tomei Hamamatsu West I.C Tour period: November—June. Tour length: 30 minutes – 1 hour (reservations are necessary) Closed – Saturdays and Sundays (tours are available by phone reservation) TEL: 053(582)2121 FAX: 053(589)0122
Email: i…@hananomai.co.jp
Website: http://www.hananomai.co.jp/
JA Topia Hamamatsu Fruit Farming Center (Mandarin Orange Selection Facility)
Walking through the facility, you can find equipment to measure the sugar and acid content of the fruit which is done without damaging the sample. The “Color Grader” machine, which determines color grade by photographing oranges from 6 different angles, can also be seen. Contact – JA Topia-Hamamatsu 65-2 Hosoecho Miwa, Hamamatsu, Kita Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-1303, Japan Access: Stop at Miyakoda railway station Tour hours: end of June – February Hour: 8:30 ~17:00 (please call in advance to confirm as there may be changes depending on the season) Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and New Year’s holidays TEL: 053-527-0777
Website: http://www.ja-shizuoka.or.jp/topia/whatsnew/einou/pione.htm
Unagi Pie Factory (Unagi Pie Main Store Ookubo Factory)
Unagi Pie Factory Tour will learn how Shunkado unagi (eel) pies are made. The tour will show you the manufacturing processes of baking, inspection and wrapping. It also includes the video theater and personal explanation from our confectioners. The Unagi Pie production processes can be observed at this facility which includes a shop and cafe where people can try Shunkado’s well-known cakes. Unagi Pie was created with the hope that families will get together to enjoy Unagi Pie in the evening.
Contact – Unagipie
Address: 748-51 Okubocho, Hamamatsu, Nishi Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture Tour hours: 10:00~18:00(last admission – 16:30). Open throughout the year Tour length: Approx. 30 minutes TEL: 053-482-1765
Website: http://www.shunkado.co.jp/factory/tour.php
Shizuoka Rofu Company
The Shizuoka Rofu company is proud of its environmentally friendly “Hamanako Towel” made using their special textile technique, called “Enshu Karami Chijireori” (patent acquired). These towels, made from Japanese paper, do not dissolve when wet and have become popular nationwide. Exhibitions and sales are available at any time, and plant tours are also available by phone reservation.
Contact – Shizuoka Rofu
3294 Murakushicho, Hamamatsu, Nishi Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-1207, Japan Access: About 1 hour by bus from JR Shinkansen Hamamatsu Station, about 10 minutes Bentenjima Station by taxi. About 20 minutes from the Inter Tomeinishi by Car. Tour hours: 9:00-~17:00 (reservations are necessary) Tour days: Please call to confirm beforehand. TEL: 053-489-2331 FAX: 053-489-2330
Website: http://washi-towel.com/ and http://www.shizuoka-rof.co.jp/
Grundfos Pumps Company
Pumps designed and developed in Denmark have been manufactured in the Grundfos Pumps Hamamatsu Plant since 1992 to meet the demand of the Japanese market. Visitors can observe the production processes of a wide range of pumps used everywhere in our daily lives.
Contact – Grundfos Pumps Company
1-2-3 Shin-miyakoda, Hamamatsu, Kita Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-2103, Japan Access: 1.54km from Miyakoda station Tour days: Please call to confirm. Fourth grade elementary school students and younger, as well as people who have consumed alcohol may not tour here due to accident prevention measures. Those from similar trades should refrain from taking the tour. TEL: 053-428-4755 FAX: 053-484-1014
Website: http://www.grundfos.jp
Also See:
Important Consideration Visiting Hamamatsu Industry
- If you would like to take a plant tour at a company facility, you may need a reservation. Please call to confirm the schedule before visiting
- When asked not to take photos in the factories and facilities, please refrain from doing so.
- If those who have consumed alcohol, or those from a similar industry, are asked not to take the tour, please respect their request.
- If a visitor’s clothes or shoes are deemed unsuitable for the tour, you may not participate.
- Smoking is prohibited in most plants and facilities. Please smoke in the designated smoking areas.
- Tours are usually conducted in Japanese. If you need an interpreter, please call to confirm at each plant or facility in advance.
- If you cannot make it to a scheduled tour, please call and cancel as soon as possible.
- In principal these enterprises do not conduct plant tours for people working in the same industry. Please make sure to check relevant prohibitions and follow the relevant rules to avoid any trouble.
List of available Hamamatsu Factories and Sightseeing tour; organized by Hamamatsu Visitors and Convention Bureau: http://hamamatsu-daisuki.net/hamacon/en/factory/index.html
