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Akiha Fire Festival

Ever since long ago, Mount Akiha was believed to have supernatural powers to prevent fires.Bow and arrow, sword, and fire dances are performed at the Akiha Shrine.At the Akiha Temple a firewalking ceremony is performed where both believers and spectators celebrate the festival (Haruno, Tenryu-ku — December).

Enshu Dainenbutsu

When a family commemorates the first Obon holidays after the death of a loved one, they may request that a dainenbutsu (Buddhist chanting ritual) be performed outside their house. This is one of the local performing arts of the region. The group always forms a procession in front of the house led by a person carrying a lantern and marches to the sound of flutes, Japanese drums and cymbals (Saigagake Museum, Hamamatsu City — July 15).

Hamamatsu Castle

Hamamatsu Castle Park stretches from the modern city hall building to the north.The castle is located on a hill in the southeast corner of the park, near city hall.It was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu.His rule marks the beginning of the Edo Period.Tokugawa Ieyasu lived here from 1571 to 1588.There is a small museum inside, which houses some armor and other relics of the period, as well as a miniature model of how the city might have looked 400 years ago. North of the castle is a large park with a Japanese garden, a koi pond, a ceremonial teahouse, and some commons areas.

Act City Tower Observatory

Hamamatsu's only skyscraper, situated next to JR Hamamatsu Station, is a symbol of the city. It was designed to resemble a harmonica, a reminder that Hamamatsu is sometimes known as the "City of Music". The building houses shopping and a food court, the Okura Hotel, and an observatory on the 45th floor overlooking all of central Hamamatsu, even down to the sand dunes at the shore.

Princess Road Festival

This reenactment of a procession made by the princess in her palanquin along with her entourage of over 100 people including maids, samurai, and servants makes for a splendid scene beneath the cherry blossoms along the Toda River. In the Edo period, princesses enjoyed traveling this road which came to be known as a hime kaido (princess road).(Hosoe, Kita-ku — April).

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