Iwata

Iwata (磐田) is a city in Shizuoka. Home to J1 soccer team Jubilo Iwata.

Understand edit

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

JR Tokai line
The nearest Shinkansen stops are at Kakegawa, if you're coming in from the direction of Tokyo, or Hamamatsu if you're coming from the Nagoya area. From either, you can catch a regular JR train the rest of the way to Iwata Station.

Iwata Museum of Fragrance (磐田香りの博物館, Iwata Kaori no Hakubutsukan), Tatsuno 2019-15, ☏ +81 53 836-8891. 09:30-17:00, closed Mondays. This unique museum explores the history and culture associated with fragrances in a variety of exhibits, including the "Experience Fragrance" exhibit which, for an additional fee of ¥2100, allows visitors to create and bottle their own fragrance. A café allows visitors to try out various fragrant herbal teas. Adults ¥300, students ¥200, children ¥100.
Okegaya Marsh (桶ケ谷沼, Okegaya Numa), Iwai 315, ☏ +81 53 839-3022. 09:00-17:00, closed Mondays. An almost 2-km-long marsh and the surrounding park has abundant wildlife, including 67 species of dragonfly.
Toyooka Plum Park (豊岡梅公園, Toyooka Ume Kouen), Uenobu 1989-1, ☏ +81 53 962-2666. 09:00-17:00. Over 4000 plums trees blossom in a beautiful valley here every spring. Adults ¥500, children ¥100.
Yuya Long Wisteria (熊野の長藤, Yuya no Nagafuji), Ikeda 330, ☏ +81 53 836-9600. Meter-long arms of wisteria hang from a frame which covers almost 600 m². Great picnic spot during the April-May bloom. A wisteria festival is held here during Golden Week as well. Free.

LaLa Port Iwata (ららぽーと磐田), 1200 Takamigaoka (off the Tomei Expressway north of the Iwata Interchange), ☏ +81 538-59-0100. 10:00-21:00. Opened in 2009, the largest western-style mall in the area, with a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and a Toho Cinema.

Unagi no Tanaka (うなぎのたなか), Shirabane 147, ☏ +81 53 866-5252. Eel from Hamamatsu's Lake Hamana is the Enshu region's most famous regional dish. Check out their take-away menu.

Ajishou Tenhiro (味匠天宏), Mitsuke 3884-5 (about 2 km north of JR Iwata station), ☏ +81 53-832-7078. 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00. Tempura served in an old-style Japanese atmosphere. The restaurant is installed in a historic house once lived in by the head of the Akamatsu clan. Beyond tempura, the restaurant also specializes in the local "three-color curry" (miiro kare). Dinner for around ¥5000.

Routes through Iwata

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