Iwata

By train

• 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

  address: Tatsuno 2019-15
  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.

• Okegaya Marsh

  address: Iwai 315
  An almost 2-km-long marsh and the surrounding park has abundant wildlife, including 67 species of dragonfly.

• Toyooka Plum Park

  address: Uenobu 1989-1
  Over 4000 plums trees blossom in a beautiful valley here every spring.

• Yuya Wisteria

  address: Ikeda 330
  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.

• LaLa Port Iwata

  address: 1200 Takamigaoka
  The newest and largest western-style mall in the area, with a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and a Toho Cinema. One unique store, Enshu no Eki, carries a vast array of food products made, grown, or caught in the Enshu (western Shizuoka) area.

• Choupana Iwata

  address: Fukudenakajima776-1
  Popular Brazilian all-you-can-eat rodizio with salad bar, rice and beans, salgados, feijoada and a wide selection of cuts served tableside, including various beef cuts, chicken, chicken hearts, lamb, and pork. ¥2000-3000.

Budget

• Saigon RestaurantSmall authentic little restaurant located in Toyoda-cho.

Mid-range

• Unagi no Tanaka

  address: Shirabane 147
  Eel from Hamamatsu's Lake Hamana is the Enshu region's most famous regional dish. Check out their take-away menu.

Splurge

• Ajishou Tenhiro

  address: Mitsuke 3884-5
  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).