If you’ve ever done Japan’s Golden Route, Tokyo → Kyoto, you’ve definitely passed by this city… and also spectacularly missed it.

That city is Hamamatsu, connected by the Hikari on the Tokaido Shinkansen: 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo, and about 1 hour from Kyoto, sitting almost Goldilocks-perfect between the two, making it the ultimate “you had no excuse to skip it” stopover.

Yet, most travelers whizz past, eyes glued to Mt Fuji, completely unaware that Hamamatsu quietly packs some of Japan’s best culture, craftsmanship, food, nature, and musical history into one very livable, very underrated city. read more