World-famous names fill the Japanese coastal city of Hamamatsu, where the likes of Yamaha and Kawai originate. This small city has played an integral role in the development of companies like Honda, Sony, and Suzuki, businesses that continue to have major factories along the coast. Scroll back before engines and electronics and visitors discover that Hamamatsu has a captivating history dating from the Edo period. Hamamatsu is roughly halfway between Shizuoka and Nagoya, west of Tokyo and Mount Fuji.

The Hamamatsu Castle is the best reflection of the city’s heritage. Although it’s been rebuilt after being destroyed during World War II, the design is faithful to 16th century Tokugawa Ieyasu, the leader who built a fortress and small town along the coast. Within the castle’s grounds, there’s an excellent art museum which helps to narrate Hamamatsu’s history. For two weeks in spring, the grounds become one of Japan’s most surreal cherry blossom spots, with 360 trees shedding their leaves. Other iconic attractions in the city include the Gosha Shrine and the hands-on Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, which has a wonderful collection of unusual gems from across Asia.

Shizuoka is the closest airport, but its international connections are very limited, so most visitors are likely to arrive at Chubu International Airport, which is two hours from Hamamatsu by bus. The city is on the high-speed Tokaido Shinkansen line from Nagoya, and the journey takes just over 30 minutes. There are also Hikari rail services from Osaka and Kyoto. While the main attractions of the city can be seen on foot, access to the industrial area along the coast will require a local bus or private transport.

The city has long been known as Japan’s home of musical instruments, an indication of its creative past. Standing high above the cityscape is Act Tower, a lone skyscraper that’s shaped like a harmonica.