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This article is about the Japanese city. For the area in eastern Tokyo, see .
Location of Hamamatsu in
Coordinates: :
Government
 o Mayor
 o Total
1,558.06 km2 (601.57 sq mi)
Population (September 1, 2015)
 o Total
 o Density
507/km2 (1,310/sq mi)
Phone number
53-457-2111
103-2 Motoshiro-chō, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken 430-8652
Wards of Hamamatsu
Hamamatsu (浜松市 Hamamatsu-shi, lit. "Coast Pine Tree") is a
located in western , .
As of September 1, 2015, the city had an estimated
of 789,407, making it the prefecture's largest city and a
of 507 persons per km2. The total area was 1,558.06 km2 (601.57 sq mi).
On July 1, 2005, Hamamatsu absorbed the cities of
and , the town of
(from ), the towns of ,
(all from ), the towns of
and , the village of
(all from ), and the towns of
(both from ) to become the current and expanded city of Hamamatsu. It became a
on April 1, 2007.
Hamamatsu is 260 kilometres (160 mi) southwest of .
Hamamatsu consists of a flat plain and the Mikatahara Plateau in the south, and a mountainous area in the north. It is roughly bordered by
to the west, the
to the east, and the
to the south.
Shizuoka Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
Part of Hamamatsu Skyline
A bird's-eye view of downtown Hamamatsu from the tallest building (Act Tower)
Hamamatsu is administratively divided into seven :
(中区)—administrative center
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any . Please help improve this section by . Unsourced material may be challenged and . (July 2013)
Hirokoji Street in the 1930s
The area now comprising Hamamatsu has been settled since prehistoric times, with numerous remains from the
having been discovered within the present city limits, including the
ancient tomb. In the , it became the capital of . During the ,
was the home of future
. Hamamatsu flourished during the
under a succession of
rulers as a castle town, and as a post town on the . After the , Hamamatsu became a short-lived prefecture from , after which it was united with Shizuoka Prefecture.
opened on the
in 1889. The same year, in a cadastal reform of Japan, Hamamatsu became a town.
July 1, 1911: Hamamatsu is upgraded from a town to a city
affect Hamamatsu
1921: The village of Tenjinchō merges with Hamamatsu
1933: Imperial Japanese Army Flight School opens
1936: The villages of Hikuma and Fujizuka merge with Hamamatsu
December 7, 1944:
causes much damage
June 1945: Hamamatsu largely destroyed by
1948: , ethnic rioting of
residents.
1951: The villages of Aratsu, Goto, and Kawarin merge with Hamamatsu
1954: Eight villages in Hamana District merge with Hamamatsu
1955: The village of Miyakoda merges with Hamamatsu
1957: The village of Irino merges with Hamamatsu
1960: The village of Seto merges with Hamamatsu
1961: The village of Shinohara merges with Hamamatsu
1965: The village of Shonai merges with Hamamatsu
May 1, 1990: Hamamatsu Arena opened
January 1, 1991: The village of Kami in
merges with Hamamatsu.
April 1, 1991: The first
May 1, 1994: Act City Hamamatsu opened.
October 1, 1995: Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments opened.
April 1, 1996: Hamamatsu is designated a
by the central government.
June 1, 1996: Hamamatsu City Fruit Park opened.
January 1, 1997: Started separated collection of garbage in residential areas.
April 1, 1997: Hamamatsu is designated as an Omnibus Town.
April 1, 1998: Act City Musical School opened.
April 3, 2000:
July 1, 2001: The city's 90th anniversary is commemorated
August 1, 2002: Launched the conference on Pan-Hamanako Designated City Simulation.
April 1, 2003: Shizuoka New Kawafuji National High School Competition was held.
June 1, 2003: Launched Tenryūgawa-Hamanako Region Merger Conference.
April 8 – October 11, 2004: Pacific Flora 2004 (Shizuoka International Garden and Horticulture Exhibition) was held at Hamanako Garden Park.
July 1, 2005: Hamamatsu absorbed the town of
(from ), the towns of ,
(all from ), the towns of
and , the village of
(all from ), and the towns of
(both from ) were merged intoHamamatsu. Inasa District and Iwata District were both dissolved as a result of this merger. Therefore, there are no more villages left in Shizuoka Prefecture.
April 1, 2007: Hamamatsu became a
by the central government.
The climate in southern Hamamatsu is mild with little sn however, it is windy in winter because of the dry monsoon called , which is unique to the region. The climate in northern Hamamatsu is much harsher because of . In summers, the highest temperature often exceeds 35 degrees in the Tenryu-ku area, while it snows in winter.
Climate data for Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Averages (), Records ()
Record high °C (°F)
Average high °C (°F)
Daily mean °C (°F)
Average low °C (°F)
Record low °C (°F)
mm (inches)
Mean monthly
View of Mt. Fuji from Hamamatsu
This section requires . (October 2015)
As of the 2008 Japanese census the total population was estimated to be 824,057. As of an unspecified year, 29,635 non-Japanese live in Hamamatsu.
As of 2008 the number of non-Japanese in Hamamatsu was 33,332, and by 2010 the number was about 30,000. The population of
foreigners increased after a 1990 change in Japanese immigration law allowed them to work in Japan. Many foreigners work in the manufacturing sector, taking temporary jobs in , , and
Since 1990 the number of non-Japanese children in Hamamatsu increased. Natsuko Fukue of
wrote in 2010 that many foreign children have difficulty integrating to society in Hamamatsu because "Japanese and foreign communities live largely separate from one another."
Super Mercado Takara, a Brazilian supermarket
As of an unspecified period the city has 15,899 Brazilians, making up 60% of the foreign population. As of 2008 Brazilians were the majority of the foreigners in the city. Hamamatsu has the largest Brazilian Nikkei population of any Japanese city, but as of 2007 it is the city of
which has the highest concentration of them. Toshiko Sugino (杉野 俊子 Sugino Toshiko) of the
wrote that people in Hamamatsu "are considered open-minded" to the ethnic diversity. The city has a lot of Portuguese signage. It includes a Brazilian school, and many businesses catering to Brazilians display Brazilian flags.
As of an unspecified year, there were 2,500 Brazilian residents under the age of 18, with 1,600 of them being under 15. As of that unspecified year, 500 Brazilian minors .
The chairperson of the Hamamatsu NPO Network Center, Mitsue Inoue, stated in 2010 that "There are many Brazilian supermarkets and
(in Hamamatsu), but Japanese living there don’t know that they exist."
Hamamatsu (near city hall)
Downtown Hamamatsu
Eel, for which Hamamatsu is famous
Hamamatsu has been famous as an industrial city, especially for
and . It also has been known for fabric industry, but most of those companies and factories went out of business in the 1990s.
(also known as Tokai Guitars Company Ltd.)
Hamamatsu Station exterior
Hamamatsu Station interior
Expressways
(Hamamatsu interchange, Hamamatsu Nishi interchange, and Mikkabi interchange)
Sanen Nanshin Highway (under construction)
Hamamatsu Bypass
Hamana Bypass
National Highways
There are no civilian airports in Hamamatsu.
() is the closest, located 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Hamamatsu Station, between
in , located about 87 kilometres (54 mi) west of the city, is the second closest.
(JOZZ6AB FM, 76.1 MHz)
(JOKU FM, 78.4 MHz)
(JOPK FM, 82.1 MHz)
(Portuguese) Radio Phoenix (internet)
(Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Informatics)
This section requires . (October 2015)
Senior high schools operated by Shizuoka Prefecture:
There is one senior high school operated by the city government:
Elementary and junior high schools are operated by the city government. As of 2008, the city had 117 public elementary schools and 52 public junior high schools.
The city has the following :
(former Escola Brasileira de Hamamatsu) - Primary and secondary school
- Primary and secondary school
Escola Alcance - Primary school
It has one combined Peruvian school () and Brazilian primary school, .
The city formerly hosted other Brazilian schools, Colégio Pitágoras Brasil and Escola Cantinho Feliz.
The city includes a Brazilian curriculum, Portuguese-language private school[], serving elementary school through senior high school. The school, which opened in 1996, is accredited in Brazil but not by Japanese authorities. As of an unspecified time period, the school had 100 students. The principal stated that he painted and remodeled the school facilities, a former dormitory used by a company.
As of May 1, 2009, the municipal elementary and junior high schools had 1,638 non-Japanese students. As of 2008, there were 932 Brazilians enrolled in Hamamatsu's municipal elementary and junior high schools: 646 Brazilians were enrolled in 61 public elementary schools, and 286 Brazilians were enrolled in 38 public junior high schools.
Within public schools Brazilian students have the same academic programs and take the same classes as Japanese nationals. Special teachers and assistants work with foreign students at municipal elementary and junior high schools with significant numbers of non-Japanese enrolled. In particular the schools use their part-time interpreters to assist Brazilian students. The interpreters are not formal teachers, yet Tsutsumi Angela Aparecida of Hamamatsu's Burajiru Fureai Kai wrote that "[t]heir assistance has become very useful". Toshiko Sugino of the
wrote that the municipal and prefectural schools in Hamamatsu "follow traditional views of education and enforce rigid school rules" despite the reputation of open-mindedness in the residents of Hamamatsu, causing some foreigners to send their non-Japanese children to foreign private schools.
As of 2008 many Brazilian parents have difficulty in deciding whether to send their children to Japanese schools or Brazilian schools, and it is common for Brazilian children attending Japanese schools to switch to a Brazilian school and vice versa. By 2010 many Brazilian parents had lost their jobs due to an economic decline, and many were unable to afford the Brazilian school annual tuitions of ?30,000 to ?40,000.
As of 2010 about 50% of Brazilians of high school age in Hamamatsu . The inability to afford high school and difficulty with Japanese resulted in lower high school attendance rates. Hamamatsu NPO Network Center has made efforts to increase school attendance.
In Hamamatsu volunteers and a non-profit organization have established Japanese-language classes and native language classes for foreign children.
which plays
(third division) games at their own . Honda competed in the 's First Division from 1981 to 1991, but chose to relegate itself and not compete in the professional divisions due to parent company 's choice to retain team ownership. Many Hamamatsu football fans prefer to follow , across the
in . Júbilo maintains a club shop within Hamamatsu.
, an autonomous club who competed in the Tokai Regional Football League Division 2 in 2011, flouted plans to either overtake Honda FC or merge with it, but it finished last in the Tokai League and was relegated.
also keeps a team in the said division, but college teams cannot be promoted to the top three tiers.
Hamamatsu has ratified Music Culture Exchange Treaty with the following cities (however, of the following Rochester is the only official sister city):
, United States (since October 1, 1996)
Hamamatsu is
, Poland (since February 1, 1990)
, United States
(since September 1981)
, United States (since October 1998)
, United States (since October 1981)
, United States (since October 2006)
Observatory: Hamamatsu's only , situated next to JR Hamamatsu Station, is a symbol of the city. It was designed to resemble a , 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.
Chopin Monument This is a 1:1-scale replica of the famous
bronze statue of
by the famed artist . The original is in Hamamatsu's , .　
: 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 . His rule marks the beginning of the . 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 , a
pond, a , and some commons areas.
: one of the three largest sand dune areas in Japan
Hamamatsu Flower Park
Hamamatsu Fruit Park
Hamamatsu Municipal Zoo
Hamamatsu Castle
Nakatajima Sand Dunes
Hamanako Garden Park
Hamamatsu Wedding Central Park
Lake Hamana
Hamamatsu Pacific Ocean
Haruno, Tenryu-ku: December
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.
Saigagake Museum, Hamamatsu City: July 15
When a family commemorates the first Obon holidays after the death of a loved one, they may request that a
(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 , Japanese
During Hamamatsu Festival
Naka-ku, Minami-ku, others: May
is also called Hamamatsu Festival. Hamamatsu Kite Festival held from May 3 to May 5 each year, includes a Tako Gassen, or kite fight, and luxuriously decorated palace-like floats. The festival originated about 430 years ago, when the lord of Hamamatsu Castle celebrated the birth of his first son by flying kites. In the Meiji Era, the celebration of the birth of a first son by flying Hatsu Dako, or the first kite, became popular, and this tradition has survived in the form of Hamamatsu Kite Festival. During the nights of Hamamatsu Kite Festival, people parade downtown carrying over 70 yatai, or palace-lake floats, that are beautifully decorated while playing Japanese traditional festival music. The festival reaches its peak when groups representing the city's various districts compete by energetically marching through the downtown streets.
Hamakita-ku: June
This festival is held in honor of Ryujin, the god believed to be associated with the , and features a wide variety of events such as the Hamakita takoage (kite flying) event and the Hiryu himatsuri (flying dragon fire festival) which celebrates water, sound, and flame.
This festival celebrates Hamamatsu's history as a city of musical instruments and music, and brings dozens of the best young pianists from all over the world. It has been held triennially since 1991 at the Act City Concert Hall and Main Hall.
This event takes place in Manyo-no-Mori Park to commemorate the Manyo Period and introduce its culture. As part of the festival, people reenact the ancient past by wearing traditional clothes from the
and presenting
Inasa, Kita-ku: November
One of the few
festivals held in Japan, featuring 60 performances of about 30 plays by puppet masters from all over the country. The shows provide a full day of enjoyment for both children and adults.
Hosoe, Kita-ku: April
This reenactment of a procession made by the princess in her
along with her entourage of over 100 people including maids, , and servants makes for a splendid scene beneath the
along the . In the , princesses enjoyed traveling this road which came to be known as a
(princess road).
The Hamamatsu
Festival is held in the city.
Inasa, Kita-ku: late February to late March
In Ryusui Garden there is a stream with seven small waterfalls and about 80 weeping
trees pruned to give the appearance of
riding on clouds to the heavens. There are also 200 young trees planted along the mountainside.
This section does not
any . Please help improve this section by . Unsourced material may be challenged and . (July 2013)
, singer, songwriter
, manga artist
, JPop talent, singer
, professional football player
, politician
, professional football player
, Olympic swimmer
, anime movie director
, professional football player
, professional baseball player
, voice actress
, engineer, industrialist, founder of Honda Motor Company
, professional football player
, musician
, Olympic football player
, Olympic swimmer
, illustrator
, former president of Yamaha
, movie director
, art historian
, voice actress
, professional football player
, professional football player
, J-pop singer and leader of
, mathematician
, composer
, renowned sushi chef
, professional football player
, professional football player
, professional football player
, composer
, movie director, screenwriter
, mathematician
, politician
, professional football player
, science-fiction writer
, founder of Suzuki Motors
, politician, mayor of Hamamatsu
, engineer, pioneer in development of the television
, professional football player
, manga artist
, Jpop singer
, Jazz composer, pianist
, professional football player
, professional football player
, professional football player
Fukue, Natsuko. "" (). . March 13, 2010. Retrieved on October 12, 2015.
. JMA 2012.
Aparecida, Tsutsumi Angela (Burajiru Fureai Kai). " " ().
B 2 (2012) p. 217-223. CITED: p. 217.
Sugino, Toshiko (). "" (Country Note on Topics for Breakout Session 4) (). Centre for Education Research and Innovation (CERI),
(. p. 4/8. Retrieved on October 12, 2015.
Sugino, Toshiko (). "" (Country Note on Topics for Breakout Session 4) (). Centre for Education Research and Innovation (CERI),
(. p. 1/8. Retrieved on October 12, 2015.
Sugino, Toshiko, Ed. D. (). "" (PhD thesis). , 2007. Publication Number 3293262.
. cited: p. 56.
Sugino, Toshiko (). "" (Country Note on Topics for Breakout Session 4) (). Centre for Education Research and Innovation (CERI),
(. p. 5/8. Retrieved on October 12, 2015.
"." . Retrieved on February 17, 2015.
From Chūbu Centrair International Airport to Hamamatsu station () (surveying
(Japanese))
. Radiophoenix.jp.
Aparecida, Tsutsumi Angela (Burajiru Fureai Kai). "" ().
B 2 (2012) p. 217-223. CITED: p. 218.
"" (). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.
"." . Retrieved on October 24, 2015. "〒431-0102 Shizuoka-ken Hamamatsu-shi　Nishi-ku Yuto-cho Ubumi 9611-1" - : "住所 〒431-0102 静岡県　浜松市　西区　雄踏町　宇布見　9611-1"
"" (). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. February 7, 2008. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.
Kitawaki, Yasuyuki (北脇保之) (Former mayor of Hamamatsu, Director of the Center for Multilingual Multicultural Education and Research,
(CEMMER, 東京外国語大学多言語?多文化教育研究センター)). "" (). Managing Diversity: Stronger Communities, Better Cities.
(). At the
website. Retrieved on October 12, 2015. PDF p. 7-8/13.
Kitawaki, Yasuyuki (北脇保之) (Former mayor of Hamamatsu, Director of the Center for Multilingual Multicultural Education and Research,
(CEMMER, 東京外国語大学多言語?多文化教育研究センター)). "" (). Managing Diversity: Stronger Communities, Better Cities.
(). At the
website. Retrieved on October 12, 2015. PDF p. 8/13.
. um.warszawa.pl (in Polish). Biuro Promocji Miasta. . Archived from
on October 11, 2007.
. Asia Matters for America. Honolulu, HI: East-West Center 2015.
Kitawaki, Yasuyuki (北脇保之) (Former mayor of Hamamatsu, Director of the Center for Multilingual Multicultural Education and Research,
(CEMMER, 東京外国語大学多言語?多文化教育研究センター)). "" (). Managing Diversity: Stronger Communities, Better Cities.
(). At the
website. Retrieved on October 12, 2015. PDF p. 9/13.
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