What to know
Kakegawa (掛川) is a small city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan's top tea-producing region. Situated on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, less than two hours from Tokyo, it's an easy side trip for travelers heading to or from the capital.
The city's highlights include vast tea fields that cover rolling hills on the outskirts, offering stunning views with Mount Fuji in the background. Kakegawa Castle features a tower built with traditional materials and one of the few surviving palace buildings from the Edo Period (1603–1868). The city also boasts a bird park widely considered the best in Japan.
