Kakegawa(Japan) Travel 2026: Cheap Flights, Hotels & Top Attractions

In Kakueda City, stay at Kakueda Castle Town Inn, a traditional-style hotel nestled near Kakueda Castle Ruins. This boutique accommodation offers tatami-mat rooms and daily tea ceremony workshops using locally grown Kakueda Green Tea. Guests enjoy authentic kaiseki cuisine featuring regional tea-infused dishes. The hotel is steps away from the historic castle grounds and nearby Kakueda Art Museum. Perfect for travelers seeking immersive Japanese tea culture and serene rural charm in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The best area for accommodations in Kakueda City is Kakueda Castle Town, located just steps from Kakueda Castle Ruins and surrounding tea fields. This historic district retains Edo-period streetscapes, with preserved old houses converted into tea shops and artisan boutiques. Staying here grants easy access to cultural sites, including the Kakueda Art Museum and Shinto shrines along the scenic pilgrimage trail. Many inns offer free bicycles for exploring nearby tea plantations and walking paths, making it ideal for travelers seeking an authentic blend of history, nature, and Japanese tradition.

Visitors to Kakueda City can immerse themselves in the region’s deep-rooted tea culture. Each spring, the city hosts the Kakueda Tea Festival, where guests participate in full tea-making processes—from harvesting leaves to brewing and tasting. The Kakueda Castle Town Cultural Studio offers hands-on traditional tea ceremony lessons (4-seater style) led by master tea practitioners. At the Kakueda City Art Museum, explore permanent exhibitions on tea and calligraphy. Weekend kimono experience events also allow travelers to stroll through historic alleys dressed in traditional attire, celebrating Kakueda’s identity as Japan’s "Land of Tea".

Yes, some premium inns in Kakueda City provide complimentary shuttle services, especially those located in the Kakueda Castle Town district. For instance, Kakueda Castle Town Inn operates free shuttles from Kakueda Station daily between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, taking about 10 minutes. Additionally, several hotels partner with local tour buses—guests with room keys can ride the Tea Country Tour Line free of charge, connecting major spots like Kakueda Tea Fields, Shinto Shrines, and the Art Museum. While not all hotels offer shuttles, many provide free bicycle rentals for exploring nearby towns and tea plantations.

Must-visit attractions in Kakueda City include Kakueda Castle Ruins (now a park and museum), Kakueda Tea Fields (offering scenic walking trails through seasonal tea plantations), Kakueda City Art Museum (featuring exhibitions on tea and calligraphy), and Ōmiya Shrine, a centuries-old Shinto shrine. Don’t miss the Tea Ceremony Heritage Studio and the historic Castle Town Old Streets. If visiting on weekends, attend the Kakueda Tea Festival, where you can handcraft your own cup of Kakueda green tea. These sites are well-connected by foot or bike, ideal for a full-day cultural exploration.

Kakueda City’s tea culture deeply shapes local hotel architecture. Inns like Kakueda Castle Town Inn integrate tea rooms into guest rooms and common areas, using natural wood and shoji screens to create tranquil spaces. Walls display calligraphy by local tea masters, while bedside tables feature miniature tea sets for instant brewing. Some premium suites even include private tea gardens with tea ceremony seating, embodying the concept of "tea and Zen as one." Breakfast menus highlight Kakueda tea rice and matcha desserts, immersing guests in tea from arrival. This "tea-centered" design philosophy makes lodging a core part of cultural immersion in Kakueda.

Yes, hotels in Kakueda City are highly suitable for family travel. Many inns offer family-friendly rooms, child-sized yukata robes, play corners, and special parent-child tea ceremony workshops. Kakueda Castle Town Inn features guided kids’ tea field tours, where children learn about tea harvesting and participate in simple processing activities. Outdoor spaces include safe children’s walking paths leading to nearby tea field parks and small animal farms. Some hotels also provide family car rental services for convenient access to the Art Museum and shrines. With quiet, welcoming environments and educational cultural programs, these lodgings are perfect for multi-generational trips.

Nighttime highlights in Kakueda City include the Kakueda Castle Town Night Tea Ceremony, held under illuminated castle walls, serving chilled tea and wagashi. The Kakueda City Art Museum opens special night exhibitions every Friday, featuring interactive installations blending tea themes with light art. During summer, the Ōmiya Shrine Moonlight Festival lights up the entire shrine courtyard with lanterns, accompanied by traditional taiko drum performances. For a relaxed evening, visit a tea field café with outdoor seating to stargaze over rolling tea fields. These evening experiences combine nature, light, and heritage, offering a serene way to savor Kakueda after dark.

Yes, Kakueda City offers excellent connectivity to nearby attractions. Kakueda Station serves as a key rail hub on the Tōkaidō Main Line—just 30 minutes to Shizuoka City and 45 minutes to Hamamatsu City. The city runs the Tea Country Tour Bus, linking major sites like Kakueda Castle Ruins, tea fields, Art Museum, and shrines, with frequent schedules and IC card payments accepted. Most hotels offer free bicycle rentals, enabling easy exploration of local trails and tea paths. For mountainous areas, taxis and pre-booked private cars are readily available. The well-organized transport network makes day trips and intercity travel seamless.

Kakueda City’s cuisine centers around Kakueda Green Tea, with signature dishes like tea rice balls (cooked with tea broth) and matcha mochi. Local eateries in the Castle Town Old Streets, such as Tea House Dining, serve handmade tea-flavored soba noodles and tea-infused tempura. The city also produces fresh Shizuoka citrus fruits and seafood, available at Kakueda Market. For a full culinary experience, book the Tea & Cuisine Dialogue Dinner, a six-course meal crafted by chefs and tea masters, each dish paired with a different tea variety. These dishes reflect Kakueda’s philosophy of "integrating tea into every bite."