A Trip to Hamamatsu for Music Lovers

Introduction

Hello!
I recently traveled to Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture. Hamamatsu is home to several spots that are a dream come true for music enthusiasts, and I just had to visit them.
In this article, I’ll introduce three must-visit places for music lovers touring Hamamatsu.

Recommended Spots

Yamaha Innovation Road

This is a corporate museum run by Yamaha, the famous Japanese musical instrument manufacturer that the world proudly recognizes. Not only can you learn about Yamaha’s development from its founding to the present, but some of the instruments on display can even be played!

Now, I’ll take you through a tour of the Innovation Road with some pictures I took during my visit.

As soon as you enter the museum, the first thing you’ll notice is large polar bears!

A pair of polar bears with giant wireless earphones are relaxing. By the way, these bears are not taxidermies but hand-crafted pieces made by artisans. Such craftsmanship...!
If you turn left in front of the polar bears, you’ll finally see the full expanse of the museum.

The room is so large that it’s impossible to capture it all in a single photo. Inside, you’ll find pianos, guitars, drums, and numerous other instruments neatly lined up. The sight is truly awe-inspiring! At this point, any music lover’s heart will start racing.

To fully enjoy this space, I sat down in front of a grand piano. Since it’s not the kind of instrument you can easily play, I was filled with excitement and nervousness.
As I compared several pianos, I could easily tell the differences between them—the touch of the keys, how the sound resonates, how it travels and spreads... If you’re looking for the perfect lifelong companion piano, this is definitely a space you should visit.
Of course, it’s not just grand pianos; they also have upright pianos, electronic pianos, synthesizers, and other keyboard instruments. You can have plenty of fun just with these!

Next, I visited the guitar area. Acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and classical guitars are all on display. Although there weren’t many bass guitars, they had some on display as well.
In fact, the area I was most excited to visit was this one. I’ve always been interested in Yamaha’s electric guitar, the Revstar, but I was hesitant to try it out since I didn’t plan to purchase one anytime soon. Here, though, there was no need to worry. I could freely (within reason) test out the instruments.

Yamaha / RSS20 SWB

Yamaha / RSS02T SWB

The Revstar is a modern take on the Les Paul, featuring two types of pickups: P90 and humbuckers.
Currently, I play a P90-equipped guitar, but I was curious about the sound of the humbucker as well, so I compared these two models.

This model features Yamaha’s unique chamber processing (hollowing out the interior), making it lighter. But when I held it, it still felt surprisingly solid.
The neck was fairly sturdy, giving a robust impression. That said, it wasn’t difficult to play, and the grip felt just right.

In terms of sound, I preferred the P90. While the sound was familiar, it had a brilliant yet thick tone, which suited my tastes perfectly.
In any case, this guitar will undoubtedly be a strong contender for my next purchase!

In this section, you’ll listen to the sound through headphones connected to an amp, but if you want a more authentic experience, you can use the soundproof room at the back of the museum. You can bring any of the displayed instruments, use an amp, and play freely! This space allows you to try out instruments without worrying about others watching—ideal for beginners.

Innovation Road offers many more instruments to try out, and what’s incredible is that entry is completely free! You do need a reservation to visit, so just keep that in mind when planning your visit.

NEO PASA Hamamatsu (Inbound/Outbound)

At the NEO PASA Hamamatsu service area, located along the Shin-Tomei Expressway, you’ll find the Music Spot, an exhibition by Yamaha and Roland, two major music manufacturers from Hamamatsu.

Here, you can freely play and experience the instruments displayed by each manufacturer.

The Inbound service area features Yamaha’s exhibition, where you can learn about the mechanics of sound and acoustics. You can, for example, change the pitch of flowing sounds, adjust the volume balance of different instruments, and even try simple mixing techniques—experiencing the technologies used in actual music production.

On the other hand, the Outbound service area is Roland’s exhibition, with two upright pianos and a set of electronic drums, all available for free play. Roland’s guitar-related brand, BOSS, also has an effects pedal display (though these can’t be played).

Admission to the service area is free, and since there are also restaurants, you can enjoy music while satisfying your hunger.
The facility is accessible from both the expressway and public roads, so even those using public transportation can stop by.

Hamamatsu City Musical Instrument Museum

Established in 1995, this is Japan’s first public musical instrument museum.
The museum houses over 3,300 instruments from around the world, offering a glimpse into their cultures and histories. You can learn about the evolution of the piano, the king of instruments, and how it reached its current form. If you’re even slightly interested, it’s worth visiting.

There’s a small corner where you can actually play some instruments. While the number of playable instruments isn’t large, it’s notable that there are several displayed ethnic instruments from abroad. These are instruments you don’t usually encounter, so I highly recommend giving them a try.
The museum is closed on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Conclusion

Experiencing a variety of music and instruments can serve as inspiration and motivation. Maybe you’ve been so immersed in music that you’ve become a bit of an indoor person... If that’s the case, take a trip to Hamamatsu. You may find an experience here that you can’t find anywhere else.
Thank you for reading!

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