Kakegawa

Kakegawa (�|��) is a small city known primarily as a center of tea production within Shizuoka Prefecture; which itself is the number one producer of tea in Japan. Located on the Tokaido Shinkansen, less than two hours from Tokyo, the town makes for a convenient side trip for those traveling to and from the capital.

Kakegawa's most prominent features include its abundant tea fields, which span acres of rolling hillside in the outskirts of the city and where in some places stunning views can be had of the tea fields before Mount Fuji in the background. Tea aside, the town is known for its castle, which notably features a tower built with traditional materials, and one of only a few castle palaces to have survived from the Edo Period. The town also boasts a bird park which is widely regarded as the best in the country.