Kita-ku

Kita-ku is an administrative ward in northern Hamamatsu that combines urban residential neighborhoods with extensive forested landscapes. The area spans across different zones and is home to approximately 93,000 people living in various communities.

The ward was created on April 1, 2007, when Hamamatsu became a government-designated city. This administrative reorganization merged the former towns of Inasa, Hosoe, and Mikkabi into a single ward structure.

The area preserves traditions from its former independent towns of Inasa, Hosoe, and Mikkabi, which remain visible in local celebrations and community gatherings today. You can see these distinct identities reflected in how different neighborhoods maintain their own festivals and daily routines.

The ward is well connected by the Tenryū Hamanako Railroad, which operates 14 stations throughout the area. Visitors should know that communities are spread across different locations and that exploring the forested regions requires planning ahead for transportation.

The Tenryū Hamanako Railroad is a local railway built specifically to connect the remote forest communities within the ward. The line passes through some of the region's most striking natural landscapes, giving passengers views of forests and rural settlements that would otherwise be difficult to reach.