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Rich natural environment and a warm climate

Things to do in hamamatsu.

Ryoun-ji in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu City Exploration

Ryotanji Temple and Ryugashido Cave

Hamamatsu and Lake Hamanako

Upcoming hamamatsu events.

Hamamatsu Kite Flying Festival

A festival during Golden week where kites are flown to celebrate the birth of a son.

Hamamatsu Festival

A parade of floats from the districts of Hamamatsu

Enshu Hamakita Flying Dragon Festival

A festival held in honor of the dragon god of the Tenryu River, in Hamakita in Japan's Shizuoka prefecture. The culmination..

About Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu is Shizuoka prefecture’s largest city and has a number of tourist spots that make it an attractive destination for travellers. In the city, the Act City Tower, Hamamatsu’s only skyscraper, has an observatory on its 45th floor overlooking Hamamatsu and beyond. Hamamatsu Castle stretches to the city’s north, and has a small museum inside.

For visitors who love a stroll, Hamamatsu has a number of parks and a zoo for them to enjoy. The city is also home to some 10 festivals held throughout the year and visitors are free to join in the festivities as well.

Nakatajima Sand Dunes, one of Japan’s three largest sand dune areas, is located south of Hamamatsu and is a popular place for locals to view the New Year's first sunrise.

Hamamatsu Top 10

• Recommended

Forest Adventure Gotemba

New York Lamp Museum & Flower Garden

Izu Chohachi Art Museum

Fuji Speedway Hotel

Michi no Eki Izu-tsukigase

Make a Break for Shizuoka

Yutorelo Nishiizu Onsen Hotel, Toi

Uehara Museum of Art, Shimoda

Board Game Cafe Anaguma

Inashimo-Jinja Shrine in Matsuzaki

Princess Road Procession

Bentenjima Fireworks Festival

Kanzanji Lanterns & Fireworks

Mein Schloss Beerhall Restaurant

Hamamatsu Castle

Hamamatsu Cup Festa Samba

Hamamatsu Flower Park in Bloom

Kuretake Inn Hamamatsu Minamiguchi

Hirano Museum of Art, Hamamatsu

Tokarin, Act City Hotel

Blue Bee Cafe and Bar, Hamamatsu

Brillante IL Suzuki Salone

Where to eat in hamamatsu.

In the Tenryu area north of Hamamatsu in Japan's Shizuoka prefecture, Noryotei is an elegant, relaxing Japanese restaurant,..

Bejita - Vegetarian and Vegan Cafe

Hamamatsu, in Shizuoka Prefecture, offers many surprises for vegan tourists. Bejita is a perfect vegetarian and vegan restaurant..

In Hamamatsu in Japan's Shizuoka prefecture, Inanba is an award-winning teppanyaki and shabu-shabu restaurant serving top ..

Places to stay in Hamamatsu

Hotel Crown Palais Hamamatsu

Located in Hamamatsu City, Hotel Crown Palais boasts Western and Japanese-style rooms, a large pool, a sauna, bar and range of restaurants...

Grand Hotel Hamamatsu

Grand Hotel Hamamatsu is an excellent choice of accommodation to complete your perfect experience in Hamamatsu. With four excellent..

Hotel Kuretake Inn ACT Hamamatsu

In central Hamamatsu in Japan's Shizuoka prefecture, Hotel Kuretake Inn ACT is a comfortable, very good value business hotel...

Latest Hamamatsu Reports

Next to the main station in Hamamatsu, in central Japan's Shizuoka prefecture, Kuretake Inn Premium Minamiguchi is comfortable..

Out in the countryside near Hamamatsu in central Japan's Shizuoka prefecture, Hoko-ji is a beautiful Buddhist temple. Its halls..

In Hamamatsu in central Japan's Shizuoka prefecture, Hirano Museum of art is a small, charming art museum, with exhibitions..

Let us know how we can help.

Hamamatsu Guide

• Published on : 16/11/2013
• by : Japan Experience
• Add to favorites

Hamamatsu 浜松市

• Hamamatsu Attractions
• Chitose Yurakugai & Sakanamachi

Outside Hamamatsu City

• Industrial Tourism
• Accommodation

Hamamatsu Map

• Japan City Guides

Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture is an industrial city west of Shizuoka city . Hamamatsu has long been known for the production of musical instruments with Yamaha and Kawai prominent in the city, and motorcycles , with Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha also having factories in the area.

Historically Hamamatsu was an important communications center in the Edo Period as it was the meeting place of the Tokaido highway (the route largely followed by today's Tokaido Shinkansen ) and the Shinano higway, which runs north along the Tenyu River to Matsumoto and Nagano .

Hamamatsu is Shizuoka Prefecture's second largest city after Shizuoka City , with a population of around 800,000. Around 18,000 are Japanese Brazilians, many from the São Paulo area, drawn to work in the area's manufacturing industries.

Hamamatsu Castle, Shizuoka

Hamamatsu - Things to see and do

Though not a tourist city per se, Hamamatsu has a number of interesting places to visit. Perhaps Hamamatsu's main attraction is Hamamatsu Castle (Tel: 053 453 3872; 150 yen).

The original Hamamatsu Castle (Shussei Castle) was destroyed in World War II, along with much of the rest of the city, and was rebuilt in 1958.

The original Hamamatsu Castle is related to the life of the warlord Ieyasu Tokugawa (1543-1616) who moved his base from nearby Okazaki Castle  to Hamamatsu in 1570 and lived here as a young man for a further 17 years before moving to Sumpu Castle in what is now modern day Shizuoka city. 

Hamamatsu Castle's grounds, which are now a pleasant park, contain a bronze statue of Ieyasu and are a favorite spot for hanami or cherry-blossom viewing , as the park has over 360 cherry trees. The 3-story reconstructed keep has a small museum packed with samurai armor and Tokugawa memorabilia.

Hamamatsu Castle Park also has the Hamamatsu City Art Museum (Tel: 053 454 6801; 300 yen) with wood block prints by Hiroshige Ando and works by local artists, and the Shoin-tei tea house . The Hamamatsu Literary Memorabilia Museum (Tel: 053 471 5211) is also here, with a collection of Japanese literature focused on the local area.

Arai Checkpoint, Arai-juku, Tokaido, Shizuoka, a short train or bus journey west of Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu's connection with musical instruments is shown at the superb Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments (Tel: 053 451 1128; 400 yen) in the Act City complex near Hamamatsu Station.

The Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments has two floors: the upper floor has instruments from Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, Iran and the rest of East and South East Asia. The lower floor has instruments from Europe including a gem of a collection of European pianos and the rest of the world: America, Oceania and Africa. Visitors can see videos of musical performances and listen to snippets of the instruments on headphones.

The Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments is also a venue for performances of music by groups from around the world.

Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, Shizuoka

Act Tower is a huge tower that contains an Observation Gallery (Tel: 053 451 0001; 500 yen) at 185m with amazing views on a clear day of the Southern Alps, the Enshu Coast and Hamamatsu city. Mt. Fuji is also sometimes visible. The Observation Gallery is actually part of the Okura Act City Hotel Hamamatsu, which occupies part of Act Tower, so the Gallery is usually closed for private events on weekends. Usually open between 10am and 6pm.

The Hamamatsu Science Museum (Tel: 053 454 0178; 500 yen) is aimed mostly at children and has exhibits on six themes including nature and science. The Hamamatsu Science Museum also has a 20m diameter planetarium.

The Gosha Shrine at the end of Kajimachi Boulevard past the Zaza City shopping mall is a pleasant shrine where people take their children for the Shichi-go-san Festival .

Nearby is the free Hamamatsu Reconstruction Memorial Museum , which details Hamamatsu's development since World War II and has original household articles from the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, as well as uniforms and helmets from the wartime period.

The Keisuke Kinoshita Memorial Museum is also close by and celebrates the life and movies of the Japanese film director Keisuke Kinoshita  (1912-1998).

Hamamatsu Science Museum, Shizuoka Prefecture

The Act Tower & Hamamatsu Station, Shizuoka

Chitose, Yurakugai & Sakanamachi

Hamamatsu's main entertainment area for shops, bars and restaurants are Chitose behind the Zaza City mall and Yurakugai & Sakanamachi to its north. The May One mall inside Hamamatsu Station has a restaurant alley and numerous shops.

There are a number of good museums within easy reach of Hamamatsu city. Down at the coast to the south at Enshu Beach Sea Park is the Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion (Tel: 053 441 6211; 400 yen) which has exhibits of the huge 4 meter-long kites used in the Hamamatsu Festival . The 4km-long Nakatajima Sand Dunes, where the Hamamatsu Festival takes place, are close by. Take bus number 6 from Hamamatsu Station bus terminal (15 minutes).

North of Hamamatsu is the free Air Park (the Air Self-Defense Force Hamamatsu Public Relations Hall) where visitors can see fighter planes and enjoy flight simulators. Take bus number 15 from Hamamatsu Station bus terminal (25 minutes). Near by just off National Highway 257 is a large Honda Factory. South on National Highway 257 is the Saigagake Museum , dedicated to local history.

To the west around Lake Sanaru are the Hamamatsu City History Museum (Tel: 053 456 2208; 300 yen, 9am-5pm, closed Monday, but open if Monday a public holiday, in which case, closed Tuesday) which focuses on the Jomon Period of the area's history with exhibits found in the nearby Shijimizuka archeological site. The Kamono Mabuchi Memorial Hall (Tel: 053 456 8050; 300 yen) celebrates the career of the classical Japanese scholar, Kamono Mabuchi (1697-1769).

Resort Hotels at Bentenjima, Hamanako, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka

Hamanako (Lake Hamana)

Further west of Hamamatsu towards Toyohashi is Lake Hamana (Hamanako; 浜名湖) a popular resort area in summer for boat excursions on the lake - Japan's 10th largest - and other water sports such as water skiing, kayaking, wind surfing, parasailing and, of course, fishing.

Hamanako is famous for its eel and oysters, blowfish ( fugu ) and pike conger ( hamo ) are both caught off the Enshu Nada coast. The Hamanako region is also known for its delicious strawberries and mikan oranges and visitors can pick and buy their own in a number of places near Mikkabi on the north west edge of the lake.

Besides the local delicacies, Lake Hamana has a number of onsen hot springs in Bentenjima , Kanzanji and Mikkabi . The Hamanako area offers such resort hotels as the Hotel Green Plaza Hamanako, the Hamanako Royal Hotel and the Hamanako Benten Resort The Ocean. Many of the Hamanako area's hotels and ryokan have hot springs, some of them outside baths called rotemburo , from where bathers can enjoy views of the lake and surrounding hills.

Attractions around the edge of Hamanako include the Hamamatsu City Zoo, Hamamatsu Flower Park, Kanzanji Ropeway, Kanzanji Temple and Kanzanji Ukimido, Hamanaka Pal Pal amusement park and the Hamanako Music Box Museum all close to Kanzanji on the north eastern side of the lake. Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika is further to the north and has a number of fun activities including fruit picking, BBQs, a food court, winery, tropical green houses, a dog run, boating, after dark illuminations and live performances. By public transport take a Tenryu Hamanako Line train to Fruit Park Station.

Makayaji Temple showing the Heian Period garden and pond, Mikkabi, Shizuoka

A short walk or shorter taxi ride from Mikkabi Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Line is the delightful Kamakura Period (1192-1333) Makayaji Temple with its impressive Heian-style garden and trio of historic Buddhist wooden statues, two of which are classified as National Treasures.

Further south near the coast, echoes of the Edo Period Tokaido highway between what is now modern-day Tokyo and Kyoto can be found at the original Arai Checkpoint ( sekisho ) and Kinokuniya Inn both a short walk west from Araimachi Station.

In Bentenjima, one stop east on the JR Tokaido Line, visitors can see the beautiful Maisaka Shukuwaki-honjin , an inn for samurai and commoners traveling on the Tokaido, but used for more important people if the honjin - inns for daimyo, court nobles and Shogunate officials - were full. The honjin have rarely survived as they catered to such rarified clientele, whereas there are a number of waki-honjin still in existence in Japan, though the Maisaka Shukuwaki-honjin is the only such place left on the Tokaido.

Gosha Shrine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka

Industrial Tourism in & Around Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu's industrial heritage can be explored on various factory tours organized by the numerous companies based in the area. Some factory tours require prior reservation. Reservations are required to visit the Suzuki Plaza in Takatsuka (Tel: 053 440 2020), the Hana-no-mai Sake brewery (Tel: 053 582 2121) near Miyaguchi Station, the Honda Motor Company (Tel: 053 439 2011) and the Heian Corporation Miyakoda System Laboratory (Tel: 053 428 5321).

The Unagi Pie Factory, the Soichiro Honda Craftsmanship Center and the Shizuoka University Takayanagi Memorial Hall keep usual museum hours.

Kururu Loop Bus, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka; single fare 100 yen or day pass 200 yen

Train at Hamamatsu Station

Entrance to JR lines

Hamamatsu Access

There are good rail links to Hamamatsu with Tokyo , Nagoya and Osaka ( Shinkansen bullet train). Note that the fastest shinkansen, the Nozomi does not stop in Hamamatsu.

From Tokyo JR Station take a Hikari or Kodama train to Hamamatsu. The journey is 89 minutes from Tokyo to Hamamatsu by Hikari. From Nagoya the journey is only 29 minutes by Hikari and from Osaka 83 minutes.

Alternatively from Nagoya take a local JR train about 30 minutes to Toyohashi. Toyohashi can be reached by either JR or Meitetsu from Nagoya Station or Kanayama Station. By local JR train from Shizuoka journey time is 72 minutes to Hamamatsu.

The Enshu Railway Line connects Shin-Hamamatsu Station with Nishi-Kajima Station to the north.

The Tenryu Hamanako Railway loops up and around the west of Lake Hamana and north of Hamamatsu from Shinjiohara to Kakegawa to the east of Hamamatsu.

There are highway buses from Hamamatsu to Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo run by Entetsu Highway Bus e-LineR. The company also runs highway buses to Osaka via Kyoto and Yokohama .

From Osaka, Hamamatsu is 282 km and from Tokyo 230km by Tomei Expressway. Exit at Hamamatsu I.C.

Shizuoka Airport

Shizuoka Airport (Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport) opened in June 2009 and has international flights to Seoul, Taipei and Shanghai. There are domestic flights to Sapporo , Naha ( Okinawa ), Kagoshima and Fukuoka in Japan. The airport is close to Makinohara and Shimada and it takes 70 minutes by Entetsu E-wing bus to Hamamatsu.

A bus runs from Hamamatsu to Centrair (Chubu International Airport) and costs 3,000 yen.

ZaZa City mall, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka

Hamamatsu Hotel Accommodation

There are plenty of places to stay around Hamamatsu Station. The city's most luxurious hotel is the Okura Act City Hotel Hamamatsu. Other hotels in Hamamatsu near the station are the more budget Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hamamatsu, the Hotel Crown Palais, the Toyoko Inn Hamamatsu Eki Kitaguchi, the Hotel Sorriso Hamamatsu, the Hamamatsu Hotel and the Comfort Hotel Hamamatsu.

More traditional ryokan in Hamamatsu include the Okuraya Ryokan, Ryokan Tsuruya and the Ukikawa Ryokan.

Getting Around Hamamatsu

The Kururu Loop bus runs in three circuits around Hamamatsu: west, east and south. It costs 100 yen for a single fare or 200 yen for a day pass. Entetsu buses run to various destinations around Hamamatsu including Bentenjima, Hamanako, Oiwake, Aizuke and Wakamibashi.

Hamamatsu Tourist Information Office

The Tourist Information is near the South Exit of Hamamatsu Station at 265-16 Sunayama-cho, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu; Tel: 053 452 1634 for pamphlets and maps in English and other languages.

Entetsu Bus

Kururu Loop Bus

Guide Books on Japan

Hamamatsu guide: read a travel guide to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture famous for its production of musical instruments and motorbikes.

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Hamamatsu Castle

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Explore Hamamatsu

Plan Your Trip to Hamamatsu: Best of Hamamatsu Tourism

Essential hamamatsu.

Hamamatsu Is Great For

Eat & drink

• Okura Act City Hotel Hamamatsu
• Hamanako Kanzanji Onsen Sansuikan Kinryu
• Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu
• Hamanako Resort & Spa The Ocean
• Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort & Spa
• Sawayaka Hamamatsu Wagoten
• Kobe Cook World Buffet, Zaza City
• Shunsuke Sushi
• Unagi Yaotokuekiminamiten
• Ryugashido Cavern
• Hamamatsu Air Park
• Hamamatsu Flower Park
• Suzuki Plaza
• Ryotan-ji Temple
• Soy sauce making experience tour
• [Shizuoka / Hamamatsu City / Ninja Experience] You can have all-you-can-eat various ways to enjoy! Easy ninja experience in Hamamatsu
• Traditional Tea 2-Hour Activity with Cha-Kabuki Game in Hamamatsu
• [Shizuoka / Hamamatsu City / Ninja Experience] Get a testimony of ninja in Hamamatsu! All-you-can-throw Shuriken & Ninja Exam
• Let's Express Four Seasons of Japan in a Glittering Glass Dome in Shizuoka!

What To Do In Hamamatsu – The 10 Coolest Places You Should Visit

The industrial city of Hamamatsu is best known for its production of musical instruments and motorcycles, as well as being filled with manufacturing industries. Since the city isn’t usually listed as a tourist city, many miss out on the opportunity to take advantage of the unique and interesting places to see and visit. Luckily for you, this article lists out how to get to Hamamatsu, where to stay, and what to do while you’re there!

How To Get To Hamamatsu?

How To Get To Hamamatsu From Tokyo

To get to Hamamatsu from Tokyo , you’ll want to take the Tokaido Shinkansen Line – either Hikari or Kodama service – from Tokyo Station to Hamamatsu Station. You can also utilize the JR Tokaido Line as well. Regardless, travel by train shouldn’t take more than three hours to get form Tokyo to Hamamatsu.The JR Tomei Liner buses run from Tokyo to Hamamatsu station in about four to five hours, though you can always opt to drive yourself the 263 kilometer distance, which takes about three and a half hours.

How To Get To Hamamatsu From Osaka

You can also get to Hamamatsu from Osaka  via the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, which should take less than three hours in total for the trip. Night buses are readily available and take less than five hours one way. If you prefer to drive yourself, the 274 kilometer distance is easily transverse in a little over three hours depending on traffic.  

Where To Stay In Hamamatsu?

Guesthouse hamamatsu – 365base outdoor hostel.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Man, I really wish that there was a rock climbing wall in my hotel”? If the answer is yes, than 365BASE Outdoor Hostel is perfect for you! Bringing the beauty of nature indoors, this hip hostel offers guests the use of a spacious living area with 150-inch projection screen, bouldering terrace, shared kitchen, shared tatami rom, and bike and car hire.  

Why Guests Love It : Guests are over the moon about 365BASE ’s cleanliness, attention to detail, and simple yet elegant interior stylings. The soft, welcoming ambience is hard to find anywhere else, and the open design allows guests to interact with one another and make lasting friendships and unique connections. If your Japanese is a bit rusty – or non-existent – don’t worry; the staff are able to communicate in your language!

Book It Now :  365BASE Outdoor Hostel

Hotel Hamamatsu – Hamamatsu Hotel

The soft sounds of a classical song played on a Yamaha grand piano drift across the lobby of this hotel during the day; after all, Hamamatsu is at the forefront of musical instrument engineering! The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast buffet that includes vegetarian options – a real find for those traveling with dietary restrictions. The real gem of this hotel is the location, as it’s just a four minute walk away from Hamamatsu Station and less than half an hour away from Hamamatsu Castle and Lake Hamana.

Why Guests Love It : Those that book the Hamamatsu Hotel feel like they have a real peace of mind during their stay, mainly due to the safe and relaxing environment of the hotel and surrounding area. Staff are always at the ready to assist with requests for luggage store or massage services. Free video-on-demand programs can be viewed on flat-screen TVs available in every room, and nearby restaurants and onsite vending machines allow for comfortable access to food and beverages.

Book It Now : Hamamatsu Hotel

Ryokan Hamamatsu – Ryokan Nakaya

This ryokan has all the features of a traditional Japanese hotel: cultural decorations, tatami flooring, futon bedding, public baths, sliding paper screen doors, floor chairs, and hospitality that few countries can rival. Even with so many wonderful aspects of this ryokan, guests can’t get enough of the owner, who is a kindly grandfather figure that goes out of his way to make every stay a pleasant memory for his patrons.

Why Guests Love It : Being next to a gorgeous lake means waking up to beautiful reflective sunrises and watching stunningly golden sunsets. Each room has a private bathroom, and the ryokan is situated within driving distance to the Hamamatsu Train Station. Guests also have the option to rent bikes from Ryokan Nakaya , which many do to ride around the lake and enjoy the spectacular views.

Book It Now : Ryokan Nakaya

The 10 Best Things To Do In Hamamatsu

• Hamamatsu Castle
• Hamamatsu Flower Park
• Lake Hamana
• Nakatajima Sand Dunes
• Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika
• Ryotanji Temple
• Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments
• Ryugashido Cavern
• Hamamatsu Air Base Museum
• Hamanako Pal Pal

1. Hamamatsu Castle

Sometimes referred to as Shusse Castle, Hamamatsu Castle is a replica hirayama-style Japanese castle that sits in central Hamamatsu for all to see. Made of wood and stone and standing three stories tall, this lovely castle is surely a sight that needs to be seen. Even if you’re not one for ancient castles, a wonderful park that’s fit for visitors of any age!

Young couples, families with children, college students, elderly travelers, and just about anyone else who enjoys Japanese nature and beauty will enjoy a trip to Hamamatsu Castle and th Hamamatsu Castle Park. Thankfully for visitors, you can reach the castle easily by bus, taxi, or just by walking!

2. Hamamatsu Flower Park

This spectacular Japanese flower park is open to the public for free from July to September with prices as low as 1,000 yen in the spring and 500 yen in winter. Set on the edge of Lake Hamana, this park covers 30,000 square meters and have over 3,000 different species of plants. Though there are seasonal flowers that only bloom during certain times of the year, the park also has many plants that are at their peak throughout the year, and might be just as enjoyable to view!

The most popular time to come to the park every year is in spring when the cherry blossoms are in full swing. Other seasons provide just as many beautiful flowers and greenery to observe, however. During  Autumn in Japan you can admire amethyst sage, roses, and chrysanthemum. In winter in Japan , the park goes into a full winter mode and features illuminations, Christmas trees, and red flowers set against green background. No matter when you go, there will always be something beautiful to see!

3. Lake Hamana

Sizing up as Japan’s tenth largest lake, this large body of water was once a fresh water lake. Unfortunately, due to earthquakes and tsunamis the lake has become brackish, though it still allows for many fun activities and delicious seafood. The lake itself is actually known for the delectable eel and oysters it produces, as well as blowfish and pike conger; be sure to try some while you’re in the area!

Visitors enjoy a trip to the number of hot springs near the lake, though for some just the sight of the cool, calm waters is enough to make them feel relaxed and refreshed. You can also see a beautiful red torii in the lake like the one in Miyajima Island near Hiroshima .

4. Nakatajima Sand Dunes

Though the spot is often overlooked as an enjoyable place, many people find that visiting the Nakatajima Sand Dunes yields wild excitement, unbridled fun, and fond memories. You can enjoy a brisk walk along the dunes while the wind pushes at your back, slide down the sandy hills using a plastic sled or cardboard, and watch the native wildlife in their natural habitat. If you’re lucky, you might even see a Loggerhead turtle or some terrific kites!

Aside from the enjoyment spent on the dunes, visitors can also find relaxation in the naturally forming art on the dunes. When the wind blows over the large bodies of sand, they create special patters call ‘fumon’. These patters are said to look like works of art, and can be admired for quite some time. The area is so beautiful that film crews are often in the area to use it in a movie or promotional video. If you play your cards right, you just might appear in the background of one!

5. Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika

If you’re at all familiar with the size of Tokyo Dome, then you’ll understand just how big this park is; nine times the size of Tokyo Dome! This fruit-themed agricultural park allows visitors to choose between 15 different fruits throughout the year to pick by yourself! Due to the mild climate of Hamamatsu City, fruits can grow for longer than they would elsewhere in the country, allowing patrons an extended time frame to enjoy their favorite sweet foods!

There are also other activities to enjoy at the park, such as the winery for adults and dinosaur square for younger visitors. A large food court is perfect for digging into some of the fresh fruit you’ve just picked, as well as sampling other cuisine from the other. Make sure you come with an empty stomach, as you’ll likely fill it up on delicious hand-picked fruits!

6. Ryotanji Temple

If you’re thinking of sneaking into this temple, then think again! The floors were constructed using the “Ugisubari” method, meaning that the planks purposefully creak with each and every step to alert those who used to live inside to intruders. Another cool feature of this temple is the pond, Shinji Ike, found outside the temple that’s in the shape of the Chinese character for heart, or kokoro.

Though the inside of the temple is always entertaining and interesting to tour, the outside and surrounding areas can be just as intriguing to see. A garden outside displays rock formations that pay homage to those normally found in a Zen temple, and the garden changes its appearance every season. If you can come back more than once you’ll be surprised – it looks like a completely different place from one season to another!  

7. Museum of Musical Instruments

Not only does this museum feature one of the most important commodities produced in Hamamatsu, it’s also the first municipal museum of musical instruments in all of Japan! The hope of the museum is to allow everyone who visits and unbiased look at the history and advancement of musical instruments from around the world.

The museum also hopes that through learning about different musical instruments used by various cultures worldwide, those that visit the museum will gain a deeper understanding of those outside of their own countries and feel more connected to the rest of the world. It seems to be a big dream, but after visiting the museum yourself you’ll come to realize that that dream is one step closer to fruition!  

8. Ryugashido Cavern

This limestone cave is actually home to the largest stalactite in the entire Tokai region! The cavern itself stretches out for 1046 meters, but only 400 meters are available to the public to view. The main attraction of the cavern is a 30 meter high subterranean waterfall, Ogon no Otaki. After a long trek through the cavern, explores love to enjoy a Material Gelato from the nearby eatery. Make with local Inasa milk and seasonal fruits and vegetables, it’s as authentic as it is delicious!

No matter what season you decide to travel to Japan in, Ryugashido Cavern is always 18ºC, meaning that it’s comfortable in summer and warm in winter. If you’re feeling too hot while traveling through the cavern, you can always dip your feet into calcium rich waters at the free foot bathing station, or youkitadou!  

9. Hamamatsu Air Base Museum

This spot is a place where those who are really into aviation will find the most joy. The best part about the museum? Entry is absolutely free! Upon entering the building you’ll be greeted with an entire fleet of unique and interesting aircrafts. Along with airplanes, there are also helicopters and flight simulators that you can actually attempt to pilot!

One of the highlights of these museum has to be the costume rental! You can dress up like a real pilot and take a ton of photographs to commemorate the event. This is great for those traveling with children, as the costumes can fit children as young as three! You don’t have to leave out any family members when you explore this awesome museum and make great memories!

10. Hamanako Pal Pal

Last, but certainly not least, is the Hamanako Pal Pal Amusement Park! This resort-style amusement park has about 30 different attractions to choose from, and the location next to Lake Hamana provides for fun times as well as great sights! No matter how old you or members of your party are, there are plenty of rides and attractions to satisfy thrill seekers and small children alike!

Along with all the things that make a great amusement park, Hamanako Pal Pal also has later hour seasons where the park is open even longer and accompanied by beautiful and exciting fireworks displays! There’s also a sister park called Pal Pool that’s open during the summer as a water park. If you’re in Hamamatsu during the summer and want to beat the heat, Pal Pool is the place to be!

Although Hamamatsu doesn’t present itself as a tourist city, there’s plenty for travelers to see and enjoy while visiting this historic and memorable city! No matter where your interests lie – museums, amusement parks, gardens, natural formations, or Japanese foliage and flowers – there’s always a little something for everyone. So take a chance on a city that’s just waiting to be discovered and find out what Hamamatsu has in store for you!

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Things to do in Hamamatsu

With a focus on both industry and creativity, Hamamatsu has lots to offer visitors with time to explore.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

Updated: January 9, 2024

From the excellent museums, to the surrounding nature, there are plenty of things to see in Hamamatsu.

With easy access on the Shinkansen, here are some of the top reasons for why you should visit Hamamatsu:

Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments

Suzuki plaza, hamamatsu air park, hamamatsu science museum, hamamatsu castle, ryotanji temple, kanzanji temple, okuyama hokoji, hamamatsu flower park, hamamatsu fruit park, ryugashido cavern, nakatajima sand dunes, kanzanji onsen, kanzanji ropeway, lake cruise, nukumori no mori.

As I come out of the main train station at Hamamatsu, I spot a small crowd gathered in a corner of the plaza. Curious, I head over to see what’s happening.

It turns out there’s a boy band performing, with a simple set of speakers set up on the tiles in front of a garden bed. The audience of several dozen – almost all young women – are watching and filming on their phones while the four band members sing and dance (the only lyric I understand is “arigatoo” – thank you).

The black tracksuits of the boys (men?) have a splash of pink emblazoned with their band’s name: Cool-X. A quick search tells me that Cool-X is from nearby Nagoya and has been releasing its saccharine J-Pop since 2019.

Here in Hamamatsu, this is not an unusual sight. In fact, I’m told that it’s pretty common to see someone performing on the plaza most days. After all, Hamamatsu is known as the City of Music in Japan – unofficially at first, and officially as a UNESCO Creative City since 2014.

As I start to explore some of the best things to do in Hamamatsu, music initially plays a large part – especially at the Museum of Musical Instruments (which I’ll talk about in a moment).

This is because Hamamatsu is traditionally an industrial city, and some of the main manufacturers headquartered here are musical instrument companies. Yamaha is one of the most famous, but there’s also Kawai and Roland.

(The other best-known company based in Hamamatsu is the automotive manufacturer Suzuki, while Honda was founded here but is now based elsewhere in Japan.)

And when the industrial blends with the artistic, as it does with these instrument companies, creativity is released – and it can be found across Hamamatsu, from the architecture (especially Act Tower, shaped like a harmonica), the cultural sights, and even the food.

But beyond the music and the artistic sights, there are lot to see in Hamamatsu, from its authentic heritage to its impressive natural reserves, making for an interesting stop for visitors to Japan.

Visiting Hamamatsu

It’s very easy to visit Hamamatsu, as the city is on the Shinkansen (bullet train) line between Tokyo and Osaka, and is about 1.5 hours from either. Although there’s enough to do in Hamamatsu to spend a couple of days here, the convenience of the Shinkansen stop means that, at the very least, you can spend the day here as you pass through.

The city centre has a few of the main Hamamatsu attractions, so you’ll be able to walk from the station or your nearby hotel to visit them. But ultimately you’ll also want to get out to other parts of the city, and will probably need to use public transport.

For instance, Lake Hamana (Hamanako), about 12 kilometres west of the city centre, has some of the most popular things for visitors to Hamamatsu and you may want to spend the day out there exploring some of those sights.

Elsewhere, some of the other natural and cultural sights are also on the outskirts of the city and will take a little bit of time to reach by bus (if you don’t have a car). It’s why basing yourself in the city for a night or two is a bit easier than just a day trip.

Ultimately, Hamamatsu may not be as famous as some of the other cities in this part of Honshu, where Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya are all just a short ride away. But its unique attractions and relaxed authentic atmosphere makes it a nice change from those other crowded spots.

The fact you don’t need to go out of your way to visit Hamamatsu is another bonus, making it easy to add to a trip and offering something a bit different – especially for those who have been to Japan before.

To help with your planning, let’s now have a look at the best things to do in Hamamatsu.

There are almost 20 museums in Hamamatsu, celebrating the city’s famous residents, festivals, and history. But I think these four are the most impressive ones.

Of all the things to do in Hamamatsu, this museum is one of the highlights – and is the main reason a lot of people visit the city.

The Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments is a huge complex that has about 1500 instruments on display. They come from all across the world, with quite comprehensive collections from Asian countries like Indonesia and Korea. And, of course, there are lots of examples from Japan.

Although you can’t touch most of the instruments, there are audio recordings so you can hear what they sound like. And there is one area with some examples that you can use.

As you might expect, Hamamatsu companies like Yamaha and Roland are well represented. But another of the highlights is the excellent collection of 19th-century pianos and related keyboard instruments.

While we’re talking about music, it’s also worth mentioning another ‘museum’ elsewhere in the city called Yamaha Innovation Road . This exhibition was opened by the instrument company to show the highlights from its 130 years of history, and there’s an interesting collection of organs and pianos.

The Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments is open everyday from 9:30 – 17:00. It is closed on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month

A standard ticket is ¥800 (US$5.65).

Along with Yamaha, one of the most famous companies in Hamamatsu is Suzuki, and there’s a way to explore its story at a museum called Suzuki Plaza.

One floor of Suzuki Plaza is dedicated to the history of the company, which began in 1909, looking at the development of its motorbikes, cars, and other products (such as outboard motors).

The other part of the museum looks at topics like factory production, how the business operates, and its international work. There’s even a flight simulator, which is pretty cool!

Officially called the Air Park JASDF Hamamatsu Air Base Museum, this is part of Japan’s Ministry of Defence and is set on a working air base, where you may see active planes taking off or landing.

As far as the museum goes, though, there’s a large collection of military aircraft that you can see, along with flight simulators where you can pretend that you’re actually flying one of them.

The Hamamatsu Air Park is a pretty interesting site, and I think it’s surprising it doesn’t get a bit more attention.

The Hamamatsu Air Park is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 – 16:00. It is closed on Monday, every last Tuesday of every month, Tuesday to Thursday of the second week of March year-end, and 1 January.

Admission to the Hamamatsu Air Park is free.

For most visitors, I probably wouldn’t recommend the Hamamatsu Science Museum as something to prioritise, because it’s mainly aimed at children. But that’s why I wanted to mention it because it might be useful if you’re travelling with some young ones.

There are six themes in the museum, focusing on topics like nature, space, and sound – plus there is a planetarium and regularly changing special exhibitions.

The Hamamatsu Science Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 – 17:00; July – 1 September from 9:30 – 18:00.

A standard ticket is ¥600 (US$4.25).

Although Hamamatsu is quite a modern city, with a focus on industry, there’s still lots of history to be found here.

1300 years ago, it was the regional capital; and it became an important castle town during the Edo period from about 1600. Some of the city’s religious sites capture the heritage the best and are well worth a visit.

The Hamamatsu Castle that you see today is a replica, rebuilt here in 1958. The first one was founded in 1570 but was destroyed during the Meiji Restoration.

But don’t let that put you off, because although it’s not original – and not even that big, to be honest – the history is still very important. The castle’s main claim to fame is that it was home for 17 years to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who would go on to unite Japan and found the Edo period of history when Tokyo became the capital.

You’ll learn some of this history, along with more about the city, from the exhibition on the way up to the top of the building.

Hamamatsu Castle is open every day from 8:30 – 16:30. The castle is closed 29/30/31 December.

A standard ticket is ¥200 (US$1.40). Junior high school students, younger and seniors (70+ years) are free.

One of the oldest and most important temples around Hamamatsu is Ryotanji Temple, founded in 733 by a family who used it for more than 40 generations!

The buildings themselves are exquisite, with detailed artwork on the paper walls and interesting carvings and features incorporated into the design.

But the highlight of Ryotanji Temple – and the reason many people visit – is the Zen garden. The large landscaped area is full of symbolism, with a green slope covered in rocks and plants rising up from a pond. You can sit on the temple’s balcony to take it all in, appreciating the aesthetics and finding some calm in the moment.

Ryotanji Temple is open from 9:00 – 16:30.

A standard ticket is ¥500 (US$3.50).

On the edge of Lake Hamana, at the foot of a hill, Kanzanji Temple is another of the most popular temples to visit around Hamamatsu. It’s not the building itself that’s the main attraction, but the temple’s grounds that stretch up the hill, called Tateyama.

Taking the main hiking trail up Tateyama, you’ll find impressive statues amongst the trees (including a 16-metre-high Kannon Bodhisattva), as well as a cave where the temple was apparently first founded in the 9th century.

Even beyond the religious icons on Tateyama, the paths over this 50-metre-high hill offer beautiful lake views and a nice natural escape.

Kanzanji Temple is open from 8:00 – 17:30.

Entrance to the Kanzanji Temple is free.

Away from the city, amongst the forest, the Okuyama Hokoji Temple feels serene. This sprawling complex, with more than 20 buildings, is set in a dramatic location on a hillside on the edge of a valley, surrounded by trees.

While it’s certainly possible to just come and see the site, which I would recommend, one of the things that makes the temple so special is the opportunity to take part in a Zazen meditation session.

Zazen is a discipline that involves keeping the correct posture throughout the meditation – and I actually got a bit stressed when I did it and the priest paced up and down with a stick, waiting to hit me if I got it wrong. But I’m told that’s how it’s supposed to be.

Along with the meditation, you can also have a shojin-ryori lunch, which is a vegetarian meal originally created for Buddhist monks. It’s also possible to stay overnight at the Okuyama Hokoji Temple .

Okuyama Hokoji is open from 9:00 – 16:00.

Even though Hamamatsu is in one of the most populated parts of Japan, it’s surrounded by beautiful nature – one of the reasons it’s so popular with domestic tourists.

And, along with the natural landscapes around the city, there are also a few important Hamamatsu attractions that embrace the region’s (and even the world’s) flora.

There are plenty of tourists who come to Hamamatsu just for the Hamamatsu Flower Park . This enormous landscaped garden has more than 3000 species of plants, with blooms at different times throughout the year to create colourful vistas.

Like much of Japan, the cherry blossoms are popular and they create pink magic in March, but there are also beds with flowers like tulips in April, hydrangeas in June, and roses in October.

As well as local flowers, there are sections devoted to foreign exotic plants, including from Europe, Mexico, and Bali. there’s a greenhouse for indoor plants, a bus around the site, and shops and food outlets.

The Hamamatsu Flower Park is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 – 20:00, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 – 20:30.

Now, of course, you’re not supposed to pick the flowers at the flower park – but, at the Hamamatsu Fruit Park, that’s the whole point!

This large garden has at least 15 types of fruit that you can take directly from the plant. From strawberries at the start of the year, through to apricots, then peaches and pears, before the apples and oranges at the end of the year.

The park is about more than just the harvesting, though. There are also playgrounds for the kids, restaurants, performances, and even glamping on site!

Hamamatsu Fruit Park is open from 9:00 – 18:00.

A standard ticket is ¥730 (US$5.15).

Ryugashido Cavern may be one of the largest caves in Japan – but it wasn’t discovered until the 1980s! Deep within Ryugashi Mountain, this limestone formation is thought to be about 250 million years old.

The cave is about a kilometre long and you can go in for the first 400 metres. Decorated with spectacular stalagmites and stalactites, there’s also a 30-metre-high waterfall inside.

The temperature inside Ryugashido Cavern stays at around 20 degrees all year round, so it’s a particularly nice escape in the hot summer months.

Ryugashido Cavern is open from 9:00 – 17:00.

A standard ticket is ¥1000 (US$7).

On the coast near Hamamatsu, the Nakatajima Sand Dunes are another of the region’s most popular natural sights. Four kilometres long, they’re the third-largest sand dunes in Japan.

Some people come just to walk along the dunes for the views, others come for the sunrises and sunsets. In May, there’s a kite flying festival that is particularly popular.

As well as the landscapes created by the sand, the dunes at Nakatajima are also significant as an egg-laying area for loggerhead turtles, with the eggs hatching between August and October.

Hamana Lake

The biggest natural attraction of all near Hamamatsu is Hamana Lake, a large lake on the coast that has a mixture of fresh and saltwater within it.

There are lots of tourist facilities around the shoreline and a few of the things to do in Hamamatsu that I’ve already mentioned are closer to the lake than the city. But here are the other main attractions.

Close to Kanzanji Temple, which I talked about earlier, is an onsen area called Kanzanji Onsen, which was created in the 1950s after a hot spring was drilled here and the town formed around it.

Most of the hot baths here are connected to hotels and ryokans but can be used by day visitors as well as guests. The most popular ones are the Sago Royal Hotel and Hanasaki-no-yu, which have indoor and outdoor baths.

The town feels like a mini resort, full of domestic tourists and with a cute theme park. But there are a couple of attractions that are particularly well-known that I’ll mention next.

You can’t really miss the Kanzanji Ropeway , which stretches across the water from the Kanzanji Onsen area, up to the top of a forested hill.

The ride up the ropeway in the carriage only takes a few minutes and deposits you at a multi-storey building with different viewing points for spectacular vistas across the lake, over the region, and even out to sea.

Among the shops and food outlets at the top of the hill, there’s also the Hamanako Orgel Museum , which has an interesting collection of music machines (a lovely link back to the musical heritage of Hamamatsu).

Kanzanji Ropeway is open from 9:30 – 17:30 but may change depending on the season.

A standard ticket is ¥1,000 (US$7) and ¥550 (US$3.90) for children 3 years old and below.

Perhaps the best view of the water is… well, from the water! And the best way to get out on Hamano Lake is with one of the sightseeing cruises that travel around the lake.

The standard cruise takes about 30 minutes and heads from Uchiura Bay out to the main part of the lake where it does a loop near the shoreline.

There are regular departures during the day, and there’s also often a sunset cruise, which is a particularly special experience at the end of the day.

And, finally, let’s finish with one of the quirkiest things to see in Hamamatsu – the quaint little village of Nukumori no Mori.

The name translates as ‘Warm Forest’, which is fitting because it feels a bit like a fairytale town amongst the trees. It was founded by an architect about twenty years ago and has grown into a small collection of buildings that all have a quirky style about them – a bit like Ghibli even (although there’s no official link).

While it’s not a large site, it’s a bit of fun and definitely makes for some good photos.

Time Travel Turtle was supported by Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana Tourism Bureau but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.

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2 thoughts on “Things to do in Hamamatsu”

It is pretty interesting to read all your stories of Hamamatsu even though I was with you for a couple days. Lots of nice and funny memories are coming back to me. I also have learned a lot from your writing. Thank you very much. I hope lots of tourists from all over the world stop by Hamamatsu even a short time stay and enjoy their wonderful time. If they need more information about Hamamatsu, Mr Suzuki is here. Also, if they need an English speaking guide or translator, I am here for them!!!!

The only mention you made of seeing Hammamatsu without a car is “to take public transport” .Such a big help. (sarcasm)

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2 Days in Shizuoka's Premier City, Hamamatsu: Nakatajima Sand Dunes, the Hamamatsu Festival, and More!

• Cavanna Gabriele

Shizuoka Prefecture might be most famous for matcha green tea, but there's more to the region than that. Specifically, the Hamamatsu area, located near Aichi Prefecture and the sea, is one of Japan's most renowned regions... for eel! Famous companies such as Suzuki and Yamaha also arose from Hamamatsu City. While the city has unfortunately not been a popular choice with international tourists in previous years, its incredible sightseeing spots and delicious seafood delights have made it an increasingly appealing destination among local tourists. In this article, let us introduce you to some of Hamamatsu's most famous spots!

*This article was sponsored by Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Hamamatsu?

The ideal time to visit Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture is between May 3rd and May 5th. During these three days, the Hamamatsu area hosts a grand and unique annual festival, the Hamamatsu Festival. May is also a more suitable time to enjoy the view of the sea at Hamamatsu's sand dunes, compared to the rainy season of June and July and the scorching hot month of August. Additionally, May coincides with the Lake Hamana Flower Festa, making it even more appealing. If you're planning to tour around Shizuoka, Aichi, and Yamanashi Prefectures during this period, be sure to stop by Hamamatsu in Shizuoka!

Recommended Things to Do in Hamamatsu

Nakatajima sand dunes: one of japan's top three sand dunes.

Did you know that there are about 14 sand dune areas in Japan? One is the Nakatajima Sand Dunes in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka. This spot is not well known among tourists, making it much more peaceful than the famous Tottori Sand Dunes.

Nakatajima is known as one of Japan's top three sand dune areas, with unique ripples formed by strong winds and bamboo barricades erected to prevent excess drifting of the sand. Although the dunes may appear low in elevation, they can be more challenging to climb than expected.

Once you cross the dunes, you'll reach Hamamatsu's beach area, so wearing sandals is recommended. While passing the dunes, regular shoes can trap sand inside, but sandals eliminate that worry. They are great for playing on the beach, too!

Some dunes that seem small and gentle from a distance may have a steep angle of up to 60 degrees, so those not accustomed to exercise may find the climb challenging. However, upon reaching the top, the breathtaking view of the blue sea will undoubtedly ease your fatigue.

After climbing to the top of the Nakatajima Sand Dunes, admire the ocean view while walking along it. Once you've fully taken it in, head down to the beach to listen to the sound of the waves up close and cool off playing in the sea.

Taste Hamamatsu's Finest Eel Dishes!

Hamamatsu is a region famous for "unagi" freshwater eel, praised even by the Japanese for having the best unagi in the country! The city mainly catches its unagi from Lake Hamana, where seawater and freshwater mix.

Among Hamamatsu's many eel restaurants, Unagi Yaotoku's main restaurant comes particularly recommended by the locals. Their signature menu item is the Ohitsu Unagi Chazuke, which lets you appreciate high-quality eel in three forms. First, enjoy the unagi rice on its own, then taste it again after adding the accompanied spices, and finally, pour tea over it to make "unagi chazuke." Each way lets you savor the deliciousness of Hamamatsu's unagi, unleashing its full potential. Another signature dish is the Deluxe Una-ju, just as delicious as their Ohitsu Unagi Chazuke. Most customers order either one of these dishes, but if your budget allows, why not try both? It's not often you get to taste unagi like this in Japan!

The Historic Hamamatsu Festival: Where the Celebration Continues Into the Night

The annual Hamamatsu Festival, held from May 3rd to 5th, is a traditional festival in Hamamatsu. The festival consists of two parts: "Tako-age" (Kite Flying) during the day and "Yatai Hikimawashi" (Parade of Floats) at night.

The history of kite flying in the Hamamatsu Festival can be traced back 450 years to the Muromachi Period's Eiroku era (1558-1569). At that time, the birth of the eldest son of the lord of Hikuma Castle was celebrated by flying kites high on the castle grounds. The Enshu region of Hamamatsu was considered suitable for kite flying due to its strong winds, so the tradition of celebrating a birth with a "Hatsu Tako" (first kite) has been passed down generation to generation.

Today, over 170 neighborhoods participate in the kite-flying event at Enshunada Seashore Park in Hamamatsu. Each district uses its own kites, attracting tourists who gather to watch this colorful event.

Starting at 6:30 pm, the evening's highlight, the Yatai Hikimawashi, commences as more than 80 gorgeous floats make their way through the city's streets. Each float is extraordinarily ornate, with neighborhoods competing with one another through their distinctive designs and performances. Affluent areas are renowned for their astonishingly costly floats. These stunningly adorned floats are a feast for the eyes.

The Yatai Hikimawashi takes place in the heart of Hamamatsu, making it visible along streets and alleys. Crowds of tourists and locals fill the roads, following the floats as they pass by. The intricate beauty of the floats can be appreciated up close, adding to the lively and enjoyable atmosphere.

Accompanying the beautiful floats, children garbed in traditional clothing skillfully play traditional musical instruments on the floats, further enhancing the festival's thrill with their spirited performances. This one-of-a-kind Hamamatsu Festival can only be witnessed during these three days!

Hamanako Garden Park: A New Sightseeing Spot for Admiring Flowers

Hamanako Garden Park hosts a magnificent flower festival every year. In 2019, the spring flower show was held from March 21st to June 30th, but the event dates vary slightly each year.

Wondering what kind of place Hamanako Garden Park is? Imagine a large lake surrounded by a vast meadow. On sunny days, many Japanese families enjoy picnics in this beautiful area, basking in the fresh air and having a delightful lunchtime.

Upon entering the park, you'll be amazed by just how big it truly is. Although entry is free, some paid facilities include the observation deck, flower train, sightseeing boat, and workshops. The park has various flower fields, and it takes more than half a day to explore the entire park thoroughly, so if you're short on time, focus on specific points to visit.

Flower Museum

A mere 20-minute stroll from the entrance of the observation deck leads you to the enchanting and picturesque Flower Museum. Originally established for the 2004 Lake Hamana Flower Festa, this European-style museum features a garden modeled after the one in France painted by the renowned Impressionist painter Claude Monet. The garden is divided into the "Flower Garden" and the "Water Garden," each hosting a variety of floral species. You can find many rare and unique flowers, including blue, purple, and black blossoms that you might never have seen before. The stunning and refined garden, reminiscent of Monet's, is genuinely extraordinary.

The Water Garden showcases water lilies sourced from Kitagawa Village in Kochi Prefecture to emulate Monet's garden. These flowers typically bloom in the morning, so it is advisable to visit during this time to see the water lilies in full bloom. If you're going to take photos, the best spot is the dream-like flower bridge situated at the center of the Water Garden's pond. Just be mindful of the bees during peak bloom season!

Hamanako Garden Park's Flower Museum also features a whimsical pink and green Western-style building, perfect for capturing photos reminiscent of European movies. Describing the Flower Museum's beauty in words alone is a daunting task, so make sure to immortalize its allure in photographs!

Maisaka Port: Savor Incredibly Fresh Seafood

Once you have thoroughly appreciated the floral splendor at Hamanako Garden Park, make your way to the nearby Maisaka Port to indulge in delectable local seafood. Lake Hamana, which has a unique mix of seawater and freshwater, is renowned not only for its unagi, but also for its premium seafood. Situated at the meeting point of the Enshu-nada Sea and Lake Hamana, Maisaka Port serves mouthwatering shrimp tempura and sashimi dishes. One taste of Hamamatsu's unagi or seafood set meals and you'll undoubtedly become enamored with this seafood-rich town, just like us! While sashimi and shrimp tempura are available throughout Japan, the flavor and freshness found here are truly unmatched.

Situated in Maisaka Port, Uoara is a century-old seafood establishment serving fresh fish dishes and local delicacies. The restaurant is always lively during meal times, primarily offering fresh fish and shrimp sourced straight from the port. Don't miss their signature dish, the Iki Tendon, made with super fresh shrimp and a definite must-try. The crunchy and plump shrimp tempura is simply mouthwatering! Besides shrimp tempura, Uoara also provides fresh sashimi and delectable unagi dishes.

Bentenjima Onsen: Perfect for a Day Trip Soak

There are numerous hot spring inns around Bentenjima Island that offer relaxation and relief from a day's travel. Established as a hot spring area in 1960, the inns in this region their hot spring water from Bentenjima Onsen, a chloride spring situated at Lake Hamana's southern tip. This spring is ideal for alleviating cold hands and feet, dry skin, joint pain, muscle pain, and neuralgia. While staying at hotels in the Bentenjima Onsen area, you can enjoy the hot springs and take in the stunning view of Lake Hamana's torii shrine gate.

The most popular hot spring in the area for day trips is "THE OCEAN." From its large public bath, you can view Lake Hamana's torii gate and enjoy the spectacular sunset.

Bentenjima Kaihin Park: Enjoy the Stunning Sunset View

Lake Hamana's renowned torii gate can be seen from a distance at the embankment next to Maisaka Port or Bentenjima Onsen. For a closer look, visit Bentenjima Kaihin Park. This iconic gate is famous for the "Benten Sunset," when the bright red torii gate gradually shows orange tones during sunset, creating a stunning scene with the vivid orange sky and Lake Hamana. 

The ideal time to photograph this scene is from mid-November to mid-January in winter, when the sunset sinks in the center of the torii gate, providing a captivating and awe-inspiring view. But no matter the season, the sunset here is a spectacular sight that will leave you mesmerized all year round.

Unagi Pie: A Must-Buy Hamamatsu Souvenir

In the realm of delightful souvenirs from Hamamatsu, "Unagi Pie" is a highly sought-after local specialty. You can find it in most souvenir shops, including those at Hamamatsu Station, produced by the reputable local confectioner "Shunkado."

Introduced in 1961, Unagi Pie is a tasty, flaky Western-style treat that has become a go-to souvenir for Japanese visitors to Hamamatsu. It's a perfect light snack to share, so grab a few packs for everyone to enjoy. Also, the factory making Unagi Pie offers free tours, providing a fascinating behind-the-scenes look. If you're curious about how Unagi Pie is made, don't hesitate to see it yourself!

If you want to give feedback on any of our articles, you have an idea that you'd really like to see come to life, or you just have a question on Japan, hit us up on our  Facebook ,  Twitter , or  Instagram !

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

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• 8.1 Bars and pubs
• 9.2 Mid-range
• 9.3 Splurge
• 10.1 Internet

Hamamatsu (浜松市) is the largest city in Shizuoka , Japan .

Understand [ edit ]

An important industrial hub, the city is home to many companies, including Honda Motor Company, Roland Corporation, Kawai Pianos, Yamaha, Sony, Suzuki Motor Company and Hamamatsu Photonics as well as a large air base for Japan's defense force. Consequently, the city is well known for producing motorcycles, musical instruments and optoelectronic sensors among other things.

For its population of just under a million people, Hamamatsu is a uniquely international city. It is home to almost 16,000 Brazilians, mostly from São Paulo , Paraná , and Belém , as well as 3000 immigrants from Peru , giving it the highest per-capita concentration of South Americans in Japan. The city also has sizable immigrant populations from Indonesia , South Korea , the Philippines , China , Nepal , and Bangladesh . The ethnic diversity here provides the city with a wide array of ethnic stores, restaurants, bars and clubs.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

Geographically, the closest airport to Hamamatsu is in Shizuoka ( FSZ  IATA ), 45 km away. However, flights there are very limited: Domestic services are operated by ANA and low-cost carrier Fuji Dream Airlines to destinations including Sapporo , Fukuoka and Okinawa , and international flights serve Seoul , Taipei and several destinations in China .

• You can reach Hamamatsu by taking a limousine bus to Shimada Station (25 min, ¥500) and then taking the JR Tokaido Line (45 min, ¥840).
• Fuji Dream Airlines passengers have access to a free shuttle bus to Kakegawa Station (35 min away), otherwise a shuttle to Kakegawa costs ¥1000. From Kakegawa, Hamamatsu is 30 min away by local JR train (¥500) or - if the connection is convenient - 11 minutes by shinkansen (¥1360).
• It's also possible to take shuttle taxis all the way to Hamamatsu for ¥1500, but these must be reserved at least one day in advance and bookings can only be done in Japanese.

The closest international airport is Chubu International Airport ( NGO  IATA ) in Nagoya . Entetsu operates a bus called E-Wing which runs directly to Hamamatsu Station every 45-60 min. The trip takes 2 hr 10 min and costs ¥3100. The fastest option by train is to take the Meitetsu Limited Express to Nagoya and change to the shinkansen (90-100 min, ¥5650, shinkansen is free with the Japan Rail Pass).

If coming from the other major international airports, Kansai ( KIX  IATA ) or Narita ( NRT  IATA ), the fastest way to reach Hamamatsu is to take the JR limited express to Osaka or Tokyo, respectively, and change to the shinkansen. These trips are free for Japan Rail Pass holders.

By train [ edit ]

Hamamatsu is on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line , and the JR Tokaido Line , which serve major cities like Tokyo , Nagoya and Osaka .

There are a handful of Hikari and Kodama services that stop in Hamamatsu. From Tokyo, there are two all-stopping Kodama trains that depart every hour, making the run to Hamamatsu in about 2 hours. Faster Hikari trains depart once per hour, running to Hamamatsu in 90 min. The fare is the same for both, at ¥8290 for a reserved seat. Kodama trains have more unreserved seats than the Hikari; an unreserved seat costs ¥7770.

There are hourly departures to Hamamatsu from Osaka and Kyoto on either a Hikari (90 min from Osaka) or Kodama (2 hr from Osaka). The reserved seat fare is ¥8940 from Shin-Osaka and ¥8290 from Kyoto.

Discount bullet train tickets include the Puratto Kodama Ticket [dead link] , which offers a discount for Kodama trains if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat, and a coupon for a free drink to purchase before you board the train. With this ticket a trip to Hamamatsu costs ¥6600 from Tokyo (2 hr), ¥3700 from Nagoya (50 min), ¥6600 from Kyoto (1 hr 45 min) and ¥7100 from Shin-Osaka (2 hr). In addition, discounted tickets can be purchased in advance through Japan Railways' official SmartEX App , available in English and other languages - look for Hayatoku fares.

Regular local train services on the Tokaido Line will get you from Tokyo to Hamamatsu in approximately 4–5 hours for ¥4430, while from Osaka it takes around the same amount of time for ¥5080. Several train changes are required along the way.

Train service from Nagoya take as little as 1 hr 40 min on the regular Tokaido Line (¥1940), changing at Toyohashi , or as little as 30 min on the Shinkansen (¥4420 unreserved seat).

All of the above train services are free with a Japan Rail Pass.

The Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto trains make overnight stops in Hamamatsu on runs to Izumo and Takamatsu , respectively.

By car [ edit ]

The Tomei Expressway, the main artery through the Chubu region, bisects Hamamatsu. The city is served by the Hamamatsu and Hamamatsu-Nishi interchanges. It is around 8 km from Hamamatsu Interchange to Hamamatsu station.

Further to the north, the Shin-Tomei Expressway serves Hamamatsu through the Hamamatsu Hamakita Interchange. It's about 17 km from there to Hamamatsu station.

By bus [ edit ]

Hamamatsu serves as a major stop for bus travel throughout the country, thanks in large part to its location near the Tomei Expressway. The main stop for buses is Hamamatsu Bus Terminal , next to Hamamatsu Station. This is not to be confused with Hamamatsu- cho Bus Terminal, which is located in Tokyo .

Through buses may stop at the Hamamatsu Kita bus stop of the expressway, a good distance from Hamamatsu station.

From Tokyo [ edit ]

Daytime buses from Tokyo take around 4 hr 30 min, with most runs to Tokyo in the morning and from Tokyo in the evening.

• There are five daily JR Tomei Liner buses that run from Tokyo Station to Hamamatsu Station (¥3880).
• Other buses operate a route from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (¥3880) and Tokyo/Shibuya (¥3810) to Hamamatsu, with four round-trips per day.

Entetsu operates an overnight bus from Shinagawa Bus Terminal (6 hr, ¥3800), while Willer Express runs an overnight service from JR Osaki Station (5 hr 10 min, ¥3900).

From Kansai and Hyogo [ edit ]

Two round-trip buses between Osaka Station and Hamamatsu are operated during the day by JR Bus and Entetsu Bus (4 hr 45 min, from ¥3900).

JR Bus runs an overnight service from Kobe (Sannomiya Bus Terminal), Osaka (JR Namba and Osaka Stations) and Kyoto Station to Hamamatsu (6 hr 30 min from Osaka Station, starting at ¥4200). Willer Express' overnight bus runs from Osaka (Universal Studios Japan and the Willer Bus Terminal in Umeda) and Kyoto Station (5 hr 10 min from Umeda, starting at ¥4200).

Get around [ edit ]

The city center is easily explored on foot, but Hamamatsu is a very sprawling place, and to visit places further out such as the Fruit Park or Kanzanji Hot Springs, you will need another form of transportation.

• Times Car Rental , ( south of Hamamatsu station ), ☏ +81 53-454-5656 .

Hamamatsu Bus Terminal is just north of the main JR train station. Take a ticket from the machine inside the bus when you enter. The number on the ticket corresponds to the number lit up at the front of the bus, which displays the fare amount for the upcoming stop.

• The JR Tokaido main line has five stops within Hamamatsu city limits. They are, from west to east:
• Bentenjima (弁天島)
• Maisaka (舞阪)
• Takatsuka (高塚)
• Hamamatsu (浜松)
• Tenryugawa (天竜川)
• The JR Iida line cuts across the mountainous far northern edge of the city on its path between Toyohashi , Aichi and Tatsuno , Nagano . Useful stops include Misakubo and Sakuma .
• Entetsu runs a line popularly known as the Aka-den , after the red color of the train cars. It runs from Shin-Hamamatsu station (新浜松駅) northward to Nishikajima station (西鹿島), where it connects with the Tenryu-Hamanako line.　To find Shin-Hamamatsu station from the regular JR station, walk westward from the JR North Exit about two minutes and you will find the station behind Entetsu department store.
• The Tenryuu-Hamanako line crosses Hamamatsu through the foothills and across the scenic north end of Lake Hamana. It connects with the JR Tokaido line at Shinjohara (新所原) at the western border of the prefecture, and again at Kakegawa to the east of town. In the center, it connects with the terminus of the Entetsu line at Nishikajima (西鹿島).

See [ edit ]

• Tower Observatory . M-F 10AM-6PM . From the observatory you can see down to the sand dunes at the shore and Lake Hamana to the west. If the weather is exceptionally clear, you can even glimpse Mount Fuji in the distance. Beneath the windows are labeled panoramic photos so you can identify the sights. Coin-operated telescopes. ¥500 .  
• Chopin Monument . Erected in the rooftop park beside the tower is an authentic two-third-scale replica of the famous Art Nouveau bronze statue of composer Frédéric Chopin by the famed artist Wacław Szymanowski. The original is in Hamamatsu's sister city, Warsaw .  
• 34.85811 137.80544 2 Futamata Castle Ruins ( 二俣城跡, Futamata-jouseki ), Futamata-cho Futamata - Tenryu-ku ( from the northern Akaden terminus at Nishikajima, take the Tenryu-Hamanako line one stop north to Futamata Honmachi, walk 200 m north to the main street, head left for about 300 m and look for the sign ). Many battles were fought over this castle in the mid-16th century between Ieyasu Tokugawa and Shingen Takeda. In 1579, Tokugawa's wife was executed here and his son committed seppuku here as well. The castle was abandoned after 1600, and today nothing but the walls remain, surrounded by a beautiful park.  
• 34.71178 137.72488 3 Hamamatsu Castle ( 浜松城, Hamamatsu-jou ), Motoshiro-cho 49-2 - Naka-ku ( take bus 36, 40, 41, or 50, to city hall (市役所前) ), ☏ +81 53 453-3872 . Hamamatsu Castle was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa, who is considered perhaps the greatest shogun and one of the three people most important to the unification of Japan. His rule marks the beginning of the Edo Period. Tokugawa lived here from 1571 to 1588. After the Edo Period, the castle was destroyed, and was restored to the original specifications in 1958. The foundation, which is original, is unique because it uses unhewn stones carefully selected and fitted to lean inward. There is a small museum inside the castle, which costs ¥200 to enter, and which houses some Tokugawa armor and relics, a preserved well moved from elsewhere on the grounds as well as a miniature model of how the city might have looked 400 years ago.  
• 34.93184 137.84773 4 Keta River ( 気田川, Ketagawa ), Haruno-cho Tenryu-ku ( take Route 152 north and turn onto 362 at Tenryu and drive about 18 km ). This beautiful mountain river flows for 66 km before it joins the Tenryu southwest of Haruno. It's a relaxing place for swimming or kayaking.  
• 34.80625 137.6491 5 Kiga Sekisho ( 気賀関所 ), Hosoe-cho Kiga 4577 - Kita-ku ( take a Kiga-Mikkawa bus from central bus station terminal 15 and get off at Kiga-ekimae: 気賀駅前 ), ☏ +81 53 523-2855 . Tu-Su 09:00-16:30 . This restored checkpoint along the Princess Road was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1601. Now dressed with authentic props, visitors can get a glimpse of how tightly controlled travel in that era was. The gate is especially impressive. Adults ¥200, children ¥100 .  
• 34.85296 137.69045 6 Mitake Castle Ruins ( 三岳城跡, Mitake Jouseki ), Inasa-cho Mitake ( near Iinoya busstop: 井伊谷 ), ☏ +81 53 542-1113 . A somewhat strenuous hike will bring you to the ruins of a castle built atop 467-m Mt. Mitake in 1340 by the Ii Clan.  
• 34.66113 137.74053 7 Nakatajima Sand Dunes ( 中田島砂丘 ), Nakatajima-cho - Minami-ku ( take the Nakatajima bus 4. from bus terminal platform 6 and get off at the Nakatajima Sakyu stop: 中田島砂丘 ), ☏ +81 53 452-1634 . The second largest grouping of sand dunes in Japan makes a great place for a stroll or picnic. Be careful if swimming, as there is somewhat of an undertow.  
• 34.84539 137.64862 8 Ryugashi Cavern ( 竜ヶ岩洞, Ryugashidou ), Inasa-cho Tabata 193 - Kita-ku ( from the central bus station, take the bus for Okuyama and get off at Ryugashi-do Iriguchi: 竜ヶ岩洞入口 ), ☏ +81 53 543-0108 . 09:00-17:00 . One of the largest and most famous caves in Japan. The first 400 m of the 1000-m limestone cavern are open to the public. Stalactites and stalagmites abound, and the centerpiece is a 30-m underground waterfall. This cave stays about 15°C year-round, making it a great place to cool off during the sweltering summer heat. Adults ¥650, children 13-15 ¥450, children ¥350 .  
• 34.86239 137.71467 9 Takizawa Observation Platform ( 滝沢展望台, Takisawa Tenboudai ) ( from the north end of Miyakoda Techno Road, turn left on Route 299, after about 10 km turn left at the Fuuketsu Iriguchi busstop: 風穴入口, go straight past Takisawa Elementary, and look for the signs ). This spot offers a beautiful vista of the city from which you can see all the way to Act City and all across Lake Hamana. Popular with local couples, the view is especially good at night when the city is lit up.  
• 34.75938 137.81696 10 Tenryu River ( 天竜川 ). One of Japan's largest rivers flows through the mountains of north Hamamatsu and along the edge of town from Tenryu-cho down to the coast. The meandering mountain portion and wide delta provide abundant opportunities for raftting, kayaking, and fishing, and there are many parks along its banks. The god of this river, Ryujin, is the guest of honor at many area festivals.  
• 34.84916 137.71246 11 Washizawa Wind Cave ( 鷲沢風穴, Washizawa Fuuketsu ), Washizawa-cho 428 - Kita-ku , ☏ +81 53 428-2965 . A less touristy alternative to Ryugashido, this limestone cave has cool winds blowing through it during the summertime. This is the only cave in Japan with a horizontal ceiling. The cave supposedly provided a refuge for warriors during the 1300s. ¥400 .  

Museums [ edit ]

• 34.86488 137.81931 12 Akino Fuku Art Museum ( 秋野不矩美術館 ), Futamata-cho Futamata 130 Tenryu-ku ( from Nishikajima station at the north end of the Akaden line, take a Futamata bus to Akino Fuku Bijyutsukan Iriguchi bus stop:秋野不矩美術館入り口. The museum is a 10-min walk from the bus stop ), ☏ +81 53 922-0315 . Tu-Su 09:30-17:00 . This museum is housed in an interesting building made mostly from local cedar and other products. The permanent collection has many pieces by the late artist Akino Fuku, as well as other pieces. Adults ¥300, students ¥150 .  
• 34.70636 137.73799 13 Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments ( 浜松市楽器博物館, Hamamatsu-shi Gakki Hakubutsukan ), 108-1 Itaya-machi - Naka-ku , ☏ +81 53 451-1128 . 09:00-17:00, closed on the second Wednesday of each month . This museum, just northeast of Act City Tower, houses a collection of over 2,000 kinds of ethnic instruments from around the world. Each instrument has a display attached, with headphones so you can listen to the sound of the instrument. The museum also has a hands-on room, where you can play many types of instruments; drums, xylophones, sitars and native Japanese instruments. This is a child friendly museum. ¥400, high school students half-price, children free .  
• 34.71263 137.70362 14 Hamamatsu City Museum ( 浜松市博物館, Hamamatsu-shi Hakubutsukan ), Shijimizuka 4-22-1 - Naka-ku , ☏ +81 53 456-2275 , [email protected] . Tu-Su 09:00-17:00 . This museum, which is on the grounds of a pleasant park, is dedicated to the history of Hamamatsu and the surrounding area. Exhibits include locally-found pre-historic fossils, ancient pottery, old maps, and farming and domestic implements up through the Edo era. Also on the grounds are some shell mounds, evidence of pre-historic human life in the area. A reconstruction of a Jomon village has been installed among the mounds, giving the visitor an idea of what life was like here three to four thousand years ago. The name of the park and also the neighborhood, Shijimizuka, means "shell mound".  
• 34.66565 137.74225 15 Hamamatsu Festival Hall ( 浜松まつり会館, Hamamatsu Matsuri Kaikan ), Nakatajima-cho 1313 - Minami-ku ( take the Nakatajima bus from terminal 6 and get off at the Nakatajima Sakyu stop: 中田島砂丘 ), ☏ +81 53 441-6211 . Daily 09:00-16:30 . This museum gives visitors a taste of the famous Hamamatsu Festival year round, with its huge kites, festival clothing, lanterns, and banners. Videos show how the kites are made, flown and fought. ¥400 .  
• 34.74752 137.71183 16 Hamamatsu JASDF Air Park ( 航空自衛隊 浜松広報館, Koukuu Jieitai Hamamatsu Kouhoukan ), Nishiyama-cho Nishi-ku, no number ( on the Japan Self-Defense Force Airbase near Takaoka-cho ), ☏ +81 53 472-1111 . Tu-Su 09:00-16:00 . This museum displays many aircraft used or in former use by JASDF, and many other aviation-related items. It also has a flight simulator and a theater which runs informative documentaries every 30 minutes (Japanese only). Free .  
• 34.71183 137.72375 17 Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art ( 浜松市美術館, Hamamatsu-shi Bijutsukan ), Matsushiro-cho 100-1 - Naka-ku , ☏ +81 53 454-6801 . Just one stop up the road from city hall is Hamamatsu's art museum. Exhibits vary.  
• 34.70503 137.73971 18 Hamamatsu Science Museum ( 浜松科学館, Hamamatsu Kagakukan ), Kitaterajima-cho 256-3 - Naka-ku ( about 5 minutes' walk east of JR Hamamatsu on the south side of the tracks ), ☏ +81 53 454-0178 , [email protected] . Daily 09:30-18:00 during summer holidays (Jul 21 to Aug 31) and 09:30-17:00 (the rest of the year) . A range of interactive exhibits divided into five zones: nature, space, sound, light, and electricity. The third floor holds a planetarium. Museum only:Adults ¥500, ages 15-18 ¥350, children free; With planetarium:Adults ¥900, ages 15-18 ¥500, children ¥100 .  
• 34.76996 137.62033 19 Lake Hamana Music Box Museum ( 浜名湖オルゴールミュージアム, Hamanako Orugoru Myujiamu ), Kanzanji-cho 1891 - Nishi-ku ( at the top of Mt. Okusa, at the end of the skyride from Pal-Pal Amusement Park ), ☏ +81 53 487-2121 . The collection includes dozens of self-playing orgels and music boxes from around the world. Performances begin hourly at 20 after the hour, and there is also a special hands-on exhibit. The view of Lake Hamana from outside the museum is spectacular as well.  

Temples and shrines [ edit ]

• 34.81284 137.63944 20 Choraku-ji Temple ( 長楽寺 ), Hosoe-chō Kiga 4578 - Kita-ku , ☏ +81 53 522-0478 . This temple, built at the start of the Heian era, has a charming garden with plum trees, and is especially beautiful with the change of the leaves in the fall. ¥300, children free .  
• 34.82909 137.54966 21 Daifuku-ji Temple ( 大福寺 ), Mikkabi-chō Fukunaga 220 - Kita-ku , ☏ +81 53 525-0278 . Mountain temple overlooking the small Inohana lake. Check out the Deva statues at the gate. This is an excellent place if you're in town during cherry blossom time, and if you miss it, check out the Hantoshi-zakura cherry blossoms which are in bloom from mid-autumn to early spring. ¥500, children free .  
• 34.70605 137.72517 22 Gosha and Suwa Shrines ( 五社神社, Gosha-jinja , and 諏訪神社, Suwa-jinja ), Togi-machi 302-5 - Naka-ku ( walk two blocks west of ZaZa City, turn right and head up the hill to find them on the left ). Built in 1580 and 1556 respectively, these side-by-side shrines were reconstructed in the 1940s and serve downtown locals. Especially interesting at the shrine festival on May 4 or at Shichigosan on November 15 when local families wrap their small children in kimono and come here to pray.  
• 34.81721 137.6917 23 Hōrin-ji Temple ( 寶林寺 ), Hosoe-chō Nakagawa 65-2 , ☏ +81 53 542-1473 . Established by an invited Chinese Zen master in 1667, this temple is a fine example of late Ming Dynasty Chinese architecture. The Buddha hall and the priest's residence are designated National Important Cultural Properties. ¥300, children ¥150 .  
• 34.7048 137.7198 24 Kamoe Kannon ( 鴨江観音 ), Kamoe 4-17-1 ( up the hill about 1 km west of ZaZa City ). This bright-orange-and-white modern temple is one of the most important downtown temples. It is a good place to see the locals all dressed in kimono on holidays such as New Year's Day.  
• 34.8176 137.5568 25 Makaya-ji Temple ( 摩訶耶寺 ), Mikkabi-chō Makaya 421 - Kita-ku . Daily 09:00-16:30 . Here you will find the oldest garden in the prefecture, reminiscent of Kyoto's Koke-dera. The temple was built in 726 and contains some important cultural artifacts. Especially impressive is the wooden statue of Senju-Kannon with one thousand arms. ¥300, students ¥200, children ¥100 .  
• 34.84833 137.6149 26 Okuyama Hōkō-ji ( 方広寺 ), Inasa-chō Okuyama 1577-1 - Kita-ku ( Bus Depot #15, take the #45 bus to the end ), ☏ +81 53 543-0003 . This Zen temple, nestled among pines, sakura, peach, and other things, was established in 1377 and is the home of the Rinsai Sect, housing three much-revered Buddha statues. With over sixty halls, it is one of the biggest temples in the Tokai area. The small Shichison Bosatsudo is the oldest wooden building in the prefecture and a fine example of 14th century Japanese architecture. Visitors can walk through the buildings- no shoes allowed. ¥300, students ¥150, children under 12 free .  
• 34.8297 137.66781 27 Ryōtan-ji Temple ( 龍潭寺 ), Inasa-chō Iinoya 1989 - Kita-ku , ☏ +81 53 542-0480 . Daily 09:00-16:30 . The main hall here has "nightingale flooring" much like Nijo castle in Kyoto . When walked on, the flooring makes subtle bird sounds to warn of intruders. The garden here is a nationally designated scenic beauty. On the south side of the temple is a well which belonged to the founder of the Ii clan in the early 11th century. ¥400, children ¥150 .  
• 35.1348 137.914 28 Yamazumi Shrine ( 山住神社, Yamazumi-jinja ), Misakubo-chō Yamazumi 230 - Tenryū-ku , ☏ +81 53 987-1179 . This mountain shrine was built in 709 and is well-known for its cult of wolf-worship. The grounds also have two ancient cedars over 1200 years old.  

Parks [ edit ]

• 34.68877 137.603 29 Bentenjima Kaihin Park ( 弁天島海浜公園, Bentenjima Kaihin Kōen ), Maisaka-chō Bentenjima 3775-2 ( three stops west of the central JR station; exit the station and go straight down the hill across the street ), ☏ +81 53 592-0757 . This beautiful spot has a beach and boardwalk, with a lovely view of a torii perched on an island in the middle of the bay. The fireworks display in late June is extremely popular, bringing in dozens of food stalls, and thousands of people.  
• 34.71275 137.72482 30 Hamamatsu Castle Park ( 浜松城公園, Hamamatsu-jō Kōen ), Motoshiro-chō - Naka-ku ( Take bus 36, 40, 41, or 50, to city hall (市役所前). ). North of the castle is a very big park with a Japanese garden, a koi pond, a ceremonial teahouse (see Drink below), and some commons areas. This is the best downtown location to go to see cherry blossoms in the spring.  
• 34.76236 137.63496 31 Hamamatsu Flower Park ( 浜松フラワーパーク ), Kanzanji-chō 195 - Nishi-ku ( take the Kanzanji bus line from terminal 1 at the main bus station ), ☏ +81 53 487-0511 . Daily 09:00-17:00, closed Dec 29 to Jan 1 . This beautiful park has many gardens full of 3000 types of flowers, with over 100,000 plants in all. There is also a restaurant and shopping area. ¥700 .  
• 34.84111 137.73899 32 Hamamatsu Fruit Park ( 浜松フルーツパーク ), Miyakoda-chō 4263-1 - Kita-ku , ☏ +81 53 428-5211 . Daily 09:00-17:00, closed Dec 29 to Jan 1 (closes at 16:30 from October through April) . This unique amusement park is a working fruit farm where you can see, touch, taste, and pick a variety of fruits. ¥700 .  
• 34.7641 137.62962 33 Hamamatsu Municipal Zoo ( 浜松市動物園 ), Kanzanji 199 - Nishi-ku ( take the Kanzanji bus line from terminal 1 at the main bus station ), ☏ +81 53 487-1122 , fax : +81 53 487-1125 , [email protected] . Well worth stopping if you are in Kanzanji. In the autumn, special evening hours allow to you visit the zoo after dark. ( updated Sep 2015 )
• Observation tower . Daily 09:00-16:30 (17:00 in summer) . This 50-meter tower has a covered observation deck with a nice view of the park and lake. Adults ¥300, children ¥100 .  

Do [ edit ]

• 34.76235 137.61689 1 Pal-Pal Amusement Park ( 浜名湖パルパル ), Kanzanji-chō 1891 - Nishi-ku ( take the Kanzanji bus from central bus station terminal 1 ), ☏ +81 53 487-2121 . Rollercoasters, Japan's longest raft ride, and a cable car ride over Lake Hamana are among the attractions at this park in Kanzanji. ¥1000 .  
• 34.70399 137.61818 2 Torch Fishing ( Takiya-ryo ), Yūtō-chō 9985-3 ( at Yuto Fishing Co-op ), ☏ +81 53 592-2260 , [email protected] . May to October . This method of spear fishing at night is unique to the Lake Hamana area. You can rent a boat for up to 4 people, including an experienced fisherman, for ¥27,000. For a little extra you can have your catch cooked and served.  
• 34.69869 137.60747 3 Wotto Hamanako Aquatic Experience Center ( 浜名湖体験学習施設ウォット, Hamanako Taiken Gakushuu Shisetsu Wotto ), Maisaka-chō Maisaka 5005-1 - Nishi-ku ( about a 15-minute walk north from JR Bentenjima station ), ☏ +81 53 592-2880 . Tu-Su 09:00-16:30 . At this hands-on aquarium, you can see, touch, and learn about aquatic life in Lake Hamana. ¥300 .  
• 34.76722 137.55101 4 Hamanako Pleasure Boat ( 浜名湖遊覧船, Hamanako Yūransen ), Mikkabi-chō Oosaki 1899 , ☏ +81 53 526-7066 . Daily 09:00-16:00 . This ferry runs between Kanzanji Hot Spring and Mikkabi-cho, giving some nice views of Lake Hamana. The round trip takes about an hour. Round trip ¥1150 .  
• Miyakoda Hiking Course ( 都田 ハイキング コース ) ( Take the Akaden to Nishikajima station and transfer to the Tenryu-Hamanko line to Miyakoda station, then look for a signpost showing the hiking route, these will be at most major intersections on the route. ). This "19-km hiking trail" is actually a route on the roads through the area. While quite confusing to the non-Japanese speaker, it does take one past Washizawa Cave, winds up in the mountains a temple, bridges, a waterfall, and finally to Takisawa Observation Platform. A new highway being built across this area seems to have altered some roads and creates for a challenge in route-finding. Be prepared to trek 25–30 km as the 19-km length assumes one does not get lost.  
• 34.7247 137.7302 5 Yu Fukei Shiori ( 湯風景しおり ), Takabayashi 1-chome 13-13 - Naka-ku ( off Route 152 about 1.5 km north of City Hall, behind the Circle K ), ☏ +81 53 478-2626 . A nice bathhouse not so far from the city center.  
• Watch a movie in Toho Cinemas , in the Zaza City Complex or at Sun Street Shopping Center in Hamakita.
• 34.7365 137.70496 6 Hamamatsu Racetrack ( 浜松オートレース場, Hamamatsu Ootoresuba ), Wago-cho 936-19 ( free 20-minute shuttle bus from the central bus station ), ☏ +81 53 471-0311 . National auto and motorcycle racing events. ¥100 .  

Festivals [ edit ]

• Shoryu Weeping Plum Blossom Festival ( 昇竜しだれ梅まつり, Shoryuu Shidare-ume Matsuri ), Kurematsu-chou 1476-1, Nishi-ku ( near Kanzanji ). Late February to late March . Trees are pruned to look like dragons on clouds in the sky. ¥500 .  
• [formerly dead link] Princess Road Procession ( 姫様道中, Hime-sama Dōchū ), Hosoe-cho, Kita-ku ( along the Toda River ), ☏ +81 53-523-0713 . first Saturday and Sunday of April, early afternoon . During the Edo Period this road was a popular excursion spot for princesses. This matsuri re-enacts what the procession was like, with actors in full authentic dress of samurai, maids, servants and, of course, the princess with her palanquin .  
• Hamamatsu Festival ( 浜松祭り, Hamamatsu Matsuri ), downtown and Nakatajima ( shuttle buses to the kite-flying grounds leave from the south side of Act Tower ). At Golden Week in early May . This 450-year-old festival is one of the most famous Golden Week festivals in Japan. In what is known as the Takoage Gassen , every neighborhood in the city and even some from other cities design and make their own kites to fly and to fight near at the festival grounds near Nakatajima Sand Dunes, with each kite representing a son born to a family of the neighborhood within the last year. The kite-fighting takes place on the third day of the 3-day festival and results entertainingly in downed kites in trees and on rooftops all over the neighborhood. In the Sunken Garden space on the north side of Act City, there is an international food court with many exotic stalls, and a stage for all kinds of music and cultural performances from around the world, including taiko drumming, local yaramaika music, Thai kickboxing, Brazilian batucada and samba dancing performances, jazz acts, jugglers, and traditional dances. There are also parades all over the city well into the night, in which children playing various instruments are carried in 70 large ornate parade floats. Everywhere there are groups marching and chanting to the sound of trumpets, and the sake flows freely. Free .  
• Hamakita Hiryū Festival ( 浜北飛龍まつり, Hamakita Hiryū Matsuri ), various locations around Hamakita: Tenryu Nakase Ryokuchi (park along the river), Hamakita Culture Center (west of the Akaden Hamakita stop), Nayuta (in front of Hama-kita station) . First weekend of June . In honor of Ryūjin, god of the Tenryuu River, various events are held including kite-flying, a gyoza competition, and a special event celebrating fire, water, and sound.  
• Hamamatsu Yukata Festival ( in the plaza on the north side of Entetsu Department Store, west of JR Hamamatsu ), ☏ +81 53 460-1996 . First weekend of July . Hamamatsu is one of Japan's leading producers of the patterned, dyed fabric used to make yukata , and this small festival celebrates the beauty of this colored "summer kimono" with musical performances, food stalls, a yukata contest, and other exhibitions.  
• Enshu Buddhist Chanting Ritual ( 遠州大念仏, Enshuu Dainenbutsu ), All across town , ☏ +81 53 586-6201 . Around July 14 . In this local traditional performance, a procession of chanters and people with flutes, drums, cymbals and lanterns visit the homes of families who have lost a loved one in the last year.  
• Misakubo Festival ( 水窪祭り, Misakubo Matsuri ), Misakubo-cho ( take the JR Iida line from Toyohashi to Misakubo station, or drive Route 152 all the way to Misakubo-cho, about 65 km from downtown ), ☏ +81 53 987-0432 . Second Saturday in September . This mountain festival features a costume contest in the afternoon and parades of costumed men carrying elaborate floats in the evening. Free .  
• Hamakita Man'yō Festival ( 浜北万葉まつり, hamakita man'yō matsuri ), Hiraguchi 5051-1, Hamakita-ku ( in Manyo no Mori Park ), ☏ +81 53 586-8700 . Third weekend of October . Features re-enactments of life in the Nara and early Heian periods with people dressed in authentic period clothing and dramatic Manyo poetry readings.  

• Sakuma Dam Festival ( 佐久間ダムまつり, Sakuma Damu Matsuri ), Sakuma-cho Sakuma - Tenryu-ku ( at Sakuma Dam Lake Park ), ☏ +81 53 965-1651 . Last Sunday of October . This festival pays tribute to Ryujin, god of the Tenryu River, and commemorates the 1956 opening of Sakuma Dam, a great engineering feat of its time. Highlights include a colorful dragon god dance, taiko drumming, fireworks over the lake, and many vendors displaying local products. Free .  
• Inasa Puppet Festival ( いなさ人形劇まつり, Inasa ningyōgeki Matsuri ), various locations in Inasa-cho - Kita-ku ( take a bus from central bus station terminal 15 to the Iinoya stop: 井伊谷 ), ☏ +81 53 542-1111 . Third weekend of November . A rarity in Japan, this festival brings puppeteers from across the country for three full days of over 60 performances. Great for kids.  
• 34.9814 137.8652 7 Akiba Fire Festival ( 秋葉山火祭り, Akiba-san Hi-matsuri ), Haruno-cho Ryouke 841 - Tenryu-ku , ☏ +81 53 985-0111 . December 15 . Celebrating the supposed fire-prevention powers of Mt. Akiba, this festival is held at Akiba Temple and Shrine atop the famous mountain, with fire-walking, fire dances, and various weapon dances.  
• Hanabi Taikai - There are many fireworks displays in the area during the summer. The largest of these is Fukuroi Enshu no Hanabi held in Fukuroi , a small town a few stops east on the JR line. This celebration in early August is one of the largest fireworks displays in Japan, with over 30,000 fireworks. Within Hamamatsu city limits, there are also impressive hanabi taikai s in Bentenjima (late June), Kanzanji (late July), and Tenryu (early August).
• There are also various festivals and performance to celebrate the Japanese-Brazilian heritage that is so prevalent in this area.

Buy [ edit ]

• 34.70359 137.73312 1 Entetsu Department Store ( 遠鉄百貨店 ), Sunayama-cho 320-2 - Naka-ku ( just west of the JR station ), ☏ +81 53 457-0001 . High quality clothing and other items. The basement contains a wonderful grocery and deli.  
• Aeon/Jusco Shopping Malls - Hamamatsu has three of these somewhat western-style shopping malls. You'll have to catch a bus to these. The largest is in Ichino-cho (市野町).
• 34.7402 137.76315 2 Ichino Jusco ( イオンショッピングモール市野 ), Tennou-cho 1981-3 . The largest shopping mall in the area. A free shuttle bus runs to the mall from Kamijima and Saginomiya stations on the Akaden line.  
• 34.69916 137.69001 3 Irino Jusco ( イオンショッピングモール入野 ), Irino-cho 6244-1 - Nishi-ku ( Take bus 8-22 or 9-22 to Jusco Iriguchi - ジャスコ入口 ), ☏ +81 449-2611 . Smallest yet closer to downtown, this location is bit more like a large department store.  
• 34.69685 137.65116 4 Shitoro Jusco ( イオンショッピングモール志都呂 ), Shitoro-cho 5605 - Nishi-ku ( take bus 20 to AEON Mall Shitoro Iriguchi - イオンモール志都呂入口 . You will pass Irino Jusco along the way-- don't be fooled ), ☏ +81 53-415-1200 .  
• 34.70435 137.7348 5 May One , Sunayama-cho 6-1 - Naka-ku ( inside the central JR station ), ☏ +81 53 457-4000 . Clothing shops, a bookstore, a CD shop, a Muji (top quality generic items), and an import store called Sony Plaza, among other things. There is a food court at the top and a high-quality grocery store in the basement.  
• 34.7947 137.76108 6 Sun Street Hamakita ( サンストリート浜北 ), Hiraguchi 2861 - Hamakita-ku ( take bus 61 from central bus terminal 12 ), ☏ +81 53 585-8333 . 10:00-21:00 . This shopping center contains a bathhouse, a Toho Cinema, arcades, a food court, a 24-hour Seiyu, and dozens of clothing stores.  
• 34.70515 137.72953 7 ZaZa City , Kaji-machi 150 - Naka-ku ( up Kajimachi-dori かじ町通り from the JR station ), ☏ +81 53 413-3333 . 10:00-20:00 . Amongst varied clothing shops, ZaZa City has a musical instrument store, a movie theater, a supermarket, a manga store, a video arcade, Toys'R'Us, Starbucks, MosBurger, Baskin Robbins, Uniqlo and more. The bookstore in the basement lever has a decent selection of English books.  

Eat [ edit ]

Budget [ edit ].

• 34.70685 137.73144 1 Arisan ( 阿里山 ), Tamachi 330-1, Mabii Bldg. B1 ( across the corner from the Circle K on Daiichi-dori ), ☏ +81 53-466-0207 . 11:30-14:00, 17:30-02:00 . Taiwanese restaurant with a fairly wide selection of tasty dishes with good portion sizes for the price.  
• Chambord ( シャンボール ), various locations . This bakery chain serves a variety of fresh-baked breads and pastries. There is a location with a deli inside the JR station, and another bakery is across the street from Shin-Hamamatsu station.  
• 34.7027 137.71958 2 Gyoza no Kiyo ( 餃子のきよ ), Kamoe 1-chome 33-5 - Naka-ku ( go up the hill west from ZaZa City and take a left after Kamoe Kannon ), ☏ +81 53 454-1931 . Famous gyoza not far from downtown.  
• 34.7924 137.7732 3 Ishimatsu Gyoza ( 石松餃子店, Ishimatsu Gyouza-ten ), Komatsu 2192-1 - Hamakita-ku , ☏ +81 53 586-8522 , fax : +81 53 587-2993 , [email protected] . F-Tu 16:30-21:00 . This may be the most famous place to get Hamamatsu gyoza. Some of the area's other famous shops are owned by former pupils of the head chef here.  
• 34.6886 137.68905 4 Kibori ( 喜慕里 ), Zoura-cho 563-3 - Minami-ku ( off Route 257 behind the Hamashin Bank ), ☏ +81 53 447-5737 . 11:30-14:30, 16:30-21:00 . A very old establishment known for its lighter, less meaty gyoza. Ramen is also served.  
• 34.962 137.7331 5 Kunma Suisha no Sato ( くんま水車の里 ), Kuma 1976-1 - Tenryu-ku ( from the north end of the Akaden at Nishikajima, take a bus for Kuma ), ☏ +81 53 929-0636 . F-W 09:00-17:00 . Named after the large old-fashioned waterwheel that turns outside, this spot serves the local specialties nihachi soba (buckwheat noodles) and gohei mochi . Visitors can also try making their own soba or konyaku .  
• 34.71666 137.73268 6 Las Chillonas ( about 4 blocks west of Hachiman station ). The only full-fledged Mexican restaurant in town, run by a hard-working Mexican woman and her daughter. The chimichangas are spectacular, but the menu also includes a variety of appetizers, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and even a chicken molé . They also serve Mexican beer and frequently have cheap margarita specials. ¥1000-1600 .  
• 34.7223 137.7305 7 Okonomiyaki Honpo ( お好み焼き本舗 ), Nakazawa-cho 23-1 - Naka-ku ( on the east side of 152 just south of the Miyakoda Techno Road intersection ), ☏ +81 53 478-2200 . Very large and popular Kansai-style chain okonomiyaki restaurant.  
• 34.70404 137.7324 8 Pronto Cafe , Sunayama-cho 320-2 - Naka-ku ( directly beneath Shin-Hamamatsu station ), ☏ +81 53 457-5851 . Closes at 22:00 . Good coffee, pizza and pasta in a sophisticated atmosphere. Full bar. There is plenty of outdoor seating, and the inside shares space with the DJ booth for FM Haro, a popular local radio station. ¥600-1200 .  
• 34.70707 137.72988 9 Toraya ( とらや ), Sakana-machi 316-36 Kawaimaruki Bldg , ☏ +81 53 454-1710 . On the second floor above a fruit stand at Daiichi-dori and Yūraku-gai, this mom-and-pop shop has some of the best cook-it-yourself okonomiyaki in town.  
• 34.6911 137.716 10 Ani&Ivan , 414-2, Kanda-cho, Naka-ku ( from Hamamatsu bus terminal takes Bus no.10/12 and get off at Yoroi-bashi - よろい橋 , it's a couple seconds walk from there ), ☏ +81 53-545-9161 . Satisfying yet cheap Indonesian food, including Halal. The ¥1000 set is a surprisingly good deal for a lunch set—try the Gurame. Indonesian, Japanese, and limited English is spoken. ¥700-1000 .  

Mid-range [ edit ]

• [dead link] Binchou Oogiya ( 備長扇屋 ). A chain of yakitori shops, with some of the cheapest beer in town. Of the 7 stores, there are three within walking distance of the central JR station:  
• 34.70568 137.73009 11 Kaji-machi 319-23 - Naka-ku ( across from ZaZa City ), ☏ +81 53 450-7517 .  
• 34.70371 137.73598 12 Sunayama-cho 326-1 - Naka-ku ( across from the southeast corner of the central JR station ), ☏ +81 53 450-8870 .  
• 34.7043 137.73091 13 Chitose-cho 104-2 - Naka-ku ( next to Plaza Mall Sago on Mall-gai ), ☏ +81 53 459-1788 . This location has a popular patio, good for people-watching.  
• 34.7361 137.7259 14 Choupana , Sumiyoshi 3-chome 23-23 - Naka-ku ( on Miyakoda Techno Road ), ☏ +81 53-472-0777 . M-F 18:00-00:00, Sa Su 12:00-00:00 . Popular Brazilian all-you-can-eat rodizio with salad bar, rice and beans, salgados , feijoada and a wide selection of cuts served tableside, including various beef cuts, chicken, chicken hearts, lamb, and pork. ¥2000-3000 .  
• 34.70974 137.72962 15 Garuda ( ガルーダ ), Ike-machi 225-32 - Naka-ku ( Yūraku-gai about two blocks north of Hunters ), ☏ +81 53 454-7524 . The menu here is about half Indonesian and half Nepalese. There is also a import grocery store attached, with items from various Asian countries.  
• 35.12481 137.83631 16 Hoji Pass Soba ( そば処ほうじ峠, Soba-sho Houji Touge ), Sakuma-cho Sakuma 1832-1 - Tenryu-ku ( about 20 minutes' drive north on state route 290 from the JR Iida line's Sakuma station; part of Sakuma Folk Culture Center ), ☏ +81 53 987-1888 . 10:00-16:00 . The simple hand-made soba noodles made at this beautiful remote mountain spot draw visitors from across the Tokai region. It is also possible to try your hand at making the noodles yourself. ¥1300 .  
• 34.707806 137.729662 17 Inakaya , 315-31 Nakaku tamachi . Good selection of local dishes. Basic décor.  
• 34.700356 137.698661 18 Kanerin , 731 Irinocho , ☏ +81 53-448-9335 . Excellent selection of eel dishes. Need someone with knowledge of Japanese to order.  
• 34.7076 137.7198 19 Payaka ( パヤカ ), Kamoe 4-chome 19-12 - Naka-ku , ☏ +81 53 451 6906 . 12:00-22:00 . Mixture of Indonesian, and Thai food. Theme is "island life". Located a little bit out of the center (5 minutes by taxi), but truly a hidden pearl. Large terrace for summer nights, and very cozy/loungy interior. There is also a little shop selling jewelry and the like.  
• 34.70244 137.73333 20 Servitu , Sunayama-cho 323-5 - Naka-ku ( one block west of the station on the south side of the rail tracks ), ☏ +81 53 458-8577 . Servitu is part Brazilian buffet restaurant and part import grocery store.  
• 34.70459 137.73085 21 Surabaya ( スラバヤ ), Chitose-cho 108 - Naka-ku ( on Yūraku-gai, in the basement of the Sago Hotel ), ☏ +81 53 413-2723 . Slightly over-priced but satisfying Indonesian cuisine.  
• 34.7065 137.7344 22 Yaotoku ( 八百徳 ), Itaya-machi 655 - Naka-ku ( on the north side of the Meitetsu hotel, look for the black façade with the corner entrance ), ☏ +81 53 452-5687 . 11:00-20:15 (last order) . Hamamatsu's most famous unagi restaurant, this place has been featured on national television programs many times in the past.  

Splurge [ edit ]

• 34.70682 137.73384 23 Chez Moriya ( just north of the central train station, ), Hamamatsu-shi, Naka-ku, Itaya-machi 2-banchi , ☏ +81 53 454-0888 . 11:30-14:00, 18:00-20:30 . Chez Moriya features a chef who has worked in several top restaurants in Europe (including Belgian Comme Chez Soi" and Paris L'Arpege ). The chef who is by the way very friendly, speaks French plus English. Dinner courses ¥4000-5000 .  
• 34.706838 137.692599 24 The Oriental Terrace , 6 Chome-8-30 Sanarudai , ☏ +81 53-447-3241 . Overlooking Lake Sanaru. Well layout out and decorated building, suited for small functions.  
• 34.69776 137.72746 25 Shokudo-en ( 食道園 ), 1 Chome-3-26 Kamiasada , ☏ +81 53 454-3050 . This somewhat upscale Korean-style barbecue restaurant is very popular. Try the ishiyaki bibimbap . Dinner ¥3000-4000 .  

Drink [ edit ]

• 34.71497 137.72306 1 Shointei Tea Ceremony House ( 松韻亭 ), Shikatani-cho 11-4 ( take a bus from central bus station terminal 15 to the Shikatanicho stop: 鹿谷町, then head into the park ), [email protected] . Tu-Su 09:30-17:00 . At this pleasant teahouse you can experience a traditional tea ceremony while taking in a nice garden view. ¥400 .  

Bars and pubs [ edit ]

Many of the drinking establishments in town can be found on or around Yūraku-gai (有楽街), which runs vaguely north–south about 4 blocks west-northwest of the JR station. At ZaZa City shopping complex, it intersects Kajimachi-dōri (かじ町通り), which is the main street leading northwest from the station.

• 34.70481 137.73109 2 [dead link] Bar Mar , Naka-ku Chitose-cho 203 ( north of Sago Hotel ), ☏ +81 53-482-8700 , [email protected] . 17:00-02:00 . Spanish tapas bar with a decent wine selection. Mostly Japanese clientèle.  
• 34.70813 137.72883 3 Big Fire , Naka-ku Shinmei-cho 218-17 Shinmei Bld. 3F , ☏ +81 53-441-0670 . Relaxed bar run by a Brazilian and his Russian wife.  
• 34.70384 137.73329 4 Entetsu Beer Garden , Sunayama-cho 320-2 - Naka-ku ( just west of the JR station, on the roof of the Entetsu department store ), ☏ +81 53 457-0001 . A fairly standard Japanese-style beer garden: mediocre food, cold beer, fresh air. June through the end of August.  
• Hambolt , Sakana-machi, Chambord Bldg. B1 ( at the corner of Yūraku-gai and Daiichi-dori 第一通り ). This small club/bar hosts frequent reggae events. On Fridays they charge only ¥3000 for all-you-can-drink highballs, all night long.  
• 34.70738 137.73778 5 [dead link] Mein Schloss ( マインシュロス ), Chuo 3-8-1 - Naka-ku ( a couple of blocks northeast of the JR station ), ☏ +81 120-63-1146 . A very large German beer hall which brews its own beer. A good spot if you have a big group.  
• Motion ( モーション ), Naka-ku, Daiku-machi 15, Daichi Bldg. 3rd Floor ( west of ZaZa city, past the 7-11, about a 3-minute walk ), ☏ +81 90-3449-6885 . Open Friday & Saturday from 20:30 . Specializes in premium alcohols, liquors, beers and juices. Ask the bartender to make you one of his original cocktails. Also serves some light foods. Bartender speaks English, Japanese, Tagalog and Cebuano. The DJ plays various kinds of music. No table charge. Most drinks around ¥500 .  
• 34.70566 137.7299 6 No Name Bar , Kaji-machi 318-45 ( across from ZaZa City ), ☏ +81 53 456-8218 . An interesting mix of Japanese and foreigners come here to drink, but they also offer authentic kebabs and other Turkish cuisine. Televised sports events on occasion. Free darts upstairs.  
• There are of course a large number of karaoke places along Yūraku-gai as well.

Clubs [ edit ]

Hamamatsu has a lot of options for clubbing for a city its size, though most of these are open only on the weekends. Most places do not start getting busy until after midnight.

• 34.70711 137.73326 7 Klan Klub , Itaya-machi 102-14, B1 - Naka-ku ( On Daiichi-dori a block east of the Akaden line ). From 22:00 . This club plays a mix of Brazilian music, rock, and house. Drinks are in the ¥500 range. This place can be quite happening on weekends. Cover usually around ¥1000 .  
• 34.70309 137.73732 8 K'noas , Sunayama-higashi ( on Ekinan Odori 2 blocks east of Nakatajima-kaido ), ☏ +81 53 449-2204 . Medium-sized Peruvian-owned club. The music ranges from salsa and forró to rock to house, sometimes all in one night. This place can get very crowded on weekend nights. The crowd is typically about half Peruvian and half Brazilian. To find it, go south of the JR station and take a left on the first main street. Cover ¥1000 .  
• 34.70863 137.72872 9 Planet Cafe ( プラネットカフェ ), Motoshiro-cho 223-1 ( on a sidestreet that runs behind the Viola Building at the corner of Yuuraku-gai and Yurinoki-dori ), ☏ +81 53 451-3477 . A medium-sized club with a mostly Japanese crowd which has DJ events that are often really good. Cover ¥2000-3000 .  
• 34.7054 137.7285 10 Second , Tenma-cho 312-22 Kanaiya Daini Bldg. 8F - Naka-ku , ☏ +81 53 455-3530 . A small Japanese dance club on an upper floor across from the Toys'R'Us store in ZaZa City. Plays house or hip-hop. Cover is usually ¥2000.  

Venues [ edit ]

• Force , Ta-machi 315-31 - Naka-ku ( Yuuraku-gai half a block south of Yurinoki-dori, on the second and third floors above the Quest Music guitar specialty shop ), ☏ +81 53 4503-3403 . A good ol' rock-n-roll venue that features rock and punk bands, both Japanese and Brazilian, with the occasional road show coming through. Open at least every F Sa, sometimes other days. Cover varies .  
• G-Side , Ta-machi 327-27 - Naka-ku , ☏ +81 53 541-5067 . Local and national acts.  
• Madowaku ( 窓枠 ), Itaya-machi 100-10 - Naka-ku ( on the west side of Hirokoji near the intersection with Daiichi-dori ), ☏ +81 53 451-3035 , [email protected] . Concerts usually starts between 18:30 and 19:30, with the doors opening half an hour before . This venue attracts a primarily young Japanese indie crowd for local, national, and occasional international acts. Cover ¥2000-4500, drinks ¥500 .  
• Mescaline Drive , Asahi-cho 10-23 - Naka-ku ( one block north of Shin-Hamamatsu station ), ☏ +81 53 454-7363 . A tiny hole-in-the-wall live venue with mostly ska bands. Cover ¥2000-3000 .  
• [dead link] Rock Bar Lucretia , Tenma-cho 310-8, Daiichi Kanai Bldg. 5f - Naka-ku ( on the west side of the main road between ZaZa City and City Hall ), ☏ +81 53 451-5838 . Tu-Su from 19:00 . This bar has frequent live rock and DJ events with cheap drinks and an almost entirely Japanese clientèle.  
• The circular performance space between the two ZaZa City buildings also has frequent live performances on weekend afternoons.
• Schedules for the concert hall at Act City can be obtained at the HICE information center. See below.

Sleep [ edit ]

• Business Hotel Tsujiume Honkan , Sunayama-cho 355-2 , ☏ +81 53 453-1712 , fax : +81 53 453-1712 .  
• Hotel Villa Kuretake ( ホテル・ヴィラくれたけ ), 1-1-26 Higashi Iba ( down the hill from the Grand Hotel ), ☏ +81 53 453-0880 , fax : +81 53-453-2988 , [email protected] . Check-in: 13:00 , check-out: 11:00 . Relatively spacious rooms with room service from 5 on-site restaurants, a laundry service and in-room broadband connections. Single ¥8,000. Twin/double ¥15,000 .  
• 34.6999 137.6064 1 Nagisa Park Campground ( 渚園キャンプ場, Nagisa-en Kyampu-jou ), Maisaka-cho Bentenjima 5005-1 - Nishi-ku ( about 10 minutes walk north from JR Bentenjima station, next to the Wotto center ), ☏ +81 53 592-7544 , fax : +81 53 592-1525 . Check-in: 10:00-22:00 . Lakeside camping with barbecue grill rental, bicycle rentals and sporting facilities. Per person charge: Adults ¥400, children ¥200 .  
• Ryokan Nakaya ( 旅館仲屋 ), Kanzanji-cho 2214 - Nishi-ku ( on Kanzanji-kaido about 100 meters south of the temple ), ☏ +81 53 487-0159 , fax : +81 53 487-2607 , [email protected] . A small ryokan with a hot spring bath with a lake view. Breakfast is included—note that dinner is not included here. ¥6000 .  
• 34.7068 137.7329 2 Toyoko Inn Hamamatsu-eki Kita-guchi ( 東横イン浜松駅北口 ), 103-1 Itaya-machi ( 5-minute walk from JR Hamamatsu Station North Exit, 1 minute walk from Enshu Railway Daiichi-dori Station ), ☏ +81 53-457-1045 , fax : +81 53-457-1048 . Check-in: 16:00 , check-out: 10:00 . Part of the popular no-frills Toyoko Inn chain of hotels. Toyoko Inn Club members can check in from 15:00. Singles ¥5715-6000, twins/doubles ¥8000 .  
• 35.0558 137.7667 3 Urakawa Campground ( 浦川キャンプ場村, Urakawa Kyampumura ), Sakuma-cho Urakawa 3454-12 - Tenryu-ku ( take the JR Iida line from Toyohashi to Urakawa Station, or take Route 152 to Sakuma-cho Toguchi and then 463 a few kilometers past Sakuma and turn left at state road 1 ), ☏ +81 53 967-2449 . Campsites and simple lodgings on an beautiful green island at the convergence of two mountain rivers. Campfire pits, showers, and shared toilets. The locale is good for swimming in summertime. Tent ¥2500; bungalows for 3, ¥3500; log houses for 5, ¥16,000 .  
• 35.04096 138.02212 4 Bentenjima Village ( べんてんじまヴぃれっじ ), Haruno-cho Kawakami 383-2 - Tenryu-ku , ☏ +81 53 437-0601 , +81 53 984-0114 . Log cabins for up to 5 in a quiet spot in the woods. Cabins have television but share a (separate) bath/shower. Campsites are also available, as is a log house for up to 15. Despite the name, this is nowhere near Bentenjima—you will likely need a car to get here. House ¥40,000; Cabin ¥10,000; Campsite ¥3000 .  
• 34.6883 137.6053 5 Bentenkan , Maisaka-cho Bentenjima 2669-151 - Nishi-ku ( 4 minutes' walk from JR Bentenjima station ), ☏ +81 53 592-8000 , fax : +81 53 592-8508 . Seaside rooms at this relatively new hotel have a fantastic view of the torii in the bay and the Bentenjima bridge with the ocean in the background. A restaurant on site serves fresh seafood caught in the lake. Singles from ¥11500 (lake view only); twin/double ¥16170/18480 (ocean view) or ¥11550 (lake view) .  
• Fitness Hotel 330 , ☏ +81 53-454-0330 , fax : +81 53-452-0047 . 353-1, Sunayama-cho,  
• Hotel Bouquet Tokai , ☏ +81 53-456-8111 , fax : +81 53-452-9022 . 353-7 Sunayama-cho,  
• Hamanako Royal Hotel ( 浜名湖ロイヤルホテル ), Yuto-cho Yamazaki 4396-1 - Nishi-ku , ☏ +81 53 592-2222 , fax : +81 53 592-5522 . Part of Hamanako Lakeside Plaza, which includes Yuto onsen , outdoor pool, tennis courts, gym, park, and several restaurants. Most rooms have a good view of Lake Hamana. Package deals of one night's stay, dinner, and breakfast buffet start at ¥15950 .  
• 34.7139 137.7267 6 Hotel Concorde , Motoshiro-cho 109-18 ( on Route 152 next to Hamamatsu Castle Park ), ☏ +81 53-457-1111 . Check-in: 12:00 , check-out: 11:00 . Formerly the city's main conference venue, this older hotel is now a fairly good bargain for good sized rooms with a nice view of the castle park. 6 on-site restaurants, broadband service, and on-site car rentals are available. Singles from ¥7350, doubles from ¥15,750 .  
• Hotel LeMonde , 335-14 Sunayama-cho , ☏ +81 53-455-1188 , fax : +81 53-455-1028 .  
• Hotel Yonekyu , 94 Tenma-cho Hamamatsu-shi , ☏ +81 53-455-3131 , fax : +81 53-455-0531 .  
• Maruko Inn , 324-15 Sunayama-cho , ☏ +81 53-457-0505 , fax : +81 53-454-8083 .  
• Meijiya Hotel , 1-1-30 Sato , ☏ +81 53-465-8111 , fax : +81 53-461-1308 .  
• 34.7088 137.7277 7 Roynet Hotel , 218-1 Motoshiro-cho (元城町) . This hotel is 2 minutes walk from city hall and Hamamatsu Castle Park. Excellent breakfast buffet.  
• Sago Inn , 2-3-1 Ebizuka , ☏ +81 53-456-3511 , fax : +81 53-456-1460 .  
• Sago Terminal Hotel , 322-7 Sunayama-cho , ☏ +81 53-453-3515 , fax : +81 53-453-5954 .  
• South Garden Hotel , 325-30 Sunayama-cho , ☏ +81 53-451-1800 , fax : +81 53-451-1801 . Just south of the central train station on the left.  
• 34.701374 137.722902 8 Grand Hotel , 1-3-1 Higashi Iba (東井場). , ☏ +81 53-452-2114 . A large hotel with restaurants, bars and function rooms. Some rooms starting to show their age.  
• 34.705476 137.735862 9 Okura Hotel . Inside Act Tower.  

Connect [ edit ]

• Tourist information center ( inside the JR station ).  
• HICE ( Hamamatsu Foundation for International Communications and Exchanges ), Naka-ku, Sunayama-cho 324-8, Daiichi Ito Building 9F ( south side of the main train station, on the 9th floor of the building next to the Mos Burger ), ☏ +81 53 458-2170 . This center has a native English speaking employee and a lot of information in English regarding local events and culture.  

Internet [ edit ]

• 34.7047 137.7307 1 [dead link] Popeye Media Cafe , Chitose-cho 70-1 Fun Bldg. 3F - Naka-ku ( on Mall-gai near ZaZa City ), ☏ +81 53 413-2727 , [email protected] . 24-hour internet and manga café. Showers and massage chairs are available. Around ¥350/hour. Shower ¥320 .  
• 34.7058 137.7304 2 U-Lowc , Kaji-machi 320-23 Q:Face Bldg. 1F - Naka-ku ( across from the small Inari Shrine on Yuraku-gai, on the first floor of the U-Style Karaoke building ), ☏ +81 53 450-2700 . Su-Th 07:00-23:30, F Sa 07:00-05:00 . This coffeeshop has free wireless internet as well as decent food and drinks, with a full bar to boot.  
• Yu-Yu , on the City Hall road about 10 blocks south of City Hall. Internet cafe with pool tables.

Go next [ edit ]

• Kakegawa (掛川), half an hour east, has a better castle and park.
• Omaezaki (御前崎) is a beautiful little beach town.

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Lake Hamana’s City

Hamamatsu is a middle-sized Japanese city located along the Pacific Coast in the Shizuoka Prefecture. Of an average size, it displays a large variety of hobbies oriented around the vast Lake Hamana-ko. Easily reached by public transportation, it offers an interesting break for travelers willing to discover the surroundings.

A former shogun town during Tokugawa Ieyasu’s reign at the end of the 16th century, Hamamatsu still shows the stigma of this historical past, which can be seen with a quick visit to the dungeon. Yet, its real tourist attraction mostly concerns aquatic hobbies. With Lake Hamana on the west and the Pacific Ocean on the south, the city proudly displays a resort atmosphere.

Hamana-ko’s banks guarantee entertainment. A tiny world was created, where classical shrines and temples live alongside a theme park  🎡 , zoo, botanical garden , music museum , and also resort hotels with onsen   ♨️ (hot springs), ideal for relaxation. The Kanzanji District does particularly well, as it contains many of these attractions. Moreover, it is possible to cross parts of the lake by boat or cable car  🚙 . On its southern side, we discover Bentenjima that ends on the ocean. The sea coast with its palm trees and concrete sidewalks looks like the USA’s eastern coast.

Sand dunes connoisseurs will enjoy those of Nakatajima Sakyu, which are counted among the most important in Japan. Blown by the wind, the dunes form a sea of sand and offer a pleasant view of the blue shades in the ocean and sky. Tourists can also take the time to observe sea turtles ( Caretta caretta ), as the turtles find a protected place to lay down their eggs here.

Okura Act City Hotel Observation Gallery

When we walk back to the central JR Train Station site of Hamamatsu, we recommend travelers go to the Okura Act City Hotel  🏨 , if only for a short time. Located near Shinkansen   🚅 , the Act City tower is easily recognizable by its height, and inside it hides an observatory gallery covering 360° views of the city. When the sky is clear, we can see faraway Mount Fuji   🗻 on the northeast side. Be careful, as this platform is not well indicated. Visitors should go through the lobby to take the elevator to the 44th floor (45F).

Hamamatsu looks like Shizuoka , in terms of urban architecture and has some high buildings but mostly small and low blocks. Downtown is oriented towards the city and has no mountainous landscapes; however, the wind blows strong all year round. From the main train station, numerous buses are available to begin discovering each district. However, the network is very centered and requires returning to the main station to take another bus for further exploration.

Well served by public transportation , Hamamatsu is reachable by trains and planes  ✈️ from the surrounding cities of Nagoya , Osaka , and Tokyo . It can be seen as an interesting stopover on the Tokaido Road or for those looking for a more peaceful way of living in a middle-sized city with numerous activities that are more recreational than traditional. Despite its size and geographical location, Hamamatsu hosts several motorcycle headquarters that participate to diversify the inhabitants and are used to welcoming expatriate communities.

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Top 8 Best Things to do in Hamamatsu, Japan

What are the top tourist spots in hamamatsu.

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Bucket List: 8 Best Places to Visit in Hamamatsu, Japan

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H amamatsu is one of Japan’s premier manufacturing hubs that create motorcycles and musical instruments. Some of the companies you may be familiar with are Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki. While this is mainly an industrial city, there are plenty of things to see, such as museums, temples, parks, and even castles. Here are some of the things you should consider doing during your stay:

Have Fun at Lake Hamana

Seeing Lake Hamana is part of tourists’ bucket lists. This lake is home to 800 varieties of fishes, shellfishes, and other aquatic creatures such as eels, oysters, and turtles. Lake Hamana is also a combination of fresh and saltwater.

Some activities you can do here are parasailing, windsurfing, fishing, and even cycling nearby to admire the scenery.

Tour Hamamatsu Castle

The Hamamatsu Castle is this city’s historical trademark. This museum contains several artifacts such as maps, family crests, swords, and armors. When you go downstairs, you will find Hamamatsu Castle Park.

This park is a place for visitors to relax as they are surrounded by 400 blooming cherry trees. Other facilities include an observatory and water well.

Learn from the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments

The Hamamatsu Museum is the first Japanese museum that is dedicated to preserving musical instruments. The musical instruments come from all over the world, such as Asia, America, Africa, Europe, and Oceana.

There are 1,500 varieties of instruments that you can use in this museum. Other events include concerts, lectures, and workshops.

Explore the Ryugashido Cavern

The Rgugashido Cavern is another place that cannot be missed. This limestone cavern is approximately 250 years old and measures up to 1000 meters long. Asides from the limestone, what makes this cave special is The Golden Waterfall.

This cool waterfall is the biggest one in Japan as it measures up to 30 meters high.

Spend the day at the Nakatajima Sand Dunes

The Nakatajima Sand Dunes is a sight to behold for tourists. This venue measures up to 600 meters long and 4 kilometers wide. Tourists go here to snap pictures of the dunes’ wind ripples that were created from strong winds.

Other activities you can do are watching the sunset and observing sea turtles.

Relax at Hamamatsu Flower Park

The Hamamatsu Flower Park is this city’s most aesthetically pleasing tourist site. This park measures up to 30000 square meters and contains 3000 different plant species.

The tourists flock here to see the Yoshino cherry trees and double cherry blossoms. The best time to visit here is during November when a flower competition is held.

Enjoy the Hamanako Pal Pal

Hamanako Pal Pal is a resort-style park where all people of all ages will surely have fun. This theme park contains 30 attractions such as thrill rides and indoor rides for kids.

If you plan to swim, this resort also has a wave pool complemented by a giant tilting bucket and waterfall.

See the animals at the Hamamatsu Zoological Gardens

The Hamamatsu Zoological Gardens is another natural environment worth visiting. This zoo contains 100 animal species, most of which are Primates.

Some exhibited animals are the golden lion tamarins, Japanese wild boars, and Japanese monkeys. The zoo is complemented with cherry blossoms and other plant species.

Hamamatsu Japan Travel and Tour Packages

Searching for the best hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of affordable Hamamatsu hotels and resorts via Agoda , Booking , or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.

Want more updates about new package tours and tourist spots in Hamamatsu? Follow #TeamOutofTown,  on  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Instagram , and Pinterest  for more travel ideas.

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Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com. He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world. Today, Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients. His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture, explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting.

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Hamamatsu Japan Travel Guide

Overview of Hamamatsu, Japan

Hamamatsu, located in central Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture, is a vibrant city known for its history, culture, and cuisine. It has been a gateway to the Pacific since the Edo period and continues to draw visitors today. It is the largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture with a population of more than 900,000 and the city is a major manufacturing center. Home to a variety of industries, Hamamatsu is the largest electronics manufacturer in Japan and the world. It is famous for its musical instruments like the Gibson Guitar Factory, and for its technology, especially its world-class automobile industry. It is a major transportation hub for the region as it is connected to the Tokaido Shinkansen line, making the city easily accessible from Tokyo and Osaka. Many travelers visit Hamamatsu for its excellent shopping opportunities, nightlife, and festivals. The city invites visitors to explore its parks and historical attractions, such as the Nippon Hamamatsu Castle, as well as the Hamamatsu Festival.

Outdoor Activities in Hamamatsu

For those looking for some outdoor fun, Hamamatsu is home to a variety of outdoor activities. The city has a cool climate year-round and features a wide range of outdoor activities. There is a beautiful coast along the Pacific Ocean with beautiful beaches and scenic trails. For those interested in water activities, there are plenty of ways to explore the sea. There are fishing charters available, as well as scuba diving and kayaking. Hamamatsu also has a number of lakes perfect for swimming, fishing, and boating. There are also plenty of hiking and biking trails in the area.

Unique Experiences in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu also has some unique experiences that are not typically found in Japan’s larger cities. For example, the city has an Aquarium where you can watch fish and see whales and dolphins. The Hayashi-Koganei Museum is a popular destination with its collection of international and traditional Japanese artwork. In addition, in July and August, Hamamatsu hosts its annual Lantern Festival, where the city is illuminated with brightly colored paper lanterns. The festival is a great way to get an insight into the locals’ culture and tradition. And the city also celebrates a unique summer event, called “O-ima-matsuri”, which translates to “Grand Festival of Big Balls”. This annual event is held on the first Sunday in July with many activities and events held around the ritual of releasing large spheres of paper lanterns into the sky.

Local Cuisine and Nightlife

Hamamatsu is home to a variety of unique culinary experiences. From its fresh seafood to its local beers, the city has something for everyone. The city also offers a great nightlife. There are a number of bars and pubs around the city, offering various types of entertainment. The city also has various festivals throughout the year. In April, there is the “Hata-ta-Chan” festival, which offers a great variety of activities such as musical performances and parades. The city also celebrates a “Hanabi” (Fireworks) festival in late summer, which is a great way to enjoy the night.

Tourists Attractions in Hamamatsu

For those looking to explore historic and cultural sites, Hamamatsu has plenty to offer. The city is home to the stunning Nippon Hamamatsu Castle, which houses many local historic artifacts. The city also has several museums, such as the excellent Hayashi-Koganei Museum. In addition, there are various Buddhist temples to explore. For those who enjoy natural beauty, Hamamatsu has plenty to offer. The Shirakaba Nature Park is a great way to explore the outdoors, as well as the lush Nanao Shrine Forest, which is a great spot for bird watching. The nearby city of Hamana-ko is also a must-visit spot for its beautiful beaches and picturesque views.

Shopping in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu is also known for its shopping opportunities. The city is home to numerous shopping malls and department stores, including the popular Hamamatsu F-Port Shopping Mall, which offers a wide variety of goods from all over the country. The city also has many small boutiques and stores, offering everything from traditional Japanese trinkets to modern fashion. In addition, there are also plenty of duty-free shops and specialty stores offering unique products.

Culture and Arts in Hamamatsu

The city of Hamamatsu is also home to a number of cultural and arts activities. The modern Hamamatsu City Music Hall is an impressive venue for a variety of performances. Hamamatsu also has many theaters showcasing traditional and contemporary Japanese dramas. The nearby city of Fujinomiya is a great place to explore the local culture. In addition, Hamamatsu also has a number of traditional teahouses where visitors can enjoy a variety of teas.

Getting Around Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu is a major transportation hub for the region and there are a variety of ways to get around the city. The city is served by the extensive rail network, including the Tokaido Shinkansen line. There are also several bus routes, and the city also has a number of taxi stands. Hamamatsu also has an excellent bike-sharing system, which is a great way to explore the city. For those looking to explore further afield, there are also several car rental companies available.

Accommodations in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu caters to all types of travelers and it is no problem to find a suitable accommodation. The city is home to a number of hotels, ranging from budget to luxury. In addition, there are also plenty of hostels, guesthouses, and apartments available. The city also has a great selection of traditional Japanese accommodations, such as ryokans and minshukus. These accommodations provide a unique cultural experience that can’t be found elsewhere.

Hamamatsu is a vibrant city packed with unique experiences. From its historic sites to its great outdoor activities, the city has something for everyone. It is a perfect destination for those looking to explore a different side of Japan. With its great shopping, nightlife, and festivals, there is no shortage of things to do in Hamamatsu.

Margarita Nelson

Margarita M. Nelson is a Japan-based writer and researcher. She has written extensively on the culture, history, and current events of Japan for various publications. She holds an MA in Asian Studies from the University of Tokyo, and is currently writing a book on the history of the Ainu people of northern Japan.

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Quenching your need for speed and gyoza.

Hamamatsu in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture is the most populated city in the entire prefecture, yet it’s often bypassed by travelers whose eyes remain fixed on the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji in its eastern half.

But if you just scratch the surface, there’s enough in this central Japan city to keep you occupied all weekend. Hamamatsu can satisfy almost any traveler — the discerning foodie, the matsuri (festival) diehard, the nature seeker, the amateur gambler, and the castle photographer. What exactly does the city have to offer? Let’s dig in!

Food and drink in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu holds its own when it comes to delicious local food. In fact, Hamamatsu’s gyozas (dumplings) rank as one of the five famous foods you’ll find in Shizuoka. The city is the nation’s capital for the highest consumption of gyozas per person.

Hamamatsu is also home to Hananomai Sake Brewery. Founded in 1864, the brewery uses pure groundwater from the Southern Alps and Shizuoka-grown rice to make its quality sake. Tour the facility to learn about sake production firsthand, taste the good stuff, and receive a complimentary bottle of sake. Even if your Japanese isn’t great, guided tours, complete with a bottle of sake to take home, are available in English, Chinese, Indonesian and Portuguese.

Go behind the scenes of Japan’s national drink with a tour of the Hananomai Sake Brewery.

The city is also well known for unagi (eels) which live in Lake Hamana. The eel served here is not only fresh but also a fraction of the price you’re likely to pay in Tokyo and other metropolitan areas in Japan. Even if you’re not that keen on unagi, you can take your taste buds on a mini adventure with the unagi pie. Although it sounds strange, this eel pie is not what you would expect. First off, it’s a cookie rather than a pie and the eel extract is virtually undetectable. Unagi pies make the perfect omiyage (souvenir) and you can even tour the Shunkado Unagi Pie Factory for free.

Or how about learning the secrets of shoyu (soy sauce)? Meijiya Shoyu has been in the soy sauce brewing business in Hamamatsu since 1875 and allows behind-the-scenes tours for interested travelers . At this family-run business, you can even experience pressing and tasting your own soy sauce.

See exactly how the stuff you always eat with sushi is actually made.

Sightseeing in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu Castle should not be missed. The original castle was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government). Here, you’ll find a museum and observation deck for clear views of the city. Although the current structure is a reconstruction, the grounds are quite stunning during sakura (cherry blossom) season and are a popular spot with locals for hanami (flower-viewing) parties.

Photo by: ©JNTO A sakura success!

Nakatajima Sand Dunes is also a great place to check out nature and one of the city’s most famous festivals — Hamamatsu Festival takes place here every year during Golden Week, from May 3-5. Locals hold a friendly kite-fighting competition to celebrate a tradition that started over four centuries ago. The festival culminates in a night parade of floats in the city.

Another major festival in Hamamatsu is the Enshu Hamakita Hiryu (Flying Dragon) Festival . It celebrates the Tenryu River’s ruling dragon god, Ryujin. One of the festival highlights is a massive dragon kite that flutters by day and sparkles by night.

After the summer festival fun, between August and October on the dunes, don’t miss the release of loggerhead turtle hatchlings into the ocean.

If you have a need for speed, Hamamatsu is also the place for powerboat racing, one of the few sports you can legally bet on in Japan. Experience Japanese speedboat racing at Boat Race Hamanako stadium where you can take a tour of the facilities, learn how to place bets, watch four thrilling races, and maybe, just maybe, make some extra cash!

I feel the need…

Because Hamamatsu is the capital of musical instrument production in Japan, boasting of big brands like Kawai, Yamaha, and Tokai, it’s no surprise that the city also has plenty to entice music lovers. Every three years, Hamamatsu hosts an international piano festival. There’s also the well-stocked Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments where you can get hands-on with many instruments, including the Japanese reed organ, djembe drums and the steelpan from Trinidad and Tobago.

Hamamatsu might not be the first place you think of journeying to in Japan, but there is truly more than meets the eye here to make for an authentic Japan experience.

Things To Know

Hananomai sake brewery.

Tours are available with Voyagin from ¥10,800 per person, starting at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. To book, visit: https://www.govoyagin.com/ja/activities/japan-shizuoka-hananomai-sake-brewery-tour-in-hamamatsu-city-shizuoka/10309.

Shunkado Unagi Pie Factory

Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., daily. Apart from the free tour, there are also options for guided tours. See the website for more details: https://www.shunkado.co.jp/language/en/factory/.

Meijiya Shoyu

Tours are available with Voyagin from ¥10,800 per person, starting at 8:50 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. To book, visit https://www.govoyagin.com/activities/japan-shizuoka-soy-sauce-factory-tour-in-hamamatsu-city-japan/10288.

Boat Race Hamanako

Tours are available with Voyagin from ¥6,000 per person. To book, visit https://www.govoyagin.com/activities/japan-shizuoka-japan-speedboat-racing-at-lake-hamana-shizuoka-prefecture/10124.

Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments

Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fees: ¥800 (Adults) | ¥400 (Kids).

How To Get There

6-1 Sunayamacho, Naka Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture 430-0926, Japan

To get to Hamamatsu City, take the JR Tokaido shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo station to Hamamatsu station (90-115 minutes).

Where To Stay

• 325-28 Sunayamacho, Hamamatsushichuo-ku, Shizuoka, 430-0926 Japan
• ¥7,500 - ¥20,400
• 3.23/5 (1,594 reviews)
• 327-11 Sunayamacho, Hamamatsushichuo-ku, Shizuoka, 430-0926 Japan
• ¥6,270 - ¥18,430
• 4.1/5 (1,071 reviews)
• 325-30 Sunayamacho, Hamamatsushichuo-ku, Shizuoka, 430-0926 Japan
• ¥5,700 - ¥18,500
• 3.95/5 (1,415 reviews)
• 325-4 Sunayamacho, Hamamatsushichuo-ku, Shizuoka, 430-0926 Japan
• ¥5,100 - ¥6,400
• 4.02/5 (227 reviews)
• 353-1 Sunayamacho, Hamamatsushichuo-ku, Shizuoka, 430-0926 Japan
• ¥8,500 - ¥8,500
• 4.05/5 (3,462 reviews)

Topics: August , Castles , Cities , festival , food and drink , hamamatsu castle , May , shizuoka , Tours

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• Hamamatsu Festival

Hamamatsu Festival 浜松まつり

2832 Shirowa-cho, Minami-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken

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Huge kites soar into battle during the day while parades dominate the night

The Hamamatsu Festival is a popular event featuring up to 174 kites, flown high, battling in the skies. The event takes place in late spring during the holiday period known as Golden Week.

At night there's a parade of floats, creating a whole different style of festivities.

• Exploring the Nakatajima Dunes near the venue

How to Get There

The Hamamatsu Festival kite-battle venue is accessed from Hamamatsu Station on the Tokaido Main Line and Tokaido Shinkansen.

From Hamamatsu Station a shuttle bus takes visitors out to the kite-battle venue.

Quick Facts

The battle kites are decorated with the characters of the names of kids from each town, along with marks or designs of each town

About 1.5 million people come to visit during the festival

Go fly a kite

Hamamatsu Festival's origins date back to the 16th century when the birth of an heir to the domain was celebrated with a kite display. The tradition is echoed around the country when carp flags are flown on Children's Day on May 5, the climax of the festival.

Up to 174 large kites take to the skies. The highlight is a battle between kites. The aim is to cut your opponent's string using friction alone, a battle is for experts only.

Parades in the evening

In the evening the streets are full of about 83 pulled festival floats accompanied by traditional music. Each float is elaborately carved and decorated, and they are referred to as “palaces.”

Other attractions include dancing and drum and bell performances. Hamamatsu has a substantial non-Japanese community who take part in the festival.

The latest information may differ, so please check the official website

* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.

• Local Festival

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