Located halfway between Tokyo and Osaka, Hamamatsu is the provincial city of Shizuoka Prefecture. The city is located in the center of Japan and takes advantage of its location in attracting a number of local and foreign visitors. Having ocean, river, mountains, industries and a lot more interesting activities, the city offers splendid leisure activities with beautiful sceneries. Besides its appealing location and tremendous treasures, the city also houses the world-renowned industries Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki.
1. Hamamatsu Downtown Area:
This is the central location of Hamamatsu city for all cultural, economical and governmental affairs. It is too closed to the Hamamatsu station and to the east of this station there stands Act tower that has been the symbol of this city. Walking around the area, the tourists can enjoy drinking, shopping and eating from a variety of shops. Moreover, the Act Tower itself is the biggest building in the region that must be visited. This 45 story building has an observation deck at the height of 185 meters from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the Pacific Ocean and Mt. Fuji.
Information
- Name: Hamamatsu Downtown
- Address: 103-2 Motoshiro-chō, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken 430-8652
- Access: Approx. 70 min by bus from Mt.Fuji Shizuoka Airport to Hamamatsu Station | Approx. 20 min by car by car (via expressway) from Sagara Makinohara I.C to Hamamatsu I.C.
- Website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/
2. Hamamatsu Castle Park:
In remembrance of Tokugawa Ieyasu, his residential place ‘Hamamatsu Castle’ was reconstructed and the surrounding areas are transformed into sightseeing parks. This is one of the best cherry blossom spots in the country having around 370 cherry trees planted there. A flock of people rushes to the Castle Park for having fun with families. You will find many of the visitors picnicking at this spot especially from the beginning of March to April (the peak season of blossomed cherry trees).
Information
- Name: Hamamatsu Castle Park
- Address: 100-2, Motoshirocho, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi,Shizuoka,Japan 430-0946
- Phone: +81 53-453-3872
- Access: 15 – 20 minutes walk from Hamamatsu station
- Opening hour: 8:30 hours
- Closing hour: 16:30 hours
- Website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/lifeindex/play/park/parks/hamamatsujou/siro1.htm
3. Hamamatsu Kite Festival:
Get ready for the real fun of floating kites. Yes, the Hamamatsu Kite Festival sets the fire on with millions of visitors with their colorful kites. The festival is held every year from May 3 through May 5. Over the Nakatajima Sand Dunes, the kites are flown in the sky to the maximized heights. And at night, you can see hundreds of floating carved sculpture works in the center of Hamamatsu City. The festival is unique and will give you an unforgettable experience.
Information
- Name: Hamamatsu Kite Festival
- Price: Free (Entry)
- Website: http://hamamatsu-daisuki.net/matsuri/
4. Lake Hamana:
Being the 10th largest lake in Japan, the lake Hamana is an ideal spot for enjoying marine and water sports. The lake is quite popular for boat excursions in the summer season while the interesting water sports activities include, skiing, wind surfing, fishing, and kayaking. Moreover, Hamanako has been the center of attention for its oysters, pike congerand blowfish.
Information
- Name: Laka Hamana
- Phone: +81-53-452-1634
- Opening hour: 9:00 hours (for inquiries)
- Closing hour: 19:00 hours (for inquiries)
- Website: http://hamamatsu-daisuki.net/
5. Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments:
If you want to immerse in the world of music, Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments is the worth visiting place. The museum exhibits the best collection of musical instruments where you can find an extensive variety of about 1200 instruments from all over the world. The first floor is dedicated to the instruments from Japan and Asia, while the other levels showcase instruments from rest of the world including South America, Africa, Europe etc. You can even listen to the music played by these instruments or can even play some of the instruments yourself.
Information
- Name: Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments
- Address: Adjacent to Act Tower, Hamamatsu,Shizuoka Prefecture
- Phone: +81 53-451-1128
- Price: 500 JPY (Adults) | 350 JPY ( High school students) | Free (for over 69 and physically challenged people)
- Access: 10 minutes walk from JR Hamamatsu Station
- Opening hour: 9:30 hours
- Closing hour: 17:00 hours
- Holiday: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays
- Website: http://www.gakkihaku.jp/
6. Gosha Shrine & Park:
Among many of the shrines in Hamamatsu city, Gosha Shrine is a wonderful sight to visit. The shrine is the home of gods of land and gods of parenting. It offers a lot of treasures in the form of Shinto water ablution pavilion, hand-cut stones, and the magnificent Unateri-nomitama monument. Closed to the shrine is Gosha park that is connected to the community hall through a red bridge called as ‘Kodomono Hashi’ (or Children’s Bridge).
Information
- Name: Gosha Shrine & Park
- Address: 302-5 Togimachi, Naka Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture 430-0937
- Phone: +81 53-452-3001
- Access: 15 minutes walk from Hamamatsu Station
7. Nakatajima Sand Dunes:
Nakatajima Sand Dunes is one of three amazing sand dunes of Japan. Covering an area of 4 km from east to west, this place is a perfect spot for locals and tourists. The patterns drawn by the winds on sands are simply fabulous. Moreover, the spot presents a beautiful relation between sea and sand. A number of visitors rush to the place for kite flying, playing with fun, riding bicycles and a lot more. The great Hamamatsu Kite Festival is held at this beach that creates a vibrant atmosphere with colorful flying kites.
Information
- Name: Nakatajima Sand Dunes
- Address: 1313 Nakatajimacho, Minami Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture 430-0845
- Phone: +81-53-441-6211 (Hamamatsu Festival Hall)
- Access: Approx. 15 minutes by Entetsu bus bound for Nakatajima from Hamamatsu Station of JR Tokaido Shinkansen
- Website: http://hamamatsu-daisuki.net/
8. Hamamatsu Flower Park:
A wonderful botanical garden at the edge of Lake Hamana that is filled up with the breathtaking beauty of flowers is Hamamatsu Flower Park. The park is filled up with around 100,000 plants and flowers of 3,000 species with roses, tulips, irises and cherry blossoms as the most prominent ones. For enhanced attractions, the greenhouse exhibits, and water fountain displays are made available to entertain visitors at the best. It is one of the best spots in Hamamatsu for families where shops and restaurants are also present.
Information
- Name: Hamamatsu Flower Park
- Address: 195 Kanzanji-cho, Nishi-ku Hamamatsu-shi,Shizuoka,Japan431-1209
- Phone: +81 53-487-0511
- Access: 40 minutes ride via bus from Hamamatsu station. Take Kanzanji Onsen line bus to Flower Park
- Opening hour: 9:00 hours (May to Sep) | 9:00 hours (Oct to Nov) | 10:00 hours (Dec to Feb)
- Closing hour: 17:00 hours (May to Sep) | 16:30 hours (Oct to Nov) | 16:30 hours (Dec to Feb)
- Holiday: 29th to 31st December
9. Hamamatsu Fruit Park:
When visiting Hamamatsu, one must not forget to experience the fun of fruit picking in a spectacular orchard. At Hamamatsu Fruit Park, you can witness this fun in an amazing orchard where one can pick 15 different kinds of fruits throughout the year. This park consists of an east area that comprises of a big orchard with different fruit plantations as well as dinosaur square and winery. While the west area has a food court that offers a dessert buffet, with amazing varieties and 300 persons’ seating capacity. And above all the mind blowing Tokinosumika night illumination is also available for the limited time.
Information
- Name: Hamamatsu Fruit Park
- Address: 4263-1 Miyakoda-cho,Kita-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka
- Phone: +81 53-428-5211
- Access: 11 minutes journey through train from Hamamatsu station | 60 minutes ride through bus from Hamamatsu Station
- Opening hour: 9:00 hours
- Closing hour: 18:00 hours
10. Kanzanji Temple:
Located on the Mt. Tateyama, the Kaznaji Temple belongs to Soto sect and was established by Kukai in 810. Kanzanji Temple not only nourishes you with the spirituality, in fact, the footpath around the temple is prepared to let the visitors walk around while enjoying the views of splendid Hamana Lake. Besides the beautiful views of the lake, the natural red quartz rock formations can also be enjoyed. Ever year on December 15, the Fire Festival is held at the temple in which priests and monks arrange a prayer service for good health, fire prevention, and harvests.
Information
- Name: Kanzanji Temple
- Address: 2231 Kanzanjicho, Nishi Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-1209
- Phone: +81 53-487-0107
- Access: Take Kanzanji Onsen, Murakushi line bus (about 40 minutes) from Hamamatsu Station at bus stop # 1 of the bus terminal to Kanzanji Onsen. Then walk for about 10 minutes.
11. Hamanako Pal Pal:
Get ready for an extravagant fun while being near Lake Hamana. The Hamanako Pal Pal is a resort style amusement park that is packed with thrilling rides, games and exhilarating fun that will add pleasant memories to your trip. The Fourth Dimension and Don Black are the most popular rides among kids. And the Ferris Wheel is amazingly delightful that goes up to 60 meters in height. Kids Paradise, Hide and seek with Bakke and a lot more attractions are there to make kids and adults.
Information
- Name: Hamanako Pal Pal
- Address: 1891 Kanzanji-cho,Nishi-ku,Hamamatsu-shi,Shizuoka,Japan 431-1209
- Phone: +81 53-487-2121
- Access: 50 minutes bus ride from Hamamatsu Station
- Opening hour: 10:00 hours
- Closing hour: 16:30 hours
- Holiday: None
- Website: http://pal2.co.jp/
12. Kakegawa Kachoen Park:
Another exciting destination to head towards is the one that is located at a distance of 30 minutes from Hamamatsu city. Kakegawa city has further adventures to be explored and Kakegawa Kachoen is one of such attractions in the city. It is basically a theme park with flowers and birds.Throughout the year, you will see different seasonal flowers blooming in the garden. You can touch and play with these birds and will spend the relaxing hours in the glass house that keeps you cool in summer while warm in winter.
Information
- Name: Kakegawa Kachoen Park
- Address: 1517 Minamisaigo, Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture 436-0024
- Phone: +81 537-62-6363
- Access: 24 minutes train ride (on Tokaido Line) from Hamamatsu Station; And 15 minutes walk from Kakegawa Station.
- Opening hour: 9:00 hours
- Closing hour: 16:30 hours (Weekdays) |17:00 hours (Sat, Sun, Holidays)
- Holiday: N/A
13. Kanzanji Onsen:
Your trip to Hamamatsu would be incomplete without taking the healing bath at the biggest onsen called Kanzanji Onsen. This resort has total 25 different baths including indoor baths, outdoor, cold water baths and saunas. The resort is designed to provide visitors a real comfortable space for healing themselves. You will find restaurants, cafes, massage rooms and other beauty facilities as well. And sine Japanese people drink milk after taking a bath so the resort has vending machines selling that milk.
Information
- Name: Kanzanji Onsen
- Address: 1891 Kanzanji-cho, Nishi-ku,Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka
- Phone: +81-53-487-0001
- Access: Take the “Kanzanji Onsen” line bus (60 minutes) at bus stop #1 of the bus terminal to “Kanazanji Onsen” then walk for 1 minute
- Opening hour: 10:00 hours
- Closing hour: 23:00 hours
- Website: http://hanasakinoyu.jp/index.html
14. Lake Hamana Cruiser Trip:
Immerse yourself in the refreshing views of Lake Hamana and natural surroundings by having a cruise trip. This luxurious cruise trip will enable you to have a different feeling of this natural landscape. The cruise runs in two courses. One of which is a 60 mins course while the other one is 30 mins. Through this cruise trip, you can easily reach Kanzanji Onsen for relaxing bath and spa facilities. From season to season, different event cruises are also planned including, First Sunrise of The Year Cruise, Bird-Watching Cruise, Sunset Cruise etc.
Information
- Name: Lake Hamana Cruise
- Address: 2226-1 Kanzanji-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu-shi
- Phone: +81-53-487-0228
- Website: http://www.hamanako-yuransen.com/
15. Hamamatsu City Zoo:
Just located in front of Lake Hamana, Hamamatsu City Zoo is is the place where 400 animals from 120 species are bred here. In order to entertain people, various events are held together in this zoo. You will come across different animals, birds and insects alongside a refreshing view of blooming flowers. At the Southern end of the zoo, there is a flower park connected with the zoo that will make your experience more pleasant.
Information
- Name: Hamamatsu City Zoo
- Address: 199 kanzanji-cho,nishi-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka 431-1209
- Phone: +81-53-487-1122
- Access: Take the “kanzanji onsen” line bus (50 minutes ride) at bus stop #1 of the bus terminal to “Doubutsuen mae” then walk for about 3 minutes
- Opening hour: 9:00 hours
- Closing hour: 16:30 hours
- Holiday: 29th to 31st December
- Website: http://www.hamazoo.net/outlineEn.php
So, you have a complete list of wonderful spots, attractions and sightseeing landscapes of Hamamatsu city. You just need to pack your bags and come out of your home for spending a luxurious trip to this city. Explore these attractions and immerse yourself in the real fun of natural beauty.
Have a good trip and travel!
