Hamamatsu
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Hamamatsu is the large industrial city in western Shizuoka Prefecture with a high population of Japanese-Brazilians. It is home to famous companies, such as Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki, drawing visitors to see these globally-known names. Although it is not a major tourist destination, there are a fair amount of things to see and do in Hamamatsu.
Places of Interest
Lake Hamanako: On the western side of Hamamatsu lies Lake Hamanako. It is Japan’s 10th largest lake and is a popular destination for water skiing, kayaking, windsurfing, and fishing. Additionally, numerous hot springs can be found near the lake.
Kanzanji Temple: Located on Mount Tateyama near Lake Hamanako is Kanzanji Temple. At Kanzanji, there is a small trail where you can walk around and enjoy the view of Hamana Lake. You can visit Enmusubi Jizouson, Atago Shrine, Ana Daishi, and the Kanzanji Seishi Kannon Bosatsu while there.
Ryotanji Temple: Ryotanji Temple is a designated national culture asset. It was designed by Enshu Kobori, a famous artist of the early Edo era. Ryotanji’s garden is incredibly beautiful and a main focal point of the temple grounds. Fall is one of the prettiest times to visit Ryotanji, as the fall foliage blankets the area in beautiful, bright colors. View photos and read more about Ryotanji here.
Ryugashi-do Caverns: Ryugashi Cavern is the biggest cavern in the Tokai District of Japan. The total length of the cave is about 1,000 meters. The first 400 meters are open to the public. Inside the cave, the temperature is consistently 18 degrees Celcius (64 Fahrenheit), which makes it pleasant to go in all seasons. Read more about Ryugashi-do here.
Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine: The Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine refers to two shrines: an upper shrine located near the summit of Mount Akiha and a lower shrine located at the mountain’s base. From the top of the shrine, you can see Hamamatsu City and the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. The shrine is known as a place to pray for protection against fires and the annual Fire Festival is held on shrine grounds in December.
Hamamatsu Sports Center: A public space where people of all ages can partake in different activities, including ice skating during the colder months of the year! Hours and prices can be viewed on their website. A coupon for free skate rentals can be found somewhere on the site, too.
Hamamatsu Matsuri: Every year during Golden Week, Hamamatsu’s population swells to over 1.5 million people over the span of about three days as people from around the country come to witness the notorious kite battles and festival. Kite flying and battles take place during the day while festive parades happened around sundown.
Travel tip #1: Many of the sights in Hamamatsu are outside of the city center. It is best to book a tour, drive a car, or use public transportation to access these sites. Be sure to check bus and train times for arrival and return if you choose to use public transportation, as some lines have infrequent schedules.
Food
Gyoza: In 2011, gyoza (dumplings) sales in Hamamatsu were the highest in Japan, overtaking Utsunomiya, which had held the top spot for 15 years. Since then, Hamamatsu Gyoza have continued gained recognition throughout the country. If you’re in Hamamatsu, you can take a gyoza tour by stopping by different restaurants.
Unagi: Hamamatsu is also known for its freshwater eel (“unagi” in Japanese) and has been the number one producer of eel for over 100 years. Unagi fetches a high price, but is flaky, light, and tasty. If in Hamamatsu, definitely try some fresh unagi over rice.
Gohei mochi: Gohei mochi is a popular snack in neighboring Aichi, Gifu, and Nagano Prefectures, but can be found along the Shizuoka-Aichi border. It is made from normal white rice which is pounded into a sticky cake, stuck on a skewer, coated in a sweet sauce, and aromatically cooked over a flame.
Tir na n-Og: Tir na n-Og is a brewpub near Hamamatsu Station that serves some delicious craft beer inspired by Japan. Many of the beer are seasonal while others can be enjoyed throughout the year. Compared to craft breweries in America, the beer here is a little on the pricey side. One pint will set you back about 1,000 JPY (~9.00 USD)! Even at the price, the ambience and drinks are worth it if you’re craving a brewery experience.
Pho Hanoi Second: Vietnamese food in Shizuoka Prefecture has been found! At Pho Hanoi Second and Pho Hanoi Third, you can enjoy delicious Vietnamese cuisine, including pho and spring rolls. Although a bit oily, their chicken pho had really good flavor! Prices are fair, but their lunch sets are the best deals.
Sukiyaki: This traditional Japanese hot pot-style dish consists of thinly sliced beef (occasionally pork) that is simmered at the table in a large pot. Other ingredients commonly added to the dish include tofu, scallions, mushrooms, leafy greens, and sometimes udon noodles. Sukiyaki is typically eaten in winter and is enjoyed with family and friends.
Kobe Cook World Buffet: One of the largest chain buffet restaurants in Japan can be found in Hamamatsu’s Zaza City. They rotate the menu items every month or so, and have a pretty decent selection of dishes. The best part is, it’s all-you-care-to-eat for a really low price! The weekend dinner price for women is only 1,300 JPY (~$12 USD), including tax. More information and prices can be found here.
Travel tip #2: Unagi comes in two styles: Kanto and Kansai. Kanto-style eel is filleted by slicing open the eel’s back. Then, is lightly grilled, steamed in a basket, drizzled with tare sauce, and grilled again. Kanto-style eel is known for being moist and tender. Kansai-style eel is prepared by slicing the eel’s belly. The whole fillets are then placed on metal skewers, seasoned with tare sauce, and grilled over an open flame. Kansai-style eel is known for being slightly crispy.
Transportation
The local JR Tokaido Line and Shikansen both run through Hamamatsu Station. In addition to the main Tokaido Line, the Tenryu Hamanako Line connects to Kakegawa Station to Shinjohara in Kosai City. Along this railway, you can access the Hamamatsu Fruit Park, Flower Park, Kanzanji, and more.
Hamamatsu has its own transportation card for the bus lines (called the “Nice Pass“) and a SUICA card cannot be used to pay for bus fare. One place to purchase a Nice Pass is at the bus terminal office near Hamamatsu Station. If you choose to return your Nice Pass, you’ll be refunded the 500 JPY card deposit fee. Even with these forms of public transportation, car is best for getting around Hamamatsu, as the city is quite large and spread out.
Travel tip #3: If you choose to take the Tenryu-Hamanako Line, you will need to use cash to pay for tickets at the station. SUICA cards (or similar IC-cards) are not accepted on the railway. This railway also runs on an infrequent schedule, with trains arriving every hour or so.
Climate
Like most cities in the Tokai region, Hamamatsu is relatively warm throughout the year (by Japan’s standards). The city is notoriously windy throughout the year, with winter experiencing the strongest winds. The mild climate also has a high amount of precipitation, with June having the highest amount of rainfall. August is the hottest month out of the year and is accompanied by high levels of humidity. Early spring is the nicest season in Hamamatsu while Fall comes in a close second.