Welcome to Hamamatsu! Honoring the Past, Embracing the Present, Innovating the Future
Hamamatsu City is located between Tokyo and Osaka, 90 minutes from either city by Shinkansen, and easily accessible from Chubu Centrair International Airport and Shizuoka Airport. The city is blessed with a rich natural environment including Lake Hamana, and boasts lots of open green space including flower parks. The rich history of Hamamatsu includes a strong connection to the age of samurai and musical innovation and legendary craftsmanship.
- History: Hamamatsu contains Hamamatsu Castle, where Japan’s first Shogun,Tokugawa Ieyasu, spent his youth, and Ryotanji Temple, the family temple of the influential Ii family.
- Flowers and greenery: Hamamatsu Flower Park and Hamanako Garden Park provide year-round attractions of flowers and illuminations, including cherry blossoms, tulips, wisteria, and nemophila.
- Lake Hamana: The perimeter of Japan’s tenth largest lake includes attractions such as hot spring inns, ropeways, sightseeing boats, bicycles, Lake Hamana unagi eel, and abundant seafood.
- Music and Craftmanship: You can visit the corporate museums of Yamaha, musical instrument producing companies that were founded in Hamamatsu City, as well as the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, the only public musical instrument museum in Japan.
This park has the world’s most beautiful cherry blossom and tulip garden, as well as seasonal displays of wisteria, roses, irises, and other beautiful flowers. The park also has a large greenhouse with seasonal exhibits, a large fountain with a water show every 30 minutes, shops, restaurants, and a flower train, making it the perfect place to spend a day with your family.
See
Hamamatsu Castle
Hamamatsu Castle was once the home of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the samurai who later went on to unite Japan and become its first Shogun. For a period starting in late March, the castle tower is surrounded by about 360 cherry trees in full bloom, attracting many visitors, even at night when they are illuminated. A stroll through the Japanese garden that changes in appearance through the seasons is also recommended.
Lake Hamana Cycling
Lake Hamana Cycling
Lake Hamana Cycling
Lake Hamana Cycling
Lake Hamana Cycling
Lake Hamana Cycling
Lake Hamana Cycling
Lake Hamana is the tenth largest lake in Japan with a shape that resembles the palm of a hand. It has the third longest circumference of the lakes of Japan. The water of Lake Hamana is brackish due to a rupture caused by a major earthquake long ago that allowed seawater to seep into the lake. Cycling around Lake Hamana, you can enjoy beautiful and varied scenery, following the gentle waves that lap at the shore. The fertile waters are home to a variety of fish and eel and groves of citrus grow nearby, nurtured by the warm climate. You can cycle around the circumference of the lake or for a shorter trip, cycle halfway around the lake and return by Hamana Lake sightseeing boat.
Lake Hamana Unagi (eel)
Hamamatsu is famous for its unagi (freshwater eel), the birthplace of eel farming in Japan. Thanks to the combination of the three essential conditions for eel farming, the mild climate and most importantly, the passion of the eel farmers, Lake Hamana has become a nationwide eel production center with Lake Hamana eels known as a famous brand. You will find many unagi restaurants around Hamamatsu City.
Hamamatsu Gyoza
Public facilities such as restaurants, stores, lodging facilities, and tourist spots require people to wear masks.
Hand sanitizer is available at the entrance of each facility. Some facilities require your body temperature to be checked with a non-contact thermometer.
