The beautiful coastal city of Hamamatsu is along the golden route of Japan, just under 1.5 hours from Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen. \u00a0It\u2019s not only an industrial hub, producing well-known exports such as Suzuki cars, Yamaha pianos and so on<\/a>, Hamamatsu is also a great city for families to bring kids to have fun, relax, and learn along the way<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lake Hamana is the center of a lot of recreational activities in Hamamatsu. Surrounding the lake are cycling trails, temples<\/strong>, an amusement park<\/strong>, and even onsen resorts<\/strong>. It was formerly a lake but now a brackish lagoon. What that means is, it connects to the ocean and the water is now a mixture between fresh and salt water, providing the perfect environment for fisherman to farm Japanese eel, dried seaweed, and oysters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At one of the few designated ports around Lake Hamana, you can hop onto a 30-minute cruise<\/strong> to enjoy the seasonal scenery of the area as well as the fresh sea breeze. Each season provides an entirely different view, from pink Cherry Blossom hills to lush green summers. On top of that it\u2019s a great way to take a look at various sites and activities available in the area and decide together as a family on where you want to go next. You can even spot Hamanako Pal Pal amusement park\u2019s large Ferris Wheel from the cruise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just next to the Lake Hamana cruise port is Hamamatsu Flower Park<\/a><\/strong>. With over 3,000 species of plants, there\u2019s something blooming all year round. From the modest yellow Wintersweet to Cherry Blossoms<\/a><\/strong>, tulips, wistaria, roses, hydrangeas, irises, red spider lilies, and Camellias, you can experience Japan\u2019s seasonal flowers no matter what time of year it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After learning about marine life and plants, head over to Hamamatsu Zoological Garden<\/a><\/strong> to learn about many different types of species living on land. There\u2019s an interactive corner where you can touch a rabbit and feed sheep and goats.Hamamatsu Zoological Garden has many primates, including the Golden Lion Tamarin, a small monkey with sleek reddish-golden fur. Other than that, the ever so relaxed looking capybaras and cuddly red pandas are popular amongst the kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s nothing more engaging for kids than getting hands on with transportation vehicles, and you can do exactly that at Tenryu Futamata station<\/a><\/strong>. There you can take a tour of the Tenryu Hamanako Railway Turntable and the Railway History Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re looking for an activity that is not only fun, but also educational and comes with a healthy snack, then fruit picking is the optimal choice to add to your itinerary. At Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika<\/a><\/strong>, you can enjoy fruit picking all year round. The choices range from plus to oranges, pears, apples, persimmons, strawberries, blueberries, peaches and more. On top of that, there\u2019s also seasonal flowers and even a greenhouse for you to enjoy flower viewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hamamatsu is known as the gyoza<\/strong><\/a> capital of Japan. Gyoza are dumplings packed with meat, shrimp, and or vegetables. It originated from China where its more commonly steamed or boiled, however in Japan pan fried is the preferred method of cooking. One of the well-established gyoza restaurants is Ishimatsu<\/strong>. The original store was founded in 1953 at Hamamatsu station, and has since branched out to other cities. To get the best taste out of the gyoza, its highly recommended to dip it into the specially made soy sauce and vinegar dip. It\u2019s an exquisite balance of savory, slight sweetness, and juiciness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also get a copy of the Hamamatsu Gyoza Map<\/strong> at the tourist information center or Hamamatsu castle. The map is produced by the Hamamatsu Gyoza Society and it includes about 30 different restaurants within walking distance of Hamamatsu JR Station and Hamamatsu castle so you try one of the highly recommended restaurants approved by local gyoza experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you happen to be in Hamamatsu in early November, look out for the Gyoza Festival<\/strong>. There you\u2019ll find over 20 stalls selling gyozas from Hamamatsu and all of Japan so you can taste and compare to find your favorite gyoza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comfort and space is of the essence when traveling as a family. Even better is a stay with comfort, space, hot springs, entertainment facilities, and a gorgeous view of the sunset over the Lake Hamana. You can find all of this at Hotel Wellseason Hamanako<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hamamatsu is on the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Kyoto. It’s just under 1.5 hours from Tokyo, and the trains depart several times every hour. Within Hamamatsu there are convenient bus routes to major tourist locations. You can also get a digital pass for Hamamatsu wide access which will allow you to ride on busses, trains, ferries, and the gondola. <\/p>\n\n\n\n