Hamamatsu Station is conveniently located, but you might find yourself with free time before your shinkansen or a meeting. Here are fun spots to explore within a 10-minute walk!…

This article was created on November 24, 2023.

Hamamatsu Station is a convenient transportation hub, served by the JR Tokaido Line, the Tokaido Shinkansen, and the Enshu Railway.

You may find yourself with a little free time before your Shinkansen departs or while waiting to meet someone.

In this article, we’ll introduce places within a 10-minute walk of Hamamatsu Station where you can enjoy sightseeing or simply spend some time before your train. We’ve organized them into four categories:

Have Fun – Sightseeing spots
See – Photo spots & walks
Drink – Alcohol
Eat – Sweets

Have Fun – Sightseeing Spots

Let’s start with two great attractions near Hamamatsu Station that are well worth a visit.

① Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments

Our first recommendation is the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, Japan’s first public museum dedicated to musical instruments.

Located about a 10-minute walk northeast of the JR Hamamatsu Station North Exit, it’s easy to reach on foot.

Inside the museum, you’ll find four exhibition galleries, a hands-on experience room, a workshop area, a museum shop, and a restaurant & café.

As soon as you step inside, you’ll be greeted by a striking golden Saing Waing, a traditional musical ensemble from Myanmar.

In the exhibition galleries, you’ll discover an incredible collection of musical instruments from Japan and around the world.

With so many fascinating instruments you’ve probably never seen before, there’s something new to discover around every corner.

In the hands-on experience room, visitors can try playing a variety of unique instruments from around the world.

At the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, you can see, hear, and even play instruments from around the world. Why not stop by and experience the joy of music for yourself?

Official Website: https://www.gakkihaku.jp/

*Closed for renovation from December 1, 2025, to July 10, 2026. (The dates may change. Please check the official website for the latest information.)

② Hamamatsu Science Museum Mirai-ra

Next up is the Hamamatsu Science Museum Mirai-ra, a great place to visit even on a rainy day.

The museum features more than 100 interactive exhibits across six themed zones: Nature, Light, Space, Power, Sound, and Advanced Technology. With so many hands-on experiences, it’s a fun destination for both children and adults.

You’ll also find exhibits showcasing the latest technologies developed by 11 local companies and universities, offering a glimpse into Hamamatsu’s reputation as a city of manufacturing.

Try driving a car, motorcycle, or boat with a simulator, or explore the science of sound through interactive exhibits that make learning both fun and engaging. There’s plenty to keep you entertained.

In the Space Zone, you can put on a VR headset and step inside the tank of Super-Kamiokande, the world-famous neutrino observatory, to witness the moment neutrinos are detected in a truly immersive experience.

The museum also features a planetarium with a remarkably realistic star-filled sky, as well as a café where you can take a break. It’s the perfect place to spend a few hours, rain or shine.

Official Website: https://www.mirai-ra.jp/

See - Photo spots & walks

Act City Hamamatsu

One of Hamamatsu’s most iconic landmarks is Act City Hamamatsu.

This large complex is home to concert halls of various sizes, an event hall, a conference center, office, restaurants, and the Okura Hotel.

Most people visit for concerts, events, meetings, or dining, but there’s also a hidden gem that many visitors don’t know about.

Here it is!

One of the highlights is Chopin’s Hill, located within Act no Mori, which extends from Basement Level 1 to the 6th floor.

It’s about an 8-minute walk from the ticket gates of Hamamatsu Station.

Act no Mori, the outdoor area of Act City Hamamatsu, features art installations and other works of art throughout the space. You can also sit on one of the benches and relax at your own pace.

Did you know there’s also a statue of Frédéric Chopin here?

What’s even more surprising is that this statue was presented to Hamamatsu by the City of Warsaw, Chopin’s hometown.

In 1990, Hamamatsu and Warsaw signed a friendship agreement to promote cultural exchange through music.

To commemorate the occasion, Hamamatsu received a replica of the famous Chopin statue in Łazienki Park in Warsaw.

Remarkably, it was the first replica ever created, and also the first to be sent outside Poland.

At Chopin’s Hill in Act City Hamamatsu, you can see this replica, which is approximately two-thirds the size of the original.

For the best photo opportunity, we recommend taking a shot from the Hamamatsu Station side.

You can capture a unique image featuring both Act City Hamamatsu and the Chopin statue — a perfect photo that reflects Hamamatsu’s identity as a city of music.

Act City Hamamatsu is also home to two spiral staircases, both of which make great photo spots.

The spiral staircase near the Main Hall (Hamamatsu Station side) appears vermilion when viewed from below.

The spiral staircase near the Okura Hotel appears green when viewed from below.

You can enjoy a leisurely walk while discovering these photogenic spots along the way, or simply stroll through Act no Mori while taking in the many art installations.

By the way, a full loop around Act no Mori from the starting point takes about 21 minutes, making it a great option for a little exercise.

It is said to burn approximately 102.4 kcal.

Drink - Alcohol

Hananomai Brewery’s Official Store

Located inside EKIMACHI WEST at Hamamatsu Station, this official store of Hananomai Brewery is a great place to discover local sake.

Hananomai is one of Hamamatsu’s renowned sake breweries.

The store offers a wide selection of sake that makes perfect souvenirs from Hamamatsu, making it hard to decide which one to take home.

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to sake, so wouldn’t it be great to try some before making a purchase?

At the Hananomai official store in EKIMACHI WEST, you can actually enjoy a special tasting set! (Fee required)

*Prices and set contents are subject to change.

Each tasting portion is 40 ml, which is enough to fully appreciate the flavor of each sake. It’s a great way to find your favorite before purchasing, so you can choose with confidence.

For this visit, I tried Hananomai’s sparkling sake.

From the five available varieties, I selected “Ryo,” with an alcohol content of 13%, as well as “Apple” and “Blood Orange,” which have a lower alcohol content compared to typical sake.

All three had approachable flavors that even those who are not usually fans of sake can enjoy. They were refreshing and easy to drink.

And the sake that I discovered for the first time during this visit — and instantly became a fan of — is this one:

Abysse Sparkling

This is a sparkling sake made with rice and white wine yeast from Burgundy, France.

It has even received a gold award for two consecutive years at Kura Master, a prestigious sake competition held in France, where Japanese cuisine has been gaining popularity.

Eat - Sweets

Imogashiya Imoen

Located about a 10-minute walk from Hamamatsu Station, Imogashiya Imoen is a specialty shop dedicated to sweet potatoes.

Located in Sakanamachi, in central Hamamatsu, Imoen specializes in carefully crafted sweet potato sweets, all handmade in the shop’s own kitchen.

In addition to its classic items, the shop also offers seasonal limited-time sweets, making it a place worth checking back on.

The display case is filled with a wide variety of sweet potato treats, and as a sweet potato lover, I couldn’t help but get excited.

For this visit, I tried the three classic items shown above.

This is the Sweet Potato Mille-Feuille.

The pastry becomes wonderfully crisp and crunchy, making it absolutely delicious.

We highly recommend enjoying it fresh at the shop.

After you place your order, the staff adds cream on top of the pastry and caramelizes the surface right before serving. The combination of the lightly roasted flavor, the not-too-sweet cream, the crispy layers, and the sweet potato cream inside creates a perfect harmony of flavors.

The sweet potato cream inside is a homemade sweet potato custard cream made with sweet potato paste. Its rich sweet potato aroma and flavor are sure to leave you feeling delighted.

Next up is the Mitsuimo Cheese Terrine.

This dessert is made up of three layers: Mitsuimo potato at the bottom, purple sweet potato in the middle, and a sweet potato rare cheesecake layer on top. Each layer has its own unique flavor, and together they create a perfectly balanced and delicious combination.

Although each slice may look small, its moist texture makes it surprisingly satisfying.

The third item is the Imohori Pudding.

The cute shovel-shaped spoon that comes with it is a charming touch.

When you open the lid and dig in with the shovel spoon, you’ll first find a crispy caramelized topping, followed by the soft pudding layer, and finally generous chunks of sweet potato at the bottom.

It truly feels like you’re digging up sweet potatoes, making it a fun dessert to enjoy.

As a unique sweet treat, it’s also a great choice for a souvenir.

If you’d like to enjoy sweet potatoes in their original form, roasted sweet potatoes are also available.

The shop offers a variety of products made with Unagi Imo, a sweet potato variety that is becoming a new specialty of Hamamatsu, including Mont Blanc desserts and Imoemon Nama Donuts. Sweet potato lovers should definitely stop by.

There are many other things to enjoy around Hamamatsu Station, but why not make the most of your free time with some of these nearby spots?

Be sure to check them out!

Hamamatsu City Musical Instrument Museum: https://www.gakkihaku.jp/

Hamamatsu Science Museum Mirai-ra: https://www.mirai-ra.jp/

Act City Hamamatsu “Act no Mori”: https://www.actcity.jp/

Hamamatsu Station EKIMACHIWEST ​​Hananomai Branch: https://hananomai.co.jp/shop/

Sweet potato sweets shop “Imoen”: https://imo-en.com/

*The information in this article is subject to change.