The Hamamatsu Volunteer Tourist Guide Association unites locals passionate about promoting the city’s history, culture, and industry. As Shizuoka’s largest volunteer guide group, they support local tourism…

The Hamamatsu Volunteer Tourist Guide Association is a group of “Hamamatsu Guides” who come together to promote tourism by sharing the city’s history, culture, and industries.

As of the end of February 2025, the association has 130 members, making it the largest volunteer guide group in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The association carries out activities at sites such as Hamamatsu Castle, Hamamatsu Station, the Saigagake Museum, and the Hamamatsu Festival Hall.

They warmly guide not only visitors from outside the prefecture but also local residents from Hamamatsu and neighboring towns, hoping everyone can rediscover Hamamatsu’s rich history and culture.

In 2020, the association’s efforts were recognized when they received the Encouragement Award at the Fujinokuni Shizuoka Tourism Awards from Shizuoka Prefecture.

What is the Hamamatsu Volunteer Tour Guide Association?

Founded in 1999, the Hamamatsu Volunteer Tour Guide Association is a group of knowledgeable local guides known as Hamamatsu Annai-nin, who specialize in sharing the city’s rich history, culture, and industries with visitors.

With around 130 members ranging in age from their 20s to 90s, this is the largest volunteer guide organization in Shizuoka Prefecture and is now in its 26th year of activity.

The group is active at four main locations: Hamamatsu Castle, Hamamatsu Station, the Saigagake Historical Museum, and the Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion.

Each location has on-site guides who help visitors create memorable experiences during their time in Hamamatsu.

They also actively engage in educational initiatives for local children, such as “Furusato (Hometown) Guide” tours, “Furusato Lectures,” and outreach programs at elementary schools to help deepen their understanding of their hometown.

Locations with Resident Guides

Staff from the Hamamatsu Volunteer Tourist Guide Association are stationed at the following four locations.

*Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

・Hamamatsu Castle
Weekdays: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Weekends & Holidays: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

・Hamamatsu City Tourist Information Center (inside JR Hamamatsu Station)
Daily: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

・Saigagake Museum
Daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on Mondays

・Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion
Sundays only: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

“By learning about history, I believe people deepen their understanding and find it even more fascinating,” says Koji Kasuga, the association’s director.

He encourages everyone to feel free to approach and ask questions.

In addition to the regular guides at the four locations mentioned above, the association also offers reservation-based group tours at these sites as well as on the “Ieyasu Promenade,” the “Hamamatsu Downtown Walk and Hamamatsu Castle,” and through “Furusato Lectures.”

Becoming a Volunteer Guide

To become a volunteer guide, you need to complete the “Hamamatsu Annai-nin New Guide Training Course.”

The “Hamamatsu Annai-nin New Guide Training Course” is held every January as a seven-session program.

The participation fee is 1,000 yen.

The participation fee is 1,000 yen. The course covers an overview, guide experiences, proper guide etiquette, as well as Hamamatsu’s history and attractions, including displays about Ieyasu’s time in Hamamatsu Castle.

☆Course Contents☆

① Overview of the Guide Association & Guide Etiquette

② History and Culture of Hamamatsu

③ About Castles & The Stone Walls of Hamamatsu Castle

④ Field Training: Walking around Hamamatsu Castle and its surroundings

⑤ Various Topics about Hamamatsu & Tourist Guide Knowledge

⑥ Ieyasu Promenade

⑦ Ieyasu’s Time in Hamamatsu & Membership Procedures

After joining, additional field training is provided at Ieyasu Promenade, Hamamatsu Festival Hall, around Hamamatsu Station, and Shouintei.

The course has a capacity of 20 participants and is intended for those who can guide about three days per month after completion.

After joining, members participate in on-site training at four locations: Ieyasu Promenade, Hamamatsu Festival Hall, around Hamamatsu Station, and Shouintei.

Applications open every year from October.

The application period is announced on the official website of the Hamamatsu Volunteer Guide Association and in the Hamamatsu city newsletter.

Response to the Taiga Drama "What Will You Do, Ieyasu?"

While Hamamatsu Castle usually attracts about 20,000 visitors per month on average, the number nearly doubled to around 40,000 visitors per month during the broadcast of the Taiga drama.

The Saigagake Museum also saw two to three times its usual number of visitors, reflecting the strong economic impact of the Taiga drama.

When the commemorative monument was unveiled in July 2023, it also attracted many visitors.

The back of the memorial monument is engraved with the names of the cast members who appeared in the Taiga drama “What Will You Do, Ieyasu?”

Be sure to check it out when you visit the Saigagake Museum!

A Message to Our Readers from Mr. Koji Kasuga, the Association’s Director

Our volunteer guide activities allow us to use our hobbies and skills while enjoying the fulfillment of satisfying our intellectual curiosity.

We cooperate with Hamamatsu City’s tourism administration to contribute to the promotion and development of the local tourism industry.

At the same time, we enjoy building friendships among members, all while embracing the motto, “Bright, fun, and let’s do our best!” as we carry out our guide activities every day.

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This concludes our introduction to the Hamamatsu Volunteer Tourist Guide Association.

You might find yourself saying “Ah, that makes sense!” when you hear the guides talk about Hamamatsu Castle’s surprising history and its unique stone walls.

Isn’t it part of the fun of sightseeing to dig deeper into things you thought you knew but actually didn’t?

When visiting Hamamatsu, be sure to say hello to the staff from the Volunteer Guide Association.

Hamamatsu Tourist Volunteer Guide Association

Address: 100-2 Motojō-chō, Chūō-ku, Hamamatsu City (Inside Hamamatsu Castle)

Phone: 053-456-1303

Official website: http://www.hama-svg.jp/index-2.html

*The information in this article is subject to change.

Photo courtesy of the Hamamatsu Volunteer Guide Association