This time, we’re introducing summer activity plans in the Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana area that you can still book now!

We’ve picked out five great plans perfect for families who want to turn their summer break into a fun learning experience together.

Discover the Wonders of Hamamatsu & Lake Hamana: A Fun Learning Experience for Parents and Kids

The Hamamatsu & Lake Hamana area refers to the region in western Shizuoka Prefecture that includes Hamamatsu City, which surrounds Lake Hamana, and Kosai City.

In addition to its rich natural environment, the Hamamatsu & Lake Hamana area is also known as a town with a long tradition of craftsmanship and manufacturing.

The Hamamatsu & Lake Hamana area, known for its developed manufacturing industries like automobiles, musical instruments, and textiles, is packed with hands-on spots where you can see, touch, and learn about these technologies and processes.

Plus, surrounded by lakes, the sea, and satoyama countryside, the area offers great opportunities to observe plants and wildlife, and to think about environmental issues.

The Hamamatsu & Lake Hamana area, where you can create, learn, and have fun all in one place, is the perfect setting for summer projects and “workations” filled with discovery.

Now, let’s take a closer look at five fun spots in Hamamatsu and Kosai where families can enjoy hands-on experiences together.

“Amamo” Observation Experience | Learn About Blue Carbon and the Ecosystem of Lake Hamana

Amamo (Seagrass) in Lake Hamana

・Recommended Age: 4 and up

・What You Can Experience: Take a boat tour of Lake Hamana and explore the Amamo seagrass beds with a fisherman guide.

・Schedule: From around March 2025 to Sunday, August 31, 2025 (*some dates excluded)

・Hours: Daily tours start every hour on the hour from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, lasting 45 minutes each.

About the “Amamo” Observation Experience

Enjoy a digital detox as you take a boat ride, feeling the sea breeze and scent, and listening to the soothing sound of the waves.

Departing from just a 3-minute walk from JR Bentenjima Station, hop on a boat and set off onto Lake Hamana!

A fisherman guide will take you on a boat tour around the southern side of Lake Hamana, where you can see the Amamo seagrass beds growing right from the boat.

Amamo is a type of seaweed that serves as a hiding place for clams and small creatures. In Lake Hamana, it’s affectionately called the “nursery of the sea.”

In recent years, Amamo has also been featured in TV programs and projects, gaining quite a bit of attention!

The growth of Amamo also plays an important role in “blue carbon,” a process where it absorbs CO2 directly from the atmosphere.

It’s a great learning opportunity for kids, too!

Highlights of the Experience

・A local fisherman who knows Lake Hamana inside and out will be your guide!

・Ask anything you want about Amamo or Lake Hamana—questions welcome!

・Observe Amamo up close from the boat using a special “underwater box viewer.”

・Snap a photo with the iconic red torii gate of Maisaka Town in the background!

・Optional add-on: Explore a deserted island during low tide (¥500 per person, payable on-site).

Snap a photo with the iconic red torii gate of Maisaka Town in the background!

Optional add-on: Explore a deserted island during low tide

You can spot tiny shells, shrimp, and little fish!

See Details & Book Your Spot Here!
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[Spring & Summer Only] Hop on a Boat and Explore Lake Hamana!
What is Amamo, the Nursery of the Sea?

Spot Info: Bentenjima Sightseeing Boat Association

・Address: 3775-2 Bentenjima, Maisaka-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka (inside Bentenjima Seaside Park)

・Phone: 090-7686-0962 (Contact: Mr. Mase)

・Parking: 297 spaces available (¥410 per day)

Catch Your Own Eel & Grill It Kabayaki-Style – A Fun and Tasty Learning Experience!

・Recommended Age: Toddlers and up

・What You’ll Do: Try your hand at catching a live eel! After a skilled chef prepares it, you’ll skewer it yourself and grill it over charcoal—kabayaki style!

・When: Golden Week (GW), Daily from Saturday, July 19 to Sunday, August 31, 2025(Except Mondays, excluding August 11)Every Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday in September

・Time Slots: 10:00–11:00 AM, 12:00–1:00 PM

About the Eel Catching & Kabayaki Grilling Experience

This is a unique hands-on experience where you get to interact with the famous eel from Lake Hamana—known all across Japan!

Eels are quick and slippery, so catching them isn’t easy—that’s part of the fun! It’s a great way for families to work together and strengthen their bond.

This is a rare spot in Japan where you can catch your own eel from a pond, watch a skilled chef prepare it, then skewer and grill it over charcoal yourself—a complete hands-on experience!

Try your hand at skewering the eel with guidance from a skilled chef!

Once you’ve brushed on the sauce…

Then, wait for it to cook to perfection.

Your delicious eel bowl is ready!

Some kids who usually don’t like eel bowls because of the slight bitterness might just overcome their dislike by making their own!

Many visitors come back again and again because it’s such a rewarding experience.

Highlights of the Experience

・Shallow water about ankle-deep for adults, so it’s safe even for kids

・Learn to appreciate the life behind the food you eat

・Experience firsthand where your food comes from and how it reaches your table—an essential food education through all your senses

・Optional fish-catching experience available on-site (additional fee)

Fish-catching in Action

See Details & Book Your Spot Here!
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[Spring & Summer Only] Catch Your Own Famous Lake Hamana Eel & Grill It Kabayaki-Style!

Spot Info: Imakiri Taiken-no-Sato “Kaikokan”

・Address: Arai Arai-cho, Kosai City, Shizuoka (Arai Marine Fishing Park)

・Phone: 053-594-6624 (9:00 AM–5:00 PM, closed Mondays)

・Parking: Approx. 400 spaces (¥400 per day; free if you leave within 30 minutes of entry)

Pottery Experience｜Reflect and Create Your Very Own Komainu!

・Recommended Age: Elementary school and up

・What You’ll Do: Use beginner-friendly clay to create your own Komainu (Shisa statues are also an option)!

・When: Every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday (*except certain dates)

・Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

About the Pottery Experience

During the pottery experience, you’ll knead and shape the clay while receiving helpful guidance from the instructor.

Focused and creating with care.

You’ll learn how to use the tools, add your own designs, and create your very own original Komainu or Shisa!

Each creation shines with its maker’s unique personality, making it a guaranteed fun time for the whole family!

Komainu are believed to be guardian spirits of the home, and making one by hand makes it even more special—something you’ll be proud to display at home.

*Please note: On the day of the workshop, you’ll only do the pottery shaping. The finished piece will take about 1 to 2 months to be fired and ready.

Highlights of the Experience

・Two instructors with degrees in Fine Arts and Art Education

・Skilled teaching with easy-to-follow guidance

・Unique “Komainu making” experience you won’t find in other classes

See Details & Book Your Spot Here!
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Connect with Clay, Create with Heart – A Pottery Experience That Shapes Lasting Memories

Spot Info: Ai Kobo (Ai Workshop)

・Address: 1-9-8 Shinmiyakoda, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka

・Phone: 053-428-6181

・Parking: Available

Soy Sauce Pressing or Miso-Making Experience｜Plus a Tour of a History-Rich Factory

・Recommended Age: Elementary school and up (Children under school age must be accompanied by an adult during the activity.)

・What You’ll Do: Take a guided tour of Meijiya Shoyu, a long-established soy sauce brewery, and try your hand at either soy sauce pressing or miso making.

・When: Available year-round*
*Please check the calendar via the “Reservation” link for available dates.

About the Soy Sauce Pressing / Miso-Making Experience & Factory Tour

Take a tour of Meijiya Shoyu, a long-established brewery founded in 1875, and experience traditional soy sauce pressing or miso making!

A Look Inside the Factory Tour

You’ll get to see, touch, and learn how soybeans are transformed into soy sauce and miso.

For the soy sauce experience, you can choose from three courses: Soy Sauce Pressing, Pressing & Heating, or Fermentation Starter (Preparation).

The miso-making course lets you experience the full preparation process.

Miso-Making in Action

Highlights of the Experience

・During the factory tour, you’ll learn about Meijiya Shoyu’s long history, the wisdom of past generations, and their passion for traditional soy sauce making.

・Take home the soy sauce or miso you make!

・Great for independent study—compare the flavor and aroma with store-bought products!

See Details & Book Your Spot Here!
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Experience Soy Sauce Pressing or Miso Making at a Historic Brewery!

Spot Info: Meijiya Shoyu

・Address: 2276 Komatsu, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka

・Phone: 053-428-6181

・Parking: Available

Harmonica Workshop Tour – Discover the “City of Music,” Hamamatsu

・Recommended Age: Elementary school and up

・What You’ll Do: Tour the harmonica workshop and try your hand at tuning a harmonica.

・When: Available year-round*
*Please check the calendar via the “Reservation” link for available dates.

About the Harmonica Workshop Tour

Showa Gakki Seizo, established in 1947, is Japan’s only instrument maker dedicated exclusively to manufacturing harmonicas.

Many of the harmonicas you see at places like Hamamatsu Station are made by Showa Gakki Seizo.

In this experience, you’ll learn about the history and culture of the harmonica through easy-to-understand videos, and get hands-on by tuning reeds yourself—getting a real feel for how these instruments are made.

Highlights of the Experience

・Learn about the history of the harmonica and Showa Gakki Seizo through videos and explanations.

・Watch craftsmen at work in the workshop.

・Try your hand at tuning a harmonica.

・Take home a premium “Premium Gold” mini harmonica as a souvenir.

The “Premium Gold” is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but it features 8 notes across one octave—perfect for playing a variety of tunes.

See Details & Book Your Spot Here!
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A Harmony Born in This City – Discover the Craftsmanship and History Behind It

Spot Info: Showa Gakki Seizo Co., Ltd.

・Address: 1-8-55 Kamijima, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka

・Phone: 053-471-4341 (Weekdays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, closed on weekends and holidays)

・Parking: Available

Bonus Experience: Your First Welding Workshop – Make a Mini Iron Shelf

This experience isn’t offered during the summer vacation months of July and August, but it’s a great indoor activity for rainy June or the hot, lingering days of September weekends!

・Recommended Age: Elementary school and up (parent or guardian must accompany)

・What You’ll Do: Create a mini shelf by welding together wood and a metal frame.

・When: Every Saturday in June and September 2025

・Time: Choose either 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

*Please note, this workshop is not held in July or August.

About the First-Time Welding Experience

Kosai City, the birthplace of Sakichi Toyoda—founder of the Toyota Group—is home to many manufacturing companies and factories.

At Iron Workshop Shouma, the “First-Time Welding” experience lets you safely and confidently enjoy welding using sturdy wood and metal, all while making your own mini shelf.

You’ll discover the joy of making things and get to take home the mini shelf you create as a memorable keepsake.

See Details & Book Your Spot Here!
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Hands-On Crafting! First-Time Welding — Make Your Own Mini Iron Shelf

Spot Info: Iron Workshop Shouma

・Address: 946-102 Washizu, Kosai City, Shizuoka

・Phone: 053-576-0678

・Parking: Up to 2 cars per group allowed

Enjoy a unique learning experience this summer—only possible in Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana—with your family!

The Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana area is rich in nature, history, and a deep-rooted local craftsmanship culture.

It offers wonderful opportunities for families to learn, feel, and think together.

Not just for school projects or “workations,” these experiences offer kids hands-on learning and give adults moments of discovery and relaxation.

This summer, why not create special memories on a family trip that delights all your senses?

Besides the five experiences we’ve introduced, the Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana area offers a wide variety of other fun activities.

For more details, please visit Hamamatsu & Lake Hamana Yaramaika Tourism.

Looking for sightseeing and activities in Hamamatsu?
Check out Yaramaika Tourism

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We offer a wide variety of plans just for you!