Hamamatsu is famous for its production of motorcycles and musical instruments, as well as its delicious eels. But that's not all! Learn more about seasonal events, popular locations, and hidden gems! We'll introduce the best of Hamamatsu.
“What to do with Ieyasu Hamamatsu Taiga Drama Museum” pre-opening on the east side of Hamamatsu Castle! Information on attractions and souvenirs
Have you seen the 2023 taiga drama “What to do with Ieyasu” (NHK)?
Hamamatsu City, where the main character, Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu, lived for 17 years, will pre-open the “What to do with Ieyasu Hamamatsu Taiga Drama Museum” on January 22nd. During the pre-opening period, you can enjoy exhibits of costumes used in past taiga dramas and videos.
Hamamatsu Shusse Park, where the Taiga Drama Museum is located, also exhibits the stone walls of Hamamatsu Castle (actual) and the remains of Ninomaru Palace!
To the castle of Tenryu, which was shaken by a group of heroes in search of a castle seal. Introducing the design and sales locations!
Do you know the castle stamp Gojoin, which is popular among people who like castles?
This is like a certificate that you can purchase as a commemoration of your visit to the castle. They are sold at 11 castles in Hamamatsu City, including Hamamatsu Castle.
In Tenryu Ward, where many mountain castles have been built, castle seals from castles representing each area are on sale. In addition to interesting designs and sales locations, we will also introduce facilities where you can take a break before or after climbing Takane Castle in the Misakubo area.
Walking around Hamamatsu Castle through places related to Lord Ieyasu/Ieyasu’s promenade (inside the castle/downtown route) Part 1
Hamamatsu is the place where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the main character of the 2023 historical drama “What to Do with Ieyasu” (NHK), spent 17 years of his youth. Therefore, the area around Hamamatsu Castle is dotted with places related to Lord Ieyasu.
The “Ieyasu Promenade” is a place where you can walk and visit places related to this. There are two walking routes: the “Battle Route” and the “Castle Inner/Castle Route.”
This time, we will take you around half of the “Castle Inner/Castle Route”, which is the east side of Hamamatsu Castle. Let’s set out with the leaflet in hand!
Visiting shrines related to Lord Ieyasu around Hamamatsu Castle/Ieyasu’s walking route (inside/downtown route) Part 2
Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the Three Great Heroes, spent 17 of his 75 years in the prime of his youth in Hamamatsu. As a result, there are still places around Hamamatsu Castle that are connected to Lord Ieyasu.
The “Castle Inner/Castle Route” of “Ieyasu’s Promenade” is a route that connects 12 of them so that you can visit them with a single stroke. This time we will be showing you the south side of this route from Hamamatsu Castle. Don’t forget to take the leaflet before leaving!
Let’s explore the secrets of the beloved confectionery at “Eel Pie Factory” where admission is free!
Have you ever wanted to know how to make Hamamatsu’s famous confectionery, “Eel Pie”? At the “Eel Pie Factory” located on the outskirts of Hamamatsu City, you can tour the factory for free.
After the factory tour, you can try original sweets made with eel pie at the attached cafe or mobile cafe. Adults and children alike can enjoy free admission.
Shirakura Gorge, a scenic spot in Hamamatsu with autumn leaves
This time, I went to Tatsuyamacho, Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City to see the autumn leaves.
Neither Jenne nor the staff knew much about Tatsuyama Town, so we asked Mr. Haseyama, who is in charge of the Hamamatsuyama Village Ikiiki Support Team Tatsuyama, to show us around.
Mr. Daiki Haseyama, in charge of Hamamatsu Yamasato Lively Support Team Tatsuyama
The photo was taken in mid-November, when the trees were starting to change color, so I went to Shirakura Gorge because I wanted to take beautiful photos, including the autumn leaves.
Flower illuminations color the night in Hamamatsu during the Christmas season
As Christmas approaches, the Hamamatsu Flower Park is illuminated with a warm glow, as if to alleviate the winter cold.
The park will be lit up from 5pm, when it is normally closed. We spoke to Mr. Yamashita, the team leader who has been in charge of plant management and decoration at Hamamatsu Flower Park for over 10 years, about “Flower Illumination,” where you can enjoy strolling through the park decked out in a million illuminations under the night sky. I did.
Sea Lake Report: Walk along the Okuhamana Nature Trail in search of spectacular views.
Lake Hamana may have a strong image of marine leisure, but not many people know that it is actually a place where you can enjoy hiking and trail running. To the west are the Kosai Mountain Range, and to the north are the mountains Jogamine and Tommakuyama, where hiking trails are available. It is also popular as a low-altitude hike that can be easily done on holidays.
This time, I used the Tenryu Hamanako Railway to walk the course from Hamanako Sakume Station to the summit of Jogamine and descend to Kiga Station, and I would like to share with you how it went.
Sea Lake Report: Walking the Himekaido Road, Kiga-Mikkabi Edition
I decided to walk down Honsaka-dori (commonly known as Hime-kaido), which has been a side street of the Tokaido since ancient times and has been visited by many travelers.
Last time, I walked from the Amma starting point in Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu City to Kiga-shuku in Hamana Ward.
This time, I would like to continue walking from Kiga-juku to Mikkabi-juku.
The atmosphere is different from the section I walked last time, with cobblestone streets and historic sites scattered throughout.
This is a journey where you can feel the vestiges of the past, when many travelers came and went.
I walked around feeling like a person from the past, so I’ll tell you what it was like.
Touch the eel at Lake Hamana! Eel Tenpo eel farm tour
The rainy season is over and summer is in full swing. Supermarkets are busy selling “Doyo no Ushi” eel. For a long time, people believed that people should eat eel to get plenty of nutrients during the summer when people tend to get sick, and there are poems about eel in the Manyoshu.
We spoke to Mr. Masaaki Yamashita of Tenpo Co., Ltd. second generation Ikeban Co., Ltd., who runs an eel farm in Hamamatsu City, about eel, which Japanese people have a connection with and love.
Left/Mr. Shota Yamashita, 3rd generation pond keeper, Right/Mr. Masaaki Yamashita, 2nd generation pond keeper
Sea Lake Report: Actually walking the Hime Kaido Road, Anma-Kiga edition
If you live in Hamamatsu, Iwata, or Kosai, you’ve probably heard of “Himekaido.”
It is a side road of the Tokaido that runs from Mitsuke-juku in Iwata City to Goyu-juku in Aichi Prefecture, north of Lake Hamana, and has been heavily traveled since ancient times.
At some point, the road that was once called Honzaka-Michi came to be called “Hime-kaido.”
I know about it and have driven past it, but I don’t think many people have ever walked there.
It might not be a bad idea to walk around your hometown and feel like a traveler from the Edo or Meiji eras.
For that reason, I decided to walk along Hime Kaido.
Since it would be impossible to walk all the way in one day, I decided to walk from Anma, which is the starting point for the Tokaido road, to Kiga, where I live.
Enjoy autumn art with iron objects. Autumn Festa at Hamanako Garden Park where you can enjoy all of autumn at once
Hamamatsu, where the highest temperature in Japan this summer was recorded at 41.1 degrees Celsius, is finally starting to feel the autumn breeze. “Autumn Festa 2020″ has begun at Hamanako Garden Park. This year’s period is approximately one month from September 26th (Saturday) to November 3rd (Tuesday/holiday). Along with 400,000 cosmos trees, there will be events that people of all ages can enjoy, such as nature yoga on the lawn, children’s sketching classes, and ground golf, so you can enjoy “autumn of art” and “autumn of sports” all at once. can.
Hamanako Garden Park hosted the Hamanako Flower Expo in 2004, and more than 5 million people visited in six months. Admission is free and parking is available, and it is a popular spot decorated with colorful flowers and trees each season. Although the park is crowded with people, the grounds are large so you can enjoy a walk without worrying about crowds.