-Le véritable voyage de découverte ne consiste pas à chercher de nouveaux paysages, mais à avoir de nouveaux yeux.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.

Looking for the perfect stopover on your journey between Tokyo and Osaka? Look no further than Hamamatsu — a captivating destination well worth your time.

Nestled in nature, Lake Hamana offers the soothing sounds of waves and water, creating a peaceful escape. In contrast, the city center reveals Hamamatsu’s innovation, where world-class musical instruments and precision engines reflect its strong industrial heritage.

For those craving tranquility, the Tenryu region and the depths of Lake Hamana offer a retreat into nature.  You can listen to the rustling trees, the gentle flow of rivers, and even gaze at a sky full of stars.

In this article, we feature 40 handpicked spots in and around Hamamatsu, each showcased with stunning photography.

About 30 minutes by car west from Hamamatsu Station.

Grand Mercure Hamanako Resort & Spa is located in an excellent location close to Lake Hamana’s tourist attractions, such as Lake Hamana Garden Park and Takiya Fishing, where you can experience traditional fishing methods.

This hotel was rebranded and reopened in April 2024 as Grand Mercure, a premium brand developed by Accor, a hospitality group based in Paris, France.

The hotel’s concept is “Proudly Local – Pride in the local area,” and the interior is decorated with paintings featuring Kanzanji Onsen, a symbol of Lake Hamana, giving it a luxurious atmosphere.

Popular points include the magnificent view of Lake Hamana that spreads out before you, the buffet that uses local ingredients from Lake Hamana, and the much-talked-about all-inclusive resort.

This time recommendation is the Grand Mercure Hamanako Resort & Spa, surrounded by the lush nature of Lake Hamana.

I would like to take a break from my busy daily life and spend some relaxing time by the quiet lakeside.

For such people, we recommend ”hamanako camp field Asoviva,” a stylish campsite that was created on the shores of Lake Hamana.

This time, we actually visited “hamanako camp field Asoviva” and asked about its charm and ways to enjoy it!

There is the extraordinary experience of being curious and seeing things you have never seen before, and the extraordinary experience of doing nothing.

Everyone is busy every day in various positions and situations.How about a luxurious time as an adult where you can return to your true self, rather than the title of section manager, manager, husband, wife, father, or mother?

The inn I would like to introduce this time is “Atagoya ATAGOYA” located in Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City.

Before the coronavirus, I spent about 200 days a year overseas, moving between hotels in various countries, and this is one of the accommodations I would really recommend.

Hamamatsu is an area with a large number of dog lovers, with the number of registered dogs per 1,000 households being 157.6 per 1,000 households (157.6), ranking first in Japan (*). *Refer to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s “Examples of Hygiene Reports”

“THE SCENE hamanako”, a luxury dog ​​hotel by the lake, has newly opened in Hamamatsu, where dog lovers gather.

This is the perfect spot for people who want to create special memories with their dogs.

This time, I would like to introduce “THE SCENE hamanako”, a new attraction of Lake Hamana.

There are three main attractive points about “THE SCENE hamanako.”

①Location with a panoramic view of Lake Hamana

②Luxury guest rooms where even large dogs can relax

③ Facilities and services that you can enjoy with your dog

I would like to introduce ① to ③ along with photos of people who actually stayed there.

“The history of “Asashio” began in the 1960s when my grandfather-in-law, who ran a whitebait processing factory, opened a boat rental company to let as many people as possible enjoy fishing. “I wanted people to eat delicious food, so I began serving them. In the 1975s, after training with my father-in-law, I started an inn business in response to requests from fishing customers who wanted to stay overnight.” Ms. Mizuki Yamada is the young proprietress.

Approximately 40 years after opening, we have continued to operate on the shores of Lake Hamana as an inn where you can enjoy delicious food.

There are a total of 11 guest rooms. This family-run inn with a homey atmosphere has many repeat customers, and is popular as a place where you can enjoy meals with a spectacular view of Lake Hamana. From April 2021, we have started offering reservation-based lunches in completely private rooms.

This month’s recommendation is “Live Fish Inn Asashio”♪

Higashikurumeki, Inasa-cho, Hamana-ku, is surrounded by magnificent nature in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Atop Kurumegi Mountain, overlooking the Miyakotagawa Dam and Lake Inasa, there is a unique cottage that looks like something out of a foreign fairy tale.

That is Renri Itoishinoie, a lodging facility that rents out a whole house to only one group per day.

This time, we covered the appeal and ways to enjoy Renri Itoishinoie, a next-generation outdoor accommodation facility based on the concept of “surrender yourself to nature and return to your true self.”

Located halfway between Tokyo and Osaka, Lake Hamana is a unique place where the cultures and flavors of the East and West collide. Another attractive feature is the convenient access, with the Shinkansen and expressways nearby. Experiencing activities unique to Lake Hamana with close friends is sure to deepen your bonds.

It is a 4-minute walk east from Sukenobu Station on the Enshu Railway, near the center of Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

“365BASE outdoor hostel” is a hotel filled with fun and exciting concepts.

The hotel’s rooms are designed with an outdoor concept and are filled with a variety of playful features, creating an exciting space for adults and children alike.

365BASE, which started as a shared house in 2015, was transformed into an outdoor-themed hotel in 2020, and has become a lodging destination visited by fans from all over the world.

There are many rooms that are rare even across the country, such as facilities that make you feel like you’re camping outdoors while indoors, large tents, and rooms where you can boulder.

Each room on the first floor has a permanent grill installed so you can have a barbecue on the terrace.

This month’s recommendation is “365BASE outdoor hostel,” where you can spend a fun time different from your everyday life.