Hamamatsu (浜松) is the largest city in Shizuoka, Japan.

Hamamatsu Castle

Understand

An important industrial hub, the city is home to many companies, including Honda Motor Company, Kawai Pianos, Yamaha, Sony, and Suzuki Motor Company, as well as large air base for Japan's defense force. Consequently, the city is well known for producing motorcycles and musical instruments, among other things.

For its population of 818,197 (July 2006 figures), Hamamatsu is a uniquely international city. It is home to almost 19,000 Brazilians and 3,000 Peruvians, giving it the highest per-capita concentration of South Americans in Japan. The city also has sizeable Indonesian, Korean, Filipino, Chinese, and Nepalese populations. The ethnic diversity here provides the city with a wide array of ethnic stores, restaurants, bars and clubs.

Get in

Map of Central Hamamatsu

By plane

There is a direct bus called E-Wing from Chubu International Airport. The ride costs 3000 yen (one-way) and takes about an hour and 45 minutes.

By train

Hamamatsu is situated on both the Tokai JR Main Line and the Tokai Shinkansen rail line, connecting the city to Tokyo and Nagoya.

By car

The Tomei Expressway, the main artery through the Chubu region, also bisects the city.

Get around

Hamamatsu's Akaden

See

The view of downtown Hamamatsu, seen from Act City Tower's observation deck.

• Act City Tower Observatory - Hamamatsu's only skyscraper, situated next to JR station, is a symbol of the city. It's design is supposed to resemble a harmonica, a reminder that Hamamatsu is sometimes known as the "City of Music". The building houses shopping and a food court, the Okura Hotel, and an observatory on the 45th floor from which you can see all of central Hamamatsu, even down to the sand dunes at the shore. If the weather is exceptionally clear, you can even glimpse Mt. Fuji in the distance. The observatory is open daily until 7PM. Admission is 500 yen.
• Hamamatsu Castle - Hamamatsu Castle Park stretches from the modern city hall building to the north. The castle is located on a hill in the southeast corner of the park, nearest city hall. It was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa, who is considered perhaps the greatest shogun and one of the three people most important to the unification of Japan. His rule marks the beginning of the Edo Period. Tokugawa lived here from 1571 to 1588. After the Edo Period, the castle was destroyed, and was restored in 1958. There is a small museum inside, which costs 200 yen to enter, and which houses some armor and other relics of Tokugawa as well as a minuature model of how the city might have looked 400 years ago. North of the castle is a very big park with a Japanese garden, a koi pond, a ceremonial teahouse, and some commons areas. Buses 36, 40, 41, and 50, among others stop in front of city hall (市役所前).
• Hamamatsu Flower Park - Has its own stop on the Kanzanji bus line from terminal 1 at the main bus station. Open 9 AM to 5 PM. Closed from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1. This beautiful park has many gardens full of a variety of flowers. There is also a restaurant and shopping area. Admission ￥700.
• Hamamatsu Fruit Park - Has its own stop on the "Miyakoda Keiyu Fruit Park Iki" bus line from terminal 16 at the main bus station. Open 9 AM to 5 PM. Closed from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1(closes at 16:30 from October through April) This unique amusement park is a working fruit farm where you can see, touch, taste, and pick a variety of fruits. Admission ￥700.
• Hamamatsu Municipal Zoo　
• Nakatajima Sand Dunes (中田島砂丘)

Festivals

• Shoryu Weeping Plum Blossom Festival - February/March
• Princess Road Festival - April
• Hamamatsu Festival - early May - This 400-plus-year-old festival is famous throughout Japan. In what is known as the Takoage Gassen, every neighborhood in the city and even some from other cities design and make their own kites to fly and to fight near Nakatajima Sand Dunes. There are parades all over the city well into the night, in which children playing various instruments are carried in large ornate parade floats. Everywhere there are groups marching and chanting to the sound of trumpets, and the sake flows freely.

A Brazilian samba parade near Shin-Hamamatsu station

• Hamakita Hiryu Festival - June
• Enshu Dainenbutsu (Buddhist Chanting Ritual) - July 15
• Hamakita Manyo Festival - October
• Inasa Puppet Festival - November
• Akiha Fire Festival - December
• There are also various festivals and performance to celebrate the Japanese-Brazilian heritage that is so prevalent in this area.

Museums

• Hamamatsu Art Museum - Just one stop up the road from city hall is Hamamatsu's art museum. Exhibits vary. The bus stop is called bijutsukan (美術館).
• Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments - 108-1 Itaya-machi, Tel. 053-451-1128. This museum, just northeast of Act City Tower, houses a collection of over 2,000 kinds of ethnic instruments from around the world. Admission ￥400
• Air Park - This museum is on the airbase near Takaoka-cho and displays some aircrafts and other items. It also has a flight simulator and a theatre. Closed Mondays. Admission free.

Do

A guided boat tour on the Tenryuu River.

• Visit Pal-Pal Amusement Park. Rollercoasters, Japan's longest raft ride, and a cable car ride over Lake Hamana are among the attractions at this park in Kanzanji.　Get to Kanzanji by bus from terminal 1 at the central bus station. Admission ￥1000.
• Learn to do Takiya-ryo (Torch Fishing) at Lake Hamana. This method of spear fishing at night is unique to the area. You can rent a boat for up to 4 people、including an experienced fisherman, for ￥27,000 yen. For a little extra you can have your catch cooked and served. Closed from Nov. to April.
• See, touch, and learn about Lake Hamana aquatic life at Hamanako Hands-on Aquarium. A short walk from Bentenjima station, 3 stops west on the JR line from JR Hamamatsu. Closed on Mondays. Admission ￥300.
• Take a pleasure boat on Lake Hamana between Kanzanji Hot Spring and Mikkabi-cho. Admission ￥1150.
• Watch boat racing on Lake Hamana, one of only a few such venues in Japan.
• Go rafting or take a guided float down the Tenryuu River.
• Ride a historic trolley from Tenryu Futamata station through beautiful countryside to Mikkabi.
• Watch auto or motorcycle racing at Hamamatsu Race Track. Seasonal. Admission ￥50.

Buy

• May One - This is the department store located inside the main JR station. It includes a lot of clothing shops, a bookstore, a CD shop, a Muji (top quality generic items), and an import store called Sony Plaza, among other things. There is a food court at the top and a high-quality grocery store in the basement.

• Entetsu Department Store - Just west of the JR station. High quality clothing and other items. The basement contains a wonderful grocery and deli.

• ZaZa City - Up Kajimachi-dori (かじ町通り) from the JR station. Amongst varied clothing shops, ZaZa City has a musical instrument store, a movie theater, a supermarket, a manga store, a video arcade, Toys'R'Us, Starbucks, MosBurger, Baskin Robbins, Uniqlo and more.

• Jusco/Aeon Malls - Hamamatsu has three of these somewhat western-style shopping malls. You'll have to catch a bus to these. The largest is in Irino-cho (入野町).

• Yajimaya - This is the bookstore with the largest collection of books in English in town. It is on the road that crosses in front of the city hall, a little south of Yurinoki-dori (ゆりの木通り), directly across from a huge izakaya called Dragonfish. If you don't find what you need here, it's best to take the JR line a few stops west to the Seibunkan bookstore in Toyohashi.

• Duty-Free Hamamatsu - This Brazilian-owned shop and the small shop across the corner from it sell cheap Japanese souvenirs and gift items. Walk west from the JR station's north exit, under the Akaden line and turn left at the McDonalds. Go straight until you come to the train overpass.

• Sago - There are a number of clothings shops on the first two floors of the Sago Hotel building on Yuraku-gai, including a used clothing store which sells clothes by the kilo-- good for the bargain traveler whose threads are wearing thin.

Eat

Bakeries

• Chambord has several bakeries around town, serving a variety of fresh-baked breads and pastries. There is a location with a deli inside the JR station. One other bakery is across the street from Shin-Hamamatsu station, and another is at the corner of Yuraku-gai and Daiichi-dori.

Brazilian

• Servitu - On the main street south of the station, go west about three blocks until you come to a small bridge. Turn left and go down two blocks to find Servitu. On the first floor is a Brazilian grocery store and next to it a small grill stand which sells espetinhos, small spits of barbequed meat. For a more filling meal, head up to the fourth floor and put some money in the ticket machine. The atmosphere isn't much but the feijoada and the bife acebolada are delicious.

• Tertullia - An all-you-can-eat Brazilian rodizio. A salad bar and a variety of fine cuts of meat served until you feel as if you will explode. Take bus 90, 92, or 93 to the stop called Hougawa (芳川). Then continue walking in the direction of the bus another block to Route 1, cross it, and take a right. Tertullia is about a block down on the left.

Coffee

• Pronto Cafe - Good coffee in a sophisticated atmosphere directly beneath Shin-Hamamatsu station. There is plenty of outdoor seating, and the inside shares space with the DJ booth for FM Haro, a popular local radio station.
• Starbucks - Two locations in the center are very popular, one on the corner across from Shin-Hamamatsu station and the other in ZaZa City.
• In the warmer months there is an outdoor coffeeshop between the main JR station and the Entetsu department store. It's perfect for people-watching.

Filipino

• Barrio Festa - located on a sidestreet a block south of Yurinoki-dori.

Indian

• Aside from Garuda (see below), there are three other Indian restaurants. There is Everest, a more upscale version of Garuda with the same owner. There is also an Indian restaurant in the basement of the Sago Hotel, and another in the food court of Act City Tower.

Indonesian

• Garuda - North on Yūraku-gai next to Groovy Gravy. The menu here is about half Indonesian and half Nepalese. There is also a import grocery store attached, with items from various Asian countries.
• Surabaya - Located in the basement of the Sago Hotel on Yūraku-gai.

Italian

• Osteria da Michele - Small cafe on the sidestreet parallel to Yuraku-gai, near Yurinoki-dori.
• Ottimo - Pasta and dessert at the corner of Yūraku-gai and Yurinoki-dori. A bit expensive.
• Pronto Cafe - Good pizza and pasta dishes at only about 600 yen. Full bar. Located directly beneath Shin-Hamamatsu station. Closes nightly at 10 PM.
• Snowee Cafe - Not everything on the menu is Italian, but the pasta dishes are good. This place on the restaurant floor of May One is worth a visit if only to puzzle over the ridiculously non-sensical English phrases written all over the walls.

Japanese

Hamamatsu is very famous for eel from Lake Hamana, and unagi (うなぎ) restaurants can be found all over the city. Perhaps the most famous one is located in a black-facaded building next to the Meitetsu Hotel. Fresh seafood from Lake Hamana is always available. Another famous local delicacy is suppon (すっぽん), or snapping turtle. Hamamatsu has Japan's second-highest per-capita sales of gyoza as well (but first prize still goes to Utsunomiya).

• Binchou Oogiya (備長扇屋) - A chain of yakitori shops, with some of the cheapest beer in town. Of the 7 stores, there are three in the city center: one across the street from the southeast corner of the JR station, one on Yūraku-gai a block south of ZaZa City, and one on Kajimachi-dori directly across from ZaZa City.
• Toraya (とらや) - On the second floor above a fruit stand at Daiichi-dori and Yūraku-gai, this mom-and-pop shop has some of the best cook-it-yourself okonomiyaki in town.
• Bengara Yokocho - A long indoor arcade just north of Shin-Hamamatsu station which houses around 15 ramen or yakitori shops.
• Any number of big chain restaurants can be found in Hamamatsu as well, including Wara Wara (笑笑), Doma Doma (どまどま), Hana no Mai (花の舞), Shirokiya (白木屋), Za-Watami (座和民), Gyu-Kaku (牛角), and others.
• A long string of Japanese restaurants can be found on Daiichi-dori between Yuraku-gai and Daiichi-dori station.
• May One department store has a number of Japanese restaurants on its food court level.

Mexican

• Junk - It's not terribly authentic, but it's the closest you can find in Hamamatsu. See the listing under Drink for directions.

Middle Eastern

• No Name Bar, [1]. Serves delicious kebabs and other Middle Eastern food. There is a fancy Middle Eastern dinner one Sunday a month. See the listing under Drink.

• On the weekends next to the Starbucks in ZaZa City, there is a Turkish gentleman who sets up a kebab stand. You can occasionally find him set up late at night in front of one of the clubs as well.

Pizza

• Dai Dai - A 3rd floor bar and restaurant on Yuraku-gai just north of No Name Bar and Duas Queens. Personal pizzas are very cheap at 400 yen and very popular. The place is often booked with private parties on weekends.

• Hi-Hoo - Pizza place in the basement of the Sago Hotel.

• There are also local franchises of big pizza chains like Strawberry Cones, Pizza-La [2], and Pizza Time. They deliver, but you'd best order in Japanese.

Russian

• There is a pricey Russian restaurant just west off of Yuraku-gai at its southern end. Look for the sign that reads "PECTOPAH".

Vegetarian

• Groovy Gravy - The only truly vegetarian food in town, this restaurant and bar serves some very creative and tasty pizzas and curries. See the listing under Drink.

Thai and Vietnamese

• Gris-Gris - This French-Vietnamese restaurant is located in the E-Stage Hamamatsu building about 5 blocks directly north of the station. Very popular at lunch.
• There are also some Thai and Vietnamese restaurants in Izumi-cho(泉町). It's a bit far from the center, but if you get the craving, take bus 41 or 50 and get off at Izumi-cho Minami (泉町南) and walk north a bit.

Drink

Bars and pubs

Many of the drinking establishments in town can be found on or around Yūraku-gai (有楽街), which runs vaguely north-south about 4 blocks west-northwest of the JR station. At ZaZa City shopping complex, it intersects Kajimachi-dōri (かじ町通り), which is the main street leading northwest from the station.

• Down Under -The newest place in town, owned and run by two Austalian guys who've lived in Hamamatsu for many years. Located on busy Kajimachi-dōri (かじ町通り) directly across from the ZaZa City shopping complex. It's a little early to say what the crowd here will ultimately be like, but for now it's pretty popular with the older lived-here-5-or-more-years foreigners, inundated on the weekends by a random mix of mostly English teachers, some Japanese, and a few Brazilians. 2 narrow floors. Miniature pool table and a rather dinky electronic darts board. Nice atmosphere though. These guys have a van that converts into a bar and they take it out and throw beach parties with it sometimes. The last one in 2005 was complete with a big stage with reggae bands from Tokyo.

• Groovy Gravy -North up Yūrakugai just out of the busy nightlife area, this place is run by an Australian guy who cooks all-vegetarian food, and Iwa-san, who runs the bar. Crowd is similar to Down Under, but the place is a bit smaller and more relaxed. Free wireless internet access if you bring your own laptop. The food is great but can be a bit pricey.

• No Name Bar, [3]. On the 3rd floor of a building in Chitose-chō (千歳町) at the south end of Yūrakugai across from the large Ryukoh pachinko. This little dive is the cheapest and also the most international of the gaijin (foreigner) bars. There is a monthly Middle-Eastern dinner complete with belly dancing. There is a electronic dart board and free broadband internet access. They also feature live music once or twice a month, usually on Fridays. The place is run by a extremely friendly Kurd from Turkey and his Japanese wife. Regulars include Brazilians, Peruvians, Russians, Koreans, Bangladeshis and Indians, the few random continental Europeans around, and of course a healthy group of English teachers and Japanese folk. Watch out for the raki.

• Curva International -Brazilian karaoke bar. Good Brazilian snacks, reasonably priced drinks. Almost everyone here is Japanese-Brazilian until 3 or 4 AM when it gets mixed up just a tiny bit. This place is known to occasionally stay open as late as 8 or 9 in the morning, so it's a regular stop for many who've tired out from dancing all night but aren't ready to quit just yet. To find it, go south of the station and hang a right on the main street. Curva is on the left about three blocks down, just past a small bridge.

• Mein Schloss - A very large German beer hall a couple of blocks northeast of the JR station. They brew their own beer here. More of a place for big parties than a place for hanging out.

• Entetsu Beer Garden - June through the end of August. Sitting atop the Entetsu department store, this is a fairly standard Japanese-style beer garden: mediocre food, cold beer, fresh air.

• Crossover Bar - A sizeable darts bar right on Yūraku-gai a short walk north from ZaZa City. Prices are a bit on the high side, but the crowd is good sometimes.

• G Bar - A shoebox-sized bar on Daiichi-doori (第一通り) a block and a half east of Yūraku-gai. The bar seats only about eight people, but the owner is a cool guy (doesn't speak much English though). People who are there generally seem willing to chat.

• Antenna - Popular basement bar next to G Bar.

• Duas Queens - This new bar next to No Name Bar is run by the most tattoo-covered 50-something-year-old Japanese woman you'll find in Hamamatsu.

• Junk - Japanese-run country-western-saloon-style bar. Country music, chili, tacos, the whole bit. On Mondays they have an English conversation night where native speakers can show up for a free beer and chat with Japanese of various English levels. From the center of ZaZa City near the Starbucks, cross the main street and head to the left. Turn right at the first street and you'll find Junk about two blocks down on the right.

• Maneuver - This bar is located on the third floor of a building a block west of Yūraku-gai and a block north of Yurinoki-dori (ゆりの木通り). Used to be a gaijin sports bar called Stadz, but now has been bought and changed drastically by a Japanese guy who speaks no English whatsoever. A kind of quietly classy-looking place. They still play some sport games on TV sometimes. A bit pricey.

• Hambolt - Near the corner of Yūraku-gai and Daiichi-dori (第一通り). This small club/bar hosts frequent reggae events. On Fridays they charge only 3000 yen for all-you-can-drink highballs, all night long.

• There are of course a large number of karaoke places along Yūraku-gai as well.

Clubs

Hamamatsu has a lot of options for clubbing for a city its size, though most of these are open only on the weekends. Most places do not start getting busy until after midnight.

• Fahrenheit - Busy on Fridays and absolutely packed on Saturdays, this club has a regular American hip-hop group and frequently brings in DJs from Tokyo. The crowd is a good mix of Japanese, Latino, and English-speakers. 3000 yen w/ one drink. No shorts, no sandals. To find it, walk north from ZaZa City on Yuuraku-gai and take the first sidestreet to the left.

• K'noas - Medium-sized Peruvian-owned club. The music ranges from salsa and forro to rock to house, sometimes all in one night. This place can get very crowded on weekend nights. The crowd is typically about half Peruvian and half Brazilian. To find it, go south of the JR station and take a left on the first main street. K'noas is about 2 blocks down on the left. Cover is 1000 yen.

• SPY Night Club - A block down the sidestreet at the Sunkus store near K'noas is SPY Night Club. It is easily the largest dance club in town. The crowd is overwhelmingly Brazilian and the music is as well. Cover is usually 3000 yen, 2000 yen if before midnight.

• Seconds - A small Japanese dance club on an upper floor across from the Toys'R'Us store in ZaZa City. Plays house or hip-hop. Cover is usually 2000 yen.

• Powerhouse - A small Nigerian-owned club on a sidestreet a block north of ZaZa City, just down the street from Fahrenheit. Plays mostly hip-hop. This place is very popular with the Nigerian and Filipino communities here, with a smattering of Brazilians and Japanese.

• Planet Cafe - This medium-sized club is located on a sidestreet that runs behind the Viola Building at the corner of Yuuraku-gai and Yurinoki-dori (ゆりの木通り). The crowd is mostly Japanese, and the DJs are often really good. Cover, 2000-3000 yen.

• Klan Klub - On Daiichi-dori (第一通り) a block east of the Akaden line. This recently-remodeled club plays a mix of Brazilian music, rock, and house. Drinks are in the 500-yen-range. This place can be quite happening on weekends. Cover around 1000 yen.

• Emporio Cafe - Underground in the pedestrian pass-under across from the main post office on Kajimachi-dori (かじ町通り). There is a popular salsa class here on Wednesdays. On weekends the music varies but is typically heavy on salsa. Delicious Brazilian bar snacks. Cover is usually 1000 yen, but they often stop charging after 2:30 or 3 AM.

Live music

• Hamamatsu Force - A good ol' rock-n-roll venue that features rock and punk bands, both Japanese and Brazilian, with the occasional road show coming through. Located on Yuuraku-gai half a block south of Yurinoki-dori (ゆりの木通り), on the second and third floors above the Quest Music guitar specialty shop. Open at least every Fri.,Sat., sometimes other days. Cover varies.

• Mescaline Drive - A tiny hole-in-the-wall live venue with mostly ska bands. Located one block north of Shin-Hamamatsu station.

• The circular performance space between the two ZaZa City buildings also has frequent live performances on weekend afternoons.

• Schedules for the concert hall at Act City can be obtained at the HICE information center. See below.

Sleep

• Business Hotel Tsujiume Honkan, 355-2 Sunayama-cho, Tel.053-453-1711 Fax 053-453-1712
• Fitness Hotel 330, 353-1, Sunayama-cho, Tel. 053-454-0330 Fax 053-452-0047
• Grand Hotel, 1-3-1 Higashi Iba (東井場), [4].
• Hotel Bouquet Tokai, 353-7 Sunayama-cho, Tel. 053-456-8111 Fax 053-452-9022
• Hotel Concorde, 109-18 Motoshiro (元城町), Tel. 053-457-1111, [5].
• Hotel LeMonde, 335-14 Sunayama-cho, Tel. 053-455-1188 Fax 053-455-1028
• Hotel Villa Kuretake 1-1-26 Higashi Iba (東井場), Tel. 053-453-0880 Fax. 053-453-2988, Email: info@villa-kuretake.co.jp; Single ￥8,000/Double ￥15,000
• Hotel Yonekyu, 94 Tenma-cho Hamamatsu-shi, Tel. 053-455-3131 Fax 053-455-0531
• Maruko Inn, 324-15 Sunayama-cho, Tel. 053-457-0505 Fax 053-454-8083
• Meijiya Hotel, 1-1-30 Sato, Tel. 053-465-8111 Fax 053-461-1308,
• Meitetsu Hotel, 110-17 Itaya-Machi (板屋町), Tel. 053-452-5111, [6]. Singles ￥12,100/Doubles ￥21,000
• Okura Hotel, [7]. Inside Act Tower.
• Roynet Hotel, 218-1 Motoshiro-cho (元城町). This hotel is 2 minutes walk from city hall and Hamamatsu Castle Park.
• Sago Hotel, [8] (website in Japanese only). This hotel is conveniently located on Yuraku-gai very close to ZaZa City.
• Sago Inn, 2-3-1 Ebizuka, Tel. 053-456-3511 Fax 053-456-1460
• Sago Terminal Hotel, 322-7 Sunayama-cho, Tel. 053-453-3515 Fax 053-453-5954
• South Garden Hotel, 325-30 Sunayama-cho Tel. 053-451-1800 Fax 053-451-1801. Just south of the central train station on the left.

Contact

There is an information center inside the JR station. Another more comprehensive information center, called HICE (Hamamatsu Foundation for International Communications and Exchanges) [9], can be found on the 7th floor of the Forte building, directly north across the walking arcade from the Entetsu department store. There is free internet access on the second floor of this building. There are also two internet cafes on Yuraku-gai. One is called Popeye Media Cafe and is located above the Denny's near ZaZa City. The other is about two blocks north from ZaZa City on the right, called Fujiyama Cafe.

Further information in English can be found at the following websites:

• Hamamatsu-Daisuki Net

• Hamamatsu Visitors and Convention Bureau

• Canal Hamamatsu - Site run by Hamamatsu City Hall

Get out

• Hanabi Taikai - There are many fireworks displays in the area during the summer. The largest of these is Fukuroi Enshu no Hanabi held in Fukuroi, a small town a few stops east on the JR line. This celebration in early August is one of the largest fireworks displays in Japan, with over 30,000 fireworks. Within Hamamatsu city limits, there are also impressive hanabi taikais in Bentenjima (late June), Kanzanji (late July), and Tenryu (early August).