Hamamatsu.
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Overview

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

Understand

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

For its population of just under a million people, Hamamatsu is a uniquely international city. It is home to almost 16,000 Brazilians, mostly from São Paulo, Paraná, and Belém, as well as 3000 immigrants from Peru, giving it the highest per-capita concentration of South Americans in Japan. The city also has sizable immigrant populations from Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, China, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The ethnic diversity here provides the city with a wide array of ethnic stores, restaurants, bars and clubs.

Tourist information site The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Get in

By plane Geographically, the closest airport to Hamamatsu is in Shizuoka , 45 km away.

The closest international airport is Chubu International Airport in Nagoya. Entetsu operates a bus called E-Wing which runs directly to Hamamatsu Station every 45-60 min.

If coming from the other major international airports, Kansai or Narita , the fastest way to reach Hamamatsu is to take the JR limited express to Osaka or Tokyo, respectively, and change to the shinkansen. These trips are free for Japan Rail Pass holders.

Hamamatsu is on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, and the JR Tokaido Line, which serve major cities like Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

There are a handful of Hikari and Kodama services that stop in Hamamatsu. From Tokyo, there are two all-stopping Kodama trains that depart every hour, making the run to Hamamatsu in about 2 hours. Faster Hikari trains depart once per hour, running to Hamamatsu in 90 min.

There are hourly departures to Hamamatsu from Osaka and Kyoto on either a Hikari (90 min from Osaka) or Kodama (2 hr from Osaka).

Discount bullet train tickets include the Puratto (Platt) Kodama Ticket (Japanese), which offers a discount for Kodama trains if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat, and a coupon for a free drink to purchase before you board the train.

Several train changes are required along the way.

All of the above train services are free with a Japan Rail Pass.

The Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto trains make overnight stops in Hamamatsu on runs to Izumo and Takamatsu, respectively.

The Tomei Expressway, the main artery through the Chubu region, bisects Hamamatsu. The city is served by the Hamamatsu and Hamamatsu-Nishi interchanges. It is around 8 km from Hamamatsu Interchange to Hamamatsu station.

Further to the north, the Shin-Tomei Expressway serves Hamamatsu through the Hamamatsu Hamakita Interchange. It's about 17 km from there to Hamamatsu station.

Hamamatsu serves as a major stop for bus travel throughout the country, thanks in large part to its location near the Tomei Expressway. The main stop for buses is Hamamatsu Bus Terminal, next to Hamamatsu Station. This is not to be confused with Hamamatsu-cho Bus Terminal, which is located in Tokyo.

Through buses may stop at the Hamamatsu Kita bus stop of the expressway, a good distance from Hamamatsu station.

Daytime buses from Tokyo take around 4 hr 30 min, with most runs to Tokyo in the morning and from Tokyo in the evening.

Get around

The city center is easily explored on foot, but Hamamatsu is a very sprawling place, and to visit places further out such as the Fruit Park or Kanzanji Hot Springs, you will need another form of transportation.

By car Times Car Rental, (south of Hamamatsu station), .

By bus Hamamatsu Bus Terminal is just north of the main JR train station. Take a ticket from the machine inside the bus when you enter.

By train The JR Tokaido main line has five stops within Hamamatsu city limits. They are, from west to east: Bentenjima (弁天島) Maisaka (舞阪) Takatsuka (高塚) Hamamatsu (浜松) Tenryugawa (天竜川) The JR Iida line cuts across the mountainous far northern edge of the city on its path between Toyohashi, Aichi and Tatsuno, Nagano. Useful stops include Misakubo and Sakuma. Entetsu runs a line popularly known as the Aka-den, after the red color of the train cars. It runs from Shin-Hamamatsu station (新浜松駅) northward to Nishikajima station (西鹿島), where it connects with the Tenryu-Hamanako line. To find Shin-Hamamatsu station from the regular JR station, walk westward from the JR North Exit about two minutes and you will find the station behind Entetsu department store. The Tenryuu-Hamanako line crosses Hamamatsu through the foothills and across the scenic north end of Lake Hamana. It connects with the JR Tokaido line at Shinjohara (新所原) at the western border of the prefecture, and again at Kakegawa to the east of town. In the center, it connects with the terminus of the Entetsu line at Nishikajima (西鹿島).

See

Act City. Hamamatsu's only skyscraper is a symbol of the city, designed 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. The basement floor holds two theaters at which there are frequent concerts, musicals, plays, and seminars. On the west side there is a unique rooftop park complex, and on the north there is an outdoor "Sunken Garden" used at festival times for food stalls and cultural performances.

Tower Observatory. From the observatory you can see down to the sand dunes at the shore and Lake Hamana to the west. If the weather is exceptionally clear, you can even glimpse Mount Fuji in the distance. Beneath the windows are labeled panoramic photos so you can identify the sights. Coin-operated telescopes.

Chopin Monument. Erected in the rooftop park beside the tower is an authentic two-third-scale replica of the famous Art Nouveau bronze statue of composer Frédéric Chopin by the famed artist Wacław Szymanowski. The original is in Hamamatsu's sister city, Warsaw.

Futamata Castle Ruins. Many battles were fought over this castle in the mid-16th century between Ieyasu Tokugawa and Shingen Takeda. In 1579, Tokugawa's wife was executed here and his son committed seppuku here as well. The castle was abandoned after 1600, and today nothing but the walls remain, surrounded by a beautiful park.

Hamamatsu Castle. Hamamatsu Castle 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 to the original specifications in 1958. The foundation, which is original, is unique because it uses unhewn stones carefully selected and fitted to lean inward.

Keta River. This beautiful mountain river flows for 66 km before it joins the Tenryu southwest of Haruno. It's a relaxing place for swimming or kayaking.

Kiga Sekisho. This restored checkpoint along the Princess Road was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1601. Now dressed with authentic props, visitors can get a glimpse of how tightly controlled travel in that era was. The gate is especially impressive.

Mitake Castle Ruins. A somewhat strenuous hike will bring you to the ruins of a castle built atop 467-m Mt. Mitake in 1340 by the Ii Clan.

Nakatajima Sand Dunes. The second largest grouping of sand dunes in Japan makes a great place for a stroll or picnic. Be careful if swimming, as there is somewhat of an undertow.

Ryugashi Cavern. One of the largest and most famous caves in Japan. The first 400 m of the 1000-m limestone cavern are open to the public. Stalactites and stalagmites abound, and the centerpiece is a 30-m underground waterfall. This cave stays about 15°C year-round, making it a great place to cool off during the sweltering summer heat.

Takizawa Observation Platform. This spot offers a beautiful vista of the city from which you can see all the way to Act City and all across Lake Hamana. Popular with local couples, the view is especially good at night when the city is lit up.

Tenryu River. One of Japan's largest rivers flows through the mountains of north Hamamatsu and along the edge of town from Tenryu-cho down to the coast. The meandering mountain portion and wide delta provide abundant opportunities for rafting, kayaking, and fishing, and there are many parks along its banks. The god of this river, Ryujin, is the guest of honor at many area festivals.

Washizawa Wind Cave. A less touristy alternative to Ryugashido, this limestone cave has cool winds blowing through it during the summertime. This is the only cave in Japan with a horizontal ceiling. The cave supposedly provided a refuge for warriors during the 1300s.

Akino Fuku Art Museum. This museum is housed in an interesting building made mostly from local cedar and other products. The permanent collection has many pieces by the late artist Akino Fuku, as well as other pieces.

Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments. This museum, just northeast of Act City Tower, houses a collection of over 2,000 kinds of ethnic instruments from around the world. Each instrument has a display attached, with headphones so you can listen to the sound of the instrument. The museum also has a hands-on room, where you can play many types of instruments; drums, xylophones, sitars and native Japanese instruments. This is a child friendly museum.

Hamamatsu City Museum. This museum, which is on the grounds of a pleasant park, is dedicated to the history of Hamamatsu and the surrounding area. Exhibits include locally-found pre-historic fossils, ancient pottery, old maps, and farming and domestic implements up through the Edo era. Also on the grounds are some shell mounds, evidence of pre-historic human life in the area. A reconstruction of a Jomon village has been installed among the mounds, giving the visitor an idea of what life was like here three to four thousand years ago. The name of the park and also the neighborhood, Shijimizuka, means "shell mound".

Hamamatsu Festival Hall. This museum gives visitors a taste of the famous Hamamatsu Festival year round, with its huge kites, festival clothing, lanterns, and banners. Videos show how the kites are made, flown and fought.

Hamamatsu JASDF Air Park. This museum displays many aircraft used or in former use by JASDF, and many other aviation-related items. It also has a flight simulator and a theater which runs informative documentaries every 30 minutes (Japanese only).

Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art. Just one stop up the road from city hall is Hamamatsu's art museum. Exhibits vary.

Hamamatsu Science Museum. A range of interactive exhibits divided into five zones: nature, space, sound, light, and electricity. The third floor holds a planetarium.

Lake Hamana Music Box Museum. The collection includes dozens of self-playing orgels and music boxes from around the world. Performances begin hourly at 20 after the hour, and there is also a special hands-on exhibit. The view of Lake Hamana from outside the museum is spectacular as well.

Choraku-ji Temple. This temple, built at the start of the Heian era, has a charming garden with plum trees, and is especially beautiful with the change of the leaves in the fall.

Daifuku-ji Temple. Mountain temple overlooking the small Inohana lake. Check out the Deva statues at the gate. This is an excellent place if you're in town during cherry blossom time, and if you miss it, check out the Hantoshi-zakura cherry blossoms which are in bloom from mid-autumn to early spring.

Gosha and Suwa Shrines. Built in 1580 and 1556 respectively, these side-by-side shrines were reconstructed in the 1940s and serve downtown locals. Especially interesting at the shrine festival on May 4 or at Shichigosan on November 15 when local families wrap their small children in kimono and come here to pray.

Hōrin-ji Temple. Established by an invited Chinese Zen master in 1667, this temple is a fine example of late Ming Dynasty Chinese architecture. The Buddha hall and the priest's residence are designated National Important Cultural Properties.

Kamoe Kannon. This bright-orange-and-white modern temple is one of the most important downtown temples. It is a good place to see the locals all dressed in kimono on holidays such as New Year's Day.

Makaya-ji Temple. Here you will find the oldest garden in the prefecture, reminiscent of Kyoto's Koke-dera. The temple was built in 726 and contains some important cultural artifacts. Especially impressive is the wooden statue of Senju-Kannon with one thousand arms.

Okuyama Hōkō-ji. This Zen temple, nestled among pines, sakura, peach, and other things, was established in 1377 and is the home of the Rinsai Sect, housing three much-revered Buddha statues. With over sixty halls, it is one of the biggest temples in the Tokai area. The small Shichison Bosatsudo is the oldest wooden building in the prefecture and a fine example of 14th century Japanese architecture. Visitors can walk through the buildings- no shoes allowed.

Ryōtan-ji Temple. The main hall here has "nightingale flooring" much like Nijo castle in Kyoto. When walked on, the flooring makes subtle bird sounds to warn of intruders. The garden here is a nationally designated scenic beauty. On the south side of the temple is a well which belonged to the founder of the Ii clan in the early 11th century.

Yamazumi Shrine. This mountain shrine was built in 709 and is well-known for its cult of wolf-worship. The grounds also have two ancient cedars over 1200 years old.

Bentenjima Kaihin Park. This beautiful spot has a beach and boardwalk, with a lovely view of a torii perched on an island in the middle of the bay. The fireworks display in late June is extremely popular, bringing in dozens of food stalls, and thousands of people.

Hamamatsu Castle Park. North of the castle is a very big park with a Japanese garden, a koi pond, a ceremonial teahouse (see Drink below), and some commons areas. This is the best downtown location to go to see cherry blossoms in the spring.

Hamamatsu Flower Park. This beautiful park has many gardens full of 3000 types of flowers, with over 100,000 plants in all. There is also a restaurant and shopping area.

Hamamatsu Fruit Park. This unique amusement park is a working fruit farm where you can see, touch, taste, and pick a variety of fruits.

Hamamatsu Municipal Zoo. Well worth stopping if you are in Kanzanji. In the autumn, special evening hours allow to you visit the zoo after dark.

Hamanako Garden Park. A big green park at the end of a peninsula on Lake Hamana. Features include a 5-hectare lawn, a waterworks plaza that encourages you to get wet, an exhibit hall, an observation tower, children's playground, a restaurant, and diverse flower gardens.

Observation tower. This 50-meter tower has a covered observation deck with a nice view of the park and lake.

Do

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.

Torch Fishing. This method of spear fishing at night is unique to the Lake Hamana area. For a little extra you can have your catch cooked and served.

Wotto Hamanako Aquatic Experience Center. At this hands-on aquarium, you can see, touch, and learn about aquatic life in Lake Hamana.

Hamanako Pleasure Boat. This ferry runs between Kanzanji Hot Spring and Mikkabi-cho, giving some nice views of Lake Hamana. The round trip takes about an hour.

Miyakoda Hiking Course. This "19-km hiking trail" is actually a route on the roads through the area. While quite confusing to the non-Japanese speaker, it does take one past Washizawa Cave, winds up in the mountains a temple, bridges, a waterfall, and finally to Takisawa Observation Platform. A new highway being built across this area seems to have altered some roads and creates for a challenge in route-finding. Be prepared to trek 25–30 km as the 19-km length assumes one does not get lost.

Yu Fukei Shiori. A nice bathhouse not so far from the city center.

Watch a movie in Toho Cinemas, in the Zaza City Complex or at Sun Street Shopping Center in Hamakita.

Hamamatsu Racetrack. National auto and motorcycle racing events.

Shoryu Weeping Plum Blossom Festival. Trees are pruned to look like dragons on clouds in the sky.

Princess Road Procession. During the Edo Period this road was a popular excursion spot for princesses. This matsuri re-enacts what the procession was like, with actors in full authentic dress of samurai, maids, servants and, of course, the princess with her palanquin.

Hamamatsu Festival. This 450-year-old festival is one of the most famous Golden Week festivals in 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 at the festival grounds near Nakatajima Sand Dunes, with each kite representing a son born to a family of the neighborhood within the last year. The kite-fighting takes place on the third day of the 3-day festival and results entertainingly in downed kites in trees and on rooftops all over the neighborhood. In the Sunken Garden space on the north side of Act City, there is an international food court with many exotic stalls, and a stage for all kinds of music and cultural performances from around the world, including taiko drumming, local yaramaika music, Thai kickboxing, Brazilian batucada and samba dancing performances, jazz acts, jugglers, and traditional dances. There are also parades all over the city well into the night, in which children playing various instruments are carried in 70 large ornate parade floats. Everywhere there are groups marching and chanting to the sound of trumpets, and the sake flows freely.

Hamakita Hiryū Festival. In honor of Ryūjin, god of the Tenryuu River, various events are held including kite-flying, a gyoza competition, and a special event celebrating fire, water, and sound.

Hamamatsu Yukata Festival. Hamamatsu is one of Japan's leading producers of the patterned, dyed fabric used to make yukata, and this small festival celebrates the beauty of this colored "summer kimono" with musical performances, food stalls, a yukata contest, and other exhibitions.

Enshu Buddhist Chanting Ritual. In this local traditional performance, a procession of chanters and people with flutes, drums, cymbals and lanterns visit the homes of families who have lost a loved one in the last year.

Misakubo Festival. This mountain festival features a costume contest in the afternoon and parades of costumed men carrying elaborate floats in the evening.

Hamakita Man'yō Festival. Features re-enactments of life in the Nara and early Heian periods with people dressed in authentic period clothing and dramatic Manyo poetry readings.

Sakuma Dam Festival. This festival pays tribute to Ryujin, god of the Tenryu River, and commemorates the 1956 opening of Sakuma Dam, a great engineering feat of its time. Highlights include a colorful dragon god dance, taiko drumming, fireworks over the lake, and many vendors displaying local products.

Inasa Puppet Festival. A rarity in Japan, this festival brings puppeteers from across the country for three full days of over 60 performances. Great for kids.

Akiba Fire Festival. Celebrating the supposed fire-prevention powers of Mt. Akiba, this festival is held at Akiba Temple and Shrine atop the famous mountain, with fire-walking, fire dances, and various weapon dances.

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). There are also various festivals and performance to celebrate the Japanese-Brazilian heritage that is so prevalent in this area.

Buy

Entetsu Department Store. High quality clothing and other items. The basement contains a wonderful grocery and deli.

Aeon Shopping Malls - Hamamatsu has three of these somewhat western-style shopping malls. You'll have to catch a bus to these. The largest is in Ichino-cho (市野町).

Aeon Mall Hamamatsu Ichino. The largest shopping mall in the area. A free shuttle bus runs to the mall from Kamijima and Saginomiya stations on the Akaden line.

Aeon Hamamatsu-nishi. Smallest yet closer to downtown, this location is bit more like a large department store.

May One. Clothing shops, Animate, a bookstore and an import store called Plaza, among other things. In addition to some restaurants, there is a high-quality grocery section in the basement.

Sun Street Hamakita. This shopping center contains a bathhouse, a Toho Cinema, arcades, a food court, a 24-hour Seiyu, and dozens of clothing stores.

ZaZa City Hamamatsu. Amongst varied clothing shops, ZaZa City has a musical instrument store, a movie theater, a supermarket, a manga store, a video arcade, Starbucks, MosBurger and more. The bookstore in the basement has a decent selection of English books.

Hamamatsu Plaza. Another large shopping mall complex consisted of five buildings: Xebio, Costco, Frespo, FitnessRelaxation ZEN, and Hamamatsu Plaza West. A tourist may be interested in Frespo and Hamamatsu Plaza West the most. The former is itself a shopping mall that consists of daily goods stores, restaurants, and a supermarket, while the latter are retail chains such as Mont-Bell, Uniqlo, GU and ABC. Xebio provide sports goods and children's goods, FitnessRelaxation ZEN is a gym with an onsen, and Costco - just Costco. If you want, you can visit it in a day, especially if you have a Costco membership. Visiting the complex by car is recommended.

Eat

Chambord. This bakery chain serves a variety of fresh-baked breads and pastries. There is a location with a deli inside the JR station, and another bakery is across the street from Shin-Hamamatsu station.

Gyoza no Kiyo. Famous gyoza not far from downtown.

Ishimatsu Gyoza. This may be the most famous place to get Hamamatsu gyoza. Some of the area's other famous shops are owned by former pupils of the head chef here.

Kibori. A very old establishment known for its lighter, less meaty gyoza. Ramen is also served.

Kunma Suisha no Sato. Named after the large old-fashioned waterwheel that turns outside, this spot serves the local specialties nihachi soba (buckwheat noodles) and gohei mochi. Visitors can also try making their own soba or konyaku.

Las Chillonas. The only full-fledged Mexican restaurant in town, run by a hard-working Mexican woman and her daughter. The chimichangas are spectacular, but the menu also includes a variety of appetizers, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and even a chicken molé. They also serve Mexican beer and frequently have cheap margarita specials.

Okonomiyaki Honpo. Very large and popular Kansai-style chain okonomiyaki restaurant.

Pronto Cafe. Good coffee, pizza and pasta in a sophisticated atmosphere. Full bar. There is plenty of outdoor seating, and the inside shares space with the DJ booth for FM Haro, a popular local radio station.

Toraya. 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.

Ani&Ivan. Satisfying yet cheap Indonesian food, including Halal. Indonesian, Japanese, and limited English is spoken.

Binchou Oogiya. A chain of yakitori shops, with some of the cheapest beer in town. Of the 7 stores, there are three within walking distance of the central JR station:.

. This location has a popular patio, good for people-watching.

Choupana. Popular Brazilian all-you-can-eat rodizio with salad bar, rice and beans, salgados, feijoada and a wide selection of cuts served tableside, including various beef cuts, chicken, chicken hearts, lamb, and pork.

Garuda. The menu here is about half Indonesian and half Nepalese. There is also an import grocery store attached, with items from various Asian countries.

Inakaya. Good selection of local dishes. Basic décor.

Kanerin. Excellent selection of eel dishes. Need someone with knowledge of Japanese to order.

Payaka. Mixture of Indonesian, and Thai food. Theme is "island life". Located a little bit out of the center (5 minutes by taxi), but truly a hidden pearl. Large terrace for summer nights, and very cozy/loungy interior. There is also a little shop selling jewelry and the like.

Servitu. Servitu is part Brazilian buffet restaurant and part import grocery store.

Surabaya. Slightly over-priced but satisfying Indonesian cuisine.

Yaotoku. Hamamatsu's most famous unagi restaurant, this place has been featured on national television programs many times in the past.

Chez Moriya. Chez Moriya features a chef who has worked in several top restaurants in Europe (including Belgian Comme Chez Soi" and Paris L'Arpege). The chef who is by the way very friendly, speaks French plus English.

The Oriental Terrace. Overlooking Lake Sanaru. Well layout out and decorated building, suited for small functions.

Shokudo-en. This somewhat upscale Korean-style barbecue restaurant is very popular. Try the ishiyaki bibimbap.

Drink

Shointei Tea Ceremony House. At this pleasant teahouse you can experience a traditional tea ceremony while taking in a nice garden view.

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.

Bar Mar Espana. Spanish tapas bar with a decent wine selection. Mostly Japanese clientèle.

Entetsu Beer Garden. A fairly standard Japanese-style beer garden: mediocre food, cold beer, fresh air. June through the end of August.

Mein Schloss. A very large German beer hall which brews its own beer. A good spot if you have a big group.

Motion. Specializes in premium alcohols, liquors, beers and juices. Ask the bartender to make you one of his original cocktails. Also serves some light foods. Bartender speaks English, Japanese, Tagalog and Cebuano. The DJ plays various kinds of music. No table charge.

No Name Bar. An interesting mix of Japanese and foreigners come here to drink, but they also offer authentic kebabs and other Turkish cuisine. Televised sports events on occasion. Free darts upstairs.

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.

Klan Klub. This club plays a mix of Brazilian music, rock, and house. This place can be quite happening on weekends.

K'noas. Medium-sized Peruvian-owned club. The music ranges from salsa and forró 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.

Planet Cafe. A medium-sized club with a mostly Japanese crowd which has DJ events that are often really good.

Second. A small Japanese dance club on an upper floor across from the Toys'R'Us store in ZaZa City. Plays house or hip-hop.

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. Open at least every F Sa, sometimes other days.

Madowaku. This venue attracts a primarily young Japanese indie crowd for local, national, and occasional international acts.

Mescaline Drive. A tiny hole-in-the-wall live venue with mostly ska bands.

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

Hotel Villa Kuretake. Relatively spacious rooms with room service from 5 on-site restaurants, a laundry service and in-room broadband connections.

Nagisa Park Campground. Lakeside camping with barbecue grill rental, bicycle rentals and sporting facilities.

Ryokan Nakaya. A small ryokan with a hot spring bath with a lake view. Breakfast is included—note that dinner is not included here.

Toyoko Inn Hamamatsu-eki Kita-guchi. Part of the popular no-frills Toyoko Inn chain of hotels. Toyoko Inn Club members can check in from 15:00.

Urakawa Campground. Campsites and simple lodgings on a beautiful green island at the convergence of two mountain rivers. Campfire pits, showers, and shared toilets. The locale is good for swimming in summertime.

Hamanako Royal Hotel. Part of Hamanako Lakeside Plaza, which includes Yuto onsen, outdoor pool, tennis courts, gym, park, and several restaurants. Most rooms have a good view of Lake Hamana.

Hotel Concorde Hamamatsu. Formerly the city's main conference venue, this older hotel is now a fairly good bargain for good sized rooms with a nice view of the castle park. 6 on-site restaurants, broadband service, and on-site car rentals are available.

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hamamatsu. This hotel is 2 minutes walk from city hall and Hamamatsu Castle Park. Excellent breakfast buffet.

Hamamatsu Terminal Hotel (Main Building).

Hotel South Garden Hamamatsu. Just south of the central train station on the left.

Grand Hotel Hamamatsu. A large hotel with restaurants, bars and function rooms. Some rooms starting to show their age.

Okura ActCity Hotel Hamamatsu. Inside Act Tower.