A trip to experience the local cuisine and unexplored areas of the western part of the prefecture

Oku-oi Kojo Station is an unmanned station of the Oigawa Railway. In 2019 it was awarded the COOL JAPAN AWARD by a jury of 100 non-Japanese judges. It is a picturesque location gaining attention both at home and abroad. There is a promenade beside the railroad bridge that spans the dam lake, and when you take the promenade, it feels as if you are walking in the air over the lake.

The Sumatakyo Onsen is a natural hot spring coming forth from the base of the southern Alps. The popular hot spring is referred to as a “beautifying hot spring” for the way it leaves the skin feeling silky smooth the day after you take a bath in its slippery waters. You can soothe your tired body after a long day of travel by relaxing in the hot spring baths and enjoying a meal made with plenty of mountain delicacies.

Bridge of Dreams is a 90-meter suspension bridge stretching over a beautiful lake with a surface shimmering in emerald green and cobalt blue. There is an old saying that if you wish for love near the center of the bridge, your wish will come true, making the bridge a popular “power spot” among young women and couples. In autumn, the leaves of the trees turn red and yellow, and you can enjoy the beautiful autumn colors. Late October to early December is the best time to visit. In 2012 it was selected by Trip Advisor among the world’s “top 10 suspension bridges you have to walk across before you die,” and tourists from all over the world now come to see the bridge.

Many Japanese people have the idea that Hamamatsu = eel, and for good reason. Blessed with a mild climate and abundant groundwater, Lake Hamana is the “birthplace of eel farming” with a history of more than 120 years since Japan’s first successful eel farming in 1900. It is a representative eel production area in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Along with eel, another Hamamatsu delicacy you cannot miss is the Gyoza dumplings. Stuffed full of locally grown cabbage and other vegetables, these dumplings strike an exquisite balance between the sweetness of the vegetables and the richness of the pork. They come in a characteristic serving arrangement, with the dumplings arranged in a circle with freshly boiled bean sprouts in the middle.

Mein Schloss is an authentic beer restaurant where you can enjoy craft beer brewed according to the strict standards of the German Reinheitsgebot. There are four beer types available year-round, along with other beers available for a limited time only.

The restaurant offers a wide variety of meals and specializes in German cuisine. In this building reminiscent of an old German castle, you can enjoy a beer and imagine you have taken a short trip to Europe.

The Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments is one of the largest musical instrument museums in the world, with about 3,300 instruments from around the world in its collection, 1,500 of which are on permanent display. Its concept is to “exhibit the world’s musical instruments from an unbiased and equal perspective, and explore human wisdom and sensibility through musical instruments.” It is a museum where you can “see, hear, and touch” sound by looking at exhibitions, listening to sounds and hearing explanations with the audio-visual equipment, and playing instruments in the hands-on room.