Hamamatsu

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.

By plane
Geographically, the closest airport to Hamamatsu is in Shizuoka, 45 km away. However, flights there are very limited: Domestic services are operated by ANA and low-cost carrier Fuji Dream Airlines to destinations including Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa, and international flights serve Seoul, Taipei and several destinations in China.
 * You can reach Hamamatsu by taking a limousine bus to Shimada Station (25 min, ¥500) and then taking the JR Tokaido Line (45 min, ¥840).
 * Fuji Dream Airlines passengers have access to a free shuttle bus to Kakegawa Station (35 min away), otherwise a shuttle to Kakegawa costs ¥1000. From Kakegawa, Hamamatsu is 30 min away by local JR train (¥500) or - if the connection is convenient - 11 minutes by shinkansen (¥1360).
 * It's also possible to take shuttle taxis all the way to Hamamatsu for ¥1500, but these must be reserved at least one day in advance and bookings can only be done in Japanese.

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. The trip takes 2 hr 10 min and costs ¥3100. The fastest option by train is to take the Meitetsu Limited Express to Nagoya and change to the shinkansen (90-100 min, ¥5650, shinkansen is free with the Japan Rail Pass).

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.

By train
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. The fare is the same for both, at ¥8290 for a reserved seat. Kodama trains have more unreserved seats than the Hikari; an unreserved seat costs ¥7770.

There are hourly departures to Hamamatsu from Osaka and Kyoto on either a Hikari (90 min from Osaka) or Kodama (2 hr from Osaka). The reserved seat fare is ¥8940 from Shin-Osaka and ¥8290 from Kyoto.

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. With this ticket a trip to Hamamatsu costs ¥6600 from Tokyo (2 hr), ¥3700 from Nagoya (50 min), ¥6600 from Kyoto (1 hr 45 min) and ¥7100 from Shin-Osaka (2 hr). In addition, discounted tickets can be purchased in advance through Japan Railways' official SmartEX App, available in English and other languages - look for Hayatoku fares.

Regular local train services on the Tokaido Line will get you from Tokyo to Hamamatsu in approximately 4–5 hours for ¥4430, while from Osaka it takes around the same amount of time for ¥5080. Several train changes are required along the way.

Train service from Nagoya take as little as 1 hr 40 min on the regular Tokaido Line (¥1940), changing at Toyohashi, or as little as 30 min on the Shinkansen (¥4420 unreserved seat).

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.

By car
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.

By bus
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.

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


 * There are five daily JR Tomei Liner buses that run from Tokyo Station to Hamamatsu Station (¥3880).
 * Other buses operate a route from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (¥3880) and Tokyo/Shibuya (¥3810) to Hamamatsu, with four round-trips per day.

Entetsu operates an overnight bus from Shinagawa Bus Terminal (6 hr, ¥3800), while Willer Express runs an overnight service from JR Osaki Station (5 hr 10 min, ¥3900).

From Kansai and Hyogo
Two round-trip buses between Osaka Station and Hamamatsu are operated during the day by JR Bus and Entetsu Bus (4 hr 45 min, from ¥3900).

JR Bus runs an overnight service from Kobe (Sannomiya Bus Terminal), Osaka (JR Namba and Osaka Stations) and Kyoto Station to Hamamatsu (6 hr 30 min from Osaka Station, starting at ¥4200). Willer Express' overnight bus runs from Osaka (Universal Studios Japan and the Willer Bus Terminal in Umeda) and Kyoto Station (5 hr 10 min from Umeda, starting at ¥4200).

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. The number on the ticket corresponds to the number lit up at the front of the bus, which displays the fare amount for the upcoming stop.

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).

Do

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

Festivals

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

Buy

 * 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 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).

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.


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

Venues

 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Go next

 * Kosai
 * Toyohashi
 * Iwata
 * Mori
 * Fukuroi
 * Kakegawa (掛川), half an hour east, has a better castle and park.
 * Omaezaki (御前崎) is a beautiful little beach town.
 * Kawanehon
 * Kikugawa