Day 1

Hamamatsu Ina IC, New Tomei Expressway

11:00 Ryotanji Temple

Garden viewing at a temple associated with a female feudal lord, Ii Naotora

Located in Okuhamana Lake, north of Lake Hamana, this temple was founded by Gyoki in 733. It is the family temple of the Ii family, which ruled the Iiya valley in the province of Toomi, which is now the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture. Naotora, the only daughter of Naomori, the 22nd head of the Ii family, saved the Ii family from the danger of extinction as a feudal lord despite being a woman. The graves of the successive heads of the Ii family and Naotora are lined up in the Ii family graveyard in the temple grounds.
Six buildings, including the main hall, are designated as tangible cultural properties by the prefecture and are well worth seeing, but the garden in particular is a must-see. The garden is said to have been created by Enshu Kobori, a feudal lord and tea master in the early Edo period (1603-1868), and is beautiful in all seasons, from spring satsuki (Japanese azalea) to fresh greenery and autumn leaves.

12:30 Ishimatsu Gyoza (Gyoza dumplings) Main Store

Visit a famous Hamamatsu gyoza restaurant for lunch on the first day of your trip

The restaurant was established in 1953 and is famous as the originator of Hamamatsu gyoza, a Hamamatsu specialty as well as eels. The main store is located along Route 152 and has been popular for its unchanged taste since its establishment.
Hamamatsu gyoza is made of cabbage and pork kneaded into the filling, and boiled bean sprouts are placed in the center of the round gyoza. At Ishimatsu Gyoza, cabbage, carefully selected according to season, is combined with domestic pork, and the secret to the flavor is the secret binder created by the first generation. The gyoza are thin-skinned and light, but the more you bite into one, the more flavorful it becomes. The slightly sweet soy sauce with vinegar and bean sprouts for chopstick rest enhance the taste of the gyoza even more.

14:00 Enshu Cotton Tsumugi Nukumori Workshop

Japanese textile goods that Hamamatsu is proud of as souvenirs

The Enshu area centering on Hamamatsu prospered as one of the three major cotton-producing regions along with Mikawa (Aichi Prefecture) and Senshu (Osaka Prefecture). At Nukumori Kobo in Hamakita Ward, you will find a variety of modern and original items, including Japanese goods and clothing made from Enshu cotton pongee, a traditional textile. The historic textiles are produced by craftsmen who carry on the tradition and traditional shuttle looms. A tool called a shuttle with a weft thread attached moves back and forth between the warp threads, weaving slowly and carefully to create a warm texture.
More than 150 patterns are available at any given time, including the standard Enshu stripes, and checks have also appeared in recent years. The high quality, machine-washable fabrics that become softer and more textured the more they are used are a unique gem.

15:00 Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu

Hot spring ryokan with a spectacular view of Lake Hamana and sencha green tea to heal both body and soul

Located in Tatezanji hot spring on the shore of Lake Hamana, all rooms overlook Lake Hamana. The hotel offers a variety of hospitality that can only be found in Japan's number one tea-producing area, such as tea-related events and an outdoor hot spring with floating tea balls. Enshu cotton pongee, a traditional craft, adorns the interior of the hotel. The KAI Local Flavors menu, featuring seasonal delicacies such as eels, a specialty of Lake Hamana, is also well known.

Recommended Guest room: KAI Signature Rooms "Enshu Tsumugi Rooms

All rooms, including Japanese and Western-style rooms and Suite rooms, have a lake view. Shoji screens, lampshades, and other Enshu cotton pongee fabrics create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The "Tsumugi Tea Field" with tea trees and azaleas, and the view of Lake Hamana will allow you to forget your daily life and spend a luxurious time.

16:00 KAI Cultural Discovery

Rediscover the charm of tea with "Bicharaku no Omotenashi

At "Bicharaku no Omotenashi" (Bicharaku's Hospitality), named after Japan's number one tea-producing region, Staff/staff members who are well versed in tea will show you how to brew tea and what it tastes like. Shizuoka tea, carefully selected together with tea farmers in the prefecture, is rich in flavor and aroma. Visitors can learn about tea while having fun by tasting tea at different times of the year and comparing the different types of tea produced in different regions.

17:30 Dinner

Enjoy KAI Local Flavors of fugu and eel

Dinner is the "Fugu Una KAI Local Flavors," featuring torafugu, the king of fugu, and Hamanako's specialty, eel. The appetizer is " White Grilled Eel with Citrus Flower", which is a combination of the rich flavor of the eel and the refreshing sourness of the ume plum. The sumptuous local delicacies go well with Shizuoka's local sake.

19:30 Hot spring

Enjoy a relaxing time at Tateyamaji hot spring

Two types of hot springs are available to relieve travelers' fatigue. The "Koto no Yu," which has an outdoor hot spring and an indoor bath made of hinoki cypress, allows you to enjoy a pleasant bath with the breeze from the lake. The hot spring is a sodium-calcium chloride high-sodium salt hot spring with high heat-retaining effects.

21:00 Ochake (tea ceremony)

Enjoy "tea" and "sake

As is typical of a tea-themed inn, the evening entertainment includes "ochake," a combination of tea and sake. You can enjoy combinations that incorporate the seasons, such as fresh tea and gin, or matured tea and rice shochu in the fall. Enjoy a blissful time as you reflect on the first day of your trip.

*Services are subject to change depending on the season.

Day 2

08:00 Breakfast

Breakfast in a tea box" at a tea house

The second day begins with a "local breakfast" featuring local delicacies. The first thing that catches the eye is the wooden tea box used to store tea leaves. Inside the box, tea leaves are laid out, and you can enjoy the subtle aroma of the tea leaves as well as dishes rich in regional flavors.

11:00 Kanzanji Ropeway

A panoramic walk in the air overlooking Lake Hamana

The ropeway is located in the "Hamanako Pal Pal" amusement park and is the only ropeway in Japan that crosses over the lake. From "Kanzanji Station" to "Okusayama Station" at the top of the mountain on the other side of the lake, you can enjoy a 723-meter-long, 4-minute walk in the air. The observation platform at the top of the 113-meter-high mountain offers an excellent view of Lake Hamana below, the Sea of Enshu to the south, and on clear days, Mt. Fuji on a clear day. Every hour at 00:00, a carillon (bell) plays a tune appropriate for the season and the time of day, enhancing the spectacular view.
Adjacent to the observatory is the Hamanako Music Box Museum, which exhibits a collection of about 70 pieces, including music boxes from the mid-19th century and automatic organs (admission fee required). The museum also offers demonstrations of its collection, and visitors can enjoy the fantastic sound of the organs in the atrium hall.

12:30 Midori-no-Tani no Gochiso Terrace CoCoChi

An exquisite lunch full of fresh local vegetables

The concept of the Restaurant is "food mileage," using ingredients from within a 10-kilometer radius. The restaurant's popular dishes are full of local blessings, such as freshly picked vegetables from the Okubo area on the eastern shore of Lake Hamana and eggs from Okazaki Ohan, a purely domestic chicken. Lunch includes a main dish, an appetizer buffet with seasonal vegetables, and a drink bar. You can choose from omelette rice, pizza, pasta, or Mineno beef for the main course, and for an additional charge, you can also enjoy a dolce (two dishes). The highlight is the yogurt made from bamboo plant-based lactic acid bacteria. Its mildly sour taste goes well with homemade jam.
In addition to the indoor seating, there is also an open-air terrace and other comfortable spaces that are also attractive. For souvenirs, we recommend the macaroons made from Okubo vegetable powder (limited quantity).

14:30 Eel Pie Factory

Visit a factory full of secrets of Hamamatsu's famous confections

Eel pie, Hamamatsu's famous confectionery, is made by combining carefully selected ingredients such as butter with eel powder. Visitors can see the production process at the Property attached to the factory. There are free tours that do not require reservations and a concierge-guided "factory tour," both of which are free of charge. Visitors can observe the fluffy baking of approximately 9,000 layers of dough, the packaging line, etc., and receive a souvenir.
Don't miss the theater in which Unagi Pie's character "Unakun" introduces the production process and the secrets of its deliciousness. At the café, you can taste sweets made from eel pies. The store offers a wide selection of Japanese and Western sweets as well as eel pies, making it a fun place to pick out souvenirs.