Kae Kurahashi, Local Guide ~ An Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Kae Kurahashi

Born and raised in Hamamatsu

Kurahashi-san is in her second year with the company, but she is so solid that it is hard to believe that she is in her second year. She was born and raised in Hamamatsu and knows everything about the local area. He also has a strong will to finish what he is entrusted with, and is very dependable.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu: The ryokan stands in a location overlooking Lake Hamana and has a well-designed space with Japanese design. Enjoying the pleasure of blending the famous tea leaves to your liking is the hospitality of Shizuoka, a famous tea-producing region. Guest rooms all with a lake view await you for a relaxing holiday where you can enjoy the nourishment from Lake Hamana.

Introduction page

Local Guide FAQ

What do you recommend in the Hamamatsu area (places, experiences, food)?: Hamamatsu may be most often associated with Lake Hamana, but the vast expanse of the Sea of Enshu is also a highlight of the city. Bentenjima Island, at the mouth of Lake Hamana and the Enshu Sea, is a rare place where a torii gate can be seen above the sea.
During the cold winter months, there are times when the setting sun falls in the middle of the torii gate, and many visitors set up their cameras for this. The spectacular view of the ocean, torii gate, and sunset is definitely worth seeing.

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: If you get hungry, stop by at "Goochokipan". The store is modeled after Witch's Delivery Service, and you will say "cute" at first glance.
They have a wide variety of Danish pastries, and we especially recommend the Danish pastries made with lots of blueberries. The interior is compact, but there is also an eat-in space, so you can enjoy the food as it is. If the weather is nice, you can sit on the nearby sun beach and eat your bread while enjoying the view of Lake Hamana.

Where did you travel to last year and with whom?: I went on a trip to Hiroshima with a friend. It was the first time for me to see the Seto Inland Sea, and driving along the Shimanami Kaido (Sea of Manami) by car was the most pleasant experience.
The view of the Seto Inland Sea from the observatory on Mukaishima Island was spectacular, and I will never forget it.
I like to visit cafes, and I found many stylish and tasteful cafes in Onomichi, where I stayed, that were renovated from old houses, which was very relaxing.

What do you do on your days off?: On my days off, I often get up early to start my activities and go out to cafes and general stores that interest me.
Even though I live in the city, there are still many stylish stores that I don't know about, so as soon as I get some information, I mark it on my cell phone map so that I don't forget where I want to go next.

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: I always bring my camera. It is a compact mirrorless single-lens camera, so I take it everywhere.
I take a lot of photos, of course, but I also take a lot of videos on my trips. The charm of videos is that when I look back on them, I can vividly recall the memories of the trip.