Hamamatsu Things to Do

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Ryotanji Temple in Kita-ku is perhaps the most popular temple in Hamamatsu. It is one of the Five Major Temples in Northside of Lake Hamana. The temple is best known by its zen meditation garden, which is said to have been directed by Enshu Kobori (recently it's been challenged by some scholars though). But the garden is only a part of the appeal. You will find a lot of photo ops when you walk around the temple. See more of the photos in my coming travelogue because commenting the whole features of the temple may need a volume of a book.

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Most of the Hamamatsu temples with excellent gardens are located in the mountainous area and to get there you need to either ride a bus, taxi, or rent a car. Jissoji temple in Kita-ku, Hamamatsu is located north of Kanasashi station of Tenryu Hamanako Line and only 10 minutes uphill walk from the station. The temple is located next to the Kanasashi Elementary school and is easy to find as well. The zen meditation garden which looks like simpler version of that of Ryotanji temple is really an excellent one. To be honest it didn't look great just by seeing the photo but actually seeing the garden was really quite an impression. If you push a button you can have an audio narration in Japanese. Although I am a native Japanese I couldn't quite follow what it says. Zen meditation gardens are sort of cryptic and this garden is no exception. It used to be free of charge to see the garden but today the temple asks the visitors to donate 200 yen for garden maintenance. It is really worth it I guess.

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Most of excellent Japanese gardens in Hamamatsu belong to Buddhist temples. Particularly Japanese gardens of following temples are noteworthy.

Photo #1 Jissoji Temple: Recently uncovered garden with excellent rock formation.
Photo #2 Ryotanji Temple: Often highly rated in the rankings of Japanese gardens. It is one of the temples where the souls of Ii family are laid to rest.

Makayaji Temple: Landscape garden uncovered during 60s is noted for the excellent rock formation. It also has a castle ruin on the nearby hill.

#22 in Shiosai Ranking 2010

Daifukuji Temple: The garden as well as Niomon Gate are well-appreciated by history buffs.
Chorakuji Temple: The garden is said to have been designed by Enshu Kobori.

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Built in 1986, this science museum is mainly for educating children but adults can also enjoy there. It has a lot of touch-and-play exhibits so all you have to do is play with the exhibits. You may not understand what the Japanese instruction says. But that's also thrilling. You can guess how it works and that is not so difficult. Its planetarium has three programs. One of them is featuring the constellations you can see during the night sky at 8 p.m. and midnight. And the stories and legends related to them. But the narration is given in Japanese.

Opening Hours: (Closed on Mondays or the day after the National Holidays on Mondays, Yearend and New-Year Holidays)
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. During Summer Holiday season from July 20 to August 31. (Enter at least 30 minutes before closing time).

Admission Fee: Museum Only: 500 yen for adults 350 yen(high-school students, ages15-18) Free of charges for children under 15.
With Planetarium: Adults 900 yen, Ages 15-18 500 yen Children under 15 100 yen.
Another Planetarium Program 200 yen for adults 80 yen for Ages 15-18 and Children under 15 50 yen

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At the top of the hill called "Chopin Hill", a part of Act City Open Space, stands the 2/3 scale replica statue of Frederic Chopin by Waclaw Szymanowski presented from Warsaw in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Sister Cities in Music and Culture in 1990. It's the first replica statue of Szymanowski's Chopin.

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Open Space, the rooftop gardens on Act city complex are so well made it fits naturally to surrounding landscape. One of the entrances is close to the end of moving walk extending from the station building. The views from the roof gardens are very great. The rooftop gardens were designed by Tadashi Yamaguchi, a renowned landscape architect based in U.S.

This indoor playground facility for children is in the Zaza City, one of the most popular shopping mall near Hamamatsu station.

Open: Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sat-Sun and Holidays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Except on December 29- January 1 and second Wednesdays of each month.

Admission fee: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for children(high school, junior high school and elementary school children)
Free of charge: preschool kids.

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Shointei is a nice place to taste Japanese green tea by being in nice tea houses and viewing Japanese garden. There is a great stroll garden near the entrance gate and inside the Shointei facility there are three tea houses and a Japanese garden. If not unoccupied you can enter the tea house and taste Japanese green tea for 400 yen.

The tea house facility is located at the northern detachment of Hamamatsu Castle Park. To get there, go toward the north edge of main park area near the Hotel Concord and walk past the kiddie park with a swimming pool. The entrance gate is beyond the other side of the kiddie park area.

**Shointei Tea Ceremony House is currently entry-limited because of Shogi Meijinsen title match on April 20 and 21. It will be repopened to public from Saturday, 23rd.