SHIZUOKA Hamamatsu Great lake activities, and the place to go for eel, fruit and flowers

Hamamatsu, situated on the western side of Shizuoka, is a hub of craftsmanship and creativity. There is plenty of recreational fun on offer thanks to the nearby Pacific Ocean, a river, mountains and a brackish lake, Lake Hamana , with onsen resorts. Another draw is Hamamatsu Castle , built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1570.

Hamamatsu is easily accessible by shinkansen, express buses, and regular train and bus.

Hamamatsu is a bullet train stop on the JR Tokaido Shinkansen, which connects to Tokyo. Japan Rail Pass holders can access this train and other JR trains to the city. You can also take a Tomei Highway bus from Tokyo to Hamamatsu in around four hours.“E-wing” buses from Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport arrive in around 70 minutes.

Hamamatsu is famous for its craftsmanship. In fact, if you've ever bought a Japanese car, motorcycle, piano, or keyboard intstrument, chances are it was manufactured right here in Hamamatsu.

Hamamatsu considers itself the town of music. If you make music or just love listening to it, plan a visit to the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments. Around 1,500 musical instruments from around the world are displayed here. You can even play some of them.

The legendary Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu lived in Shizuoka for almost all of his life, including 17 years in Hamamatsu Castle . The castle and surrounding area is home to hundreds of cherry trees, a Japanese garden and expansive lawns for strolling and relaxing.

Hamamatsu is famous for unagi, or freshwater eel, and you should try this delicacy of the region while in Hamamatsu. The people love eel so much here that they started making cookies containing eel extract. They call them eel pies, and you can tour the factory that makes them not far from the city center—they're the perfect gift for foodies.

You'll find blooms and fruits in awe-inspiring numbers at the Hamamatsu Flower Park and Hamamatsu Fruit Park. The former has 3,000 varieties of plants, and has greenhouse exhibits, shops and restaurants. You can taste fresh seasonal fruit, visit greenhouses filled with the park's fruit, and entertain children at day camp areas and playgrounds.

If you're into marine sports, head to Lake Hamana . You can swim, fish, sail, windsurf and more on this placid body of water. Onsen resorts Bentenjima, Kanzanji, and Mikkabi line the shores, and there's also a cycling route that runs alongside the lake for 70 kilometers. Bike rentals are available at various stations on the route.

An unusual sight lies about 20 minutes by bus from Hamamatsu Station; sand dunes. The Nakatajima Dunes cover 2 kilometers along the Enshu Sea coastline. During the Hamamatsu Festival in early May, big kites battle on the sand, while at night, palace-like goten floats roll through Hamamatsu's streets.