This is a second article about Hamamatsu.
I introduce Lake Hamanako in this article.
Here can go by train and bus, but I recommend to go by car.
Because there are many places to see.
Here is Arai Sekisho (Arai check point).
In Edo period(1603-1868), 5 main road was set. And many post town are constructed.
And for defense of Edo, Sekisho(check point) was also constructed.
Arai Sekisho was constructed at 1600. At that time, here was called as Imagiri Sekisho.(Place was a little different.)
Travelers were strictly checked here. Checking policy was called “入り鉄砲と出女 Irideppou to Deonna” means “Check Guns into Edo, Women out from Edo”. Its aim was checking of weapons which being brought Edo and keeping Daimyo(Feudal lord) family’s women stayed in Edo.
Of course it includes monitoring of ordinary travelers.
There were many weapons and armor.
Arai Sekisho (English)
Do you know TOYOTA?? Yes, It’s global automobile company.
Origin of Toyota is here.Here is Sakichi Toyoda Memorial House.
Sakichi Toyoda was born here in 1867.
He saw foreign loom at industrial exhibition held at Tokyo in 1890. He observed it in detail. He was too much eager,so he was thought a little crazy by security guard. Later,he invented Toyota style human-powered wooden loom. And improved again and again.
He made “Type G Automatic Loom” in 1924. It was the best loom at that time.
He sold his patent to UK company. That money was became base of Japanese automobile invention.
Here is a museum. Sakichi Toyoda’s history is exhibited.
These are early days looms.
This is a Type G Automatic Loom.
Here is a birth place of Sakichi Toyota.
Interior. Ordinary traditional Japanese style.
Reproduction of loom using scene.
This is a view from interior. Sakichi said “Open the door, it’s a large world outside”.
He had global vision at that time. It is amazing.
I could experience using loom. It was very fun! I was surprised its system.
Sakichi Toyoda Memorial House
Lake Hamanako is famous for Boat Race. This is exterior of Boat Race Hamanako.
This is interior. Boat circuit is close. Entrance fee is free.
Cornering! Speed and Big sound! Here can enjoy only to watch race.
I bet only 100 yen! But it made race more exciting!
Buying and refund is possible with vending machine.
Other photos.
And next place is Bentenjima.
I checked photogenic place of Hamamatsu before this travel, and I wanted to take photos of here.
I thought Torii gate in the lake and lights of bridge behind Torii is photogenic.
But this day was cloudy. And bridge had never lighted.
So I tried long exposure with ND 400 filter.
It made fantastic scene. I like these blue world photos very much. I thought cloudy weather is suits for ND 400 filter. Because Light intensity is flat.
Bentenjima（Japanese）
Parking lot is 400 yen.
Nearest Station is Bentenjima Station / Tokaidohonsen Line
About 15 minutes from Hamamatsu station
This day We stayed near Lake Hamanako.
Next day was sunny. We could enjoy Lake Hamanako.
Here is Araibenten Beach. Here is opposite side of I took Bentenjima’s photos.
Beautiful beach. Here is brackish lake. So it is not salty as much as sea. I wanted to play in the sea than taking photos!
Very clear water.
Here is Imagiri Park. The same place(next to) Araibenten Beach.
Can you see Torii??
Continuous palm tree. It looks like southern island.
Arai Benten Beach, Imagiri park (Japanese)
Parking lot is 500 yen
Nearest Station is Shin-Arai Station / Tokaidohonsen Line it takes 15 minutes by taxi.
Food information.
If you go Lake Hamanko,you must try Unagi(eel) meal. Lake Hamanako is famous for farming of Unagi.Unagi a little expensive.
But it is delicious and contain nutrition. In Japanese people eat Unagi end of July.It is custom made by Gennai Hiraga in Edo period.
The best season of Unagi is September.
This is Hitumabushi.
Not only Unagi,some condiments and Dashi soup vary taste of meal.
So there are some condiments and Dashi soup in the pot on the left.
But at first bite, please enjoy only Unagi and rice.
This restaurant is かねはち(Kanehachi).
Open：11:00～20:00
Holiday：Tuesday
You must go here car or taxi.
I told some places of Hamamatus city and Lake Hamanako.
But there are a lot of places to see. For example desert or limestone cave or Tenryu River.
Honestly, I did not know about Hamamatsu.
I rarely hear Japanese people live in Tokyo go Hamamatsu for travel.
So this travel was discover for me. There are so many activity in Hamamatsu!
Please try them!
One more information
On the way to home I took a rest at service area located Tomei Express Way.
Recently service areas on the high way is popular.
Here is Makinohara service area, Tomei Express Way, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
It’s so clean. There are shops,restaurants,toilet,gas station.
Visitors can buy unique souvenir of that area.
Shizuoka Prefecture has large production of green tea.
So there were green tea.
Out of building there were green tea field next to parking lot.
Service area is one of activity of car travel!!
Related Article : Let’s Enjoy Hamamatsu, Hamamatsu City