Timeline
09:30
Start with breakfast at Yaotoku, Hamamatsu’s most famous unagi restaurant. Arriving early ensures you get a seat before the lunch rush. The restaurant opens at 11:00, but this itinerary is flexible; you can also start here later in the morning if you prefer a lighter snack first.
09:50
Walk two blocks west of ZaZa City, turn right and head up the hill to find Gosha and Suwa Shrines on the left. These side-by-side shrines, built in the 1580s, serve the downtown locals and offer a peaceful atmosphere in the morning light.
10:20
Head to Hamamatsu Castle Park, a short walk from the shrines. At the Shointei Tea Ceremony House, experience a traditional tea ceremony while taking in the view of the garden. The teahouse is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:30 to 17:00.
10:50
Finish your morning with fresh pastries from Chambord. There is a bakery location across the street from Shin-Hamamatsu station, or you can find one with a deli inside the JR station. Grab a coffee and a treat to take with you.
Local tip
The shrines are best visited in the morning when the light is soft and the crowds are thin. Check the opening hours for Yaotoku if you plan to arrive before 11:00, as they may not be open yet.
Check before you go
- Yaotoku opens at 11:00. If you arrive earlier, consider starting with the tea ceremony or browsing ZaZa City first.
- Shointei Tea Ceremony House is open Tu-Su 09:30-17:00. It is closed on Mondays.
- Chambord bakery locations vary; check which is closest to your final destination.
Worth knowing
- Shointei Tea Ceremony House is open at 10:20 only on Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Hamamatsu (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).