Overview
Lake Hamana is a brackish lagoon straddling the cities of Hamamatsu and Kosai in western Shizuoka Prefecture. Once a true lake, it is now linked to the Enshū-nada Sea through the Imakire channel, letting Pacific seawater flow in. Covering about 65 square kilometers, it is Japan's tenth-largest lake and is nationally famous as a home of eel (unagi).
Highlights
- ●Views of a brackish lagoon linked to the Enshū-nada via the Imakire channel
- ●About 65 square kilometers, Japan's tenth-largest lake
- ●A long shoreline stretching some 114 kilometers
- ●Lakeside dining featuring the local eel
History
Lake Hamana was originally a freshwater lake, but the Imakire channel connected it to the Pacific, turning it into a brackish lagoon fed by seawater. Its name derives from the former Hamana District. In March 2016 it entered a sister-lake partnership with Sun Moon Lake in Yuchi, Nantou County, Taiwan.
Access
The lake spreads across the cities of Hamamatsu and Kosai in western Shizuoka Prefecture. Since its shoreline runs some 114 kilometers, the best gateway depends on which area you visit. For the exact route, please check the latest maps and official information.
Best season
Spring to early summer, when the water is calm, and the seasons of beautiful evening scenery are recommended. The rich waterside views unique to a brackish lagoon can be enjoyed throughout the day.
Map
34.7411, 137.5697 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Arrive at the lakeshore from the Hamamatsu side
- 2Take in the waterside scenery unique to a brackish lagoon
- 3Enjoy a lunch of the local eel cuisine
- 4Travel along the shore toward the Kosai side
Did you know?
💡 Lake Hamana has a maximum depth of 16.6 meters and an average depth of 4.8 meters, and its shoreline of about 114 kilometers ranks second longest in Japan. It is also beloved as a producer of eel.
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