2026 Kosai Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

Located in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the Arai Barrier (新居関所) was a crucial checkpoint along the Tokaido during the Edo period. It is the only remaining historical site with preserved checkpoint structures, making it an exceptional place to learn about the transportation system and governance of the Edo shogunate. The reconstructed buildings of the Arai Barrier are primarily wooden structures. Inside, visitors can see inspection tools, ancient documents, and traveler records from the time. The layout includes the residence of the checkpoint chief and the women's inspection room, offering a glimpse into the past as if stepping back in time. The exhibition hall provides multilingual explanations in Chinese, English, and Japanese, making it an ideal destination for history and culture enthusiasts. After visiting the barrier, you can also take a stroll to the nearby old Tokaido street to enjoy the well-preserved historic townscape and riverside scenery. 📍Address: 1227-5 Arai-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture 🚇Access: About an 8-minute walk from JR Arai Station 🕰️Hours: 09:00–16:30 (Closed on Mondays, or the following day if Monday is a holiday) 💰Admission: Adults ¥400, Elementary and Middle School Students ¥150

June marks the season of blooming hydrangeas. Here are four selected spots in Ishikawa Prefecture to enjoy these beautiful flowers 💐💐 💐 Kurikara Fudoji Temple From mid-June to mid-July, the temple grounds are adorned with various types of hydrangeas. The most popular photo spot is the "Flower Handwashing Basin," which is decorated with seasonal flowers throughout the year 😍💐. The temple also offers exquisite hydrangea-themed desserts 🤗. Phoenix Hall Address: Ku 128, Takehashi, Tsubata Town, Kahoku District, Ishikawa Prefecture Transportation: About 15 minutes by taxi from Tsubata Station to Phoenix Hall, and about 20 minutes to the main hall at the mountain top. 💐 Honkoji Temple Located in Kanazawa City, this temple is renowned as the "Hydrangea Temple." Around 3,000 hydrangea plants bloom within the temple grounds and surrounding areas every June. The colorful flowers beautifully decorate the path leading to the temple and the nearby rice fields, creating a stunning view 😍. Address: Ro 75, Yakushimachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture Transportation: About 6–7 minutes by taxi from JR Morimoto Station. 💐 Utatsuyama Park Situated on the eastern side of Kanazawa City, this is the closest natural park to the city. The Iris Garden features approximately 2,900 hydrangea plants, while the Overlook Hill boasts 3,000 plants! The vibrant hydrangeas add a splash of color and vitality to the gloomy rainy season ☂💐. Address: Higashimikagemachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture Transportation: Take the bus heading to "Utatsuyama Senjukaku" from Kanazawa Station (East Exit), get off at "Toyokuni Shrine-mae" stop, and walk for 2 minutes. 💐 Daijoji Hill Park Located on a hill, this park offers panoramic views of Kanazawa City and the Sea of Japan. The hydrangea garden features 43 varieties and approximately 6,400 hydrangea plants! The blooming season from mid-June to mid-July is truly spectacular 🤩. Address: Nagasakamachi/Yamanakamachi area, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture Transportation: Get off at "Enkoji" bus stop on the Hokuriku Railway Line and walk for about 15 minutes.

Rather than being retro, it feels so historic that it should be designated an important cultural property. It's like going back in time! There were no people there, so I asked the attendant if I could take some photos☺️♨️ It's so cute! I've never seen anything like it before, so it was fresh! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~♨️~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Midori-yu public bath (established in 1879) 📍1127 Arai, Arai-cho, Kosai-shi, Shizuoka 🚃10 minutes walk from Arai-cho Station ⏰16:30-22:00 Closed on Wednesdays 💰Adults 400 yen Elementary school students 150 yen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~♨️~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ※Check the latest information before going! Photo taken on 📷2024/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🏙️~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #Hot spring trip #Shizuoka #Hamamatsu sightseeing #Public bath #Midori-yu public bath

Lake Hamana is a beautiful freshwater lake located in Shizuoka Prefecture, boasting a length of approximately 15 kilometers. The lake is surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, and is a popular tourist destination where you can enjoy seasonal scenery. In particular, the lakeshore is home to many hot springs and leisure facilities, and is bustling with people who enjoy boating and fishing. Kazenomiya Shrine, located on the lakeside, is a familiar shrine to locals and enshrines the god of wind. The grounds of Kazenomiya Shrine are surrounded by ancient trees and moss-covered stonework, creating a mystical atmosphere. Every year, local festivals and religious ceremonies are held, and many worshippers come to pray for the blessing of wind. #LakeHamanaTourism #0YenTripAutumn

Address: 4419-50 Shinsho, Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture Recommended point: Hamburg steak that tastes like meat! 🍖 Average price: 1500~2500 Budget per person: Around 1500 yen ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ Speaking of Shizuoka gourmet, Sawayaka Hamburg steak!! So meaty and easy to eat😋🍴✨ There is no takeout or mail order, so you can only eat it locally! You have to wait! But it's worth the wait! I ate it at Sawayaka Kosai Hamanako store I got the summer vegetable set that is only available at this store! They grilled it on a charcoal grill for vegetables All the vegetables were sweet and delicious😋 I didn't know it was available only at certain stores I was glad I could eat it☺️☺️☺️ You have to wait, but Maybe it was because the weather wasn't so good that day It was a Saturday, but I was lucky and got in in about 45 minutes😊 #ShizuokaPrefecture #ShizuokaGourmet #Hamburger #SawayakaHamburger #Sawayaka #StoreLimited #SummerVegetables #CharcoalGrilled

I went to "Ochiba no Sato Water Park" in #Kosai City, #Shizuoka Prefecture ((((((っ･ω･)っ It's deep in the mountains, and if you keep going down the mountain path, you'll find a park at the end ε٩(๑>ω<)۶з I wonder if it's really up ahead? But don't worry, just keep going (・∀・)/Oh! There were 4.5 trees planted in the back of the park, and they were blooming beautifully ✿ﾟ❀.(*´▽`*)❀.ﾟ✿ This time, I went to two spots for Ochiba Sakura, but neither of them were very impressive, and both were cute and small (〃艸〃)♡ Cute cherry blossoms are nice too ∑d(≧▽≦*) 🏍Ochiba no Sato Water Park🏍 Address: Ochiba, Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture Opening hours: 24 hours #Sakura2024 #shinobichan

I went to #Ogamiyama Hachimangu Shrine in #Kosai City, #Shizuoka Prefecture (((((((っ･ω･)っ I heard that the earliest-blooming cherry blossoms in Japan have bloomed, so I went right away ♡ ｷｬｯ(∀〃(〃∀)ｷｬﾂ♡ #Ochiha Sakura It looks like a cherry blossom named after the shrine (´-ω-) Hmm There was one planted next to the torii gate, and the branches were just stretching out in front of the gate, so I could take a nice photo/📷\v・) Click There was only one tree planted, so it wasn't a very impressive row of cherry trees, but it was small and cute (〃艸〃)♡ There were also white-eyes coming to suck nectar 🐦 🏍Ogamiyama Hachiman Shrine🏍 Address: 729 Ochiha, Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture Visiting hours: 24 hours #Sakura2024 #Shinobi-chan

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