EXPERIENCE
[Summer Only] Bark in the middle of Lake Hamana — Take unforgettable photos with your beloved dog at the "phantom shallows" —
This special summer-only experience takes you and your beloved dog to a "phantom shallow area" that appears in the middle of Lake Hamana for only a few hours each day. Board a boat at the sightseeing boat pier in Hamana Lake Garden Park and enjoy a lake cruise while listening to a guide explain the nature of Lake Hamana and its traditional fishing methods. Upon landing at the shallow area, a breathtaking 360-degree view unfolds, where the sky and lake seem to merge, allowing you to enjoy special commemorative photos with your dog. Towels and sandals are available for rent, so you can easily participate without bringing anything, making it the perfect experience to create lasting memories with your dog.
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- Season
- spring, summer, and fall
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- Schedule
- Available on designated days between May and September. Approximately 90 minutes (start times vary depending on the tides, so please check in advance).
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- of people
- 2 to 10 people (please contact us in advance for more than XNUMX people)
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- Price
- Saturday: 5,000 yen/person, Sunday/Holiday: 6,000 yen/person → For a limited time, with the application of the regional coupon from the tourism campaign, the price is reduced from the regular price to 4,000 yen/person on Saturdays and 5,000 yen/person on Sundays and holidays.
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- Address
- [Meeting Place] Sightseeing boat pier inside Hamana Lake Garden Park (Please note that this is not the East or West pier)
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- Access
- Bus: Take the Enshu Railway bus from JR Hamamatsu Station and get off at "Garden Park" bus stop. Car: 20 minutes from the Tomei Expressway "Kanzanji Smart IC" or 30 minutes from the "Hamamatsu Nishi IC".
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- Contact
- [For inquiries regarding the experience] Murakushi Pleasure Boat Association: 053-458-0191
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- Other Information
- [Inquiries regarding the reservation system] Hamamatsu Lake Hamana Tourism Bureau: 053-458-0011 (weekdays only, 9:00-18:00)
*On Sundays, holidays and outside of business hours, please fill out the form by clicking [Make a reservation here] → [Inquire about this plan].
Please note that we will reply on the next business day.
[Note] This experience will be conducted in Japanese only.
・The tour may be canceled in the event of strong winds, high waves, heavy rain, or other bad weather.
If the event is cancelled, you will be notified by the day before the event.
The meeting place will be the sightseeing boat pier inside Hamana Lake Garden Park.
・Please be aware that the water will be up to your knees when descending into the lake. (You may need to use a stepladder to descend.)
・Depending on the tide, the shallows may not be visible (around ankle height).
・Please apply at least 7 days in advance.
Saturdays: 5,000 yen per person, Sundays and public holidays: 6,000 yen per person
→For a limited time, with the application of the regional coupon from the tourism campaign, the experience fee is reduced to 4,000 yen on Saturdays and 5,000 yen on Sundays and public holidays.
*Infant fares apply to children aged 4 and older. If you are traveling with a child aged 3 or younger, please indicate this in the "Notes to the Travel Agency" section. (This is to help us keep track of the number of passengers on board.)
■Tour dates and meeting times
The event date and meeting time will vary depending on the tides.
Please proceed by clicking the "Book Now" button and select your desired experience date from the calendar.
*The meeting time will be automatically determined according to the schedule below.
[July] 5/16 (Sat) 13:00 / 5/17 (Sun) 14:00 / 5/30 (Sat) 13:00 / 5/31 (Sun) 14:00
[July] 6/13 (Sat) 12:00 / 6/14 (Sun) 13:00 / 6/27 (Sat) 12:00 / 6/28 (Sun) 13:00
[July] 7/11 (Sat) 11:00 / 7/12 (Sun) 12:00 / 7/25 (Sat) 11:00 / 7/26 (Sun) 12:00
[August] 8/1 (Sat) 15:00 / 8/2 (Sun) 15:00 / 8/9 (Sun) 11:00 / 8/11 (Tuesday) 13:00 / 8/15 (Sat) 15:00 / 8/16 (Sun) 15:00 / 8/23 (Sun) 11:00 / 8/29 (Sat) 15:00 / 8/30 (Sun) 15:00
[September] 9/12 (Sat) 15:00 / 9/13 (Sun) 15:00 / 9/22 (Tuesday) 11:00 / 9/23 (Wednesday) 12:00 / 9/26 (Sat) 13:00 / 9/27 (Sun) 14:00
★Special Event in 2026★ Sunset Cruise■ Date ■Departure location
This sunset cruise will operate exclusively during the three-day weekend in July 2026. |
What you can experience in this tour
■ Descend to the elusive shallows that appear for only a few hours each day
Lake Hamana is a rare "brackish lake" in Japan, as it is connected to the sea.
Therefore, despite being a lake, it experiences tides, and at low tide, a "phantom shallow area" appears in the middle of the lake for only a few hours each day.
In this experience, you land on that elusive shallow water with your beloved dog.
In front of you is a breathtaking 360-degree view of the sky and lake, giving you the surreal feeling of standing right in the middle of the lake.
Enjoy the unique scenery and experiences that can only be found here.
■ Departure for the lake by sightseeing boat
You will board the sightseeing boat at the Hamana Lake Garden Park pier, which has free parking available.
While enjoying views of the Imakireguchi area where the lake connects to the sea and Bentenjima Island, we'll travel by boat to the center of Lake Hamana, listening to our guide explain the lake's nature and traditional fishing methods.
During the day, you can enjoy the refreshing and spectacular scenery created by the blue sky and the lake, and if the conditions are right, you can enjoy the fantastic sight of the lake surface being dyed in the colors of the setting sun at sunset.
- Sunset time
Being in the middle of the lake allows for a spacious and relaxing experience, which is another attractive feature.
You can enjoy spending special time with your beloved dog, a cherished member of your family, or taking photos of your dog playing in the water—the possibilities are endless!
For those who want to enjoy taking photos, we have props such as bouquets of flowers and retro travel bags available. Please feel free to inquire about bringing your own props.
In addition, you can enjoy observing creatures such as hermit crabs and crabs in the shallow waters, as well as exploring the tide pools. If you're lucky, you might even encounter a seahorse.
It's an experience that allows adults to rediscover their inner child.
● Great perks
・Free sandals
・Towel gift
You can participate empty-handed.
●Recommended clothing
When descending to the lake, you may have to wade through water up to your knees.
Please wear clothing that can be easily rolled up to above the knee.
To get an idea of what it's like to be in the middle of the lake, please watch this video below. ↓
Access Map
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