The Hokuen (Northern) Area (Tenryu, Haruno, Sakuma, Misakubo, Tatsuyama) is surrounded by beautiful green forests nourished by the magnificent flow of the Tenryu River. Various types of traditional culture as well as the simple lifestyle of the local people can be seen here.
Sakuma Dam
Sakuma Hydroelectric Power Dam is 150m tall and 291m long, this concrete dam has a maximum generating capacity of 35,000 kilowatts. Construction began in 1953 and was completed in 3 years and 4 months – an unusually quick period for the time. The river had a reputation of being very violent (Tenryu means “Heavenly dragon”), it has been nearly subdued since the construction of Sakuma dam in 1956. At the time of completion it was the tallest dam in Japan. The Sakuma Dam Reservoir is a popular attraction for canoeing and camping, due to its proximity to downtown Hamamatsu and ease of access. The surrounding area is part of the Tenryu-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park.
Sakuma Festival is the largest event in Sakuma-cho during autumn season (Late October to Early November) at Sakuma Lakeshore Dam (Sakuma Local Service Center), featuring exhibitions of local products and stages. A wide variety of local foods are available.
Sakuma Soba Festival is held here on Mid January, featuring Soba, buckwheat noodles, from all over the nation are available in this event. The festival also features stalls of local products and a soba-making class.
Sakuma Dam Festival (Sakuma Damu Matsuri) is also held here on Last Sunday in October, offers a ritual dance, the parade of the Dragon God, Dragon Dance, ryujin-no-mai, and fireworks. It started in 1957 in memory of the victims to their duty of dam construction and in hope of the long successful operation of the dam. Drum performances and other stage performances are also presented.
Address: Sakuma Lakeshore Dam Square (Sakuma Local Service Center)
473 Sakumacho Sakuma, Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3901, Japan
Sakuma Electricity Hall
This themed museum educates the public about the history, mechanism and role of hydroelectric generation at the Sakuma Dam which uses the Tenryu River.
Contact – Sakuma Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.
2690 Sakumacho Sakuma, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3901, Japan Entrance: Free Close: Mondays (Tuesday instead if Monday is a national holiday), Dec.30~Jan.3 Hour: 9:00-16:30 Tel: 053-965-0071, 053-965-1350 [Sakuma Electric Power Pavilion] Fax: 053-965-0238
Website: http://www.fujiyuyu.net/CourseInfo/registdetail.asp?seg=1&bid=13&id=5652
Sakuma Archery Garden
Beginners and advanced archers alike will enjoy practicing in this nature-abundant course, while listening to the murmur of streams and the songs of the birds.
Contact: Sakuma Archery Garden
2321 Sakumacho Urakawa, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3906, Japan Entrance: ¥315 / hour per person Close: Dec.29~Jan.3 Hour: 9:00~*21:00 (no admission after 17:00) Tel: 053-966-0001 (Sakuma District Administration Center, Please ask about archery camp and competitions.)
Wesite: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/lifeindex/enjoy/sports/sakuma_arch…
Folk Culture Museum (Sakuma Municipal Historical Heritage Museum)
This Culture Museum is an old farmer’s house from the end of the Edo Period which was moved from its original location to this site. The museum gives you an idea of the traditional lifestyle, food culture, folk tales and yearly events from the Edo Period.
Minwa-no-Sato (Sakuma folklore festival) Event is held on Early October at Folk Culture Museum in a facility called Minwa-no-Sato (lit. home of folk stories). The event introduces folk stories of the region and its traditional cuisine culture. Visitors can also enjoy the local made soba, or buckwheat noodles.
Contact – Folk Culture Museum (Sakuma Municipal Historical Heritage Museum) 1832-1 Sakumacho Sakuma, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3901, Japan Entrance: Free Hour: 10:00—16:00, Open – Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays only Tel: 053-987-1888
Website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/maps/t-sakumaminzoku.htm
Urakawa Kabuki
Urakawa Kabuki is an amateur kabuki performance traditionally held on 4rd Saturday in September at Former Urakawa junior high school gymnasium in honor of Ogami Eizaburo, a Kabuki performer in the Edo period (1603-1868) who died in this region.
Address: Urakawa Kabuki 3645 Sakumacho Urakawa, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3906, Japan
Website: http://www.hamamatsu-inaka.com/event-uwakawakabuki.html
Urakawa Camping Village
Campsites and simple lodgings on an beautiful green island at the convergence of two mountain rivers. Campfire pits, showers, and shared toilets. The locale is good for swimming in summertime. Tent ?2500; bungalows for 3 persons ?3500; log houses for 5 persons ?16,000.
Contact – Urakawa Camping Village
3454-12 Sakumacho Urakawa, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3906, Japan Tel/Fax: 053-967-2449
Website: http://urakawacamp.com/
Kawai Flower Dance
Kawai Flower Dance festival is designated a significant intangible folk cultural asset of the prefecture, which is held on Last Saturday in October at Yazaka Shrine. The Kawai Flower Dance celebrates harvests and prays for perfect health in the coming year. Historic Hiraga Residence is also nearby.
Address: Yazaka Shrine
833-2-2 Sakumacho Kawai, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken 431-3907
Climbing from Sakuma to Mt. Ryuto (Ryutozan)
Mt. Ryuto (Ryutozan) is a 1352m height mountain located in between Mt. Akiha and Yamazumi. The mountain is known as a mountain of asceticism. Mt. Ryuto (Ryutozan), also called Enshu Fuji is one of the popular hiking destinations for Hamamatsu residents. You can have a splendid view of Minami Alps mountains (sometimes Mt.Fuji). The mountain summit can easily be reached by driving along the logging road called SUPER RINDO, yet many still prefer to climb from Sakuma town (Sakuma-cho) which takes about six hours from the climbing entrance at the Tenryu riverside to the summit and back. For Hamamatsu climbers this mountain which has the elevation gap of 1,100 meters from the entrance to the peak is an ideal training ground for climbing 3,000-meter level Alps mountains.
Figure: Map of Sakuma town (Sakuma-cho), Hamamatsu
Transportation – Getting Around Sakuma town (Sakuma-cho) in Hokuen (Northern) Area of Hamamatsu [See Sakuma Area Map Above]:
By Train:
[Sakuma Electricity Hall] JR Hamamatsu Station → Toyohashi Station ~ lida Line ~ get off at Chubu Tenryu Station (150min.) → by car (30min.)
By Bus and Train:
[Sakuma Electricity Hall] Enshu Railway Nishikajima Line Shin Hamamatsu Station → Nishikajima Station (32min.) → transfer to the Entetsu Bus “Hokuen Honsen” → get off at Nishi-do → transfer to the locally operated bus → get off at Chubu Tenryu (90min.) → by car (30min.)
Sakuma Tourism Contacts:
Sakuma town (Sakuma-cho) Tourist Association / Tenryu-ku (Tenryu Ward) Chamber of Commerce, Sakuma Branch
2235-1 Sakumacho Sakuma, Hamamatsu City (Hamamatsu-shi), Tenryu Ward (Tenryu-ku), Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3901, Japan Tel: 053-965-1651 (Sakuma Tourism), 053-965-0325 (Sakuma Chanber of Commerce) Fax: 053-965-1651 (Sakuma Tourism) 053-965-1447 (Sakuma Chanber of Commerce)
Email: sak…@e-tensho.com
Ryujin Preservation Society [Organize Sakuma Dam Festival (Sakuma Damu Matsuri)] Tel: 053-965-1372
Sakuma Tourism Website: http://sakuma-kanko.net/
Sakuma Chamber of Commerce Website: http://e-tensho.com/profile/sakuma.html
Sakuma of Hamamatsu City Hall Cultural Properties Division
103-2 Motoshiro-cho, Hamamatsu, Naka Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 430-0946, Japan Tel: 053-457-2466 Fax: 053-457-2563
Email: bunk…@city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp
Website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/square/intro/bunkazai/shitei/sakum…
Yamaga Municipal Service Center [Organize Hama Syoi matsuri (Backpack beach festival)]
2415-1 Sakumacho Oi, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3902, Japan Tel: 053-964-0004
Website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/hamaEng/maps/t-yamaga_sc.html
NPO (non-profit organization) Shizuoka Prefecture, Sakuma Branch [Organize Sakuma Soba Festival] / Sakuma Local Service Center/ Sakuma District Administration Center
429-1 Sakumacho Sakuma, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-3901, Japan Tel: 053-965-1100 Tel: 053-966-0001, 053-922-0012 [Sakuma Local Service Center/ Sakuma District Administration Center]
Sakuma NPO Website: http://www.npo-sakuma.net/
Sakuma Administration Center, Tenryu-ku (Tenryu Ward)website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/ward/tenryuku/info.html
SCMaglev and Railway Park (JR Central Tohkai customer center)
Tel: 050-3772-3910
Website: http://museum.jr-central.co.jp/en/
Tenryu-ku (Tenryu Ward) Notary Public (scrivener) office [Organize Minwa-no-Sato (Sakuma folklore festival)]
1355-2 Sakumacho Okuryoke, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture 431-4112, Japan Tel: 053-987-1913 Fax: 053-987-1886
Website: http://www.sz-gyosei.jp/branch/misakubo.html
