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. In the mountainous Hokuen Area, near Tenryu River and its tributaries, people enjoy camping, hiking, and other outdoor leisure activities. You can also take a Tenryu River boat tour or go canoeing in Funagira Water Dam Park.
Haruno is located in the northwest of Shizuoka prefecture, and it is very country side, comfortable in summer, so people come to here. Sakuma, Haruno, and other mountain villages up the Tenryu River are visited by many mountain climbers, hikers, and campers who come here to experience the magnificent nature. Halfway between Oi and the Tenryu River Haruno is famous for trout fishing all over the country. The four seasons mountains and rivers provide great taste of Tea, cypress, cedar, mushrooms. Hamamatsu and its vicinity, the most densely populated area in Shizuoka Prefecture, have sophisticated streets and the country’s best production plants. You may want to enjoy factory tours of various industries.
Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine
This shrine has been well known since old days as the home of the God of fire protection. Many people visit here every year during the Fire Festival held in December. From the nearby entrance, where a Torii stands, you can see downtown Hamamatsu, the Enshu Coast as well as the mountains of Mikawa and the Tenryu River. The Akiha Shrine is located at Mt. Akiha. This mountain is 836m height. Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine observatory of the mountain overlooking the Haruno’s spread vast forests, you can enjoy the changing seasons.
Contact – Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine 841 Harunocho Ryoke, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0626, Japan TEL: 053-985-0111 FAX: 053-85-0113
Website: http://www.akihasanhongu.jp/
Shirai Tetsuzo Memorial Hall (Haruno Cultural Center Hamamatsu)
This is the memorial museum for Mr. Tetsuzo Shirai, a famous director and choreographer as Takarazuka Opera Company’s supporter. In the memorial, about 600 pieces of Takara- zuka-related materials and some of his favorite personal items are exhibited. A Big mask of Tengu (Japanese long-nosed goblin) in the Haruno Culture Center.
Contact – Shirai Tetsuzo Memorial Hall (Haruno Cultural Center Hamamatsu)
1768 Harunocho Miyagawa, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0604, Japan Emtrance: Free Closed: Mondays (Tuesday instead if Monday is a national holiday), and New Year’s holidays Hour: 9:00-17:00 Tel: 053-989-0200 Fax: 053-989-0264
Website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/lifeindex/enjoy/culture_art/sirai_…
Haruno Cedar
On the top of Mt. Haruno stands the Daikoji Temple. In the precinct of this temple you can see a large cedar tree, a prefectural government designated natural treasure. The tree is 1,300 years old and 43 meters tall.
Address – Haruno Cedar
22-1 Hanajima, Haruno-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0612, Japan
ATV Sports Land Haruno
People can ride all-terrain vehicles in beautiful natural surroundings.
Contact – ATV Sports Land Haruno
2045-1 Harunocho Miyagawa, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0604, Japan Hourly Rate: Adults (aged 11 and older) ¥3,000, children (aged 6—10) ¥2,000 Hour: 9:00~17:00, Open on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays only TEL: 0539-85-1616
Website: http://www.atv-haruno.jp/
Haruno Regional Museum (Haruno Hamamatsu Municipal Library)
The exhibition on the second floor displays relevant resources and objects of Haruno’s nature, history, and ethnics; for instance, unearthed artifacts in the region from 10,000BC to 300BC, the models of 10m in diameter circular type of Kofun (megalithic tomb) built in 7 century, and the model of Inui castle which existed in middle age. Exhibits regarding the region’s history and ethnics are held on the first floor.
Contact – Haruno Regional Museum (Haruno Hamamatsu Municipal Library)
1327-1 Harunocho Miyagawa, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0604, Japan Admission: Free Close: Mondays (Tuesday if a holiday falls on a Monday) Holidays,Third Sundays Forth Saturdays,New Year’s Holidays Inventory Check Day Hours: 9:00am-5:30pm Tel: 053-989-1119 Fax: 053-983-0022
Website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/lifeindex/study/library/
Keta River
The Keta River (Ketagawa) is a 66km long river, tributary to the Tenryu River. This beautiful mountain river flows for 66 kilometers before it joins the Tenryu southwest of Haruno. It’s a relaxing place for fishing, swimming, canoeing or kayaking. Keta River Fireworks Festival along the Keta River, Haruno-cho, with more than 250 fireworks. There is also camp site along Keta River.
Contact – Keta River (Ketagawa)
481 Harunocho Keta, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0605, Japan Direction of Keta River: Take Route 152 north and turn onto 362 at Tenryu and drive about 18km
Kitagawa fisheries cooperative: TEL. 0539-85-0211, 0539-85-0216, Website: http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~b-flat/sub8.htm
Kitagawa rafting: TEL. 0539-85-0518, Website: http://www.creeksound.com/rafting/rafting01.html
Kitagawa Paddling: http://ketagawa.sakura.ne.jp/
Myojin Valley (Myoujin-kyou)
Further from the Kassaka Kagura, spreads beautiful this canyon, overwhelmed by the massive rocks that have been washed and torrent. Myojin Valley that runs for about 5 km along the Keta River, from Kassaka in Haruno to Kadogeta in Misakubo. All along the valley in the fall, the colorful array of maples, Japanese beeches, and many others creates an exquisite contrast against the evergreens through late November to early December. Address – Myojin Valley (Myoujin-kyou) 841 Harunocho Toyooka, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0606, Japan
Contact – Haruno Tourist Association (TEL 053-985-0579)
Inui Castle Ruins
The Inui Castle or Inui-jo was the main castle of the Amano clan, one of the representative lords of the northern part of Hamamatsu in the Middle Ages. The ruin stands on the Haruno Mountain located north of the Haruno High School. The remains of the castle’s horikiri (a large cut in the land), karabori (dry moats), kuruwa (walls or the region divided by them) are well preserved. It is registered as the cultural property of Shizuoka Prefecture. The view from its watchtower is spectacular. There is a hiking course between Inui Castle and Haruno Fureai Park. Haruno Fureai Park is marked by a bronze statue named Fureai State just by the entrance of the Park. The park has various sports facilities including tennis court, golf course, Training room, Multi-purpose square, children and elderly outdoor facilities, Lobby, terrace Hall, Toy square Seminar Room, cooking chamber etc.
Address- Inui Castle Ruins
362 Harunocho Horinouchi, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0625, Japan Japan
Contact – Haruno Tourist Association (TEL 053-985-0579)
Haruno Fureai Park
145-1 Harunocho Ryoke, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0626, Japan Tel/fax: 053-985-0579/ 053-985-0569
Website: http://www.hama-park.or.jp/f-kanri/f-haruno/haruno-hureai.htm
Kassaka Kagura
Kassaka Kagura Festival is a ritual performance with 360 year history. Two different dances are performed at the Shimizu Shrine and the Hachiman Shrine. It is characterized by its unique costumes for women dancers. Kassaka Kagura authority run large and small cottages with cooking facilities. Here you can experience traditional Kagura museum.
Contact – Kassaka Kagura Authority
307 Harunocho Toyooka, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0606, Japan Tel/Fax: 053-989-1470
Website: http://www.kassakakagura.com/
Haruno Sencha Tea (Kumakiri Sencha) – Tengu village (Tengu-mura)
This Sencha (Japanese Steamed green tea) grown in organic cultivation conditions offers a flavorful cup characterized by a clear herbaceous liquor with a fruity edge. Haruno is known as a home of delicious tea with unique geographical features. Grown along mountain streams around the Ota and Tenryu rivers in Tenryu / Haruno / Mori and the upstream tea-producing region of the Abe River are located on the riverside of Shizuoka Prefecture and produce premium tea with the characteristics of a refreshing aroma and mild taste peculiar to the production area in the mountains. Sencha is produced in hillside, and deep steamed sencha is produced mainly in South. Family running farming produce high quality handpicked teas.
Haruno Sencha Tea (Kumakiri Sencha) Co. provides local tourist facilities in Haruno town (Haruno-cho) and including information, souvenirs, Walking trail, History walking trail, cycling trail, Barbecue on the riverbank and local mountain Sencha Teas. Tenryu Challenge Cycling and 53km long Tenryu Super Forest Road trail also stretches across Tatsuyama, Haruno, Sakuma, and Misakubo. Tenryu Challenge Cycling is a non-competitive cycling event, which course runs through scenic nature of Northern Hamamatsu on 3rd Saturday in September. Local foods are served at checkpoints along the route.
Address and Contact:
Haruno Sencha Tea (Kumakiri Sencha), Tengu village (Tengu-mura) Tourism 1441 Harunocho Horinouchi, Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0625, Japan Tel: 053-985-0500, 053-985-1800 Fax: 053-985-0354
Website: http://www.shizuokacha.co.jp/
Transportation – Getting Around Haruno town (Haruno-cho) in Hokuen (Northern) Area of Hamamatsu [See Haruno town (Haruno-cho) Area Map Above]
Figure: Map of Haruno town (Haruno-cho)
By Train and Bus:
[Big Mask of Tengu, Shirai Tetsuzo Memorial] Enshu Railway Nishikajima Line Shin Hamamatsu Station → Nishikajima Station (32min.) → transfer to the Entetsu Bus “Akiba Line” → get off at Haruno Chiiki Jichi Center (57min.) → walk (I5min.)
Other Haruno town (Haruno-cho) Tourism Contacts:
Welfare center Haruno Hamamatsu 1330 Harunocho Miyagawa Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0604, Japan Tel:053-989-1129 Fax:053-989-1269
Website: http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/lifeindex/enjoy/culture_art/haruno…
Haruno Log House 660-1 Harunocho Kawakami, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0601, Japan TEL: 053-984-0176 FAX: 053-984-0186
Email: haru…@ka.tnc.ne.jp
Website: http://www.harumoku.com/
Haruno town (Haruno-cho) Tourist Association / Tenryu-ku (Tenryu Ward) Chamber of Commerce, Haruno Branch
814-2 Harunocho Keta, Hamamatsu, Tenryu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture 437-0605, Japan Tel: 053-989-0182 Fax: 053-989-1295
Email: har…@e-tensho.com
Website: http://e-tensho.com/member/haruno.html