Have you ever seen a photo of a road guide board that says “3km per month” in the media?

This information board is located in Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City. It stands on Shizuoka Prefectural Route 360, which runs along the flow of the Tenryu River.

So, what exactly is happening this month? You may also be curious about the origin of place names.

This time, in order to solve these mysteries, we took a short trip to the moon.

The landmark to the moon is that road information board

Shizuoka Prefectural Route 360 ​​is home to the road information board for “3km per month,” which was in the spotlight a few years ago.

From Tenryu Futamata Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway, go north on National Route 152 for about 5 kilometers and turn left just before the first tunnel, Funagira Tunnel.

Many cars can be seen driving on the national highway, but rarely do they deviate onto this prefectural road. It’s such a quiet place.

Shortly after passing the road information sign that says “3km a month”, you will soon see the red Isuka Bridge. To get to the moon, cross this bridge and turn right. It’s finally the beginning of the moon trip!

This is the view from a short distance after passing the Tenryu Fureai Bus’s “Isukagami” bus stop, which is the entrance to the Tenryu Boat Park Isuka Boat Park.

The area is surrounded by deep green trees, and the Tenryu River flows slowly through it.

If you start to see white buildings at the end of the road, it’s a sign that the moon is getting closer. I look forward to finding out the true nature of the building once I arrive.

Since this location is close to the finish line of rowing events such as regattas, there is a watchtower with a white roof near the shore.

Arrived on the moon!

After passing through many curves and suddenly seeing the sky, you will have arrived at the moon. As for the origin of this place’s name, two legends were engraved on a stone monument at the southern end of the area.

The first is a legend written by Suzuki Sakyonoshin, a member of the Genji clan who served the Kusunoki clan during the Nanbokucho period.

The second is based on the old poem, “This evening’s fishing is waiting for a half-fishing picture, and the mid-autumn is the tenth.” “Currently, there are only 12 half-fishing, but I hope that it will develop like the full moon.” The legend goes that it was named after the moon.

Both legends are romantic.

The Tsuki district is located along the Tanizawa River, which flows into the Tenryu River.

The bridge that spans the Tanizawa River is also called “Tsukibashi”! A plate with their name written on it is embedded at the base of the bridge.

Before you cross Tsuki Bridge, you will see a sign for Prefectural Route 360 ​​and the words “Hamamatsu City Tsuki.”

There is also a Tsukikyo information board behind it. Of all the Tsuki districts, this area has the highest concentration of names with the word “Moon” in them.

What's on the moon... that's

Some people may be wondering, “What else is there on the moon besides the monument where the place’s name comes from and the Tsuki Bridge?” It’s definitely a boat field.

Until I got here, the Tenryu River was flowing along the road all the way… but even within that river, this area is the dam lake of Funaaki Dam.

Funaaki Dam is located at the downstream end of the Tenryu River system, and if you go upstream from the downstream side of the dam lake, there is a large curve near Isabashi Bridge and Isago Boat Park, and the rest is almost straight.

Therefore, a rowing stadium was created using this dam lake.

The length of the course is 2000 meters in a straight line. Considering Japan’s land situation, this is extremely rare in Japan.

A boathouse is a warehouse where boats are kept. Perhaps because it was a holiday, the boathouse door was open.

Funake Dam Lake is the lowest dam lake on a major river that is relatively close to the city.

The three dams in the lower reaches of the Tenryu River, including Funaaki Dam, are managed and operated in an integrated manner by Electric Power Development, which maintains a stable amount of water.

There are few waves on the surface of the lake, and the course is 2,000 meters long in a straight line. This is the perfect place for rowing competitions.

The moon is almost at the center of the 2000 meter course.

Tenryu Boat Course is the venue for the National High School Rowing Competition held every March. The event is held for three days, exactly around the vernal equinox. The Tsuki area, which is usually quiet, becomes lively with high school students during the tournament.

At first glance, the stairs leading down to the lakeside were transformed into audience seats.

What else is there besides the boat dock?

At the back of the Tsuki Boathouse is the Tenryu Nature Experience Center Lakeside House. The lakeside house has a lodging building and a dining room, and is often used for student training camps.

Although it can be used by the general public, due to its location, it does not operate as a regular cafeteria. If you want to enjoy a moon-viewing meal on the moon, please make a reservation at least two weeks in advance for 10 or more people.

The village of Tsuki extends from the banks of the Tenryu River to the foot of the mountain, like a long and narrow isosceles triangle. When there are no boat users, it is a truly quiet and quiet place.

If you listen closely, you can hear the chirping of birds and the sound of the wind passing through the trees. There are benches here and there, so it’s a great place to take a short break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

As for how to access the Tsuki area, by car, it takes less than 30 minutes from the Shin-Tomei Expressway “Hamamatsu Hamakita IC” via National Route 152 and Shizuoka Prefectural Route 360.

If you use public transportation, you will need to use a call-type demand bus (Tenryu Fureai Bus) (as of May 2022 / advance reservation required).

However, this bus is not very convenient for people other than local residents.

Therefore, we recommend renting a bicycle (for a fee) at Tenryu Futamata Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway, which is the closest railway station to the moon.

There are two types of bicycles available for rent: regular bicycles and electric bicycles, and rental hours are from 9:00 to 16:00. The distance from the station to the moon is approximately 8.8 km, and it takes about 30 minutes to get there.

Finally, one more thing about the origin of place names.

Judging from the topography, tsuki, like tsuka, is a word that refers to a “slightly elevated place,” and it seems to be common on plateaus and sand dunes.

Before the dam lake was built, the Tsuki area may have been on higher ground.

Find out for yourself the origins of place names, or find a place to relax by the lake. Would you like to go beyond “3km a month”?

Official website of Tenryu Hamanako Railway (external link)

「https://www.tenhama.co.jp/」