Kunma Suisha(water wheel) no Sato, a roadside station in the northwest of Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City, is a popular spot where you can enjoy nature, gourmet food, and handmade experiences all year round.
The people in charge of customer service inside the store are mothers from the local Kuma district. Due to the warmth of its customer service and atmosphere, it won the “Tokoro JAPAN Local Roadside Station Grand Prix” in September 2022.
This time, we will introduce you to the highlights of Kunma Suisha(water wheel) no Sato and how to enjoy it.
Approximately 40 kilometers northwest of central Hamamatsu City. The roadside station “Kunma Suisha(water wheel) no Sato” is located in a peaceful mountain area. It is the northernmost of the three roadside stations in Hamamatsu City.
The landmark is a large sign that says “Mutsuki Hahihiha/Mom’s Store.” This is a decomposition of the character for “kuma”. At some point, I started writing “Kuma” and reading it as “Kunma.”
Kunma Suiryu no Sato was certified as a roadside station in 1995 (Heisei 7), but activities had already started in the late 1980s.
The photo above is “Mom’s Store,” which is the centerpiece of the village.
Here you can enjoy handmade soba noodles and venison curry. We will introduce the menu details later, so please look forward to it.
In addition, on the premises there is a souvenir shop “Buratto”, “Fureai-ie” where you can try making soba noodles, restrooms, a water mill, and miso/pickle and konnyaku processing facilities.
The watermill is located down the stairs from “Mom’s Shop”.
The water wheel is powered by water from a nearby stream. It is pulled to this point and rotated using water pressure and height differences (as of October 2022, it is not rotating due to a malfunction).
You can also see goldfish and large colored carp in the pond near the watermill.
The most popular thing to do at Kunma Waterwheel Village is definitely playing in the river!
The Atago River, which flows behind the buildings in the village, is highly transparent and was selected as one of the “100 Famous Waters of the Heisei Era” in 2008. It is the only river in the western area of Shizuoka Prefecture that is listed as one of the “100 Best Waters of the Showa Era.”
The Kuma district is the source of the Atago River. Therefore, the river width in this area is not very wide and the water depth is shallow. If you want to play in the river, go down the protected stairs to the shore.
Fortunately, you can bring your own lunch. In addition to playing in the water, you can also observe river fish and remove pebbles to look for freshwater crabs. Enjoy Kunma all over your body in the midst of rich nature!
oh yeah. Don’t forget to take your trash home with you when you return home. Also, the Atago River is not managed by Kunma Waterwheel Village, so please be sure to follow the rules.
At Fureai-ie, located next to the parking lot, you can try your hand at making soba noodles, gohei mochi, and konjac.
●Soba making experience●
The taste of soba made with your own hands is exceptional. The parents will teach you carefully, so it’s okay even for beginners. If you are interested, feel free to let’s try!
●Gohei mochi making experience●
Gohei mochi is a local dish common in the mountainous areas of the Chubu region! However, the shape and taste of miso sauce vary from region to region.
The shape and taste that are common in the mountainous areas of Hamamatsu City, including Kuma, are flat oval shaped with miso sauce. This is also the shape we make at Fureai House.
Even if it loses its shape a little, it’s still a memory. Would you like to try making Gohei mochi by hand?
*In addition to the basic Gohei mochi making mentioned above, the Gohei mochi making experience that respects originality is also popular, allowing you to enjoy three different flavors, shaping it into your own favorite shape, and toppings.
●Konjac making experience●
From October to March of the following year, you can try your hand at making konnyaku using konnyaku potatoes.
How do you make konnyaku from konjac potatoes? First of all, what kind of potato is “konnyaku sweet potato”?
Whether you are interested or not, the taste of real konnyaku made from konjac potatoes is exquisite! Please try it!
Please note that all handmade experiences require a fee and advance reservation by phone. Please see the official website for details.
Roadside Station Kunma Suisha(water wheel) no Sato official website (external link)
If you’re hungry, please come to “Mom’s Store”.
Inside the store, where you can feel the warmth of wood, you can enjoy homemade soba noodles and local curry.
The photo above is Tenzaru, whose main dish is hand-made soba noodles made in Satonai. The set includes a platter of zaru soba and tempura, a small side dish, and sweets.
All of the tempura made with maitake mushrooms from Kuma are freshly fried. It’s easy to bite! I could almost hear the sound. There are also plenty of seasonal vegetables.
The local curry is made with venison! In Tenryu, deer and wild boars, which live in mountainous areas and eat up agricultural crops, are properly exterminated before being eaten as a game dish.
There’s no need to worry about “Isn’t venison smelly?” Because it was slowly simmered, I was able to eat it deliciously without any smell. The venison curry also comes with a small bowl and sweets.
We recommend seating on the terrace when the restaurant is crowded or when the weather is mild.
●Spring●
You can enjoy flowers such as Mitsumata and Edo Higanzakura. In the surrounding area, including the village, horsetail, Japanese katakuri, Japanese parsley, as well as ryukinka and loquat flowers bloom, announcing the arrival of spring to the village.
This is the time to harvest shiitake mushrooms. Log shiitake mushrooms are harvested twice a year.
●Early summer~summer●
In early summer, carp streamers and the white Orlea flowers blooming along the promenade will soothe the eyes of visitors.
Enjoy playing in the Atago River in the summer!
●Autumn●
About half a year since spring. In autumn, log shiitake mushrooms are harvested. Starting in October, you can try your hand at making konjac.
From mid-November onwards, the surrounding mountains, including the village, are colored with autumn leaves and ginkgo leaves. The azaleas planted as a hedge turn bright red, and it’s so vivid!
●Winter●
Bears are more likely to see snowy scenery, which is rarely seen in the plains of Hamamatsu. Please be careful of icy roads when you come.
The product store “Buratto” is located between “Mom’s Store” and “Fureai House.”
In addition to processed foods made within the village, the store also sells handmade items made in the Kuma district and surrounding areas.
Near the entrance, there are Japanese black tea made from dried shiitake mushrooms from Kuma and tea leaves from Tenryu, and Maitake mushroom rice mix. Dried shiitake mushrooms are of course log shiitake mushrooms. I purchased this for home use. Log shiitake mushrooms from Tenryu are delicious.
The pickles displayed in the refrigerated showcase are processed at Kunma Suiryu no Sato. Enjoy the nostalgic taste of mom.
Buckwheat madeleines and ready-to-eat venison curry and stew items are also popular.
The handmade goods corner runs from the middle of the store to the back. In addition to practical coasters and hooks that can be expected to be effective as insect repellents, there are also reproductions of winnows and threshing machines once used in rice cultivation.
If you feel like eating something while driving, how about some Gohei mochi or soft serve ice cream? Each item is sold next to the entrance of Buratto.
However, Gohei Mochi is only available on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, so it will not be sold out on any given day. It’s a hit. The soft serve ice cream is sold from March to early December. You can enjoy different flavors depending on the season.
We also sell shaved ice for about a month starting in early August.
●Access method/by car●
As for how to get there, if you are driving, we recommend getting off at the Hamamatsu Hamakita IC on the Shin-Tomei Expressway before heading there.
After getting off at the IC, turn left at the “Nakase Ohira” intersection, then turn right at the first intersection to merge onto Shizuoka Prefectural Route 45 (commonly known as Kasai Kaido).
Continue along the road, pass under the Tenryu Hamanako Railway viaduct, and immediately turn right at the Kashima Sakashita intersection to get onto National Route 362. Then, turn left at the “Kashimabashi” intersection, which is located just before Kashimabashi Bridge, which spans the Tenryu River.
Once you’ve come this far, all you have to do is head north on Shizuoka Prefectural Route 9 (Tenryu Toei Line).
(You can also get off at the Hamamatsu Inasakita IC on the Shin-Tomei Expressway and go through Shibukawa, but this is not recommended as it involves a series of curves.)
●Access method/When using public transportation●
If you wish to use public transportation, please use the “Tenryu Fureai Bus”, which is a demand-type (pre-booked) bus, as route buses are not running. Please include the round trip when making a reservation.
Hamamatsu City City Hall/Tenryu Fureai Bus (Kuma/Oshiroki Line) (external link)
「https://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/tn-machi/traffic/unkou/tenryu_kuma.html」
It is written as “Kuma” and read as “Kunma”.
Have a fun day at the warm and relaxing village of Kunma Waterwheel!
Roadside Station Kunma Suisha(water wheel) no Sato official website (external link)
[Marine Sports] “Pedal SUP & Kayak” that can be enjoyed in casual clothes makes its debut in the Tokai region
When it comes to activities at Lake Hamana, marine sports enjoyed on the lake are popular, but did you know that new marine sports will be introduced in July 2023?
That is the “Pedal SUP & Kayak” that we will introduce this time.
“Pedal SUP & Kayak” is a cutting-edge activity that is easy to enjoy in casual clothes and has the exhilarating feeling of moving smoothly across the lake like cycling.
This time, I actually experienced pedal kayaking, so I will report on its charm!
What kind of place is Lake Hamana? Sea Lake Textbook – Seafood Edition – now on sale! !
I don’t think there is anyone who lives in this area who doesn’t know about Lake Hamana. I think everyone has at least once gone out to collect clams, go fishing, or go for a drive along the shore of Lake Hamana. Lake Hamana is a very familiar place to us.
What would you say if someone asked you again, “What kind of place is Lake Hamana?” You probably won’t be able to give a good answer like, “Hmm. There’s nothing special about it…” I want to know more about Lake Hamana. With this in mind, I began creating this “Sea Lake Textbook”.
This book was originally based on a poster titled “50 Amazing Things in Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana”. This poster is intended to convey that there are many wonderful things to see in the Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana area. The “Lake of the Sea Textbook” is an even more in-depth study. Both were created for local elementary and junior high school students, and were produced as part of the “Lake Hamana Tourism Area” project, which is working to create a tourist area that encompasses Hamamatsu City and Kosai City. Normally, when we think of tourism, we think of inviting visitors from outside, but why local elementary and junior high school students? There is a reason for this.
Have you ever heard of the term civic pride? It means that citizens have pride and attachment to their region. In the field of tourism, there is now a need to foster this civic pride. So why does fostering civic pride lead to tourism?
When you feel pride and attachment to your region, you can’t help but want to share it with others. “Lake Hamana is an amazing place, so come and visit us!” When residents say these words one after another, they attract people from outside, and the residents want to convey the goodness of Lake Hamana to people who come from outside. It will be. And the goodness of Lake Hamana is passed on from person to person. This is the ideal form.
So what can we do to help residents feel civic pride? First of all, let’s let people know that Lake Hamana is amazing! With that in mind, I created 50 amazing posters. The first thing you need to do is stop and look at the poster. After that, I decided to create a textbook that would be more accessible and readable. First, by getting elementary and junior high school students interested, the children will pass it on to their parents, and the parents will also become interested. I want to create something that will lead to understanding the richness of Lake Hamana.
How was Lake Hamana formed?
When did it become connected to the sea?
What kind of creatures do the fish and shellfish live in?
It’s connected to the sea, but is it salty?
How deep is it?
Winter has arrived at Lake Hamana.
This article was written in 2019.
For the latest information, please visit the Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika website.
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The area around Lake Hamana is a warm region, even within Honshu.
Still, cold things are cold. chilly season,
If so, we recommend the fruit illumination at Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika.
Speaking of illuminations, they are held all over the place in winter, but the illuminations at Fruit Park are different from others! What’s different?