Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort & Spa (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture; General Manager: Masahiro Watanabe), an all-inclusive resort known for its Lake Hamana scenery and hot springs, is running a lineup of summer-only programs through the 2026 summer holidays. Highlights include the "Lake Hamana Boat Cruise," departing from the hotel's own pier, and a "Mini Unadon," where guests finish Lake Hamana's famous eel with their choice of toppings and condiments.
A cruise connecting JR Bentenjima Station and the hotel turns the trip itself into part of the sightseeing experience. Inside the hotel, a Mini 4WD experience event introduces guests to Shizuoka's manufacturing culture, alongside craft classes that double as summer-holiday project material for kids. A lawn plaza hosts ground golf, hand-held fireworks light up the poolside in the evenings, and this year the pool season has been extended through September 27 (Sun) — all part of an all-inclusive stay built around what only Lake Hamana can offer.
Boat Cruise Departing from the Hotel's Own Pier
Guests can board directly from the hotel's own pier for a small-boat sightseeing cruise around Lake Hamana. Guided by the local fishery cooperative, the cruise takes in views of the hotel and the Bentenjima area from the water — scenery only visible from the lake itself. A "Welcome Cruise" from JR Bentenjima Station to the hotel and a "Goodbye Cruise" from the hotel back to the station after checkout are also available, so guests arriving by public transportation can make the trip to and from the hotel part of their Lake Hamana sightseeing.
Organizer: Bentenjima Yusen Kumiai
Boarding points: Hotel's own pier / JR Bentenjima Station
Operating period: Through November 11 (Wed), 2026
Fare: All courses — Adults ¥2,500 (tax included), Children (ages 4–12) ¥1,500 (tax included)
Reservations: Please book through the Inquiry Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0y-kUxb4ez-75DyA6yRJqXk8EJbWwrd4n-142x9Q-TPh4Eg/viewform
Notes: This cruise is operated by Bentenjima Yusen Kumiai for guests staying at Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort & Spa. Bentenjima Yusen Kumiai: https://www.bentenyusen.com / TEL: 090-7686-0962
Mini Unadon: Finish Lake Hamana's Famous Eel Your Way at the Buffet
The summer dinner buffet features Lake Hamana's signature grilled eel, "unagi kabayaki." Guests can pair the fragrant eel, cooked at the live kitchen, with their choice of toppings and condiments to build an original "Mini Unadon" — deciding on the flavor and presentation themselves is part of the fun. The buffet also includes freshly made steak from the live kitchen and a dynamic whole steamed sea bream, among other dishes for summer energy.
Summer Desserts Featuring Local Flavors, Plus a Nostalgic Dagashi Corner
For dessert, a rich soft-serve made with the locally loved "Inasa Milk" is on offer. Guests can build an original parfait with a variety of toppings, or choose shaved ice from more than 10 syrup flavors.
At dinnertime, a "Nostalgic Dagashi Corner" is set up in the second-floor special venue (Main Hall). Alongside the free-flow drinks and classic snacks included in the all-inclusive plan, it creates a festival-like mood that guests of all ages can enjoy together.
Dinner Buffet Overview
Period: Through September 27 (Sun), 2026 (Availability of individual menu items varies by date — check the official website for details.)
Hours: 5:30 PM–9:00 PM (last entry 8:30 PM)
Venue: Buffet restaurant Le Sensoriel
Price: Included in the all-inclusive plan room rate
Mini 4WD Experience: A Taste of Shizuoka's Manufacturing Culture
The hotel is setting up a special Tamiya-brand Mini 4WD circuit for the event "Tebura de GO! Hajimete no Mini Yonku: Hamanako Park," where guests can customize their own Mini 4WD cars and take part in races. Parents and grandparents who once loved Mini 4WD as kids can race on the same circuit as children trying it for the first time — a summer-only program that lets families experience one of Shizuoka Prefecture's iconic manufacturing traditions together.
Period: August 6 (Thu)–10 (Mon), 2026 / August 18 (Tue)–29 (Sat), 2026
Time: 9:00 AM–11:00 AM / 3:00 PM–7:00 PM
Venue: Special space on the hotel's 1st floor (near the back of the shopping plaza)
Price: Included in the all-inclusive plan
New Activities: "Hotel Grand Adventure" and "HAMANA Workshop"
Guests can explore the hotel in search of yokai tied to the local area in the mystery-solving event "Hotel Grand Adventure – Find the Hidden Yokai!" Clearing checkpoints earns yokai-themed goods. For adults, the horror attraction "Hamanako no Kowai Yoru," which launched at the end of 2025, is also available.
At "HAMANA Workshop," guests can make shell accessories, mini kites from milk cartons, and piano-themed crafts inspired by Hamamatsu, the "city of musical instruments." During the summer holidays, the hotel also occasionally invites specialist instructors for capacity-limited craft classes on herbariums and accessory making — a good source of material for kids' summer break projects.
"Hotel Grand Adventure" and "HAMANA Workshop" are covered by the all-inclusive plan, with some exceptions.
HAMANA Workshop Overview
Time: 3:00 PM–8:00 PM
Venue: HAMANA Workshop, hotel 1st floor
Who: Children to adults (young children are recommended to be accompanied by a guardian)
Price: Included in the all-inclusive plan (some special programs may carry an additional fee)
Activities: Shell craft experience, mini kite making, tea leaf sachet making, piano craft experience
Duration: Varies by activity — roughly 30 to 60 minutes as a guide
Ground Golf on the Grounds and the Poolside Hand-Held Fireworks Corner
The hotel is adding a new ground golf course to its spacious lawn plaza, an outdoor activity that children and seniors alike can enjoy under the same rules, with the fee included in the all-inclusive plan. After dinner, a "Hand-Held Fireworks Corner" opens poolside, where families can enjoy hand-held fireworks together in the Lake Hamana night breeze. (Only hand-held fireworks are permitted; aerial and rocket fireworks are not allowed.)
Pool, Book Chapel, and Other Signature Activities to Enjoy During Your Stay
Beyond the summer-season pool, standard programs such as boccia, Mölkky, table tennis, and a grand piano experience are available both indoors and outdoors. "Book Chapel," a former wedding chapel converted into a reading space, holds around 9,000 comics and picture books by authors connected to Shizuoka Prefecture, and hosts a weekend "Tea Marché." Guests can choose between indoor and outdoor content depending on the weather and time of day.
Schedules and hours vary by activity.
Details are subject to change without notice — check the official website for the latest information.
About Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort & Spa
Set right on the shore of Lake Hamana, this all-inclusive resort is built around lake views and hot springs. The stay includes dinner and breakfast buffets that showcase Hamamatsu ingredients, a hot spring open-air bath and communal bath, a lounge, and activities. The property has also converted a wedding chapel into "Book Chapel," home to around 9,000 comics and picture books by authors connected to Shizuoka Prefecture, alongside a range of other indoor and outdoor activities. Room types include the Executive Twin, featuring wallpaper inspired by Lake Hamana and Enshu cotton weaving, and spacious Japanese-Western rooms, making it well suited to family travel.
Address: 4396-1 Yamazaki, Yuto-cho, Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Phone: 03-6627-4647 (Reservation Center)
Price: From ¥25,500 per night, all-inclusive (per-person rate for double occupancy, tax and service charge included)
URL: https://grand-mercure-lakehamana-resortandspa.jp
Information is current as of August 3, 2026, and is subject to change. All photos are for illustrative purposes only.
