Upon my arrival after a rainy Friday drive, I began exploring Lake Hamana, marvelling at its vastness. Although I had planned to visit Pal Pal (a theme park), Hamamatsu Flower Park, and Kazanji Ropeway, I arrived just before their closing times, leaving me disappointed. However, I proceeded to check into the hotel, unwind, and venture out to Yūrakugai for dinner and some nighttime entertainment.
For dinner, I visited Totoichi, a seafood restaurant that surprisingly specializes in serving eel sashimi. While the meal was a bit pricey, it was undeniably delicious. Afterwards, I made my way to Bar Glee, not far from Totoichi, where I engaged in enjoyable conversations with an enigmatic dentist and the charming bar lady while savouring a few whiskies. Being a foreigner fluent in Japanese has its perks, such as people offering to buy me drinks. I had a genuine and heartfelt conversation with the bar lady, who had an affinity for South Africa.
Later in the evening, I ended up at EL, arguably the best lounge in Hamamatsu and one of my personal favourites in Japan. The staff were fantastic, the ambience was great, the shisha was smooth, and the drinks were terrific. I highly recommend this establishment, and the manager, Hashim, is an attentive, charming, and intelligent individual who serves as an asset to any team.
