My Mikkabi Mikan Sweets Ran Out…
It’s a cycling trip of over 20 kilometers to the Okuhamanako area. Cycling along Lake Hamana is fun, but getting there can be surprisingly tough with lots of busy roads, so I usually need a good reason to go. And that reason is almost always when my Mikkabi Mikan sweets run out. This time was no exception, so I headed out for that very reason.
To the Deepest Part of Lake Hamana
When I head out to Lake Hamana from central Hamamatsu, where I live, the usual route is to take the old Himekaido road, cross the Hosoe Ohashi Bridge (which spans the deepest part of Lake Hamana), and then join the lakeside cycling path. After that, I ride along the lake up to Sunza, then take National Route 362 to Mikkabi, and visit the JA Mikkabi Specialty Products Direct Sales Store. After stocking up on tons of Mikkabi Mikan sweets and jams there, the routine is to cycle all the way around Lake Hamana and head back to Hamamatsu from the Bentenjima area.
This time, I changed my route a bit. Instead of turning onto National Route 362 from Sunza, I continued leisurely southward along the lakefront. That’s when I discovered FUWARI, a rental villa for exclusive use, situated in a really nice location. As you can see from the red mark along the road in the second photo, it faces Lake Hamana, so the view must be amazing. I checked their website, and while it’s not cheap, it could be a great option for a relaxing weekend with five people, maybe doing some BBQ.
From Sunza Marina to Hamanako SA
As I continued further, I heard the lively sounds of people and arrived at a marina with lots of boats docked. The handwritten sign had a really nice vibe. Marine activities are just great, aren’t they? I’m so busy I haven’t been able to get my boat license yet, but I really want to get it soon.
Further along, I realized I could enter the Hamanako Service Area (SA), so I decided to check it out since I was already there. To be honest, I’d never stopped at Hamanako SA when driving because it’s so close to home. It’s actually pretty big, with separate restaurant and shopping areas, offering a lot of variety. The grounds are spacious, almost like a park where you can relax while gazing at Lake Hamana – it’s really nice! That day, they were selling a huge amount of seasonal Mikatagahara potatoes. Seriously, everyone, these are so delicious (lol)! In the restaurant section, they had both eel and gyoza, but the longest queue was for the “Unagi Imo STORE’s Mont Blanc Soft Serve.”
Does Red Tide Occur in Lake Hamana?
That day, while cycling along the lake, I kept seeing the unusually reddish surface of the lake… I guess that must be red tide. A quick search on my phone for “Lake Hamana Red Tide” indeed confirmed it. There was a huge amount of red tide even in areas marked as clam fishing grounds, so it must be causing some problems…
JA Mikkabi Specialty Center ≠ JA Mikkabi Specialty Products Direct Sales Store
This time, due to my route, I didn’t go towards Mikkabi Station but instead headed to the JA Mikkabi Specialty Center near the Mikkabi Interchange. Since it’s a JA-affiliated store, I thought they’d basically sell the same things, so I was shocked to find that some of the items I wanted weren’t there… One of them was the Mikkabi Soft Serve… It was a hot day, and I really wanted to eat that. Another shock was finding out that “Mika-chan no Oyatsu,” my favorite Mikan jelly, was going to be discontinued once the current stock ran out. Maybe the staff saw me immediately put two large bags into my basket when I entered the store, because they told me, “The manufacturer is discontinuing production, so it’s only available while supplies last. We’re trying to find a new manufacturer now, but we don’t know if we’ll find one, and even if we do, it might take a while.” It’s delicious as is, and it’s absolutely the best when you freeze it and eat it in the summer, so I always buy a lot. Today, I bought one more large bag. I really hope they can find a new manufacturer!
Exploring the Peninsula Between Lake Inohana and Lake Hamana
In the northwestern part of Lake Hamana, there’s a lake called Lake Inohana (most people probably think of it as part of Lake Hamana itself, though), and I rode along the shore of the peninsula-like area sandwiched between it and Lake Hamana.
This area is perfect for a quiet bike ride, with few people or other cyclists around. Here and there, I saw people fishing and others enjoying their yachts, creating a really nice atmosphere.
Also, at the very back, there’s a sightseeing boat pier. It was pretty empty even though it was a holiday. If you’re looking for a leisurely and quiet sightseeing boat trip, this place (Mikkabi Seto Port) could be a really good option.
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