Kosai City is the newest city in Shizuoka Pref., whose municipal organization was started in 1972.

In 1955, five Kosai towns and villages (Shirasuka Town, Washizu Town, Shinjo Village, Iride Village, Chibata Village) located in the area of present Kosai City were combined to be Kosai Town.

The population of Kosai Town exceeded 30,000 in 1967, and Kosai City was born in 1972 as the 21st city in Shizuoka Pref.

Kosai City lying at the west end of Shizuoka Pref. is the western entrance of Shizuoka Pref. adjoining Lake Hamana in the east and Toyohashi City, Aichi Pref. in the west.

Having the mountains of Kosai in its northwestern area and adjoining the Pacific Ocean in the south, the city is blessed with such natural surroundings as the lake, mountains and sea.

The population of Kosai City which was 33,920 in the first census after the start of the municipal organization exceeded 40,000 in 1984 and is now about 45,000 (19th among the 21 cities in Shizuoka Pref.).

Please see the Kosai City's web site for more details about Kosai city.

In the old days, Lake Hamana was a freshwater lake. However, since the big earthquake in 1498 and resulting tidal wave which cut the mouth of the lake, it became a brackish lake where fresh water and sea water mix.

As compared to a near fresh sea of Lake Biwa, people have been familiar with Lake Hamana as a far fresh sea from the ancient days.

Lake Hamana is in the west of Shizuoka Pref., about the middle of Japan. Around the lake, there are three cities and six towns, including Hamamatsu City and Kosai City.

This area has about 797,000 inhabitants, 21% of the Shizuoka Pref. population.

Lake Hamana has a wide variety of lives because of its complicated shores, shallow water and rich nutrition from incoming river water. About 650 kinds of fishes, shrimps and crabs have been confirmed to live there. Among them, about 30 kinds of useful fishes are caught.

Please see the following information for more details about marine sports or fishing in Hamana-ko.

YAMAHA Marina Hamanako Suzuki Marina Hamanako Murakushi Fishing OKI