Chigasaki (茅ヶ崎)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Mild weather supports walking and sightseeing, while cherry blossoms, camellias, spring festivals, and fresh local produce add seasonal appeal.
• summer: Summer is ideal for beach activities, coastal scenery, fishing culture, shore events, fireworks, and the Hamaori Festival.
• autumn: Comfortable temperatures suit parks, museums, coastal walks, and countryside visits; autumn flowers and food festivals provide seasonal interest.
• winter: Winter offers mild coastal sightseeing, plum and early cherry blossoms, camellias, and the seasonal fresh seaweed festival.

What's There

• art: The city art museum exhibits artists connected with Chigasaki and contemporary art.
• beach: Southern Beach offers swimming, beach facilities, coastal recreation, and views of offshore landmarks.
• coast: The Pacific coastline features beaches, pine groves, a headland boardwalk, and scenic Sagami Bay views.
• culture: Museums, a writers’ memorial house, cultural sites, and local traditions reflect Chigasaki’s cultural identity.
• festival: Major spring and summer celebrations include the Shonan Festival, Hamaori Festival, beach opening, and fireworks.
• fishing: Chigasaki has an active fishing tradition, especially shirasu fishing and seasonal shore-fishing activities.
• flowers: Seasonal highlights include plum, camellia, cherry blossoms, Kawazu cherry blossoms, cosmos, and red spider lilies.
• food: Local specialties include shirasu products, fresh seafood, rice crackers, tomatoes, eggplant, and regional beer.
• garden: Takasago Greenery and Himuro Camellia Garden provide landscaped settings with historic residences and extensive plant collections.
• hiking: Satoyama Park and coastal walking routes provide gentle trails, boardwalks, wooded hills, and countryside scenery.
• history: Local museums, Eboshi-iwa’s historical stories, memorial sites, and preserved residences reveal the city’s past.
• market: Fishing and agricultural products are promoted through local fairs, specialty sales, and seasonal food events.
• museum: Chigasaki City Museum and Chigasaki City Museum of Art cover local nature, history, culture, and artistic heritage.
• nature: Satoyama landscapes, coastal vegetation, pine forests, wetlands, and offshore rock formations support nature-focused visits.
• park: Chigasaki Park and Satoyama Park offer sports facilities, family recreation, gardens, and walking areas.
• seafood: Fresh shirasu and other Sagami Bay fish are served raw, boiled, dried, grilled, fried, or simmered.
• shopping: Visitors can purchase locally produced shirasu snacks, seafood products, vegetables, beer, and other regional souvenirs.
• farm: Warm coastal conditions support local agriculture, including tomatoes, Turkish eggplant, flowers, and other produce.
• port: Chigasaki Fishing Port supports seafood specialties and sightseeing boats approaching the offshore Eboshi-iwa formation.
• views: Coastal viewpoints can include Eboshi-iwa, Enoshima, Mount Fuji, Sagami Bay, and scenic sunset or sunrise vistas.

Specialties

• Shonan Shirasu (湘南しらす): Shirasu fishing is one of Chigasaki’s most important fisheries, and the catch is sold fresh or processed as raw, boiled, or dried shirasu. It is a signature local food associated with Chigasaki’s fishing port.
• Kamaage Shirasu and Tatami Iwashi (釜揚げしらす・たたみいわし): Shirasu landed at Chigasaki Fishing Port is commonly prepared as kamaage shirasu or pressed and dried tatami-iwashi. These products are made from freshly landed fish and are traditional local seafood specialties.
• Chigasaki Local Fish (茅ヶ崎の地魚): Fishing families and locally operated restaurants serve Chigasaki’s seasonal fish, including shirasu and other fish from Sagami Bay. Preparations include sashimi, grilled fish, fried dishes, and simmered dishes.
• Shonan Beer (湘南ビール): Shonan Beer is listed by the Chigasaki Tourism Association as a local souvenir and regional beverage. The same guide identifies it with Kumazawa Brewery, a producer associated with Chigasaki-area tourism.
• Chigasaki Shirasu Senbei (茅ヶ崎しらすせんべい): Chigasaki Shirasu Senbei is made with shirasu caught in Sagami Bay and is promoted as a local product. The senbei has a marine flavor and is presented as a snack suitable with tea or alcoholic drinks.
• Chigasaki Tomatoes (茅ヶ崎トマト): Chigasaki tomatoes are identified by the city’s tourism guide as a local agricultural product. They are among the farm and seafood products associated with the city’s warm coastal climate.
• Turkish Eggplant (トルコナス): Turkish eggplant is listed in Chigasaki’s tourism guide among the city’s locally produced agricultural goods. It represents the area’s small-scale farming and diverse regional produce.