Hiratsuka (平塚)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Spring offers mild conditions for beaches, parks, viewpoints, museum visits, and coastal flower viewing, including beach morning glories in May.
• summer: Summer is best for beach recreation and the city’s signature Tanabata festival, held over three days in early July.
• autumn: Autumn generally suits outdoor viewpoints, beaches, parks, and port visits, while museums and shrine observances provide cultural alternatives.

What's There

• beach: The four-kilometer beach offers seaside recreation, beach sports, dunes, pine groves, sunsets, and views toward nearby mountains and islands.
• coast: Hiratsuka faces Sagami Bay, with coastal scenery, sandy shorelines, marine exhibits, and access to seaside parks.
• festival: The major Tanabata festival fills central Hiratsuka with large decorations, parades, food stalls, and cultural events in early July.
• food: Local specialties include strawberry gelato, curry bread, traditional sweets, and other certified Hiratsuka products.
• fishing: Suka Port provides fishing access, while the museum documents Hiratsuka’s longstanding coastal fishing traditions.
• seafood: The fishing port and coastal heritage support seafood interests, including local fishing activity and marine-focused museum exhibits.
• port: Suka Port is a historic Sagami logistics port that remains a waterfront destination with fishing-related facilities.
• museum: Hiratsuka City Museum presents the natural environment, history, archaeology, farming, coastal life, fishing, and culture of the Sagami River basin.
• nature: The city combines beaches, dunes, pine groves, riverside environments, rural landscapes, coastal ecosystems, and mountain views.
• park: Hiratsuka General Park and Shonan Seaside Park provide lawns, playgrounds, sports facilities, gardens, recreation, and family activities.
• wildlife: General Park includes a contact zoo, while the city museum features local organisms, birds, and coastal natural history.
• garden: Hiratsuka General Park includes a Japanese garden, and seaside parks provide landscaped green areas and shelterbelt woodland.
• views: Shonan-daira overlooks Sagami Bay, the Tanzawa range, and distant mountains; the beach also offers sunsets and occasional Mount Fuji views.
• history: The city preserves a historic shrine, port heritage, post-town history, archaeological displays, and longstanding local traditions.
• shrine: Hiratsuka Hachiman Shrine is a central religious site with numerous annual rites and festivals, including its August annual festival.
• market: Tanabata brings food stalls and shopping activity, while seaside park events and local product outlets add market experiences.
• shopping: Visitors can buy recognized Hiratsuka confectionery, gelato, curry bread, and other souvenirs through local shops and tourism outlets.

Specialties

• Strawberry Gelato (いちごジェラート＜平塚産いちご使用＞): This gelato is made with strawberries grown in Hiratsuka. It is listed by the Hiratsuka City Tourism Association among local products sold through Minakuru Hiratsuka.
• Gensai Curry Bread (減災カレーパン): Gensai Curry Bread is a local specialty produced by Takaku Bakery. The tourism association identifies it as a certified Hiratsuka specialty and notes its crisp coating and fukujinzuke relish filling.
• Shonan Hokkuri (湘南名菓 ほっくり): Shonan Hokkuri is a locally produced Japanese confection made by Kinewaka. It is listed among Hiratsuka’s recognized souvenir products by the city tourism association.
• Shonan Rose Yokan (湘南ばら羊かん): Shonan Rose Yokan is a rose-themed Japanese sweet made by Kinewaka. The product is included in the Hiratsuka tourism association’s catalog of local specialties.
• Hiratsuka Monaka (銘菓 平塚最中): Hiratsuka Monaka is a traditional filled wafer confection sold by An-eido, a local Japanese sweets shop. It is listed as a Hiratsuka specialty in the tourism association’s official souvenir guide.