Trip reports
Connect with People, the Earth, and the Sky in Hiratsuka
Hiratsuka, located along Sagami Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a coastal city best known for its summer Tanabata Festival, which transforms the area into a colorful and lively destination.
Hiratsuka has an engaging mix of attractions—from museums and historical sites to oceanside landscapes and lush green spaces—making it an ideal off-the-beaten-path destination for exploration. Embrace your cultural curiosities and outdoorsy spirit with a kimono washing experience, picturesque stroll through nature-adorned sceneries, and thrilling paragliding adventure.
Kimono washing experience at Darumaya Kyozome Main Store
Darumaya Kyozome Main Store is a kimono store that specializes in arai hari, or kimono washing. This traditional method of washing is an extremely delicate process that starts with unstitching the kimono and resewing it as one long piece, called a tanmono. The tanmono is then washed by hand and hung to dry naturally. Afterwards, the fabric is stretched with approximately 600 thin bamboo sticks placed at two-centimeter intervals along its width. A thin layer of natural fabric starch is applied, and the tanmono is dried once more. Lastly, the cloth is steamed with a machine called a tenta, flattened through a meticulous folding process, and resewn into its original form.
Stores and artisans that practice arai hari are becoming rare. However, at Darumaya Kyozome Main Store you can witness this unique practice up close through its washing experience. The facility hosts this exclusive activity about three to four times a month, and you can apply via phone or through the LINE app. Immerse yourself in this special art!
Self-guided walk through the Eight Views of Yoshizawa
Yoshizawa is a forested area located in western Hiratsuka and is characterized by its quaint farmhouses nestled in nature. To preserve and nurture Yoshizawa’s rural landscapes, Hiratsuka designated eight spots as Yoshizawa hakkei, or “Eight Views of Yoshizawa.”
This charming collection of spots includes views of Mount Fuji, terraced fields and farmhouses, cherry blossoms against a century-old elementary school, azalea- and dogwood-lined roads, Yatsurugi Shrine, Shogan-ji Temple, Kirifuri Falls, and a vibrant yellow rapeseed field.
To see Yoshizawa hakkei in its entirety you will likely need an entire day. The light exercise, coupled with Yoshizawa’s old-timey sceneries, makes for a fulfilling adventure.
Paragliding with Blue Air Park
Take to the skies with a paragliding experience hosted by Blue Air Park! This paragliding school uses motorized paragliders and pairs you with an experienced instructor who handles all navigation—leaving you free to fully enjoy the mesmerizing views. The school offers 10- and 20-minute sessions and happily accepts first time flyers.
Feel your heart pound as your feet leave the ground and you ascend to an altitude of approximately 100 to 200 meters. While you cruise in the refreshing breeze you are granted breathtaking vistas of Sagami Bay, the shoreline, and Hiratsuka’s cityscape. The experience is simultaneously exhilarating and soothing. Be sure to take plenty of pictures to immortalize your time in the clouds.
Access to and around Hiratsuka
Hiratsuka Station is on the JR Odoriko, Shonan-Shinjuku, and Tokaido lines and is a little over an hour train ride from central Tokyo. For example, from Tokyo Station, you can take the Ueno-Tokyo Line, which transitions into the Tokaido Line, for a direct train to Hiratsuka Station.
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Access to Darumaya Kyozome Main Store: Seven- to eight-minute walk from Hiratsuka Station. (Google Maps directions)
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Access to the Eight Views of Yoshizawa: Since the Eight Views of Yoshizawa encompasses multiple destinations, we recommend car travel. If car travel is not possible, please reference the Google Maps links below to help you best utilize available public transportation at the time of your visit.
1. Tobiyatsu Hill
2. Yoshizawa Village
3. Yoshizawa Elementary School
4. Megumigaoka
5. Yatsurugi Shrine
6. Shogan-ji Temple
7. Kirifuri Falls
8. Yurugi no Oka
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Access to Blue Air Park: The meeting point is Hiratsuka Relay Station (平塚中継所) and is about 20 minutes from Hiratsuka Station. From Hiratsuka Station’s South Exit (平塚駅南口), take a bus bound for the West Coast (西海岸行) to Shimohanasui Bridge (下花水橋) or a bus bound for Oiso Station (大磯駅行) to Higashimachi 3-chome (東町三丁目). Then, walk approximately 10 minutes to Hiratsuka Relay Station. (Google Maps directions)
