Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa神奈川県平塚市

Living in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa

View from Shonandai

We have Summarized the livability of Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa.

SHONAN AREA湘南地域

What kind of place is Hiratsuka City?
Hiratsuka CityPR video
How is the traffic situation in Hiratsuka City?
How are the rent and land prices in Hiratsuka City?
How is childcare and education in Hiratsuka City?
How about shopping in Hiratsuka City?
How about jobs and recruitment in Hiratsuka City?
Hiratsuka City’s unique subsidy/subsidy system

What kind of place is Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa?

Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival

Hiratsuka City is located in the southern part of Kanagawa Prefecture.

Hiratsuka City is a municipality located in the Shonan region in southern Kanagawa Prefecture.
It has a population of 257,000 and 114,000 households (as of December 2022).
It borders Hadano City, Isehara City, and Atsugi City to the north, Chigasaki City and Samukawa Town to the east, Oiso Town and Sagami Bay to the south, and Nakai Town and Ninomiya Town to the west.

The northern area of Hiratsuka City is flat, and the Kaname River and Sagami River flow nearby. The area west of the Kaname River is hilly, and is part of the Oiso Hills.
In the area to the south near the coast, the railway tracks run east-west.
National Route 1 is also in a similar location. National Route 129 also runs through Hiratsuka City, running north-south.
After the railway (later the JR Tokaido Line) opened in 1887, Hiratsuka developed as a commercial and industrial city centered around Hiratsuka Station. In recent years, urban development and urban development have progressed, and the area is developing not only as a commercial and industrial area but also as a residential area.

The city is famous for its automobile-related industries, centered on the area on the west bank of the Sagami River.
As for agriculture, the city produces rice, which is one of the top crops in the prefecture, as well as vegetables and roses, which are local specialties of the city.
Taking advantage of its topography facing Sagami Bay, the city is also a thriving fishing town, where you can enjoy fresh seafood nearby.

The “Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival” is a historic festival celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2022. It is a major event known throughout the prefecture, featuring parades and other activities over three days.
The Komayama Park, which includes the famous Shonan Hiratsuka area, is a large park spanning Hiratsuka City and Oiso Town. It is selected as one of “Kanagawa’s 50 Scenic Spots” and “Kanagawa’s 50 Parks,” offering stunning natural scenery, including the coastline of Sagami Bay and the mountains of Izu.

PR video of Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa

A new lifestyle in Hiratsuka

If you want to raise children in Shonan, Hiratsuka City is the place to go.

Promotional video “Safety Town”

How is the traffic situation in Hiratsuka City?

Hiratsuka Station North Exit

Hiratsuka City is easily accessible to Tokyo by train or car

Hiratsuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture can be reached from the center of Tokyo in a short time by train or car.
The JR Tokaido Line runs through Hiratsuka City, and there is only one station, Hiratsuka Station.
It takes 57 minutes to get from Hiratsuka Station to Tokyo, and 31 minutes to Yokohama.
Many first trains depart from Hiratsuka Station every day, so you can often get to Tokyo while sitting on the train.
There are no other stations in Hiratsuka City, but the Odakyu Odawara Line also runs close to the city.
If you live in the northern part of the city and are traveling to Tokyo or Yokohama, it is faster to use the Odakyu Odawara Line.
The closest station on the Odakyu Odawara Line to Hiratsuka City is Tokai Daigaku-mae Station.
This station is in Hadano City, but many people living in the northern part of Hiratsuka City use it.

Hiratsuka city has expressways and national roads, so you can travel to central Tokyo and other areas by car.
One of the expressways that runs through the city is the Odawara-Atsugi Road, which can take you to Atsugi if you are heading towards Tokyo.
This is also an expressway that can be used if you want to get to Odawara quickly.
To get to Tokyo, you can also use National Route 1, which will take you east to Nihonbashi in Tokyo.

There is a high chance that you can get a seat on the train heading towards Tokyo, even during the morning rush hour. Buses are convenient, with many routes and frequent services. Driving is easy, with well-planned roads and convenient access to the expressway.

To get to areas far from the station, you will need to use the bus, but it can get very crowded depending on the weather and time. During the summer beach season, traffic jams can easily occur, so be careful.

How are the rent and land prices in Hiratsuka City?

Hiratsuka City: It’s easier to find properties with cheaper rents than in central Tokyo

According to information from a real estate information website, the average rent for an apartment or condominium in Hiratsuka City is about 50,000 yen for a one-room apartment.
The average price for a room with a kitchen is about 52,000 yen.
The average rent for a 1LDK room is about 80,000 yen.
Both are lower than the rent for condominiums and apartments in central Tokyo.
There is a lot of land for sale in Hiratsuka City, but the average price is lower than land in central Tokyo.
The average price of land in the entire city of Hiratsuka is about 400,000 yen per tsubo.
The average price of land with height restrictions is about 100,000 yen lower than the above price.

How is childcare and education in Hiratsuka City?

Hiratsuka Museum of Art

Hiratsuka City: A city with a variety of educational facilities

In Hiratsuka City, there are 30 nursery schools, 25 kindergartens, 28 elementary schools, 16 junior high schools, 6 high schools, 5 junior colleges and universities, and 6 vocational schools.
The “Pediatric Medical Expense Subsidy” covers both outpatient and inpatient care for children up to 18 years old (until March 31 of the year they turn 18), with full coverage provided.
Child allowances are ¥15,000 for children under 3 years old, ¥10,000 for the first and second children aged 3 until the start of elementary school, ¥15,000 for the third child and beyond, and ¥10,000 for junior high school students.
Hiratsuka City offers various types of educational facilities to support child-rearing.
As of October 2022, there are 17 kindergartens in the city, 15 of which are private. There are also 2 public kindergartens in the city, both of which are part of the new child-rearing support system.
There are many elementary schools in the city, with 29 public elementary schools alone. There are 16 junior high schools and 6 high schools in Hiratsuka City, 5 of which are prefectural high schools.

Hiratsuka City: A city that supports its citizens in raising children

Hiratsuka City offers various forms of support to its residents who are raising children within the city.
They also distribute booklets containing information about child-rearing, including useful information on child-rearing-related systems and facilities.
This booklet is distributed at health centers within the city, and can be picked up together with your maternal and child health handbook.

It is a city with a wide range of educational facilities, from kindergartens to universities. There are also many festivals, events, and parks, so you will never be short of places for children to play.

There are many areas with few streetlights, so caution is required when letting children walk alone at night.

How about shopping in Hiratsuka City?

LaLaport Shonan Hiratsuka

Hiratsuka City: A city with a variety of commercial facilities

Hiratsuka City has numerous commercial facilities for shopping.
Among them, the area around Hiratsuka Station has the highest concentration of commercial facilities.
The Mitsui Shopping Park ‘Lalaport Shonan Hiratsuka‘ is a large shopping mall located about a 12-minute walk from the north side of the station. It offers not only a variety of shopping stores but also numerous dining options.
‘Lusca Hiratsuka‘ is a shopping mall operated by the Shonan Station Building, which has buildings on both the north and south sides of the station.
Additionally, a large commercial facility is scheduled to open in the Twin City Oogami area in spring 2023, further enhancing the shopping convenience in the area.

The area around the station has a shopping mall, station building, and shopping street, so you can find anything you need.

Once you leave the station, there are few shops and restaurants, so it is inconvenient without a car.

How about jobs and recruitment in Hiratsuka City?

Hiratsuka City: A city where you can find a wide variety of job information

There are many different types of job listings in Hiratsuka City.
There are many large commercial facilities in the city, so stores within these facilities may also be recruiting.
Stores selling miscellaneous goods and fashion-related products may also be recruiting, so you can also search for restaurant jobs.
There are also many job listings at stores within newly opening shopping malls, so you can search for a job that meets your requirements within the city.