Hiratsuka Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Hiratsuka

平塚市

Special city

Hiratsuka

Flag

Seal

Location of Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture

Hiratsuka

Location in Japan

Country

First official recorded

late 3rd century (official)

Town settled

April 1, 1889

City settled

April 1, 1932

Area

• Total

67.88 km² (26.21 sq mi)

Population

(April 1, 2021)

• Total

257,316

• Density

3,790.75/km² (9,818.0/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)

– Tree

Camphor Laurel

– Flower

Dianthus

– Bird

Egret

Phone number

0463-23-1111

Address

9-1 Sengenchō, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken 254-8686

Hiratsuka City Hall

Hiratsuka (平塚市 (Hiratsuka-shi)) is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of April 1, 2021, about 257,316 people live there. The city covers an area of 67.88 square kilometers (about 26.21 square miles).

Hiratsuka is known for its beautiful location near the sea and its interesting history. It is also famous for its annual Tanabata festival, which is a big celebration.

Geography and Location
- Neighboring Cities and Towns
- Climate in Hiratsuka
Population Growth
History of Hiratsuka
Economy and Industries
Education in Hiratsuka
Transportation
- Railway
- Highways
Fun Things to See and Do
Sister Cities
Famous People from Hiratsuka
Images for kids
See also

Geography and Location

Hiratsuka from Shonandaira. You can see the Hiratsuka TV Tower and Sagami Bay.

Hiratsuka is in the Shōnan area of Kanagawa Prefecture. It sits on the west side of the Sagami River and faces Sagami Bay to the south. The city has flat areas near the river and some hills to the west.

It's located almost exactly halfway between the big city of Tokyo and the famous Mount Fuji. This makes it a great spot for both city life and enjoying nature.

Neighboring Cities and Towns

Hiratsuka is surrounded by several other places in Kanagawa Prefecture:

Atsugi
Chigasaki
Hadano
Isehara
Nakai
Ninomiya
Oiso
Samukawa

Climate in Hiratsuka

Hiratsuka has a climate with warm summers and cool winters. There is usually not much snow. The average temperature for the year is about 14.6°C (58.3°F).

The city gets a lot of rain, especially in September. August is usually the warmest month, with temperatures around 25.2°C (77.4°F). January is the coldest, with temperatures around 4.4°C (39.9°F).

Population Growth

The number of people living in Hiratsuka grew quickly in the late 1900s. However, the population has stayed about the same in the 2000s.

1950: 49,638 people
1960: 108,279 people
1970: 163,671 people
1980: 214,293 people
1990: 245,950 people
2000: 254,633 people
2010: 260,780 people
2020: 258,422 people

History of Hiratsuka

People have lived in the Hiratsuka area since ancient times. Records from the Nara period (710-794 AD) mention this area.

During the Heian period (794-1185) and Kamakura period (1185-1333), the land was divided into large estates called shōen. These were controlled by different samurai families. Later, in the Sengoku period (1467-1615), there were battles between powerful clans here.

After 1590, the area came under the control of Ieyasu Tokugawa. He built a summer palace called the Nakahara Goten in 1596. This is now the site of a local elementary school.

Hiratsuka became an important post town called Hiratsuka-juku on the Tōkaidō road. This road connected Edo (old Tokyo) with Kyoto. Hiratsuka was the 7th station on this route. It was often shown in famous Japanese artworks called ukiyo-e, by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige.

Hiratsuka officially became a town on April 1, 1889. It grew and became a city on April 1, 1932.

During World War II, Hiratsuka was home to factories that made military supplies. Because of this, the city was heavily damaged by bombing on July 16, 1945.

After the war, the city quickly rebuilt itself. It grew by joining with nearby villages in the 1950s. In 2001, Hiratsuka became a "special city." This means it has more independence in how it is governed.

The current mayor of Hiratsuka is Katsuhiro Ochiai. He was first elected in 2011. Before becoming mayor, he served on the Hiratsuka city council.

Economy and Industries

Hiratsuka has a varied economy. Some money comes from a cycling velodrome where people place bets. Many industries also have factories in the city's industrial parks.

Big companies like Nissan Shatai (car parts), Yokohama Rubber Company (tires), Canon (cameras and printers), and Pilot (pens) have plants here. The famous Namiki pens are made in Hiratsuka.

Many people who live in Hiratsuka also travel to work in bigger cities like Yokohama and Tokyo. They are drawn to the "Shōnan lifestyle," which means enjoying the coastal area.

Education in Hiratsuka

Hiratsuka has many schools for children and young adults.

There are 28 public elementary schools.
There are 15 public middle schools.
The city has five public high schools and one private high school.
There are also four special education schools for students with disabilities.

For higher education, Hiratsuka has a private junior college. It also has branch campuses of Kanagawa University, Shoin University, and Tokai University.

Transportation

Hiratsuka is well-connected by trains and roads.

Railway

JR East trains serve Hiratsuka:

Tōkaidō Main Line
Shōnan Shinjuku Line
- The main station is Hiratsuka.

Highways

Several important roads pass through or near Hiratsuka:

Odawara-Atsugi Road
National Route 1 (connects to Tokyo or Kyoto)
National Route 129 (connects to Sagamihara)
National Route 134 (connects to Yokosuka via Kamakura)
National Route 271 (connects to Atsugi or Odawara, this is a toll road)
Shinshōnan Bypass

Fun Things to See and Do

Hiratsuka has several places that visitors enjoy:

Tanabata festival: A famous summer festival with colorful decorations.
Shonan Bellmare: A professional soccer club that plays at Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium.
Kana Garden: A beautiful garden to explore.
Hiratsuka Hachiman-gu: An important Shinto shrine.
Hiratsuka Museum of Art: A place to see local and national art.