About Shonan, a popular area in Kanagawa. Hiratsuka and Fujisawa are areas in Shonan that have particularly urban elements. Hiratsuka has three main characteristics: the Tanabata Festival, the sea, and the downtown area.
The Tanabata Festival is one of Japan's three major festivals, and is a big event that attracts more than 1 million people every year. The downtown area of Hiratsuka is famous for its Pearl Road shopping street. Along this street, there are pubs, cafes, and game centers, and further down the street there are nightlife spots such as cabaret clubs and girls' bars.
Remember that the north exit of Hiratsuka Station is a downtown area, and the south exit is a calmer area. Even at the south exit, you can sometimes see fashionable bars and drinking establishments. If you're looking for a hidden restaurant, you might want to try the south exit area.
This time I went to Ramen Restaurant Marukou, which is located on the left after exiting the north exit of Hiratsuka Station.
This restaurant wasn't too crowded even though it was a weekend. Ramen shops that are empty are often not good, but Marukou is different. Maybe many people don't realize how good this ramen shop is. I ordered the dried sardine gravy ramen.
The flavor of the dried sardines soup is brought out well. You can also feel the sweetness of bonito flakes. I also ordered grilled cheese rice for an additional 100 yen.
The combination of ramen and rice is a classic in Japan. Both were so delicious that I finished them in no time. Although I didn't order it this time, I think the char siu sushi roll is also excellent.
Address：6-22 Beniyacho, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 254-0043
Hours ：11:30-2:30 PM
Closed ：Wednesday
Price ：About 900 yen
There are many other restaurants in Hiratsuka, but I often go there for drinking parties after work. After the drinking party, you can go for snacks, have fun conversations with sexy women, do karaoke, and have fun all night long.
There is also an indoor area where you can play bowling, table tennis, and tennis, as well as a large commercial facility. You can also enjoy surfing and fishing at the sea. There is also a popular soccer team in Hiratsuka called Shonan Bellmare.
It's an area that has everything: nature, the city, and sports. I think it's definitely possible to live here, not just sightseeing.