Our petting zoo has many small birds such as parakeets and Java finches, large birds such as peacocks, and small animals such as squirrel monkeys and chipmunks. At the petting zoo, visitors can hold and touch cute guinea pigs and rabbits. Let's spend our time therapeuticly interacting with cute animals.

This museum is located in Hiratsuka. Exhibits focus on the nature and culture of the Sagami River basin. A planetarium is attached to the museum and is popular among children for its interesting constellation stories, the latest space information, and various other contents (note the projection dates and times).

Visitors can learn about the structure of kimonos, see firsthand how kimonos are washed, and experience a portion of the "washing and stretching" process.

Hiratsuka city is known for its specialty craft, "Soshu Daruma". Arai Daruma Store has continued to handcraft these daruma one by one, preserving traditional techniques of production. You can also experience Daruma painting and coloring here.

The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival was started as a postwar commercial revitalization initiative, and is characterized by the vibrance of its Tanabata decorations, said to be the most lavish in Japan, made possible by the city's commercial power. Approximately 300 ornaments fill the streets of the city center, centered in the main venue, Shonan Star Mall, with gorgeous decorations, some reaching over 5 meters in height! In the evening, the decorations are lit up, creating an even more beautiful and impressive sight. During the festival, various events are held, including a Tanabata decoration competition and a parade. The festival has developed into one of Japan's most representative summer traditions, with the Shonan Hiratsuka Orihime, chosen through a contest, participating in various events, such as parades and visits to the city, further livening up the Tanabata festival.Held every July, Tanabata is a vibrant festival celebrating the one annual meeting of two celestial lovers. The bright colours of the decorations around the city and the night-time illuminations are rivaled by the beautiful kimonos worn by visitors.The Tanabata Festival, which announces the arrival of summer in Shonan, is one of the largest in Japan, along with the Sendai City Tanabata Festival in Miyagi Prefecture. About 500 gorgeous decorations are presented in the center of Hiratsuka, and at night, they are lit up to create a magical atmosphere. A parade and more than 400 stalls—selling a wide variety of things, such as Shonan gourmet foods—make the festival even more exciting.