Hadano: Landscape, History and Soba

Hadano brings together themes to explore in different ways: the city’s history, the landscape south of the Hadano Basin, and regional food culture. Hiking and birdwatching are the focus in the Shibusawa Hills; at the Hadano History Museum, permanent exhibitions tell the story of four aspects of local history. There are also facilities for observing nature, enjoying a day bath and buying agricultural products. What matters most to you on your trip can also guide your search for a suitable holiday rental in Hadano.

Four Themes in the City’s History

The permanent exhibitions at the Hadano History Museum present Hadano’s history through four themes: the Sakuradote Kofun Group, the period from antiquity to the early modern era, tobacco cultivation, and modern times. The exhibition therefore presents different historical periods and themes side by side, rather than limiting the city’s history to a single era.

Hills and Nature Observation

The Shibusawa Hills lie south of the Hadano Basin. Their gentle terrain is suitable for hiking, and there are also opportunities to observe many wild birds. Alongside its historical themes, Hadano thus offers a landscape whose described features lend themselves to hiking and birdwatching.

Another facility connected with nature is Kuzuha no Ie. It is a nature observation facility run by the City of Hadano and is located within Kanagawa Prefecture’s first National Trust area. Lake Shinsei is listed as a nationally registered monument. The two places add distinct features to the area’s natural attractions: Kuzuha no Ie is classified as a nature observation facility, while Lake Shinsei stands out for its monument status.

Agriculture and Soba at Tawara Furusato Park

The Furusato Densho-kan at Tawara Furusato Park houses several facilities related to agriculture and food. These include a direct-sales shop for agricultural products, the Shinonome soba restaurant, a soba-making school, and a facility for processing pickled vegetables. The selection ranges from selling agricultural products and dining at a restaurant to facilities devoted to soba and vegetable processing. This brings together various aspects of local food culture in one place, without reducing Hadano to a single dish or product.

Festival and Getting There

The Hadano Tobacco Festival is held annually and features fireworks, parades and other events. It offers a distinct opportunity to learn about tobacco as part of local history; the subject is also one of the four themes in the Hadano History Museum’s permanent exhibitions.

Four Odakyu Line stations provide useful reference points for getting around Hadano: Hadano, Shibusawa, Tōkai-daigaku-mae and Tsurumaki-Onsen. Express trains from Shinjuku to Hadano take about an hour. If you plan to travel by train, you can use these station names when planning your arrival. The approximate journey time from Shinjuku also gives you a specific indication of how long it takes to get here from that direction.

Tsurumaki Onsen has municipal day-bathing facilities that offer a place to relax after hikes or mountain treks.

Other places: Hayama, Sagamihara, Yokosuka, Yugawara, Chigasaki, Hiratsuka, Isehara and Manazuru.

For the broader travel overview: Kanagawa Prefecture.