Hirakawa was born in Kanagawa Prefecture on January 10, 1965. After graduating from Juntendo University, he joined Japan Soccer League club Nissan Motors (later "Yokohama Marinos") in 1987. From 1988 to 1990, the club won all three major title in Japan; Japan Soccer League, JSL Cup and Emperor's Cup for two years in a row. During the 1990s, the club won the 1990 JSL Cup, 1991 and 1992 Emperor's Cup. In Asia, the club won the 1991–92 and 1992–93 Asian Cup Winners' Cups. Toward the end of his career, he played for Yokohama Flügels in 1995 and Consadole Sapporo in 1996. He retired in 1996.