Odawara Castle
小田原城
The castle seat of the Hojo clan, who ruled for five generations during the Sengoku period. Its keep overlooks Sagami Bay, and it is the famous castle most often visited on the way to Hakone.
Odawara Castle was the stronghold of the Sengoku-period daimyo Hojo clan. In 1590, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi laid siege to the castle, the Hojo surrendered, and the realm was unified. The current keep was rebuilt in 1960 and renovated in 2016. Inside, a museum displays the history of the Hojo clan along with armor and swords. The top-floor observation deck offers views of Sagami Bay, the Miura Peninsula, and the Hakone mountains. The castle grounds park is free to enter. In spring, about 300 cherry trees surround the keep, and Tokiwagi Gate, the ginkgo trees, and the moat all make good photos. The grounds also include a Ninja Museum. Admission to the keep is about ¥510, and hours are 9:00 to 17:00. It is a 10 minute walk from the east exit of Odawara Station. Odawara Station is also a transfer point for the Hakone Tozan Railway and the Romance Car, so it is a convenient place to spend half a day sightseeing on the way to or from Hakone.
Opening hours
Donjon 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); castle grounds park open all day
Nearby sights
- Hakone-Yumoto Onsen Town
- Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Hakone Tozan Railway
- Hakone Gora Park
- Old Tokaido Road & Amazake-chaya
- Pola Museum of Art
- Owakudani
- Hakone Shrine