Odawara: Castle History, Craftsmanship and Literature

Odawara brings together the history of a castle with insights into local craftsmanship, literature and a street lined with food shops. When choosing a holiday rental for your stay, these different highlights can help you tailor your trip to your interests—for example, history, hands-on experiences or culinary discoveries.

Odawara Castle and the History of the Hōjō Clan

Odawara Castle became the seat of the Odawara Hōjō clan around 1500. The castle was then gradually expanded and developed, becoming an important centre of the clan’s rule over the Kantō region. Those interested in the area’s history will find a tangible connection here to a time when Odawara played an important role in the clan’s regional power.

Most of the main and second baileys, as well as part of the outer fortifications of the Odawara Castle ruins, are designated a National Historic Site of Japan. This designation applies to the specified areas of the ruins.

Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle is another site associated with the history of the siege: Toyotomi Hideyoshi had it built in 1590 as his headquarters during the siege of the Odawara Hōjō clan. The site was subsequently called Ishigakiyama. Its history adds the perspective of the siege to the story of Odawara Castle.

Getting There and Finding Your Way Around

Odawara can be reached from Tokyo and Yokohama in about 30 to 90 minutes by Tokaido Shinkansen or the JR Tokaido Line. This approximate travel time offers a first indication of the journey from either city. Odawara Castle is about a five-minute walk from Odawara Station. If you want to consider the connection between your arrival and a visit to the castle when choosing accommodation, this gives you a concrete indication of the castle site’s location in relation to the station.

Discover Craftsmanship and Literature

The Machikado Museums explore the connections between people, products and craft practices in local industries. They do this through carefully designed exhibitions, conversations with shop owners and hands-on experiences. The subject is not limited to items on display: visitors also learn about the people behind the shops and the work that goes into making the products.

Nariwai Exchange Hall offers experiences in making Odawara lanterns. The Odawara Literature Museum presents the lives and work of writers who were born in Odawara or had ties to the area. It draws on handwritten manuscripts and personal collections. The two venues therefore have clearly different focuses: one centres on lantern-making, while the other explores writers and their surviving personal works.

When planning your trip, you can weigh these different options against one another: exhibitions, conversations and hands-on experiences at the Machikado Museums; lantern-making at Nariwai Exchange Hall; or literary history at the museum. If you are travelling with children, it also makes sense to choose a focus based on the topics you would like to explore together, rather than giving every stop equal priority.

Shops and Food Culture on Kamaboko Street

Kamaboko Street is lined with kamaboko shops, dried-fish shops, katsuobushi shops, restaurants and wagashi shops. The street thus brings together several kinds of food shops and places to eat. Those particularly interested in local products and food culture will find a different way to experience Odawara here than through its castle and literary history. The range of shops mentioned can also help you decide whether to set aside more time for culture or culinary experiences when planning your trip.

Choosing Accommodation That Suits Your Plans

You can choose a holiday rental based on the themes that matter most for your trip: castle history, craftsmanship, literature or the shops on Kamaboko Street. The train offers a way to travel from Tokyo or Yokohama; the approximately five-minute walk, on the other hand, refers to the location of Odawara Castle in relation to Odawara Station. Keep these separate details in mind when considering which location suits your plans.

If you would like to add other destinations to your selection, you can also consider Ashigarashimo District, Yugawara, Sagamihara, Zushi, Miura, Hadano, Chuo and Ebina.

For the main travel overview: Kanagawa Prefecture.