All Reviews of Odawara Castle

While changing trains at Odawara Station on the Shinkansen, I unexpectedly spotted Odawara Castle from the platform, which was a wonderful surprise! Odawara Castle was once an important stronghold of the Hojo clan during the Sengoku period. With its formidable defenses, it became one of the most renowned castles in the Kanto region. The main keep seen today is a reconstruction, and its interior has exhibition spaces introducing the castle’s history and stories from the Sengoku period. From the observation floor, you can also look out over the city of Odawara and Sagami Bay. Odawara Castle Park has its own charm in every season and is especially beautiful when the cherry blossoms bloom in spring. This time, my schedule was tight and I had to hurry on to Hakone, so I could only admire it from a distance at the station and didn’t get to explore inside the castle. It was a bit of a shame, but it also gave me something to look forward to on my next visit.

The castle looks very imposing from the outside. The white walls and roof design give it the unmistakable feel of an old Japanese castle. You can take a leisurely walk around the grounds and enjoy the surrounding greenery and traditional architecture. The overall setting is very pleasant. It not only has a sense of history and culture, but is also a great place for photos. Standing in front of the castle, you can especially appreciate its grandeur. After walking around the grounds, I felt it had even more character than I expected. It’s well worth making a stop here when visiting Odawara!

Odawara Castle is one of Kanagawa Prefecture's most iconic historic attractions. Its white main keep looks elegant and has plenty of old-castle charm. Inside, you can see historical exhibits, learn about Odawara Castle and the Sengoku period, and get a strong sense of its history.

On this visit, I took a leisurely walk along the paths inside the castle grounds, admiring the stone walls, gates, and surrounding greenery. The overall environment was quite pleasant. From the top of the main keep, you can also look out over Odawara and the distant scenery. The view is very expansive.

Since it’s known as an impregnable castle, it feels like it could bring you some good luck.
There are also places to eat, so you can take a break while looking out at the castle.

There weren't too many people, so it was nice to stroll around inside the castle. The main keep is really impressive!
Definitely one of the top spots near Tokyo. If you're heading to Hakone or Atami, I recommend stopping by!

From the top of the main keep, you get a wide, sweeping view of all of Odawara City.