Odawara Castle is a majestic historical landmark that offers a captivating glimpse into the country’s feudal past. This magnificent castle, originally built in the 15th century, stands proudly on a hilltop, overlooking the city and the surrounding picturesque landscapes.
It played an important role in Japan’s past as the Hojo Clan used it to defend the country’s current-day capital.
The current castle is no longer the original, it is a reconstruction built between 1950 and 1960. The original castle was destroyed by an earthquake in 1703. Although it was quickly rebuilt at that time it was pulled down when the Meiji government ordered the destruction of all former feudal fortifications.
It was only after the castle site was proclaimed a National Historic Site in 1938 that plans were made to restore the stone base of the donjon.
In the following years, the castle site was transformed into the beautiful Odaware Park, which you can now visit for free. In addition to the castle, the park also houses the zoo and various museums.
The icing on the cake was the completed reconstruction of the castle in 1960 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Odawara City.
The reconstruction is beautifully done but is not 100% accurate as a viewing platform was added to offer visitors breathtaking views of the park and even Mt. Fuji on clear days.
Nowadays the three entrance gates to the castle have also been rebuilt. This results in one of the most beautiful castles in the country and a well-deserved place in the list of the 100 most beautiful castles in Japan.
When visiting the castle you’ll have the opportunity to explore the castle’s various levels, each housing several exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of its rich history. You can see armor and weaponry displays as well as intricate models and interactive exhibits about the castle.
If you climb all the way to the top of the castle’s main keep you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the city and even Mount Fuji on a clear day.
You can combine a visit to the castle with the Samurai and Ninja Museum which are also located in the park. The Samurai Museum is located in the Tokiwagi Gate, the main gate of the stronghold, and displays several historical armor and swords.
A visit to the Ninja Museum is an interactive experience where you learn how life was for the Ninja warriors at the time of the Samurai.
Thanks to the many cherry trees Odawara Castle Park is a beautiful place to enjoy the Sakura in the spring.
Tickets
The Odawara Castle Park can be visited for free. There is an entrance fee to visit the castle, the Samurai Museum, and the Ninja Museum. A combi-ticket is available for the castle and the Samurai Museum.
These are the rates at the time of writing:
- Odawara Castle : 510 JPY
- Samurai Museum : 200 JPY
- Odawara Castle + Samurai Museum : 610 JPY
- Ninja Museum : 310 JPY
Buy your tickets to visit the castle on Klook:
Odawara Castle
The combi-ticket can be bought on-site or on the castle’s website.
Getting there
The park is located adjacent to Odawara train station and the castle is only about a ten-minute walk from the station.
If you have to change trains in Odawara on the way to Hakone, you can quickly drop by and take a small walk in the park to admire the castle.
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