Source: Kabacchi
Situated in Kanagawa Prefecture, Odawara is renowned for Odawara Castle, where the Hojo family the leaders of the Kanto locale amid the Sengoku Period used to live. Presently Odawara is the center of the transportation framework, where major railroads, for example, the Odakyu Line, the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line, and Hakone Tozan Line all meet. It is likewise the passage to Fuji Hakone Izu National Park and is constantly occupied with tourists. There are numerous attractions to be seen, including Ishigakiyama Ichiyajo Historical Park, the famous Odawara Castle, Ninomiya Sontoku birthplace, Soga Bairin Plum Orchard, and so on. Below are some of the best things to do in Odawara.
1. Odawara Castle
Source: ZAC
It is one of the most famous tourist destination in Odawara City.Odawara Castle has an amazing history behind it and a fortification has remained on or close to this key site following the late fifteenth century when the encompassing region was controlled by the Hojo tribe. Odawara Castle grounds are also as famous as the castle for cherry blooms in spring and the mansion park additionally contains plum trees, which bloom in late February and early March, azaleas, and wisteria. Odawara Castle is a three-layered, 5-floor donjon where the most top floor of is an observatory. The canal and stone divider stay as they were in time long past times.
Information
- Name: Odawara Castle
- Address: Jonai 6-1, Odawara Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0014
- Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Holidays: Closes on the second Wednesday of December, and from December 31st to January 1st.
- Entry Fees: 400 yen
- Access: 10 minute walk south of Odawara Station
2. Explore Hakone Wood Mosaic Work in Odawara
Source: David Mertl
The Hakone Wood Mosaic Work is one of the places where individuals can see an immense assortment of Japanese wood. The start of wood mosaic work backtracks to the late eighteenth century. In Hatayado, rich wood was collected into geometric examples with its normal hues connected. They are made by putting meager wood pieces on a surface or amassing strong wood. There are different sorts of items from little to expansive, for example, boxes, teacup holders, and drawers. Odawara and Hakone are the main spots delivering these works, and their items were names as traditional cultural crafts in 1984.
Information
- Name: Hakone Wood Mosaic Work
- Address: 16 Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
- Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Website: http://hakone-karakuri.jp/
3. Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu
It is a one of the most famous festival celebrated during fall and held in Hakone Yumoto Onsen. With “tsuyuharai” walking at its head, an amazing Daimyo Gyoretsu, somewhere in the range of 170 in number, made out of the daimyo himself, his liegemen, maid and different retainers parade through town. The parade is taken for about 6 km through the Old Tokaido and the hot spring town. Altogether, around 450 members are present in the parade, with gatherings of artists and neighborhood geiko artists at both the front and back.
Information
- Name: Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu
- Timings: November 3rd from 10:00 a.m.
- Phone: +81-460-85-7751
4. Odawara Shuku Nariwai Koryukan
Odawara Shuku Nariwai Koryu-kan was initially a wholesaler house which was revamped in 1932 in the wake of being harmed in the Great Kanto seismic tremor of 1923 and has subsequent to been remodeled and transformed into a spot for individuals to stop and relax. The building’s architecture is taken from a design called as dashigeta-zukuri. Inside the office, you can take a seat and have a rest, furthermore check out some tourist information of the city. On the second and fourth Sundays , you can make an Odawara lantern with the help of others.
Information
- Name: Odawara Shuku Nariwai Koryukan
- Address: 3-6-23 Honcho, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa
- Phone : +81-465-20-0515
- Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.(April to October) && 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.(November to March)
- Entry : Free
- Access: 15-minute walk from Odawara Station
5. Enjoy Fish at Odawara Fish Market Den
Source: yoppy
It is one of the best seafood restaurants in Odawara which is run by a Fishing Port wholesaler. Shonan Shirasu no Odawara Sanshoku-don is the most famous cuisine here which is a donburi dish. Other than this, the menu has more than 20 different sorts of donburi dishes. At night, the menu additionally features sides and single dishes with sashimi of fresh seafood. The restaurant is open all days.
Information
- Name: Odawara Fish Market Den
- Address: 2-3-4 Sakae-cho, Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan
- Phone: 81-465-22-3341
- Timings: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Average Price: 1,706 yen
- Access: 1 minute stroll from Odawara Station
6. Wanpaku land Park
Source: youtube.com
Located near Ikoi-no-mori, Wanpaku Park is a famous park brimming with greenery all around. Kids can ride on a smaller than usual train and a horse. In the recreation center, a roller slide is located on the 3rd floor of Cosmo World from where you can enjoy a great view of the surrounding area. Appreciate strolling amongst the trees yet the most famous highlights of the park is a small train, a long slippery plunge and a few decent castles for climbing.
Information
- Name: Wanpaku land Park
- Address: 4377-1 Kuno, Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
- Phone: 0465-24-3189
7. Tsujimura Botanical Park
It is one of the famous parks where you can enjoy the view of beautiful trees from outside the Japan. Originally Tsujimura Botanical Park was founded in 1907 by Tsujimura family which was a rich and famous family in Odawara. The owner of Tsujimura Farm cooperated with the city organization and founded the farm in 1986. Tourist can enjoy the number of different trees and plants from all around the world.
Information
- Name: Tsujimura Botanical Park
- Address : 1579-1 Ogikubo, Odawara, Kanagawa , Japan
- Phone: 0465-33-1583
8. Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine
Source: Jeremy Eades
Built in 1894, Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine is dedicated to one of the most famous agronomist, scholar, and economist, Sontoku Ninomiya. Ninomiya was an orphan who grew up here in Odawara and by the age of 24 was at that point famous for his incredible harvests of the farm. As the nation developed and started to modernize, he was called upon to develop Japan’s rural endeavors and financial essentialness in the rustic zones.
Information
- Name: Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine
- Address: 8-10 Jonai, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0014, Japan
- Phone: +81 465-22-2250
9. Unwind Amidst Nature at Odawara Ikoi Forest
Source: meeekn
Sprawling over an area of about 27 hectares, Ikoi-no-mori Forest Park highlights a campground, a walking course, golf course, and also a spacious hall and a wood making workshop, empowering different interests for delight. A grill by the side of the stream is particularly popular.This Park is a daredevil’s heaven, with cables, wooden stages, zip lines, ropes, and nets. Forest Adventure Park is encompassed by a colossal kids’ park, campgrounds, and a natural greenhouse. It’s a perfect place to enjoy your day at Odawara .
Information
- Name: Odawara Ikoi-no-mori Forest Park
- Address: 4294-1 Kuno, Odawara City, Kanagawa, Japan
- Phone: 0465-24-3785
- Timings: Tue-Sun (9am–5pm)
- Holidays: Every Monday
- Website: http://odawara-ikoi.com/
10. Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
This historical center is must visit place for individuals who appreciate nature. Inside the exceptional building are showcases of fossils of ammonites and dinosaurs, and the earth history of about 4.6 billion years is clarified from various symbols and viewpoints. Continuous utilization of varying media presentation at different parts of the Exhibition Halls is one of the best elements of the Museum. For more understandings of the displays in museums, they also show short videos.
Information
- Name: Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History
- Address: 499 Iryuda, Odawara City, Kanagawa, Japan
- Access: 3 rnin walk from Iriuda Stn in Hakone Tozan Line
Since the Late Hojo Era , the city of Odawara has been a flourishing castle town, and one of the principal route stations on the Tokaido. There are numerous historical sights to be seen in the city, including Odawara Castle, gardens and parks and various seafood restaurant serving authentic Japanese Cuisines.
Have a good trip and travel!
