- Odawara was the easternmost point of the Tokaido road during the Edo period, serving as the largest post town between Edo and Kyoto.
- The city is a major center for kamaboko production, a traditional Japanese cured fish product, which has been a local specialty for centuries.
- During the 1590 Siege of Odawara, Toyotomi Hideyoshi constructed the 'one-night castle' of Ishigakiyama to psychologically intimidate the Hojo defenders.
- The city maintains the Odawara City Museum of Literature in the former residence of novelist Hakushu Kitahara.
- Odawara is one of the few places in Japan where you can travel from a sub-tropical coastal environment to a mountain-altitude climate within a 30-minute transit window.
About Odawara
Odawara serves as the historic gateway to the Hakone region, defined by its strategic position between the Sagami Bay and the mountainous terrain of the Izu Peninsula. The city is dominated by the legacy of the Odawara Castle [32611], which acted as a vital stronghold for the Hojo clan during the Sengoku period. Travelers can observe local artisanal traditions at the Suzuhiro Kamaboko Museum [30990] or explore diverse regional ecosystems at the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History [12125]. The city landscape balances coastal access at Miyukinohama Beach [125593] with mountainous historical remnants like Ishigakiyama Castle [81026].
Highlights of Odawara
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Historical places
The reconstructed keep offers expansive views over the Sagami Bay and the surrounding city.
Museums
Visitors can observe the traditional manual techniques used to craft Japanese fish cakes.
Museums
This museum displays a comprehensive collection of regional geology and prehistoric fossils.
Parks
The garden features a large conservatory and seasonal floral displays across a diverse landscape.
Historical places
These ruins mark the site where Toyotomi Hideyoshi famously built a castle in secrecy during a single night.
Places of interest
This coastal stretch provides direct access to the Sagami Bay for seaside walks.
Parks
Thousands of plum trees bloom here in late winter, creating a landscape of white and pink blossoms.
Museums
The museum specializes in Hakone Yoseki, the intricate wood mosaic craft native to this mountainous region.
Top things to do in Odawara
The 323 highest-rated places in Odawara, ranked by travellers.
1
Museums
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is Japan's first outdoor art museum, established in 1969 to integrate modern sculpture with t...
2
Historical places
Odawara Castle is a prominent Japanese castle reconstruction serving as a hub for local history and Hojo clan heritage....
3
Museums
The Hakone Venetian Glass Museum, also known as the Glass Forest, is an outdoor and indoor museum complex dedicated to h...
4
Parks
Odawara Castle Park is centered on the reconstruction of the 15th-century Hojo clan stronghold, featuring a museum dedic...
5
Museums
The Pola Museum of Art is a subterranean architectural structure built into the dense beech forest of Hakone to minimize...
6
Museums
The Suzuhiro Kamaboko Museum specializes in the history and production of kamaboko, a traditional Japanese cured fish ca...
7
Parks
Hakone Gora Park is a French-style formal garden established in 1914 as the oldest existing French garden in Japan. It i...
8
Museums
The Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History is a comprehensive science facility located at the foot of Mount Hako...
9
Museums
The Little Prince Museum in Hakone, Japan, officially permanently closed its doors on March 31, 2023. The facility was d...
10
Places of interest
Sengokuhara Susuki Grass Fields consist of extensive mountainside meadows covered in Miscanthus sinensis, also known as...
11
Parks
Odawara Flower Garden is a specialized botanical facility featuring a distinctive tropical greenhouse and extensive outd...
12
Museums
The Okada Museum of Art is a five-story facility in Hakone featuring a massive 12-meter-tall by 30-meter-wide mural titl...
13
Natural attractions
Ōwakudani is a volcanic valley created by the eruption of Mount Hakone approximately 3,000 years ago. The station serves...
14
Parks
Children's Forest Wanpaku Land is a large-scale outdoor recreation facility situated in the foothills of Mount Hakone in...
15
Parks
The Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is Japan's first botanical garden specializing in marsh and wetland vegetation....
16
Museums
The Hakone Museum of Art is renowned for its significant collection of Japanese ceramic ware dating from the prehistoric...
17
Historical places
Ishigakiyama Castle, also known as Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle, is a historical site constructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in...
18
Natural attractions
Mount Ashigara, also known as Mt. Kintoki, stands at 1,212 meters in the Hakone mountain range and serves as a prominent...
19
Parks
Fuji Heiwa Park is a memorial site in Gotemba designed to promote world peace through religious architecture and landsca...
20
Places of interest
Chisuji Falls is a tiered, multi-stream waterfall located in the Kowakudani area of Hakone, characterized by its wide, g...
21
Places of interest
Miyukinohama Beach is a shingle beach located in Odawara, Kanagawa, stretching along the shores of Sagami Bay. The coast...
22
Temples
Choan-ji Temple is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1356, situated in the Sengokuhara region of Hakone. It is uniqu...
23
Parks
Kamifunaka Park is a community-focused green space located in the Odawara district of Kanagawa, Japan. It is centered ar...
24
Parks
Soga Plum Grove is a sprawling agricultural area featuring approximately 35,000 plum trees set against the backdrop of M...
25
Amusement parks
Forest Adventure Odawara is an outdoor high ropes course situated within a protected forest area in the foothills of the...
26
Places of interest
27
Temples
28
Beaches and ponds
29
Museums
30
Temples
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Odawara on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Odawara
Late February to early March is ideal to witness the blooming of the Soga Plum Grove, or November for mild temperatures and clear views of Mount Fuji.
2 days; one day for the central castle and coastal areas, and a second day for the museums and mountain historical sites.
The city center is walkable, while the wider region is served by the Odakyu Line, Hakone Tozan Railway, and local bus networks.
Staying near Odawara Station provides the most convenient access to both Shinkansen transport links and local transit for regional day trips.
Mid-range; while luxury ryokans exist in the outskirts, city hotels and local dining are moderately priced compared to Tokyo.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 323 curated attractions in and around Odawara, ranked by traveller ratings.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is the highest-rated place to visit in Odawara right now.
The largest category is temples, with 123 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toshima, Osaka, Kyoto.
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Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
