Overlooking the waters of Sagami Bay, Odawara is a lively hub and gateway to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Along with being near the impressive Hakone Open-Air Museum, it’s renowned for its castle and umeboshi pickles.

Things to do

The most famous landmark in the city is Odawara Castle, with its current reconstruction based on a 15th-century fortress built by the Hojo clan. Admire the ancient weaponry, samurai suits of armour, castle models and tools on display, then admire sweeping views of Odawara from the castle tower.

Odawara is renowned for its ume (Japanese plum) and Chinriu Honten is one of the best places to sample and purchase ume products. Admire its 140-year-old barrel that was once used to make umeboshi (pickled ume) and see pickles dating back to the foundation of the company in 1871.

Odawara serves as the gateway to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which includes the iconic peak of Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes. Bathe in the hot springs of Hakone and visit the volcanically active Ōwakudani geysers, then explore the dramatic coastal landscapes of the Izu Peninsula.

Make a day trip west to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, a spectacular garden gallery that boasts distant views of Mount Fuji and features artwork designed to be touched and climbed on. You can admire Gabriel Loire’s stained-glass and steel “Symphonic Sculpture” and works by Picasso, Rodin and Henry Moore, as well as Japanese masters, such as Taro Okamoto and Yasuo Mizui.

Getting around

Odawara is around two hours by train from Tokyo or one hour from Yokohama, with Tokyo Haneda Airport around 1.5 hours away. Buses travel throughout Odawara and the castle is within walking distance of the train station.