The castle town of Odawara, gateway to Hakone, was once the mighty stronghold of the Hojo clan who ruled much of eastern Japan until Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s famous siege in 1590. Today its handsomely reconstructed castle keep anchors a park of cherry trees and museums, and each spring the town celebrates its samurai past with the Hojo Godai Festival, when costumed warriors, princesses and musicians parade through the streets. Add a moat-side bloom of cherry blossoms, a hilltop view to the sea, and the town’s famous kamaboko fish cake, and Odawara makes a rewarding history stop on the way to Hakone.

This guide covers the castle, the Hojo festival, cherry blossoms and access.

🗓️ Quick Reference
Location Odawara, Kanagawa (gateway to Hakone)
Highlight Odawara Castle & Hojo Godai Festival
Festival Early May (samurai procession)
Also great Cherry blossoms (late Mar–early Apr)
Good for History, families, Hakone day trips

Odawara Castle

  • A striking reconstructed keep with a museum inside and views over the town and Sagami Bay from the top.
  • The surrounding castle park has gates, moats and an explanation of the Hojo era and Hideyoshi’s siege.
  • A small ninja-themed museum and samurai-armour try-on add family appeal.

Hojo Godai Festival

  • Held in early May, this is Odawara’s biggest festival.
  • A grand procession of costumed samurai, lords, princesses and musicians marches through the town.
  • A vivid, photogenic celebration of the Hojo clan’s golden age.

Cherry blossoms & tips

  • The castle park is a famous cherry-blossom spot in late March–early April.
  • Combine castle, festival or blossoms with the town’s kamaboko fish cake — see our Odawara seafood guide .
  • An easy add-on en route to or from Hakone.

Combine your visit

Odawara is the doorway to the mountains:

How to get there

  • JR/Odakyu/Shinkansen to Odawara Station (~35 min by Shinkansen from Tokyo); castle is a ~10-min walk.