Odawara Castle

Kanagawa Prefecture

East Area
Stamp Locations

  • 1st floor of the tenshu

Access

Approximately 10 minutes’ walk from JR Odawara Station

Address

Jonai, Odawara, Kanagawa

The Hojo Clan Castle that Ended the Warring States Period

Hojo Soun took control of Odawara Castle in 1495, and set in motion five generations of Hojoregional rule. In preparation for the 1590 invasion by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a huge 9km-long outer earthen wall and moat, known as a sogamae, was completed. However, because of the overwhelming Toyotomi military force, there was no choice for the Hojo but to open the castle in a bloodless surrender. After the damage of a 1633 earthquake, major renovation work was carried out, and the existing castle was completed. The main Hojo period ruins have been preserved as a nationally designated Historic Site, with some of the outer moat and earthen walls remaining. The tenshu was rebuilt in 1960. In 1997, the Akagane-mon Gate and Ni-nomaru inner moat were restored based on excavation results. The Umaya-kuruwa-mon Gate has been also restored, returning parts of Odawara to its former appearance.