A quick 10 minute walk from the local train station. The park is free to enter but the castle will cost you about 500 yen per ticket. Easy to navigate the area. The attraction is very well preserved. There is limited English language translation available in the castle. There are some wonderful 360 degree views over then city from the top of the castle. Well work looking at.
Odawara Castle is an incredible place to visit, offering a perfect mix of history, culture, and stunning views. The beautifully restored castle stands tall, giving a glimpse into Japan’s samurai past. Walking through the castle grounds feels like stepping back in time, with traditional architecture, well-preserved gates, and lush gardens that change beautifully with the seasons.
Inside the castle, the museum showcases fascinating artifacts, samurai armor, and historical exhibits that provide deep insight into the history of Odawara and the Hojo clan. Climbing to the top is a must—the panoramic view of the city, ocean, and surrounding mountains is breathtaking.
The surrounding park is peaceful and perfect for a relaxing stroll, especially during cherry blossom season when the castle looks even more magical. The staff is friendly, and the site is well-maintained, making it a great spot for history lovers, families, and photographers alike.
I highly recommend visiting Odawara Castle if you're in the area—it's a wonderful blend of history and natural beauty that shouldn’t be missed!
The castle's entrance is a 15min walk from Odawara train station (a long big turn to get to the entrance, but the exit comes out to the street right opposite the station). The castle grounds are free to walk, entrance fee applies should you wish to enter the castle and the museum. The grounds are expansive and well maintained. Some plum trees are in full bloom as of early Feb 2025 in the gardens of the castle.
⚠️ Long winded subjective review ⚠️
Went weekday near closing time
By the way the main tower castle exhibits aren't the most English-friendly, most of the displays are in Japanese only (there are QR codes for the app guide, presumably available in English but did not peruse so I can't say for sure). The tower does not have lift/elevator/escalator facilities. They apparently allow guide dogs according to entrance sign. Lots of staircases, do be careful when wet, the stonework gets slippery. Inside is well lit and clean, they request no flash photography on most floors, regular photography allowed on most floors. I personally did not take photographs.
The castle grounds had some boards with info available in English.
The toilet facilities are available ONLY on the first floor in the main building, and if I understood and remembered correctly, the main tower was built in 2016. They are very nice toilets. There are toilets available outside the main tower too, did not use those so can't comment.
Did not go to samurai exhibit on castle grounds in a building within the upper compound. The entrance staff said that most of the armory and stuff from inside the castle is in this samurai exhibit, while the main tower exhibits mostly to do with the main tower building itself. And the history of sieges around it or something. Like I said idk I didn't read anything. There were movie narratives on big screens on two different floors of the main tower which were reenactments/dramatisation of the history, with English subtitles.
We passed by this castle on the way back from Hakone. From an outside perspective, there's always some sort of tree or pole in the way, making the road up the hillside slightly irritating. Once we reached the castle grounds, the view was unhindered and good to climb the stairs into the castle.
I enjoyed the artworks on the mini lanterns hanging outside
