Hojo
Odawara Castle
小田原城
| Founder | Hojo Soun |
| Year | 1495 |
| Reconstructed | 1960 (concrete) |
| Type | Hilltop |
| Structure | 3 levels, 4 stories plus one below ground |
| Condition | Reconstructed |
| Rating | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ |
| Historical Site | National Historic Site |
| Historical Value | Top 100 Castles |
| Location | Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Map | Google Map |
| Access | Odawara Station (Tokaido Line), 10 minute walk |
| Website | Odawara City Website |
| Visited | May 1999; October 12, 2009 |
| Notes | Odawara Castle is probably the best example of a castle to visit in the immediate Tokyo area. The museum in the main keep has a nice collection of artifacts, armor, and weapons. They have also done a great job reconstructing some gates and maintaining the castle grounds. |
| History |
The history of Odawara Castle actually began in the 15th century with a stronghold built by the Omori Clan. After Hojo Soun conquered the area in 1495, he and his ancestors gradually expanded the castle as the Hojo clan gained power. At the height of their power, the Hojo controlled much of the Kanto area with support castles on the fringes in modern day Chiba, Ibaraki, Saitama, and Kanagawa prefectures.
Odawara Castle faced three major attacks by Uesugi Kenshin in 1561, Takeda Shingen in 1569 and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590. The last siege by Toyotomi Hideoyoshi was the end of the Hojo clan's supremacy and the castle was turned over to Tokugawa Ieyasu. In the final siege by Hideyoshi, he brought all his generals from around the country with about 200,000 troops to bear on Odawara Castle. In the leadup to the siege, the various generals took over Hojo castles and strongholds on their way to Odawara. As Hideyoshi closed the net around Odawawa he flaunted his strength by creating an almost festival like atmosphere with performances and tea ceremonies and he even brought in his concubine (Yodo-dono) and tea master (Sen no Rikyu). Hojo eventually conceded his defeat and turned over the castle with little bloodshed. Once Tokugawa Ieyasu took control of the cstle, he stationed his vassal Okubo Tadayo as castle lord. Okubo reduced the size of the castle from the Hojo days because it representated a threat to the Tokugawa power. The Okubo family ruled over Odawara for the entire Edo Period except for a brief period in the 1700's. The castle was dismantled in 1870. |
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Viewer Comments
(8) | Post CommentI believe this is one of the best castle I've seen in Japan. Despite the fall of Hojo Clan in 1590, there are still one the best reigning Daimyo in the region. Of all the daimyo in Japan the Hojo Clan of Odawara took control of area and set a system of castles for observation purposes against any attacks specially from the Takeda and Uesegi clan
January 27, 2010 at 12:47 PM
I spent a morning in Odawara about six years ago, but didn't have time to go to the castle. I finally made a few months ago. Odawara-jo has the best castle-museum I have seen.
October 23, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Hi, I have just returned from Japan, and visited Odawara castle. I enjoyed seeing the castle, but found the animals there unnecessary . There are monkeys kept in a small cage, the elephant was kept in a tent, but passed away a few weeks ago.
October 18, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I visited Odawara the other day on our day off and found out that the elephant some people have mentioned passed away in sept 2009 at 60 some yrs old.
October 14, 2009 at 11:47 PM
It's been more than 10 years since I went to Odawara Castle, but I keep hearing about this elephant (poor thing!). I'll try to make a trip this year to update this site.
August 04, 2009 at 07:44 AM
This is the first japanese castle i saw. I went there in april 2004. I was a little bit disappointed by the castle and the life elephant(lol). But the shrine next to the castle made my day.
August 04, 2009 at 02:13 AM
I visited Odawara Castle last year. While I enjoyed the castle itself, I found the (live) elephant in the hon-maru somewhat out of place. I'm sure the children's train ride in the ni-no-maru is also good for business.
April 05, 2009 at 12:15 PM
This website has a few points on the Odawara Castle, but Wikipedia has some better information.
September 28, 2008 at 09:55 AM