Sunday, May 21: Today, I take a relatively short and easy trip to Odawara Castle. I want to see the castle, but I’m also interested in having a peek at the surrounding area known as Hakone. I want to see how much of a hassle it is to get to the area and whether it can be done in a day trip. While here, I decide I will do the Hakone trip next weekend, May 27-28, and I will make it an overnight trip.
Luckily I’m only two stops from Machida, where it’s possible to get on the Odakyu line straight to Odawara. I have heard about the Romancecar, which is the limited express, reserved-seat train along the Odakyu line, but I don’t take it this time because I don’t really understand how it works and whether I need to reserve a ticket ahead of time.
Odawara Castle was originally built by the Omori family in the mid-15th century; it later became the base of the Odawara-Hojo family, one of the most powerful clans during the Warring States Era. The castle gradually expanded as the family’s foothold from which they ruled the Kanto region.
During the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573), Odawara Castle had very strong defenses, as it was situated on a hill, surrounded by moats with water on the low side, and dry ditches on the hill-side, with banks, walls and cliffs located all around the castle, enabling the defenders to repel attacks by great warriors in 1561 and 1569. (Wikipedia: Odawara Castle)
bridge to Odawara Castle
In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked the castle, and with the defeat of the Hojo Clan, reunited Japan. After the decline of the Hojo family, the Okubo family became the castle lord. Though the castle was repaired many times, it was destroyed when the Okubo family’s status and territory were taken as punishment. Why they were punished, I don’t know.
Later, when the Inaba family became the new lord, the castle and surrounding grounds were devastated in the earthquake of 1633. After that, the Inaba family renovated the castle and built Odawara Castle as the modern citadel seen today.
Irises before the bloom
After the Meiji Restoration, Odawara Castle was abolished in 1870 and the structures were either demolished or sold. The castle site went under the army’s jurisdiction and was later used as an imperial villa, which was sold to Odawara Town following the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
Today, I run into some characters dressed in period costumes.
some ancient characters
The castle keep is three stories on the outside and four stories on the inside. The interior features exhibits on the history of the castle as well as displays of items such as armor and swords.
Today Odawara is the closest castle keep to Tokyo (japan-guide.com: Odawara Castle).
Odawara Castle
I happen upon a Japanese couple trying to take a selfie; after offering to take a picture of them, they offer to take one of me. So here is a rare picture of me in Japan, although my face is hidden in shadow. 🙂
me at Odawara Castle
The top floor offers nice views of the park and surrounding city on a wrap-around balcony. It happens to be a warm day today, but at the top, a nice breeze offers a cool respite from the heat. To the northeast, I can see Sagami Bay.
views from Odawara Castle – looking northeast
To the west, I can see the mountains in the distance. Closer, I see the train station, with the Shinkansen zooming out of the station.
view to the west
To the south, I can see the mountains of Hakone. Seeing them in the distance makes me realize how large the Hakone area is, and though many people see Hakone in a day trip from Tokyo, I don’t want to be rushed through it.
view to the south
view to the south
view southeast
view northeast
a glowing character
Because there are so many characters who occupied Odawara castle through its history, and because I see all these men pictured in the castle’s museum where photography isn’t allowed, I buy a postcard that features the men of Odawara’s long and distant past.
some famous ancient characters on a postcard
I’m tired and don’t want to make a long day of it, so I head back to the station; on the way, I find a conveyor belt sushi place where I stop for a late lunch. The plates go by slowly, but I seem to be too uncoordinated to pick them up. I have to make several attempts to capture a plate. I also order a couple of things off the menu and I’m surprised when they fly to me on a different track, screeching to a halt at my table. I can’t help but think of these plates as shinkansen sushi.
Today I walk the fewest steps I’ve walked since I arrived in Japan, except during one rainy day when I stayed inside all day: 7,218 steps (3.06 miles).
I’m sure I’ll make up for this shortfall when I come to Hakone next weekend. 🙂
catbird in japan 
I love the way the mountains always look so blue.
Thanks, Carol! 🙂
It’s a good looking castle, Cathy. 🙂 🙂 How many weeks have you got left? Enjoying it?
As of today, Jo, June 8, I have exactly two months. My semester ends July 24, so I can’t wait for that; my contract ends August 1, and then I plan to travel a week. So I go home on August 8. I am enjoying my weekends very much, but not the job so much.
Work is usually the down side, Cathy, but it’s taken you to some amazing places. Take care! 🙂 🙂
Yes, it has, Jo. That is the upshot. 🙂
That’s a very different castle to what I am used to. You are seeing some interesting sights/sites. Have you met anyone to travel with from the school? You don’t say much about the job or the people you work with so I hope it is all going OK. Oh, and have you heard about the job you were interested in yet? I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Yes, Japan is interesting, and, as always, I live for the weekends. I have only 8 people I work with, and they mostly all have Japanese spouses. The only man without a spouse rarely leaves his house; he has no interest in sightseeing, and the one woman I work with told me in no uncertain terms she doesn’t socialize with people she works with. Oh well, I’m happiest traveling by myself anyway. The people I work with are a pretty unsociable lot, although there is a nice Brit and New Zealander who I go out with periodically for a beer. As for the fellowship, I never heard anything so can only assume I didn’t get it, as they sent a blanket email in late April saying they expected all positions to be filled by the end of May. It’s okay actually; I’m pretty relieved. I think my teaching days are over. Too much work for too little reward. 🙂
Can’t argue with you over the teaching. I regret the day I went into that profession, it almost broke my spirit – again – which I had vowed would never happen. There has to be better ways of earning a living. I should have been a librarian, I would have liked that! And I also agree that travelling alone can be preferable; you choose where to go, how long to stay, when to eat. Nice to have a beer and a chat occasionally though.
Breaking your spirit, perfect description of teaching, Jude! This is the comment I was referring to in another comment exchange with you earlier today. I can’t believe I’m just now finally getting to answering this. I am so done with teaching, at least teaching English in large classroom settings. It’s so ridiculous to try to teach English to groups of 18-20 students. Only small classes work! Anyway, I’m so done! Being a librarian would have been a good job, for sure. Although I have a friend here in Japan who was a librarian for much of his career, and now he loves teaching English. The grass is always greener, I guess. I love to travel alone, but I agree, having a beer and a chat with a friend is something I enjoy. I need to write a cocktail hour soon to talk about that experience here. 🙂