Odawara Castle Stopover: A Perfect Tokaido Line Day Trip on the Way to Izu

When planning a trip from Tokyo down to the hot spring haven of Izu-Nagaoka, it is incredibly tempting to just speed past the coastline. However, by skipping the Shinkansen and taking the regular JR Tokaido Line, you unlock the freedom to hop off the train and explore some fantastic historical spots along the way.

On our journey down to our ryokan, we decided to make our first major stop at Odawara. Located just over an hour from Tokyo, this historic coastal city is the ultimate seaside pit stop to break up your journey, grab some fantastic local food, and stretch your legs at a stunning samurai fortress.

🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む: 【東海道線でいく】伊豆旅行の前に立ち寄りたい！小田原城でおさんぽ＆お魚ランチを楽しむ途中下車の旅

Why Odawara is the Ultimate Day-Trip Stopover

If you are travelling on a budget or simply prefer slow travel, the JR Tokaido Line is a brilliant alternative to the bullet train. It allows you to step off the train at Odawara Station, leave your luggage in a station locker, and be standing in front of a medieval castle within ten minutes.

Odawara acted as the historic gateway to the Kanto region during the feudal era, and today it perfectly blends coastal charm with rich samurai history. Here is how we spent our quick, highly rewarding afternoon stopover.

How to Get to Odawara from Tokyo (Perfect for a Day Trip!)

One of the best things about Odawara is how incredibly easy and affordable it is to reach from central Tokyo. Whether you are using it as a stepping stone to the Izu Peninsula or just heading out for a quick day trip, you have a couple of great train options:

• The Budget & Slow-Travel Route (JR Tokaido Line): This is the local route we took! You can catch a direct train from major stations like Tokyo, Shimbashi, or Shinagawa. It takes about 75 to 80 minutes and costs just around ¥1,520 one-way. If you want a bit more comfort without paying for a bullet train, you can upgrade to a double-decker “Green Car” for a small extra fee to secure a spacious, reclining seat.
• The Shinjuku Route (Odakyu Line): If you are starting from the west side of Tokyo, you can take the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku Station. The local express trains take about 90 minutes (approx. ¥910), or you can ride the stylish Romancecar limited express, which gets you there in about 70 minutes with reserved seating (approx. ¥1,910).
• The Speedy Route (Tokaido Shinkansen): If you are in a rush, the Kodama bullet train from Tokyo or Shinagawa Station will whisk you to Odawara in a mere 30 minutes (approx. ¥3,280 to ¥3,610), which is fully covered if you hold a JR Pass.

For this trip, we highly recommend taking the JR Tokaido Line—it strikes the perfect balance of budget-friendliness and convenience, leaving you with more pocket money for delicious local food!

Exploring Odawara Castle: Japan’s Easiest Samurai Castle to Visit

The crown jewel of the city is undoubtedly Odawara Castle (Odawara-jo). Located an easy, flat, 10-minute walk from the station’s East Exit, it is one of the most accessible traditional castles in the entire country.

As we strolled through the majestic wooden gates and crossed the red bridge over the moat, it felt like stepping back into feudal Japan. The main castle keep has been beautifully reconstructed, and the surrounding park is filled with lush greenery.

For a small entry fee, you can climb to the top floor of the keep. The panoramic view from the top deck is absolutely spectacular—offering a sweeping view of Sagami Bay on one side and the rolling mountains of Hakone on the other.

Minaka Odawara: A Cool Fusion of Modernity and Edo-Period History

Right as you step out of Odawara Station’s East Exit, you will be greeted by Minaka Odawara—a stunning, newly developed complex that is incredibly photogenic.

What makes Minaka so cool is its unique architecture. It seamlessly blends a sleek, modern high-rise tower with “Odawara Shin-shukubacho,” a low-rise shopping street beautifully styled after a traditional Edo-period samurai post town.

Here, you can wander along wooden storefronts to sample local street foods, pick up traditional wooden crafts (like Hakone Marquetry), or grab a craft beer.

Pro-Tip: Head straight up to the 14th floor of the Tower Building. Here, you’ll find a free public foot bath (ashiyu) filled with real hot spring water from neighboring Hakone. You can soak your feet for free while enjoying a panoramic view of Odawara Castle and the sparkling Sagami Bay below!

Local Flavours: Sampling Odawara’s Famous Seafood

Before jumping back on the train, we had to sample some of Odawara’s culinary specialties. Because of its prime location right on the bay, the seafood here is incredibly fresh.

The area is famous for kamaboko (steamed fish cakes) and himono (traditionally dried and grilled fish). We managed to grab a quick, delicious lunch of freshly caught local fish near the station. It was the perfect, light fuel we needed before continuing our journey down to the Izu Peninsula.

Heading Onward to our Ryokan

With our castle exploration and lunch complete, we retrieved our bags, hopped back onto the Tokaido Line, and headed further south toward our cozy ryokan stay in Izu-Nagaoka.

If you are looking to turn a simple train ride into a memorable travel day, making a stop at Odawara is an absolute no-brainer.

• ➡ Keen to see where we stayed? Check out our full review of the beautiful Onsen Ryokan: First Time Onsen Experience in Japan: Yumeguri no Yado Yoshiharu
• ➡ Heading home soon? Don’t miss our guide on the perfect stopover for the journey back: Mishima Stopover Guide: Pristine Fuji Spring Waters.