If you’re looking for a short day trip to experience the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo, the small city of Odawara makes for an ideal destination. With a population of around 200,000, the city is located about 80 kilometres southwest of Tokyo and serves as a gateway to the Mt Fuji area.
Odawara is part of the Tokaido & Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen network and is easily accessible from either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa. The journey from Tokyo Station takes around 40 minutes and costs just over ¥3,000 one way for an unreserved seat, with several services running each hour. Odawara is a perfect destination to experience the Shinkansen—the train begins to pick up serious speed between Shin-Yokohama Station and Odawara, reaching speeds in excess of 200 kph over the 55-kilometre stretch.
JR also operates regional and suburban trains back to Yokohama and Tokyo, offering a slower but more economical return option.
Odawara Station sits in the heart of the city’s main shopping district, with plenty of cafés, restaurants, and specialty shops to explore. The highlight of Odawara is undoubtedly its castle and surrounding parklands, located just a 10–15 minute walk from the station.
The Odawara Castle tower is built atop an impressive 11-metre-high stone base and rises to 19.7 metres above the parkland. The castle and its grounds have a rich history spanning centuries of wars, earthquakes, fires, and other key events in Japanese history. The current structure underwent a major reconstruction in the 1960s. Inside, you’ll find an engaging museum featuring historic artefacts such as armour, swords, pottery, documents, and more. The top floor of the tower offers spectacular views of the Bōsō Peninsula, Sagami Bay, and the surrounding mountain ranges on a clear day.
The castle parklands are also well worth exploring. First developed during the 15th century, the grounds feature a magnificent gate with massive copper and timber doors, a moat filled with enormous carp, and even a children’s amusement area. The park hosts festivals and seasonal events throughout the year and is especially popular during the cherry blossom season in late March and the Chrysanthemum Exhibition in early November.
While strolling through the Odawara shopping district, you’ll find many stores selling two traditional local products: kamaboko (processed fish cake) and umeboshi (salted plums). Kamaboko is cured white fish meat mixed with various ingredients and steamed into a sausage- or loaf-like shape, often dyed red or pink on the outside. It’s typically sliced and served cold with dipping sauce, or grilled on a stick. The crab sticks common in Western cuisine are based on kamaboko.
