Odawara, Kanagawa
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Odawara Castle |
Odawara (
Japanese: 小"原市; -shi) is a
city located in
Kanagawa,
Japan. The city was founded on
December 20,
1940.
As of
2003, the city has an estimated
population of 199,463 with a
population density of 1,748.30 persons per
km² (4533 persons per
square mile). The total area is 114.09 km² (44 square miles).
Odawara's strategic location on the
Tokaido, between mountainous
Hakone and
Sagami Bay, has given it a key role in Japanese history. Prior to the
Edo period,
Odawara Castle was the stronghold of the
Late Hojo clan warriors. During the Edo, its castle controlled the Tokaido between the
Tokugawa headquarters at
Edo and the stations west of Hakone, including Sumpu (
Shizuoka),
Hamamatsu and
Nagoya. Today, a reproduction of the castle stands high on a hill above the city.
On
August 15,
1945, Odawara was the last city in Japan to be bombed by
Allied aircraft.
Besides Odawara Castle, this area is a major transit point for the mountainous
Hakone touristic zone.
Enoura, a coastal district in Odawara known for its pristine sea, has an abundance of kumamomi, a type of fish which prefers clear and clean water. Sea turtles are also sometimes present there. Because of the clear water and plentiful undersea life, many people come to Enoura for diving.
Road
*Route 1, to
Tokyo or
Kyoto*Route 135, to
Shimoda*Route 255, to
Hadano*Route 271, to
Atsugi (toll)
Bus
*Bus service to
Izu PeninsulaTrain
*
Shinkansen (rail), to
Tokyo or
Hakata*
Tokaido line (rail), to
Tokyo or
Atami*
Odakyu Odawara Line (rail), to Shinjuku
*
Hakone-Tozan Line, to
Hakone*Daiyuzan line (rail), to Sekimoto
*
Official website (in Japanese)
*
Enoura (in Japanese)
*
Cinema in Odawara
