Kazamatsuri Station, railway station in Odawara, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan
Kazamatsuri Station is an above-ground stop on the Hakone Tozan Line in Odawara, Japan, with two side platforms joined by a small overpass. The station sits in a residential part of the city, surrounded by bamboo groves and traditional rooflines visible beyond the tracks.
The station opened in 1935 when the railway company converted its route from a tram-style operation to a full train service, strengthening the link between Odawara and the Hakone mountain area. It was later rebuilt in 2007 and 2008 to improve facilities and access for all users.
The name Kazamatsuri refers to an old Shinto ritual dedicated to prayers for favorable wind, which shows how deeply local religious customs are woven into everyday place names in this region. Near the station, small shops sell kamaboko, a local fish cake specialty that travelers often pick up before or after their train.
The station has wheelchair ramps and staff at the ticket counter who can help with directions to nearby spots. Since the line climbs toward Hakone and trains run less often than urban lines, it is worth checking the timetable in advance, especially on weekends.
The Hakone Tozan Line that stops here is one of the few rack railway routes in Japan, though the rack system only begins further up the line past Odawara. This means the ride from this station marks the starting point before the train begins its steep mechanical climb into the mountains.
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