Odawara, Transportation hub in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Odawara is a coastal settlement in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, positioned between Sagami Bay to the south and the foothills of the Hakone range to the north. The Sakawa River runs through the eastern part of town, separating residential neighborhoods from the industrial port area.
The settlement grew as a castle town during the Sengoku period and served as the seat of the Hojo clan until its defeat in 1590. Later it became a post station along the Tokaido road linking Kyoto and Edo.
The name roughly translates to "small rice paddy by the fence" and reflects the area's agricultural roots before it became a military stronghold. Today this coastal settlement balances fishing traditions with modern transit connections.
Travelers reach this settlement from Tokyo in roughly 30 minutes using the Shinkansen, which stops at the main station near the coast. From there, local trains continue toward the Hakone mountains and smaller coastal towns along the bay.
The Suzuhiro Kamaboko Village on the outskirts introduces visitors to the making of kamaboko, a regional specialty of steamed fish paste. Here guests can try their hand at shaping and steaming the product, following the production process step by step.
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