Odawara Castle, Japanese castle in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Odawara Castle is a Japanese castle in Kanagawa Prefecture that rises on a hill above the city of the same name. The upper floors of the main tower offer views over the surrounding greenery and Sagami Bay, while moats and paved paths below the stone walls wind through parkland.
The Hojo family expanded the site in the 15th century into one of the largest castles in eastern Japan and defended it until the siege by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590. After the Meiji Restoration the castle was demolished, but the current reconstruction was completed in 1960.
Cherry trees around the outer walls draw families and photographers each spring, who gather here to celebrate hanami. The name Odawara means "small field" and recalls the original landscape before construction began.
Visitors reach the site on foot from Odawara Station in about ten minutes and find exhibitions on several floors. The stairs inside are narrow and steep, so comfortable footwear is recommended.
The reconstruction used concrete instead of wood, which was hotly debated in Japan at the time and later led to a rethinking of how to rebuild other castles. Despite the modern material, the details of the roof tiles and wooden cladding show careful craftsmanship.
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