Odawara Castle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:59, 7 October 2017

Odawara Castle is probably the best example of a castle to visit in the immediate Tokyo area. The museum in the main keep has a nice collection of artifacts, armor, and weapons. They have also done a great job reconstructing some gates and maintaining the castle grounds.

History

The history of Odawara Castle actually began in the 15th century with a stronghold built by the Omori Clan. After Hojo Soun conquered the area in 1495, he and his ancestors gradually expanded the castle as the Hojo clan gained power. At the height of their power, the Hojo controlled much of the Kanto area with support castles on the fringes in modern day Chiba, Ibaraki, Saitama, and Kanagawa prefectures.

Odawara Castle faced three major attacks by Uesugi Kenshin in 1561, Takeda Shingen in 1569 and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590. The last siege by Toyotomi Hideoyoshi was the end of the Hojo clan's supremacy and the castle was turned over to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In the final siege by Hideyoshi, he brought all his generals from around the country with about 200,000 troops to bear on Odawara Castle. In the leadup to the siege, the various generals took over Hojo castles and strongholds on their way to Odawara. As Hideyoshi closed the net around Odawawa he flaunted his strength by creating an almost festival like atmosphere with performances and tea ceremonies and he even brought in his concubine (Yodo-dono) and tea master (Sen no Rikyu). Hojo eventually conceded his defeat and turned over the castle with little bloodshed.

Once Tokugawa Ieyasu took control of the castle, he stationed his vassal Okubo Tadayo as castle lord. Okubo reduced the size of the castle from the Hojo days because it representated a threat to the Tokugawa power. The Okubo family ruled over Odawara for the entire Edo Period except for a brief period in the 1700's. The castle was dismantled in 1870.

Field Notes

Odawara Castle is probably the best example of a castle to visit in the immediate Tokyo area. The museum in the main keep has a nice collection of artifacts, armor, and weapons. They have also done a great job reconstructing some gates and maintaining the castle grounds.

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Gallery

Umadashi Bailey moat
Umadashi Bailey Moat
Hakoneguchi Gate
Umadashi Gate
Sumiyoshi Bridge and Akaganemon Gate
Akaganemon Gate
Tokiwagi Gate
Akaganemon Gate
Tokiwagi Gate
Tokiwagi Gate
inside the museum
South Bailey Moat
Tokiwagimon Gate
Looking towards the Sogamae area from the main keep
South Gate Ruins

More Galleries and Feature Pages

Sogamae

(71 photos)

Castle Profile
English Name	Odawara Castle
Japanese Name	小田原城
Founder	Hojo Soun
Year Founded	1495
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Top 100 Castles, Top 100 Mountaintop Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	3 levels, 4 stories plus one below ground
Year Reconstructed	1960 (concrete)
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, bridges, water moats, trenches, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Odawara Station (Tokaido Line), 10 minute walk
Hours
Time Required
URL	Castle Website
Location	Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture
Coordinates	35.25086, 139.1539
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	1999
Admin Year Visited	1999, 2009, 2010
Admin Visits	May 1999; October 12, 2009; April 3, 2010

3.48

(40 votes)

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@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |Main Keep Structure=3 levels, 4 stories plus one below ground
 |Year Reconstructed=1960 (concrete)
-|Features=stone walls
+|Features=main keep, gates, turrets, bridges, water moats, trenches, stone walls, walls
 |Access=Odawara Station (Tokaido Line), 10 minute walk
 |Website=http://www.city.odawara.kanagawa.jp/kanko/kanko_4/e_index.html
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 |History=The history of Odawara Castle actually began in the 15th century with a stronghold built by the Omori Clan. After Hojo Soun conquered the area in 1495, he and his ancestors gradually expanded the castle as the Hojo clan gained power. At the height of their power, the Hojo controlled much of the Kanto area with support castles on the fringes in modern day Chiba, Ibaraki, Saitama, and Kanagawa prefectures. <p>Odawara Castle faced three major attacks by Uesugi Kenshin in 1561, Takeda Shingen in 1569 and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590. The last siege by Toyotomi Hideoyoshi was the end of the Hojo clan's supremacy and the castle was turned over to Tokugawa Ieyasu. </p><p>In the final siege by Hideyoshi, he brought all his generals from around the country with about 200,000 troops to bear on Odawara Castle. In the leadup to the siege, the various generals took over Hojo castles and strongholds on their way to Odawara. As Hideyoshi closed the net around Odawawa he flaunted his strength by creating an almost festival like atmosphere with performances and tea ceremonies and he even brought in his concubine (Yodo-dono) and tea master (Sen no Rikyu). Hojo eventually conceded his defeat and turned over the castle with little bloodshed. </p><p>Once Tokugawa Ieyasu took control of the castle, he stationed his vassal Okubo Tadayo as castle lord. Okubo reduced the size of the castle from the Hojo days because it representated a threat to the Tokugawa power. The Okubo family ruled over Odawara for the entire Edo Period except for a brief period in the 1700's. The castle was dismantled in 1870. </p>
 |Year Visited=1999, 2009, 2010
+|AddedJcastle=1999
 |Visits=May 1999; October 12, 2009; April 3, 2010
 |GPSLocation=35.25086, 139.1539