Major city · Japan
Odawara小田原
Give Odawara one night: castle in the morning, then sleep here and ride the Hakone Tozan line up to Hakone-Yumoto the next day.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jun–Jul (rainy season), Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
- Airports
- HND · NRT
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Odawara is a castle town and rail junction on Sagami Bay, about 80 km southwest of Tokyo and the gateway to Hakone. The castle, the plum and cherry blossom, kamaboko and himono are the reasons to stop; most travellers use it as a bed before or after Hakone rather than a destination in itself.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Odawara, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyOdawara is a low-crime small city; the real risks are summer heat, the crowded station concourse at rush hour and ryokan curfews that lock you out of…
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 (≈ US$19) Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHND Haneda (Keikyu to Yokohama, then JR Tokaido line; about 90 min, ¥1,420 (≈ US$10)).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable: station to castle is about 10–15 min on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealRamen (Odawara-kei or tantanmen)¥900–1,400 (≈ US$7–10)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can at a konbini¥500–800 (≈ US$4–6)¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00.Late-night surcharge after 10:00 PM.¥2,000–2,500 (≈ US$14–17)
- Museum or sight ticketCastle entry¥300 (≈ US$3) adults, ¥100 (≈ under US$1) children
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person¥3,000 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥14,000 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥30,000 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) · High ¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HND Haneda (Keikyu to Yokohama, then JR Tokaido line; about 90 min, ¥1,420) · NRT Narita (Narita Express to Shinagawa, then Kodama Shinkansen; about 1 h 45 min)
Weather and climate
Odawara: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C50°F
1°C34°F
5 rd
Feb
11°C52°F
2°C36°F
7 rd
Mar
14°C57°F
5°C41°F
11 rd
Apr
19°C66°F
10°C50°F
11 rd
May
23°C73°F
15°C59°F
11 rd
Jun
26°C79°F
18°C64°F
13 rd
Jul
30°C86°F
22°C72°F
12 rd
Aug
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
9 rd
Sep
27°C81°F
20°C68°F
12 rd
Oct
22°C72°F
14°C57°F
10 rd
Nov
17°C63°F
9°C48°F
7 rd
Dec
12°C54°F
3°C37°F
5 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable: station to castle is about 10–15 min on foot. The Hakone Tozan line runs from Odawara up to Hakone-Yumoto and on to Gora; the Daiyuzan line branches to Iriuda for the natural history museum. Buses cover Soga and the coast.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 15 min to Hakone-Yumoto; 1–1.5 h to Gora and the ropeway
Hakone Tozan line from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto, then the mountain railway, cable car and ropeway
The main reason to base here; go early, the ropeway queues build by mid-morning.
Manazuru
goDoor to door: About 20–30 min
JR Tokaido line to Manazuru, then a walk to the peninsula
Coastal walk, sashimi and mikan; a half day.
Door to door: About 50–70 min
JR Tokaido line, or Shinkansen to Shin-Yokohama plus a local train
Better as a stop on the way to or from Tokyo than a return trip.
Door to door: About 1 h
JR Tokaido line to Ofuna or Yokohama, then the Yokosuka line
Temples and the Great Buddha; a full day, or a stop en route.
Door to door: About 1 h
JR to Fujisawa, then the Enoden tram
Doable, but the Enoden is slow and crowded; go on a weekday.
Mount Fuji climbing season
overnightDoor to door: 2–3 h
JR to Mishima or Gotemba, then bus to the trailheads
Summer only; too far for a comfortable return day.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Odawara Station east exit
Business hotels and the bus terminal; best for one night with bags and early trains.
Castle and Honcho area
10–15 min walk from the station; quieter, near the castle park and older restaurants.
Hakone-Yumoto (up the line)
Onsen inns 15 min by the Hakone Tozan line; pick this if the point of the stop is a hot-spring night.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–18,000 (≈ US$75–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥14,000 | ¥14,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥13,000 | ¥26,000 |
| Odakyu Shinjuku to Odawara, both ways (commuter fare)2 × ¥1,700 | ¥3,400 |
| Hakone Tozan line, Odawara to Gora, both ways2 × ¥1,600 | ¥3,200 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥5,160 |
| Trip total≈ ¥28,380 per person per day, bed included | ¥56,760≈ US$400 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Ramen (Odawara-kei or tantanmen) | ¥900–1,400 (≈ US$7–10) |
| Kamaboko or himono souvenir pack | ¥800–2,500 (≈ US$6–17) |
| Odawaradon rice bowl | ¥1,200–1,800 (≈ US$9–13) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a konbini | ¥500–800 (≈ US$4–6) / ¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3) |
| 5 km taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00.Late-night surcharge after 10:00 PM. | ¥2,000–2,500 (≈ US$14–17) |
| Castle entry | ¥300 (≈ US$3) adults, ¥100 (≈ under US$1) children |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Ryokan dinner and curfew: a late arrival can mean a missed meal and a locked door, so sleep in Tokyo or Yokohama the first night if you land in the afternoon.
- The JR East regional pass does not cover the Tokaido Shinkansen; only the nationwide pass does.
- Castle keep hours and closures change: check the official site before you go.
- Summer is hot and humid; the rainy season runs through June into July.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Odawara小田原
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies in Odawara; most are in Tokyo, with consulates in Yokohama (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Tokyo Station → Odawara, Kodama Shinkansen unreserved: about ¥3,130 (≈ US$25), 35 min
- Shinjuku → Odawara, Odakyu commuter: about ¥850 (≈ US$6), 90 min
- Odawara → Hakone-Yumoto, Hakone Tozan line: about ¥310 (≈ US$3), 15 min
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Odawara. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Jul (rainy season), Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for HND and NRT: last Kodama and Odakyu departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: station east exit, castle and Honcho, the coast at Manazuru.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (castle, natural history museum, Chinriu Honten) and eat pages with last orders.
- Hakone transfer fixture so the Odawara-to-Hakone handoff goes green.