Odawara Castle, located in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is a reconstructed historical site with roots dating back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). The current donjon (main keep) was rebuilt using reinforced concrete in 1960 on the stone foundation of the original structure, which was dismantled between 1870 and 1872 during the Meiji Restoration.
Odawara Castle has a long history, serving as a strategic stronghold during the Sengoku period. Initially fortified by the Doi clan in the Kamakura period, it later became the seat of power for the Odawara Hojo clan in 1495, after Ise Moritoki seized it from the Omori clan. Under the Hojo, the castle underwent significant expansion, transforming into a formidable fortress that withstood sieges from Uesugi Kenshin in 1561 and Takeda Shingen in 1569. In 1587, the Hojo further strengthened the castle in anticipation of conflict with Toyotomi Hideyoshi. However, during the Battle of Odawara in 1590, Hideyoshi successfully forced the Hojo to surrender through a combination of a three-month siege and psychological tactics, without launching a direct assault. Following this victory, Hideyoshi awarded the castle and surrounding lands to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Tokugawa Ieyasu handed control of Odawara Castle to his retainer Okubo Tadayo, who reconstructed the castle on a smaller scale. Over the years, the castle was passed to several clans, including the Abe and Inaba, before the Okubo clan returned in 1686. The castle suffered extensive damage during major earthquakes in 1703, 1782, and 1853, but was rebuilt multiple times, including a restoration of the donjon in 1706.
During the Boshin War in the late 19th century, the castle's lord, Okubo Tadanori, allowed Imperial forces to pass through the region without resistance. After the war, the Meiji government ordered the destruction of feudal fortifications, and Odawara Castle was dismantled between 1870 and 1872. In the following years, the site was repurposed for various uses, including a Shinto shrine, the Odawara Imperial Villa, and later, a public park.
In 1938, the castle ruins were designated a National Historic Site, and further preservation efforts led to the reconstruction of two yagura (watchtowers) in 1934. Over the decades, more structures, such as the Tokiwagi Gate (1971), the Akagane Gate (1997), and the Umadashi Gate (2009), were restored to reflect the castle’s Edo-period layout.
Today, Odawara Castle Park features the reconstructed donjon, an art museum, a local history museum, a zoo, and various recreational facilities. The donjon was remodeled between 2015 and 2016 to enhance earthquake resistance, with the city donating all reopening-day entry fees to support Kumamoto Castle’s repairs following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. The castle remains a key cultural and historical landmark, listed among Japan's 100 Fine Castles in 2006.
See also
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Okayama Castle
According to a number of accounts, the earliest fortifications on the site of present-day Okayama Castle appeared as early as the 14th century and were built by the Nawa clan. The Asahigawa River was used as a natural defensive barrier, protecting one side of the fortifications.
In the early 16th century, the Kanamitsu clan constructed a new castle here, which at the time was known as Ishiyama. In 1573, it came under the control of the Ukita clan, after which Ukita Naoie (1529–1582) launched large-scale reconstruction efforts. He did not live to see the work completed, and construction was continued by his son Hideie. -
Nagahama Castle
Hashiba, later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, received Odani Castle and the surrounding lands from Oda Nobunaga after the defeat of the Azai clan. However, Odani Castle was located high in the mountains, which made it poorly suited for the effective administration of the territory. For this reason, in 1575 Hideyoshi began constructing a new castle in the village of Imahama on the shore of Lake Biwa. Taking the character naga from Nobunaga’s name, he renamed both the village and the new castle Nagahama.
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Kokura Castle
Kokura Castle is traditionally considered to have been founded by Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563–1645), although by the time the Hosokawa clan came to control these lands, the fortification had already existed since at least 1569 and was most likely built by members of the Mori clan.
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Ikeda Castle
In 1334, Ikeda Noriyoshi built a small fort on this site, which over time was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt. During the Ōnin War of 1467–1477, the Ikeda clan supported the Western Coalition. As a result, Ikeda Castle was attacked and captured by the forces of the Eastern Coalition, but it was soon recaptured, allowing it to avoid serious destruction.
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Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle
Aizu-Wakamatsu is the most powerful and at the same time the oldest castle in the Tōhoku region in the north of Honshu Island. Its history begins in the 14th century and is closely connected with the Ashina clan, whose members claimed descent from the legendary Taira family.
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Maruoka Castle
Maruoka Castle is located in the central part of the former city of Maruoka, which is now part of the city of Sakai. This area lies in the northeastern part of Fukui Prefecture. The castle was built on the bank of the Kuzuryu River, on the side opposite Fukui City, which once served as the administrative center of the former Echizen Province. Thanks to its location, Maruoka held significant strategic importance, as it controlled two major routes at once: the Hokurikudo highway leading from Kaga Province and the Mino Kaido road connecting these lands with Mino Province.
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Marugame Castle
Marugame is part of the so-called “Authentic Dozen,” a group of twelve castles whose donjons have survived to the present day without major reconstructions since the Edo period.
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Iyo Matsuyama Castle
Historically, the center of Iyo Province—corresponding to today’s Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku—was the city of Imabari, while the Matsuyama area was regarded as an agricultural hinterland with broad plains and low hills. During the Muromachi period, the central part of the province was governed by the Kano clan from Yuzuki Castle. With the onset of the Sengoku period, however, this clan lost its former influence and was forced to survive in the shadow of the more powerful Mori and Chōsokabe clans. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s forces conquered Shikoku in 1587, the northern part of Iyo Province was granted to Fukushima Masanori, one of the so-called “Seven Spears of Shizugatake.” In 1595, Masanori was transferred to Kiyosu Castle, and the lands around Matsuyama were given to another of the Seven Spears, Katō Yoshiaki, who received Masaki Castle and an income of 60,000 koku of rice.
