2026 Odawara Castle Day Trip | Attractions, Transport & Seafood

Suigoh Kamaboko Odawara Station Front Store

MINAKA ODAWARA

Business Hours:
    East Building, Odawara New Castle Town: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Shopping Area)
    Tower Building 1F/2F: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Shopping and Dining Area)
    Tower Building 3F/4F: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Dining Area)
    *The rooftop hot spring facility has different hours; please check the official website for details.

Highlights
If you're looking for attractions near Odawara Station, MINAKA ODAWARA is a complex commercial facility that opened in December 2020. It combines the traditional atmosphere of a "castle town" with modern commercial functions in one location. The entire mall is divided into the "Tower Building" and "Odawara New Castle Town" (East Building), directly connected to JR Odawara Station, offering shopping, dining, accommodation, and leisure facilities.

The "Odawara New Castle Town" area recreates the atmosphere of Edo period streets, featuring traditional architecture and selling local specialties, seafood, and wagashi, making it feel like a stroll through an old town market. The top floor of the Tower Building, "Manyo no Yu," offers hot spring baths and a high vantage point to view the city of Odawara, perfect for a relaxing break during your travels.

Floor Guide
MINAKA ODAWARA is mainly divided into two sections:

• 【East Building: Odawara New Castle Town】
  1st Floor: Castle Town Market — Sells specialty products from Kanagawa Prefecture and the Seisho area, dried goods, seafood, and souvenirs. The best place to buy gifts.
  2nd Floor: Castle Town Dining Hall — A variety of restaurants and cafes offering Japanese and Western dishes made with fresh local ingredients.
• 【Tower Building】
  1st/2nd Floors: Station Front Plaza and Shops — Connected to the station, featuring convenience stores, a food court, and a few shops.
  3rd to 13th Floors: Hotel Facilities — Mainly the "Sky Spa Resort Hotel" (Tenseien Odawara Station Annex), providing comfortable accommodations.
  14th Floor: Hot Springs and Observation Deck — Manyo no Yu hot spring facility, featuring foot baths and a high observation deck overlooking Odawara Castle and Sagami Bay.

Historical Background

Although MINAKA ODAWARA is a newly established commercial facility, it was created with the mission of "revitalizing the gateway to Odawara." As a significant hub on the ancient Tokaido and the castle town of the Hojo clan, Odawara has a rich historical background. The design concept of this mall pays homage to that history, recreating the landscape of the old castle town to serve as a bridge connecting the modern transportation hub with the historical cultural town, allowing visitors to feel the traditional charm of the city upon their arrival in Odawara.

Odamame

Store Introduction
The name "Odamame" combines "Odawara" with the Japanese word for beans (まめ), indicating that this is a small shop specializing in flavored beans and unique snacks. Located on the first floor of the Minaka Odawara complex at Odawara Station, it is a popular spot for tourists to purchase souvenirs at the start or end of their journey. The store displays a variety of products, from traditional bean snacks to innovative flavors, showcasing local tastes from Odawara and Hakone.

Product Features

The core offerings of "Odamame" include a wide range of "bean snacks" and flavored nuts. These products not only feature roasted beans but also incorporate local flavors such as plum and seafood, for example:

• Local Flavor Beans: Beans flavored with local specialties like plums or seafood from the Odawara area.
• Seasonal Limited Editions: Special flavors released according to different seasons and festivals, providing a fresh experience.
• Gift Boxes: Beautifully designed gift box packaging, making it convenient for tourists to give as souvenirs to friends and family.

The products in the store blend traditional Japanese snack craftsmanship with modern snack flavors, offering a crispy texture and varied seasonings. Whether you want to taste local specialties or find light yet distinctive souvenirs, "Odamame" can meet your needs.

Tenshirou Sushi

Restaurant Features

Tenshirou Sushi is a renowned local establishment in Odawara, famous for its extensive use of seasonal "local fish." It is conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from Odawara Station. The restaurant is small, but the seasonal local fish gives the sushi a distinct Odawara flavor, making it popular among locals and tourists alike.
The sushi is made with traditional red vinegar for the rice, which is slightly smaller in portion but topped with larger pieces of fish, creating a perfect balance in taste. The special rolls also feature rare ingredients like salted fish and soft bones, ideal for pairing with sake.
The restaurant has 26 seats and offers a second-floor tatami seating area that can be reserved for groups, making it suitable for family gatherings or larger parties. Please note that the restaurant is very busy, making phone contact difficult, and it only accepts cash payments.

Moriya Bakery（モリヤセイパンテン）

Closed: Sundays, and the first and third Monday of each month

Restaurant Features

Moriya Bakery is a well-known, long-established bakery in Odawara, selected as one of the "Top 100 Bakeries EAST 2022," featuring a striking yellow sign that exudes a nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere. This shop is beloved by locals, offering classic items like red bean bread (あんぱん), cream bread, and cream rolls at affordable prices, leading many customers to buy in bulk.
While famous for its red bean bread, its "Premium Toast (上食パン)" is equally outstanding. This toast has simple ingredients, free from butter and eggs (suitable for vegetarians), with a moist and soft texture that brings out the natural sweetness from the flour and sugar, making it very delicious. Other popular items include mustard butter rolls (からしバター) and jam bread with understated colors.
This shop specializes in takeout and is about a two-minute walk from the east exit of JR Odawara Station, making it a convenient stop when visiting Odawara.

TASU

Restaurant Features

TASU is a unique space that combines a French bistro, café, and bar, focusing on creative dishes and natural wines. The restaurant aims to provide high-quality meals at reasonable prices, ensuring customers get good value.
Specializing in seafood, it offers a diverse drink menu. It is one of the few places where you can taste and purchase natural wines, providing a unique tasting experience. Signature dishes include persimmon and cheese spring rolls and saury puff pastry, combining seasonal ingredients with unexpected flavors for fun and surprises.
The restaurant features a stylish and comfortable space with a counter and table seating. Whether you come alone to chat with the owner or enjoy a private date in the seating area, you will receive warm hospitality. TASU also welcomes families with infants and children, making it a great spot for those looking to enjoy creative cuisine in Odawara.

MECIMO

Restaurant Features

MECIMO's name is derived from the French words for "sea" (Mer), "sky" (Ciel), and "mountain" (Montagne), and it is a French restaurant that uses local ingredients from Odawara.
The restaurant's decor is based on a simple black-and-white color scheme, complemented by tableware and decorations created by local artists, creating a stylish yet warm atmosphere for adults. Chef Takuma Kakubo trained at the renowned French and Osaka restaurant "HAJIME" and collaborates with sommelier Yoshinori Yamamoto, who previously worked at "NARISAWA" in Aoyama, to incorporate Japanese cooking techniques into French cuisine, showcasing the characteristics of Odawara's ingredients.
The restaurant operates on a reservation-only basis with only seven seats, providing an intimate and exclusive dining experience. The in-house sommelier recommends French wines to pair with the dishes, enhancing the dining experience from food to wine pairing.

Ramen Momo no Ya

Restaurant Features

"Ramen Momo no Ya" is a renowned light-style ramen shop run by a female owner from "Mugi to Niku Momo no Ki," part of the "Setagaya Group." The restaurant specializes in a clear broth that combines the rich flavors of whole chicken and chicken bones, enhanced with the complex sweetness of dried fish and bonito.
The signature "Light Salt Ramen" cleverly incorporates salted lemon that has been marinated for a month, adding a refreshing finish that showcases the owner's unique delicate taste. The noodles are made from low-hydration, thin straight noodles by "Asahiya Seimen," offering a crisp texture. The toppings include tender, melt-in-your-mouth chashu made from Kanagawa's brand pork, "Yamayuri Pork."
The menu offers both refreshing salt and rich soy sauce options, as well as curry rice and other side dishes. Located a 5-minute walk from Odawara Station's East Exit, it's perfect for those craving clear broth ramen. The menu also includes curry rice and other side dishes.

Sōshū Torigin Station Front Branch

Restaurant Features

Sōshū Torigin is a well-known restaurant specializing in yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and kamameshi (rice cooked in an iron pot), located just a 3-minute walk from Odawara Station. Its tranquil environment is popular with customers both day and night.
The two signature dishes are a must-try: the yakitori is famous for its precise cooking, resulting in juicy and flavorful meat, enhanced by the aroma of binchotan charcoal; while the kamameshi is made with raw rice, cooked to order in a small iron pot for about 30 minutes to ensure optimal moisture and texture. Salmon and roe kamameshi and anago three-color kamameshi are popular items.
The restaurant has 58 seats, including a counter, tables, Japanese-style tatami seating, and sunken hearth seating, as well as private rooms suitable for 10 to 20 people, perfect for family gatherings or casual drinks with friends. Affordable lunch sets are available on weekdays, along with a variety of local sake and shochu, allowing you to enjoy rich Japanese flavors.