The Beauty of Rainy Odawara ☔️ | A Day Trip to Discover Its Castle, Sea, and Delicious Food

The Beauty of Rainy Odawara ☔️ | A Day Trip to Discover Its Castle, Sea, and Delicious Food

Let’s enjoy rainy Odawara today. Odawara City in Kanagawa Prefecture is a one-and-a-half-hour train ride from Tokyo. It’s only a 30-minute ride on the Shinkansen. Hello everyone! 😀 I’m at the East Exit of Odawara Station. Just outside the station, there’s a commercial complex called Minaka Odawara. Let’s take a look. 「Minaka Odawara」 It just opened in 2020, so the building is still new and clean. It looks like there are a lot of restaurants here. It seems to be built in the style of a post town from the Edo period. “It’s like I just time-traveled!” Well, not really, but I love this atmosphere. I’m walking inside now. Here is the shop list. This area is called the Odawara Shin-jokamachi (New Castle Town). Oh look! The castle is reflected in the background. A statue of Ninomiya Kinjiro and his wife is on display. Kinjiro Ninomiya is known for studying diligently while working. Statues of him as a child are in elementary schools all over Japan. This particular statue was used in a movie about his life. Odawara also has a history of making paper lanterns. The buildings are beautifully lined up. And there’s a tower on top. It feels like the rain is saying,
“Go enjoy some street food.” This is Pan Kobo Bun Bun Plus. The breads all look so delicious. This is Odawara Kissho. It’s a shop specializing in fried horse mackerel. I’m also getting the Odawara Chochin Anpan. For the fried horse mackerel, I’m choosing the aosa (seaweed) flavor. The bun is so soft, and it’s filled with sweet red bean paste! It’s super crispy, and I can eat it from head to tail. So good. Next, I’m going to Kagosei, a shop famous for kamaboko (fish cakes). I’m trying to decide what to get. I’m choosing the chewy fish cake cheese ball with lots of cheese. And the Odawara Roll, which is fried fish paste wrapped in bread. The mentaiko mayo flavor makes it juicy inside and out. It’s perfect. Brown Lawson (Convenience store). I’m walking for about 5 or 6 minutes from Minaka. There’s a red bridge over the moat. It’s called Manabi-bashi (Learning Bridge). Let’s cross the bridge to enter the castle grounds. Odawara Castle is coming into view. It’s magnificent and beautiful, and it’s making me feel calm. Odawara Castle is believed to have been built around the mid-15th century. During the Sengoku period (The warring states period),
it served as the stronghold of the Hojo clan. It was an impregnable fortress known for its solid strength. This is the Odawara Castle NINJA Museum. It’s a place where you can study the history of ninja. There seem to be attractions where children can have fun with ninja experiences. This is the Odawara Battle Diagram. Arrival at the main keep. Let’s tour the interior and head to the viewing deck area. Admission tickets and brochures. Odawara Castle is the 7th tallest in Japan. Shachihoko (Roof ornament). So huge! Many areas inside are restricted from photography. Historical materials related to samurai culture, such as armor and swords, are on display. I’ve climbed all the way to the top floor. On my right is the Minaka Odawara I just visited. And next to it is Odawara Station. There’s a souvenir shop near the main keep’s exit. This is the Odawara Kamaboko Collection. I want to try them all someday. I’m getting a stamp on my brochure. Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine is located near the main keep’s exit. This shrine is dedicated to Sontoku Ninomiya (Kinjiro Ninomiya). It was founded in 1894. The grounds are quiet, and the atmosphere is so nice. Komainu (The guardian lion-dogs of the shrine). And here’s a statue of Kinjiro Ninomiya. It shows him studying while he walks, selling firewood to help his family. Okay, let’s head to the next place. About a 10-minute walk from the shrine. Gradually, a sound could be heard. Beyond the tunnel… the ocean comes into view! This awesome tunnel is named “The Door to the Sea”. This is Miyukinohama beach. There’s nobody here. The stones are so smooth from the waves. You can see some stone art here. This is Sagami Bay. The sea is a bit rough, but the color is so beautiful. Spend a while enjoying this spot. It might have been prettier if it was sunny. But I’m really loving this unique rainy-day vibe. Please be careful not to twist your ankle. I’m crossing a cool, retro-style footbridge. I’m hungry again. This is Odawara Sugisei (Agetekko). It’s a kamaboko shop that’s been running for over 100 years. They have so many different kinds. I can’t decide. If you want to eat it right away, you can get it freshly fried. I’m choosing the cheese, shirasu (whitebait), and onion ones. The freshly fried, hot satsuma-age is unbelievably good. I’m buying garlic and shirasu as souvenirs. The lady who runs the shop is so kind. I want to come back here again. Back inside Odawara Station now. They’re selling a lot of kamaboko here, too. I’ve come to the West Exit of Odawara Station. Kamaboko truck. In a unique-looking building… I’m finding a delicious-looking sushi restaurant. It’s Tenshiro Sushi. Without a second thought, I’m ordering the local fish sushi (Chef’s choice). It looks so tasty! The rolls are unique, with ingredients like shuto and shiokara (fermented seafood). From the back, it’s young yellowtail, flying squid, Spanish mackerel, flounder, and barracuda. Every single piece is so good, and I’m feeling so happy. Thanks for the meal! Okay, I’m taking the Shonan-Shinjuku Line home now. I’m so tired from all the walking, so I’m hopping on the Green Car (upgraded seat). My body is so thankful for these comfy seats. I’m just going to relax on the ride back. Well, that’s it for today. Thanks for watching! 😉

💡This video includes subtitles. Tap “CC” to enable them.

It’s raining today, but we’ll enjoy the moist scenery of Odawara and the foods.

[Locations]
Odawara Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5yauhfkbwRqu49k7A
Minaka Odawara: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sQohQbsBYgBDSW39A
Odawara Castle: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BgR7BX66PuL7hvRu6
Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QRKd5gwXCpkxPf2i8
Tunnel Leading to the Sea: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sWcAuv111MxAN5ZY7
Miyukinohama Beach: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oK8sBDbJXHX36ahJ6

[Gourmet / Shops]
Pan Kobo Bun Bun Plus: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6DhMh1fkCkPFo1Vb9
Odawara Kisshow: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pHZsCetPpAAVcD269
Kagosei: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hdpsAWBcqPUCHvw56
Sugisei Agetatekko: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4An72B7GAvH8cQGF8
Tenshiro Zushi: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xyYLajZ1n5AhPuoSA

[Cost]
🏯 Odawara Castle – 510 yen

🍴 Odawara Chochin Anpan / Pan Kobo Bun Bun Plus – 216 yen
🍴 Fried Horse Mackerel with Aosa Flavor / Odawara Kisshow – 300 yen
🍴 Cheese Balls / Kagosei – 400 yen
🍴 Odawara Roll / Kagosei – 450 yen
🍴 Satsuma-age / Sugisei Agetatekko – 486 yen
🍴 Souvenirs / Sugisei Agetatekko – 757 yen
🍴 Local Fish Sushi / Tenshiro Zushi – 2,600 yen

Total: 5,719 yen

Prices vary with exchange rates💰️

#EnglishSubtitles #Odawara #DayTrip #SoloTravel #FoodTour
────────
00:00 Highlights
00:11 Food tour at Minaka Odawara
03:37 To Odawara Castle
08:59 Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine
09:38 From “The Door to the Sea” to Miyukinohama Beach
11:38 Satsuma-age at Agetekko
12:53 Dinner at Tenshiro Zushi
13:25 Thank you for watching