Odawara Station 小田原駅
Odawara Station
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For many, Odawara is the gateway to Hakone, one of the most captivating getaways in the Kanto area, blessed with tremendous views of Mount Fuji, warm onsen hot springs, and the venerable Lake Ashi. Odawara itself is also a notable location, with the famous Odawara Castle being a popular destination.
Odawara Station is easily accessible from central Tokyo and Kyoto, located in Kanagawa Prefecture and being a stop on the popular Tokaido Shinkansen Line, as well as being fully serviced from Shinjuku Station via the Odakyu Line. Let’s take a more in depth look at Odawara Station, its access, facilities, and surrounding area.
Getting to Odawara Station
Odawara Station is a stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, the world’s oldest high speed bullet train line that goes between Tokyo, Kansai, and Hiroshima and often extends to Hakata Station in Fukuoka via the Sanyo Line. Kodama and Hikari Shinkansen bullet trains on the Tokaido Line will stop at Odawara, the latter being the faster of the two. However, if you are trying to access Odawara Station via Shinkansen, be aware that Nozomi Shinkansen bullet trains, the fastest option on the Tokaido Line, do not stop at Odawara Station, as they are express trains that stop at only the most prominent stations.
From Tokyo Station, this Shinkansen ride takes only around 35 minutes. From Kyoto, another common departure point, especially for those making their trip back to Tokyo, it takes a little over 1.5 hours. This journey via the Kodama and Hikari Shinkansen are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, however, individual train tickets can be purchased as well.
Another common means of getting to Odawara Station is via the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku Station. The most optimal and recognizable option for this is to take the beloved RomanceCar trains. Out to Odawara directly from Shinjuku Station via Romance Car costs 1,910 yen, but there are rail passes that offer special discounts on these tickets. There are also more standard, local, express, and special express trains that go out to Odawara from Shinjuku Station via the Odakyu Line.
Odakyu also operates the Hakone Highway Bus, which departs from Shinjuku Station once every 30 minutes. Via bus, the journey takes around two hours, depending on traffic conditions. There are also buses between Hakone and Haneda Airport with a stop in Yokohama City, the largest city in Kanagawa, along the way. This takes around 2.5 hours.
RomanceCar run by Odakyu
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Access to Odawara Station with special rail passes
There are a number of rail passes that are issued specifically for use to get to Odawara and access the rest of the Hakone area. With the Hakone Free Pass, the RomanceCar will require a separate boarding pass, but can be bought at a discounted rate for pass holders, then used for unlimited travel on eight different forms of transportation within greater Hakone. This pass goes for 7,250 yen for two days and 7800 yen for three days.
The Fuji Hakone Pass includes a round trip ticket out to Shin-Matsuda Station, and from there, the pass grants unlimited rides between Shin-Matsuda and Odawara Station. This pass allows for extensive coverage in Hakone and extends out towards Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes region. The pass is currently not available, but will resume sales at the end of March 2024.
The Hakone Kamakura Pass is ideal for seeing two of Kanagawa’s most beloved destinations that are listed in the pass’s name. This pass grants full access to Odakyu Lines, but just like the Hakone Free Pass, the RomanceCar out to Odawara Station will require a separate boarding pass. For three days, this pass costs 8,600 yen.
Take a look at our travel options for getting to Odawara Station!
Access to other stations in Hakone from Odawara
Hakone-Yumoto Station
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As previously mentioned, Odawara is often used as a transfer station to get to the more central stations in Hakone for those arriving via Shinkansen bullet train. Hakone-Yumoto Station can actually be accessed directly from Shinjuku Station using both the local Odakyu Line and RomanceCar, but from the Shinkansen platform, a transfer via the Odakyu Line will be needed. The trip between the two only takes 15 minutes.
On the way, other stops on the Odakyu Line are also great representations of the greater Hakone area, such as Itabashi Station, famous for its nature hikes, and Kazamatsuri Station, with its venerable restaurants and other attractions. These destinations are covered by the rail passes mentioned above.
Izu-Hakone Railway Daiyuzan Train Line
Aside from the more prominent Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line and the Odakyu Line, Odawara Station also serves as a terminal station for the Izu-Hakone Daiyuzan Train Line. This line connects Odawara to other parts of Kanagawa, extending all the way to the eponymous Daiyuzan Station in Minami-Ashigara City. Tickets can be purchased at stations, and trains on this line can be ridden with a national IC card, such as the Suica or PASMO. This line is more often used by local residents of Kanagawa, so for visitors, it may provide access to more rural and obscure destinations not often seen by tourists! There are also buses operated by Izu-Hakone Railways that depart from and arrive at Odawara Station.
Daiyuzan Line
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Destinations around Odawara Station
Odawara Castle
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Aside from being an entry point for Hakone, Odawara itself is a worthwhile destination. For many, the eponymous Odawara Castle is the main attraction. The castle itself is a reconstruction of the original, which was a stronghold for the Doi Clan during the Kamakura Period. The park around the castle is beautiful as well as presenting tidbits of the area’s history throughout. Not far away as well is the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History, which provides great insight into the background of the nature-rich region. Additionally, for nature lovers, the Old Tokaido Road Hike is a staple for outdoors enthusiasts who visit and reside in the area.
