Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Odawara Castle
Odawara castle was owned by five generations of the Hojo family, starting from Soun Hojo.

[Explanation]
It is widely known that Odawara castle was the base for the Hojo family, starting from Soun Hojo. There is a famous proverb, ‘Odawara Hyojo’ (Odawara conference, meaning ‘an inconclusive discussion’). In 1495, Soun Hojo, who was governing Izu at that time, invaded and took over the castle from Fujiyori Omori, and expanded it.

※Another theory says that Soun was already based at mount Nirayama at that time, and Odawara castle became their base after the second generation, Ujitsuna Hojo.

After that, Soun Hojo became Sengoku Daimyo of Izu and Sagami, after taking over Sagami. Ujitsuna, Hojo’s second generation, also contributed to flourish the Hojo family. Ujitsuna largely expanded their territory. His successor Ujiyasu was superior as Sengoku Daimyo as well, and continued to expand their territory to Ueno, Shimotsuke, Shimousa, and a part of Kamiusa.

Since then the castle continued to be owned by 5 generations of the Hojo family including Ujiyasu Hojo, Ujimasa Hojo, Ujinao Hojo, and it became the political center of the south Kanto region.

In 1590, Hideyoshi Toyotomi attacked Hojo-shi to achieve the unification of the country, and Ujimasa and Ujinao Hojo continued to siege but eventually surrendered, and it ended with Ujimasa and Ujiteru committing Seppuku.

After that, the territories of Hojo-shi were given to Ieyasu Tokugawa, and Ieyasu chose Edo as his main castle and Ieyasu’s vassal Tadayo Okubo was appointed as the owner of Odawara castle. Odawara castle’s castle town became smaller, and Okubo-shi continued to be the owner until the Meiji restoration. For Hojo-shi, on the other hand, Ujimori Hojo continued its name in Osaka.

※Odawara castle: 23rd of Japan’s 100 famous castles

[Address,access]
Jonai, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa 250-0014

[Map]