Getting Around Odawara
Odawara is a compact castle town and a major transit hub for western Kanagawa Prefecture, which makes it easy to reach on the bullet train and easy to explore on foot once you arrive. Most visitors use Odawara Station as their base: the station district has shops and restaurants, and the city's best-known sights, including Odawara Castle, sit within short walking distance of the station area.
Rail, Metro and Tram Network
Odawara Station is the anchor of the local rail network, served by several different operators whose lines fan out from the station. There is no metro or tram system in the city; getting around by rail means using the mainline and private railways that converge here.
- JR Tokaido Shinkansen: the bullet train stops at Odawara, making the city a fast link to Tokyo and points west. The all-stations Kodama service is the most frequent way to use it, and select Hikari services also stop here. All JR journeys are covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but note that the regional JR East Rail Pass does not cover the Tokaido Shinkansen.
- JR East Tokaido Main Line: local JR services run along the coast through Odawara, useful for nearby towns and for connections toward Yokohama.
- JR Central Gotemba Line: branches off from the Odawara area toward the Gotemba side.
- Odakyu Odawara Line: the private Odakyu railway runs mainline services between Shinjuku in Tokyo and Odawara. Commuter trains are the cheap option, while the flagship "Romance Car" express offers reserved seating for a surcharge and a slightly faster trip. Romance Car services include the Hakone service, which stops at Odawara en route to Hakone, and the Sagami, which terminates at Odawara; some late-day departures run under the name Home Way.
- Hakone Tozan Line: runs from Odawara up to Hakone-Yumoto, the gateway to the Hakone hot springs resort area.
- Izuhakone Railway Daiyuzan Line: offers access to the Buddhist temple at Daiyuzan.
For visitors heading into the surrounding countryside, the Hakone Free Pass gives access to nearby natural attractions in the Hakone area.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses fill in the gaps beyond the rail lines. Bus service connects Odawara to the Izu Peninsula, and overnight buses operate to Odawara from Kyoto and Osaka. Fares on those overnight services start lower for travel Monday through Thursday, with higher fares on other days and on holidays.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material does not describe taxi or ride-hailing services in Odawara, so plan on the rail and bus network as your primary options and arrange any taxi needs locally on arrival.
Walkability
Odawara is a walkable city, especially around its central station district. Odawara Castle and other attractions are within short walking distance of the station area, which is also where you'll find shops and restaurants. Biking is another option: routes such as the Sakawa River Cycling Road are available, bicycle rentals can be found near Odawara Station, and some accommodations cater to cyclists. Be aware that some areas are hilly and may be challenging for casual cyclists.
Getting There from the Airport
Odawara does not have its own airport, so arrivals come through Tokyo's airports or Mount Fuji-Shizuoka Airport.
- Narita Airport: the fastest route, especially useful if you hold a valid Japan Rail Pass, is the JR Narita Express to Shinagawa Station, then a walk to the Shinkansen platforms and the next Kodama all-stations service to Odawara. The journey is fully covered by the rail pass; without one, expect a fare plus a surcharge if you used reserved seating on the Kodama. A cheaper alternative is to transfer to a local JR Tokaido Line train at Shinagawa, which lowers the fare but lengthens the journey.
- Haneda Airport: take the Keikyu Railway to Yokohama and transfer to the JR Tokaido Line for Odawara.
- Mount Fuji-Shizuoka Airport: this airport in Shizuoka serves a few international flights from elsewhere in Asia. Bus service runs to Shizuoka Station, and from there Kodama bullet trains continue to Odawara.
One practical tip if you have a reservation at a ryokan in or around Odawara: unless your plane lands in the morning, it is recommended that you spend your first evening in Tokyo or Yokohama. Otherwise you risk missing dinner at the ryokan, or being locked out at the ryokan's curfew time, and still being charged.
Arriving by Train or Bus
If you're coming from Tokyo, the fastest option is the Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama all-stations service from Tokyo Station to Odawara; select Hikari services also stop here, with direct services from Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya running at limited times of day. At other times, taking a Hikari and changing en route to a Kodama will most likely be the fastest way to reach Odawara. The Odakyu line from Shinjuku is the budget-friendly alternative, with commuter services or the reserved-seat Romance Car.
Overnight buses also connect Odawara with Kyoto and Osaka, with fares starting lower for Monday-to-Thursday travel and rising on other days and holidays.