Odawara Station opened on 21 October 1920 and is a junction and interchange station operated jointly by JR East and JR Central, with five rail operators sharing the complex. It is situated in Sakaechō in the center of Odawara, 83.9 kilometers from Tokyo, about a 10-minute walk from Odawara Castle. The station serves the Tokaido Shinkansen, the JR Tokaido Line and Shonan-Shinjuku Line, the Odakyu Odawara Line, the Hakone Tozan Line and the Izuhakone Railway Daiyuzan Line, and in fiscal 2023 it handled more than 130,000 passengers a day across JR East, JR Central and Odakyu. Bus terminals on the east and west sides connect the station with Hakone, the city center and the surrounding area.
Address
1 Chome-1-1 Shiroyama, Odawara, Japan
Popular questions
Odawara Station is located at 1 Sakaechō, Odawara, Kanagawa, in the center of the city. It is the perfect gateway to the Hakone area because Shinkansen, JR, Odakyu and Hakone Tozan trains all meet here, along with buses heading straight into the mountains. The east exit is the main side for central Odawara, the castle and the Hakone buses, while the west exit is convenient for the Shinkansen gate and its own taxi rank.
Odawara is a popular destination in the Kanto area thanks to its castle, its location on Sagami Bay and its role as the starting point for Hakone trips. The city is famous for kamaboko fish cakes, dried fish and fresh seafood, and Hayakawa Port, one stop from Odawara on the JR Tokaido Line, features a local fish market with fresh seafood and restaurants serving the morning's catch. Tourism, traditional food industries and commuting to Yokohama and Tokyo all shape the local economy.
JR Central operates the Tokaido Shinkansen platforms, but not every Shinkansen bullet train stops at Odawara: the fastest Nozomi trains pass through, while all Kodama trains and selected Hikari trains stop at Odawara. JR East runs Tokaido Line trains toward Yokohama, Shinagawa and Tokyo, along with Shonan-Shinjuku Line trains to Shinjuku. Odakyu links Odawara with Shinjuku, including Romancecar limited expresses, the Hakone Tozan Line continues to Hakone-Yumoto, and the Daiyuzan Line runs north toward Minamiashigara.
The Hakone Tozan Railway connects Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto in 15 minutes, making Hakone Yumoto Station the first stop for most visitors. If you arrive by Shinkansen or JR, you change trains at Odawara for the Hakone Tozan Line, and at Hakone Yumoto Station you change trains again for the switchback mountain railway to Gōra. Some Odakyu Romancecar trains from Shinjuku run straight through to Hakone-Yumoto without a change.
The Hakone Free Pass costs 7,250 yen for two days and is sold at the Odakyu ticket counters next to the Odakyu ticket gate. It gives unlimited rides on the Hakone Tozan Line, the Hakone Tozan Bus within the Hakone area, the cable car, the Hakone Ropeway and the sightseeing boats on Lake Ashi. Buses from the east exit run directly to Hakone-Yumoto, Miyanoshita, Moto-Hakone and Togendai, so the pass also works as soon as you leave the station.
The Shinkansen ride from Odawara to Tokyo Station takes about 35 minutes on Hikari trains, so central Tokyo is easily within an hour. The JR Tokaido Line is cheaper and takes around 80 minutes to Tokyo Station, while the Odakyu Romancecar limited express reaches Shinjuku in about 70 minutes, just over an hour.
The Kodama Shinkansen stops at every station on the Tokaido Shinkansen, so it is a little slower than Hikari but still reaches Tokyo Station in about 40 minutes, and it is the easiest Shinkansen ride to catch at Odawara. The Odakyu Romancecar is a relaxing ride with large windows and reserved seats, ideal if you are starting from Shinjuku: the RomanceCar ticket from Shinjuku to Odawara costs 1,910 yen. Choose the Shinkansen for speed from Tokyo Station and the Romancecar for comfort from western Tokyo.
A classic loop starts at Hakone Yumoto Station, climbs by mountain railway and cable car to Sōunzan, and continues on the Hakone Ropeway over the steaming Ōwakudani valley to Lake Ashi. From Tōgendai, the pirate ship sightseeing boats cross the lake to Hakone-machi and Moto-Hakone, with views of Mount Fuji on clear days. From there, the Hakone Tozan Bus brings you back to Odawara, completing a full day trip covered by the Hakone Free Pass.
Hakone Shrine stands in the forest on the shore of Lake Ashi near Moto-Hakone, famous for its red torii gate rising from the water. Autumn foliage usually peaks in Hakone from early to late November, when the hills around the lake turn red and gold and the scenic views are at their best. Spring cherry blossoms and summer hydrangeas along the Hakone Tozan Railway are also popular seasons.
Odawara Station is easily accessible, with elevators linking the concourses, ticket gates and platforms for each operator, accessible toilets, and signs in English at every gate. JR Tokaido Line trains use the JR platforms, while the Shinkansen has its own platforms and gates on the west side. The Odakyu Line and Hakone Tozan Line share ticket gates on the 3rd floor: trains toward Hakone-Yumoto leave from platforms 7 and 11, and trains toward Shinjuku from platforms 9 and 10.
Odawara Station has ticket vending machines for various train lines, as well as the staffed JR Midori no Madoguchi ticket offices for Shinkansen tickets and seat reservations. Odakyu tickets, Romancecar tickets and the Hakone Free Pass are sold next to the Odakyu ticket gate. The Fuji Hakone Pass resumed sales in March 2024, and the Japan Rail Pass covers Hikari and Kodama trains, so pass holders can use them to reach Odawara.
Step one is choosing your travel date: Shinkansen seats usually go on sale one month before departure, and trains during Golden Week, the Obon holidays in August and the New Year period fill up fast, so it pays to book early. Once you pay online, your reservation is saved in your account and you can pass through the gates with an IC card or a QR or paper ticket. Check the train name, car and seat number before you travel, especially for reserved seats on the Shinkansen and the Romancecar.
There is no airport-style security screening at Odawara Station; you simply pass through the ticket gates. Arriving 10–15 minutes early is usually enough for catching your train, giving you time to find the right gate and platform. Allow a few extra minutes when you change trains between the Shinkansen and the Odakyu or Hakone Tozan lines, as the walk across the station takes time with luggage.
Coin lockers are available at both east and west exits, and a manned luggage storage office is located at the east exit for larger bags. ATMs accepting international cards are available inside the station, and Odawara Station has free Wi-Fi at the Tourist Information Center, where staff help with tickets and Hakone travel information. Cafés, convenience stores and souvenir shops selling ekiben box lunches and local kamaboko give you plenty of places to rest before your next ride.
The Hakone Freepass is sold at the Odakyu Line ticket counters next to the Odakyu ticket gate at Odawara Station, and it costs 7,250 yen for two days. It covers the Hakone Tozan Line from Odawara, the Hakone Tozan Bus within the Hakone area, the cable car, the Hakone Ropeway and the sightseeing boats on Lake Ashi, so you can plan a full loop without buying separate tickets. Versions that start in Shinjuku also include the Odakyu Line journey to Odawara, with a Romancecar ticket available at extra cost.
The easiest transfer is from the Shinkansen or JR platforms to the Hakone Tozan Line, whose trains leave from platforms 7 and 11 on the 3rd floor and reach Hakone Yumoto in about 15 minutes. From Hakone Yumoto, the journey continues by mountain railway, cable car and ropeway deeper into the Hakone area, or by bus to Lake Ashi in about 40–50 minutes. Allow a few extra minutes for the transfer at Odawara Station, as the walk between the JR and Odakyu gates takes time with luggage.
Odawara Castle, the city's best-known attraction, is about a 10-minute walk from the east exit, with panoramic views from the keep and interactive exhibits on the Hōjō clan. Other attractions near the east exit include the Minaka Odawara complex with shops, restaurants and a footbath, and the shopping streets leading toward the castle. In the surrounding area, the seafront of Sagami Bay is about 15 minutes away on foot, and Hayakawa Port, one stop away by train, has a fish market with fresh seafood.
The west exit is the quiet side of Odawara Station, with fewer shops and crowds than the east exit. It is the most convenient side for the Shinkansen gate and has its own taxi rank and coin lockers, so it works well if a fast departure matters more than direct access to the city center. Travelers heading to Odawara Castle or the Hakone buses should use the east exit instead.