Hello! This is Moriya from Honey Music School.
The other day, I took a relaxing day trip to Odawara City in Kanagawa Prefecture.
What is Odawara City?
Odawara is located in the western part of Kanagawa Prefecture.
It’s a city with beautiful nature and a long, rich history.
During the Sengoku period (Warring States period), it flourished as the castle town of the Hojo clan.
Later, in the Edo period, it became one of the most important post towns along the old Tokaido road.
Nature and Climate
Odawara is surrounded by lush mountains, clear rivers, the wide ocean, and fertile plains.
Thanks to its mild climate, summers are cooler than Tokyo and winters are relatively warm.
This makes it a great place for growing local products like ume (plums) and mikan (mandarin oranges).
History and Culture
Odawara Castle once served as a major base for ruling the Kanto region.
To prepare for an attack by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the city built a huge defensive wall system that stretched about 9 kilometers.
Odawara is also known for its connection to many writers and poets.
At the Odawara Literature Museum, you can learn about the lives and works of local authors.
Odawara Fishing Port
My first stop was the Odawara Fishing Port, just a 5-minute walk from JR Hayakawa Station.
I went there to try the famous seafood bowl at Meshiya Yamaya.
Even though it was a weekday, many people were waiting in line at this popular spot inside the port.
The seafood bowl was full of fresh fish and very satisfying!
Depending on the season, the types of fish may change, but you can always enjoy truly fresh flavors—something you can’t often experience in inland areas.
Odawara Castle
After lunch, I headed to JR Odawara Station and walked about 10 minutes to Odawara Castle.
Since it was cherry blossom season, the area was filled with many visitors.
There were food stalls and even a corner where you can try throwing shuriken (ninja stars), which was especially popular with kids.
If you’re interested in Japanese ninja culture, this place is perfect for you!
If you ever visit Japan, I highly recommend stopping by Odawara.
Honey Music School / Representative
I’m from Machida, Tokyo. I made my debut as a composer at the age of 23 and as a lyricist at 28.
With hands-on experience in recording studios, I have worked on a wide range of projects, including music production for anime, TV programs, and gaming-related content, as well as sound engineering for major artists.
I have also spoken at government-hosted seminars and produced city promotion videos. Through my work, I aim to contribute to local communities and society through music.
I am currently based in Fukuoka City, Japan. In my free time, I enjoy watching baseball and spending time at home.
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