2021-07-06

Odawara Castle


Odawara Castle Ruins Park is located within walking distance of Odawara Station on the JR Tokaido Line, the Odawara-Odakyu Line, the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line, the Daiyuzan Line, and the Hakone Tozan Line.

Reference information and useful links posted  below after the  photos.




Japanese Castle

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
21 mm ISO 400 for 1/400 sec. at ƒ/4.0
#landscapephotography #castle #OdawaraCastle #Japanesecastle #urbanlandscape #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #公園 #ペンタックス

Originally built in the mid-15th century, Odawara Castle was destroyed by an earthquake in 1703 and rebuilt; dismantled in 1870 after the final demise of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government); and was rebuilt in its current form in the 1960s. The current castle keep primarily houses museums and is surrounded by gardens and moats.

Castle Roof-Ridge

Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
135 mm ISO 100 for 1/15 sec. at ƒ/11
#landscapephotography #castle #OdawaraCastle #Japanesecastle #shashi #shachihoko #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#鯱 #鯱鉾 #風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #公園 #ペンタックス

Copper-plated mythical creatures called shachihoko (鯱鉾 / lit. killer whale) from Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and body of a carp are often mounted at both ends of a roof-ridge of castles and some shrines to protect the structure from fire since the creature has the “power” to bring rain.

Mythical Creature

Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
300 mm ISO 100 for 1/15 sec. at ƒ/11
#landscapephotography #castle #OdawaraCastle #Japanesecastle #shashi #shachihoko #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#鯱 #鯱鉾 #風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #公園 #ペンタックス

Close-up shot of one of the copper-plated shachihoko (鯱鉾 / lit. killer whale) from Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and body of a carp mounted at both ends of the castle roof-ridge.

Japanese Castle

Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
55 mm ISO 100 for 1/40 sec. at ƒ/11
#landscapephotography #castle #OdawaraCastle #Japanesecastle #urbanlandscape #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #公園 #ペンタックス

Eastern view of Odawara Castle rising 38.7 m (approx. 126.9 feet) high. Originally built in the mid-15th century, the current form was rebuilt in 1960 using modern earthquake-resistant materials. Design of the current structure resembles models and blueprints from the late Edo Period (1603-1868) with the most recent upgrades completed in 2016.

Vermillion Bridge

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
24 mm ISO 100 for 1/50 sec. at ƒ/13
#landscapephotography #moat #bridge #moatbridge #Japanesecastle #urbanlandscape #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#学橋 #水堀 #風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #ペンタックス

Built across the castle moat in 1949, this Manabi-Bashi bridge (east of the castle) affords tourists greater access to the castle park, and gives school children easier access to nearby schools. The arched bridge is aesthetically pleasing and is a popular viewing spot when the cherry trees along the moat are in full bloom.
Wall, Moat, and Turret

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
28 mm ISO 100 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/13
#landscapephotography #moat #stonewall #turret #Japanesecastle #urbanlandscape #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#石塀 #角櫓 #水堀 #風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #ペンタックス

Located nearly due east of Odawara Castle (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan), this photo shows a moat and stone wall (left), and turret or guard tower (right) near the Umademon Gate (馬出門, lit. horse exit gate) to the castle. Behind the wall is another gate that led to the livery stables of the castle. The moat, gates, and walls were designed to force troops through a zigzag pattern before reaching the keep as a defense measure should the castle come under attack.

Two Castle Gates

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
28 mm ISO 100 for 1/400 sec. at ƒ/5.0
#landscapephotography #castlegate #castlewalls #Japanesecastle #urbanlandscape #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#馬出門 #枡形 #内冠木門 #風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #ペンタックス

Located on the eastern side of Odawara Castle (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan), the Umadashi-mon gate (馬出門) in the foreground leads to a small open square called a masugata (升形), which is enclosed by an earthen and stone wall, and provides access to the Uchikabuki-mon inner gate (内冠木門), which is set at a right angle to the Umadashi-mon gate, and opens to the horse stables.

A castle’s masugata squares have have an outer gate that protects the castle entrance by providing a place to gather cavalry forces out of sight of enemy forces; and with the inner gate and outer gate at right angles, the masugata squares also help slow down attackers by preventing direct entry to the castle. The outer Umadashi-mon gate is 6.3 m (20.6 ft) tall, and the Uchikabuki-mon inner gate is 5.3 m (17.3 ft) tall. Reconstruction of the gate in 2009 by hand using traditional materials and building techniques dating back to at least 1672 cost 500 million yen (4.5 million USD) to complete.

Castle Corner Turret

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
21 mm ISO 100 for 1/200 sec. at ƒ/6.3
#landscapephotography #moat #stonewall #turret #Japanesecastle #urbanlandscape #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#石塀 #角櫓 #水堀 #風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #ペンタックス

View of a moat and turret of Odawara Castle (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) located on the eastern side of the castle. The original turret collapsed in the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake (which also reduced major cities such as Tokyo and Yokohama to rubble), and was rebuilt to half its height in 1934. This turret is flanked on both sides with cherry trees, which create a beautiful scene in early spring.

Border Collie at Japanese Castle

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
48 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/5.6
#dog #pet #BorderCollie #cityscapephotography #stonewall #Japanesecastle #urbanlandscape #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#石塀 #土塀 #銅門 #馬出門 #犬 #愛犬 #ボーダーコリー #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #ペンタックス

Dale-chan the border collie relaxing in front of the Umadashi-mon gate located east of Odawara Castle (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) with a stone moat wall and Akagane-mon Gate in the background.

Labyrinth of Castle Walls

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
68 mm ISO 100 for 1/15 sec. at ƒ/22
#landscapephotography #earthenwall #stonewall #castlewall #Japanesecastle #urbanlandscape #urbanpark #Odawara #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#石塀 #土塀 #風景写真 #都市景観写真 #小田原 #小田原城 #小田原城址公園 #ペンタックス

Exterior walls lining the moats at Odawara Castle follow an often-used construction found at many Japanese castles with a stone foundation and earthen upper portion topped of with clay roof tiles. The moats, walls, and gates are designed to create a labyrinth some gates leading to dead ends as a means to hinder invaders. If you look closely, you can see rectangular ya-zama (矢狭間) holes (arrow slits) that were used for shooting arrows, and triangular teppo-zama (鉄砲狭間) holes (gun ports) for shooting with muskets.

Reference Info & Links

Odawara Station:

From Shinjuku:
Odakyu Line: 91 minutes (commuter train)
Odakyu Romance Car: 59 minutes (special express)

From Tokyo Station:
Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen: 33 minutes (bullet train)
Ueno-Tokyo Line & Tōkaidō Line: 77 minutes (commuter train) 

Access from Odawara Station (5-minute walk):

The castle is located about 81 km (approx. 50 miles) southwest of central Tokyo (Nihonbashi), and can be reached in less than two hours if you take expressways. If you want to avoid toll road fees, the drive will take 2 to 4 hours depending on traffic.

Parking near castle:

If the castle’s primary parking lot is full, there are many parking lots in the immediate area where you can pay for parking in 60-minute increments (approx. 300 to 400 yen per hour).

Recommended sites for travel, history, and activity information:

Odawara City Official Odawara Castle Website 

Odawara Castle: A reconstructed castle at the entrance to Hakone 

Odawara Sightseeing Guide: Explore Odawara Castle and the New Ninja Museum

"Odawara Castle" -You can Go there Very Easily from Tokyo!

Explore Odawara: Day Trip to the Castle Town Near Tokyo!

Take a trip to the town overlooked by Odawara Castle

References used in this blog:

小田原城址公園

Guide to Japanese Castles: Odawara Castle

City of Odawara: Odawara Castle, Symbol of Odawara

馬出門

馬屋曲輪

城址公園 (Castle Ruins Park)

隅櫓 (corner turret)

Japanese Castles:

Japanese castle

駿府城

Japanese Castles:

Masugata:

Kabukimon

Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site

Urban Renewal for an Old Castle Town

Below is a list of the equipment I took with me on this photo shoot.

Camera Gear:

Pentax KP
https://amzn.to/2EbbLRZ
Standard zoom lens: smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL[IF] DC WR
https://amzn.to/2Ysz5lJ
Telephoto zoom lens: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
https://amzn.to/3iNEsDF
Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)
https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd
Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate
https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j

Video Gear:

Canon EOS Kiss M/M50 Double Zoom Kit
https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg
SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)
https://amzn.to/3axkn1w
PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter
https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS
Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal
https://amzn.to/32c0FFL
RODE Road Wireless GO Wireless Microphone System WIGO
https://amzn.to/35lygz1

Filters & Filter Systems:

PolarPro QuartzLine ND 64 Filter - 67mm (ND64 6-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/2J9VSOM
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/39rwWwW
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/3q7YHAm
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
https://amzn.to/3fOwgCY
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
https://amzn.to/37hjkBv

Pack:

F-stop Tilopa 50L Adventure and Travel Camera Backpack (Essentials Bundle: backpack, rain cover, internal camera unit)
https://amzn.to/2XfjDIE
F-stop Tripod Bag (large)
https://amzn.to/3pXW57n

*Links to Amazon are affiliated links, which means that if you choose to purchase an item that I may get a small commission, which has no effect on your purchase price whatsoever.

Music Tracks Licensed for this video through Epidemic Sound. Visit this link to subscribe:


“Nippon” composed by Johannes Bornlöf and performed by Yi Nantiro.
“Soft Rains” composed by Anders Schill Paulsen and performed by Hushed.
“Soul Temple” composed and performed by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen.
“The Wisdom Of Trees” composed by Yonder Dale and performed by Epidemic Sound.
“Bermuda” composed by Henrik Olsson and performed by Ooyy.

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