Odawara castle

• Japanese:小田原城(Odawara-jou)
• Type:Flatland-Mountain
• Founder:Omori Yoriharu
• Year:15C
• Demolished:1871
• Reconstructed:1960,1971,1997(Tenshu,Gates)
• Location:Sagami province

Odawara castle

The base of Odawara castle was a mansion of Kobawakawa clan in Kamakura period. The Kobayakawa was replaced by Omori Yoriharu in Muromachi period. Odawara castle was built on a mountain during the rule of Omori clan. 1495, Ise Shinkuro took over Odawara and the castle was expanded by the 5 generations of Hojo clan. The castle blocked invasions by Uesugi Kenshin(1561) and Takeda Shingen(1569).

In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi mobilized 150000 troops to Odawara (Siege of Odawara). The siege took 100 days until finally Hojo Ujinao surrendered.

The Tenshu was collapsed by earthquakes several times in Edo period but reconstructed everytime. However Tenshu and most buildings were demolished by the government in Meiji period(Haijo-rei) and public facilities were built.(Even zoo and amusement park were built in 1950.)

Reconstructing Umadashimon gate(2008 May)

In 1960, reconstruction of Tenshu was completed. The reconstruction project is still going.

Link

• Odawara city
• Photos

References

• Nihon no Meijo
• Odawara castle official panphlet

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