Odawara. Sightseeing tour by car

Odawara is a small town with a population of 195,000 people located in Kanagawa Prefecture off the coast of Sagami Bay, 70 km from Tokyo.

Back in the 16th century, the city began to flourish thanks to the Tokaido road, which ran through it and connected the 2 main cities of the country Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo).

Now the largest railway lines converge in Odawara: JR Tokaido Shinkansen, Hakone Tozan, etc., which allows you not to return to Tokyo after the excursion, but with the help of a guide to take a high-speed train (shinkansen) to Kyoto or Osaka, thereby saving strength and precious time.

Flowering and Love:

February-early March: it is during this period that old plum trees bloom, in abundance planted throughout the castle.

April: cherry blossoms / May: azalea / June: hydrangea / Late July - early August: lotuses bloom

Programme

• 9:00 Meeting. The guide will meet you in the lobby of the hotel with a sign in the hands that shows the name and surname of tourists.
• Transfer to Odawara
• Odawar Samurai Castle
• Samurai Museum
• Shinto shrine of Hotoku Ninomiya
• Lunch
• Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple is one of the greatest temples of the Buddhist sect Soto Zen, inextricably associated with the mystical long-nosed and winged shawls Tengu.
• Transfer to Tokyo
• 17:00 Arrival at the hotel. Guide says goodbye

Detailed description of the tour

9:00 Meeting. The guide will meet you in the lobby of the hotel with a sign in the hands that shows the name and surname of tourists.

Transfer to Odawara will take about 1 hour.30 minutes.

First stop: the main attraction of the city of Odawara is a samurai castle built in the 15th century, which was long owned by representatives of the powerful Hojo family. During the Warring Provinces period, it was one of Japan’s most well-fortified castles. The renovated castle was included in the list of 100 most attractive castles in Japan in 2006.

Then we are transported to the era of the military past of Japan, in the time of the samurai. The Samurai Museum is made in the traditional Japanese style, it presents not only medieval armor of samurai, legendary swords of Katana, bows, arrows, helmets and masks, but also interior and household items. The interactive show “Samurai Philosophy” will not leave you indifferent.

Walk to the Shinto shrine of Hotoku Ninomiya-jinja. The temple is dedicated to the famous Japanese agronomist Ninomiya Sontoku, who participated in the reconstruction of villages and saving peasants from hunger through the distribution of rice.

Lunch

One of the greatest temples of the Buddhist sect Soto-Zen, founded in the 14th century and inextricably associated with the mystical long-nosed and winged shawls Tengu. The road to the temple runs through a cedar grove, which is more than 500 years old. 20,000 cedar trees cover the rays of the sun and contribute to the mystical mood of the temple. The temple has about 30 stunning ceremonial halls and other temple buildings. We will meet various statues of mystical creatures – Tengu, which occupy a special place in Japanese mythology. It is here that we will see numerous pairs of red takagetas that will make a great impression on you.

At the end of the tour, based on the remaining time or your wish to extend the time, I will suggest visiting the spa complex and taking hot baths in the bosom of nature in the best traditions of Japan.

Transfer to Tokyo

17:00 Arrival at the hotel. The guide says goodbye.

• Entrance tickets incl.guide (about 600 yen/vzr. and 220 yen/reb. up to 12 years)
• Lunch including guide (about 1500 yen/person)

Extension of time is paid at the rate: $ 80 / hour. Payment on-site to the guide.