Odawara, Kanagawa

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Odawara (Japanese: 小田原市; -shi) is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. The city was founded on December 20, 1940. Odawara has had a sister city relationship with Chula Vista, CA for over 25 years. Odawara also has an active friendship with Manly, New South Wales in Australia, which includes an annual mutual student exchange program for secondary school students.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 199,463 with a population density of 1,748.30 persons per km² (4533 persons per square mile). The total area is 114.09 km² (44 square miles).

1 History
2 Area attractions
3 Transportation
4 External links

[edit] History

Odawara's strategic location on the Tōkaidō, between mountainous Hakone and Sagami Bay, has given it a key role in Japanese history. Prior to the Edo period, Odawara Castle was the stronghold of the Late Hōjō clan warriors. During the Edo, its castle controlled the Tōkaidō between the Tokugawa headquarters at Edo and the stations west of Hakone, including Sumpu, Hamamatsu and Nagoya. Today, a reproduction of the castle stands high on a hill above the city.

On August 15, 1945, Odawara was the last city in Japan to be bombed by Allied aircraft.

[edit] Area attractions

Besides Odawara Castle, this area is a major transit point for the mountainous Hakone touristic zone.

Enoura, a coastal district in Odawara known for its pristine sea, has an abundance of kumamomi, a type of fish which prefers clear and clean water. Sea turtles are also sometimes present there. Because of the clear water and plentiful undersea life, many people come to Enoura for diving.