[Historical Novel Castle Journey #003] Odawara Castle—The Impregnable Castle and the Dream of a Sengoku Hegemon as Depicted in Jun Ito's "Hojo Soun"
A white castle tower soars in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Odawara Castle—an "impregnable castle" that neither Kenshin Uesugi nor Shingen Takeda could conquer during the Sengoku period.
Even so, in 1590 (about 435 years ago), it fell after a 100-day siege by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces.
In this article, using Jun Ito's "Hojo Soun" series as our guide, we will introduce the history of Odawara Castle and the 100-year story of the Later Hojo clan.
1. "The Castle That Appeared Overnight"—Hideyoshi's Psychological Warfare
The summer of 1590 (Tensho 18, about 435 years ago).
Toyotomi Hideyoshi surrounded Odawara Castle with a massive army of over 200,000.
Odawara Castle was known for being impregnable.
Hideyoshi knew that attacking it head-on would not work.
Therefore, he chose to attack their "minds" instead.
Hideyoshi ordered the construction of another castle on a mountain visible from Odawara Castle.
A round-the-clock rush construction project began.
During construction, the entire mountain was covered with trees and curtains so it could not be seen from inside the castle.
Once completed, all the trees were cut down at once.
Suddenly, a castle appeared on the mountain.
The Hojo soldiers, who had been continuing their siege (defending by holing up in the castle), were stunned when they witnessed the sight.
A castle had appeared before their eyes out of nowhere—it was as if it had fallen from the heavens.
This is the anecdote known as the "Ishigakiyama Overnight Castle."
When the siege exceeded 100 days, the Hojo clan finally surrendered.
A lesson for today:
Hideyoshi's strategy of moving the opponent's "heart" rather than fighting head-on is applicable to all modern negotiations and decisions. This anecdote teaches us that we can change a situation with wisdom rather than force.
2. Why was Odawara Castle able to become "impregnable"?
Odawara Castle first appeared in history during the late Muromachi period.
It is said to have begun when the local powerful clan, the Omori clan, built it as a mountain castle.
It was Hojo Soun, also known as Ise Zuiun, who acquired it as a Sengoku daimyo.
This was around 1495 (Meio 4, about 530 years ago).
Soun set his sights on Odawara because of its terrain.
It was a natural fortress (a base easy to defend by utilizing the terrain), flanked by the Hakone mountains to the north, Sagami Bay to the south, and rivers and hills to the east and west.
The Later Hojo clan (the five generations of the Hojo family starting with Soun) spent the next 100 years improving the castle and the castle town.
They completed the largest "sogamae" (a defense system surrounding the entire castle town with earthworks and moats) in the Kanto region, achieving an "impregnable" status that kept even Kenshin Uesugi and Shingen Takeda at bay.
3. Who was Hojo Soun?—The "First Sengoku Daimyo" as Depicted by Jun Ito
Jun Ito's "Hojo Soun" series is a long novel that carefully follows Soun's life.
Soun is a figure shrouded in mystery.
He entered Izu and Sagami after passing his 50s and established Odawara as his base as a Sengoku daimyo from scratch—his starting point alone makes him different from ordinary warlords.
Jun Ito depicts Soun as "the person who first opened up the Sengoku period."
It is said that he gained the trust of his subjects not only by taking power through force but also by governing with respect for the lives of the people.
(From the atmosphere of the work/gist) "If you do not capture people's hearts, a castle is nothing more than a pile of stones"—perhaps such a belief drove Soun and became the foundation for the 100 years of the Later Hojo clan.
A lesson for today:
Just as Soun set out for a new land in his 50s, it is never too late to "start." This story quietly encourages us to have the courage to take a new step in the second half of our lives.
④ If you visit Odawara Castle today
Odawara Castle is about a 10-minute walk from JR/Odakyu Odawara Station.
The interior of the castle keep is open as a museum, where you can trace the history of the Hojo clan.
The castle ruins park is a scenic spot beautiful in every season, with cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, and autumn leaves.
Be sure to also taste Odawara's famous kamaboko (fish cake), dried fish, and traditional confections from long-established shops.
⑤ What the impregnable castle teaches us
After a 100-day siege, Odawara Castle fell.
Even an impregnable castle could not withstand long-term isolation.
It is said that one of the reasons the castle fell was a 'delay in decision-making'.
Believing in the strength of the castle, waiting for reinforcements, and trusting that time would solve the problem—all the while, the soldiers' spirits were gradually breaking.
On the other hand, the 100-year history that Hojo Soun carved out starting in his 50s is a story of someone who proactively 'moved'.
As we age, our focus inevitably shifts toward 'protecting'.
That is important. However, 'doing nothing but protecting' is actually the greatest risk of all.
The stone walls of Odawara Castle still stand quietly today under the Kanagawa sky.
The 'castle that captures people's hearts' that Soun dreamed of—I feel that question is directed at everyone who visits the castle.
▼ Next time, we will bring you '[Historical Novel Castle Journey #004] Tsuruoka Castle'. Please follow us and look forward to it.
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※ The description of 'Hojo Soun' is intended to convey the atmosphere of the work and is not an exact quote. Please check the original text in each book.