Odawara Castle and the rise and fall of the Hojo clan

The Hojo clan, specifically the Later Hojo clan, ruled Sagami Province from their base at Odawara Castle for approximately 100 years across five generations. Starting with Ise Sōzui (Hojo Sōun) around 1495, the clan expanded its influence throughout the Kanto region.

During the fourth generation under Hojo Ujimasa, the clan constructed the ‘Sōgamae’, a massive fortification system consisting of earthen walls and moats spanning approximately 9km. This made Odawara Castle one of the largest fortresses in Japan. However, the clan's dominance ended in 1590 during the Siege of Odawara, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces besieged the castle. After a three-month siege, the clan surrendered; Ujimasa committed ritual suicide, and the fifth leader, Ujinao, was exiled.

Following the clan's fall, Odawara Castle transitioned to the control of Tokugawa Ieyasu's vassals. While much of the structure was lost to the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and the 1870 abolition of castles, the main keep was reconstructed in 1960 based on historical blueprints and currently serves as a history museum.