Odawara Castle, located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, dates back to 1447 when it was first built by the Omori clan and later expanded and fortified by Hojo Soun and his descendants in the late 15th century. The castle became a powerful stronghold for the Hojo clan, boasting extensive defenses including stone walls, moats, and a large outer wall system called Sogamae stretching over 9 km.

It resisted attacks from famous warlords like Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, but ultimately surrendered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590 after a prolonged siege. Afterward, the castle was controlled by Tokugawa Ieyasu's retainers during the Edo period.

The main keep was destroyed in the Meiji period and an earthquake in 1923, but was rebuilt in concrete form in 1960, housing a museum today. The castle remains a symbol of Japan’s medieval military history and is one of the country’s top 100 castles.