Popular sightseeing spots in Odawara that can be accessed by sightseeing bus “Umemaru-go” departing from Odawara Station

Odawara sightseeing excursion bus “Umemaru-go”

The Odawara sightseeing tour bus “Umemaru-go” is a sightseeing bus that allows you to visit all of Odawara’s major sightseeing spots. It operates only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

The biggest feature of the Umemaru-go bus is that you can visit all the major sightseeing spots in Odawara by riding this bus. It is very convenient because you can go to sightseeing spots that are difficult to access unless you rent a car.

Sightseeing information provided by a tour guide on bus

Local volunteer guides are on bus the Umemaru-go and will tell you about the history and highlights of the next sightseeing spot.

In addition, the bus will explain the sightseeing spots you are heading to, so you can deepen your understanding of the sightseeing spots before arriving at your destination.

When I actually listened to the guide, I wasn’t really planning on getting off, but I thought, “It looks interesting, so let’s go!” It’s fun and exciting to visit tourist spots.

route map

The routes that the Umemaru-go bus runs on are as follows.

1. Odawara Station (East Exit No. 1 bus stop)
2. Megane Bridge (Odawara Castle Uma Demon/Odawara City Tourism Exchange Center)
3. Hakone Itabashi Station
4. Yoroizuka Historical Park (Yoroizuka Farm)
5. Odawara Fishing Port (Osakana Street)
6. JR Hayakawa Station (Hayakawa Temporary Tourist Information Center)
7. In front of Odawara Literature Museum
8. Odawara Castle Fujitana Tourist Bus Parking Lot
9. Saiwaimachi (Kamaboko Street, Odawara Nariwai Exchange Center)
10. Odawara Station (get off only)

The sightseeing spots you can go to by getting off each bus stop are listed below.

time table

Below is the timetable for the Umemaru-go bus. There are 10 departures a day, and the times are the departure times. The numbers match the numbers on the map.

*It is in 24 hour format.

One day free ticket is definitely a great deal!

You can pay for the Umemaru-go bus in the same way as you would for a regular route bus.In addition to cash, you can also pay at a transportation IC such as Suica or PASMO each time you get off the bus.

However, if you are traveling on the Umemaru-go bus and will only be riding around the entire route, it would be a good idea to purchase a 1-day free ticket.

• Adult: 600 yen
• Children: 300 yen

(The one-day free ticket in the photo says 500 yen, but the price has been revised to 600 yen from April 2023.)

If you ride the Umemaru-go bus at the regular fare, pay-as-you-go, the initial fare is 200 yen. In other words, if you want to get on and off the bus 3 times, it’s cheaper to buy a one-day pass.

Another convenience is that you don’t have to pay every time you get off the bus, as you just need to show your one-day pass to the driver when getting on and off the bus.

Get a discount if you have a 1-day free ticket!

Not only does bus travel cost less; You can receive discounts on admission fees, etc. by presenting your one-day free ticket to the following sightseeing spots that can be accessed on the Umemaru-go bus.

• Odawara Castle
  • Castle tower
    • Adult 510 yen → 460 yen
    • Elementary and junior high school students 200 yen → 180 yen
  • Tokiwagimon SAMURAI Hall
    • Adult: 200 yen → 180 yen
    • Elementary and junior high school students: 60 yen → 50 yen
  • NINJA Hall (History Museum)
    • Adult: 310 yen → 280 yen
    • Elementary and junior high school students: 100 yen → 90 yen
• Odawara Literature Museum
  • Adult: 250 yen → 180 yen
  • Elementary and junior high school students: 100 yen → 70 yen
• Odawara City Tourism Exchange Center
  • CAFE SANNOMARU Original Blend Coffee: 10% OFF
  • Trial workshop: 10% OFF
• Fishing port station TOTOCO Odawara
  • Soft serve ice cream at Odawara Fishing Port Pudding Store: 50 yen discount

In other words, if you are sightseeing in Odawara, it is more convenient and economical to take the Umemaru-go bus. And if you’re going to ride the Umemaru-go bus, the best deal is the 1-day free pass.

Where can I buy a 1-day free ticket?

You can purchase a one-day pass for the Umemaru-go bus at the following locations:

• Odawara Station East Exit Bus Stop 1
• Hakone Tozan Bus Odawara Station Information Center
• Odawara City Tourism Exchange Center

If you are starting from Odawara Station, purchase a one-day free pass at Odawara Station East Exit Bus Stop 1.

Bus stop number 1 at the east exit of Odawara Station is the boarding area for the Umemaru-go bus. This means that you can purchase a one-day free pass at the boarding area without having to purchase it in advance.

Odawara Station East Exit Bus Stop 1

The Odawara Station East Exit Bus Terminal 1, where the Umemaru-go departs and where you can buy one-day free tickets, is located at the east exit rotary.

There is a road between the east exit of Odawara Station and the rotary, so you will need to access it from the second floor deck or basement by stairs or elevator.

If you go from the second floor exit of the east exit of Odawara Station, there are stairs leading down to the rotary, so you can easily get to the rotary.

Even from the first floor exit, you can take the escalator down to the basement and take the elevator from there to get to the bus stop inside the rotary.

Recommended sightseeing spots you can go to by Umemaru-go

We will introduce recommended sightseeing spots that can be visited by the Umemaru-go bus in the order of the bus stops where the Umemaru-go bus stops.

Glasses Bridge

The first stop after leaving Odawara Station is the Meganebashi bus stop.

There is a Umade gate right next to this bus stop. This is the main gate, the entrance to Odawara Castle.

If you want to go to Odawara Castle, we recommend getting off at Meganebashi bus stop. You can head to Odawara Castle from the main gate.

Odawara Castle: You can become a ninja. You can meet samurai.

One Night Castle Historical Park

At Ichiya Castle History Park bus stop, there are Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle and Yorizuka Farm. Since both are adjacent to each other, it is possible to visit them together. The bus stops at the same parking lot for both, so there is almost no travel time from the bus stop.

Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle is a castle that is said to have been built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in one night. Because it is located on a hill, you can see Sagami Bay and the city of Odawara, and the view is wonderful.

Yoroizuka Farm is a sweets shop run by Japan’s proud pastry chef, Toshihiko Yoroizuka.

This bus stop is located farthest from Odawara Station on the Umemaru-go line.

If you are not traveling by car, it is quite difficult to get here on foot, so this is a sightseeing spot that can be reached by riding the Umemaru-go bus.

By the way, guides provide free tours of Ishigakiyama Castle on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, so it goes well with sightseeing on the Umemaru-go bus.

Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle: A castle built in one night to capture Odawara Castle

Odawara fishing port

There is Odawara Fishing Port at the Odawara Fishing Port bus stop.

In addition to the fish market, there are many restaurants and souvenir shops where you can enjoy seafood on the main street surrounding Odawara Fishing Port, known as the “Fish Street,” where you can enjoy Odawara’s seafood to your heart’s content.

Odawara fishing port gourmet spot summary: 5 minutes walk! Enjoy seafood at the fishing port closest to the station in Japan!

JR Hayakawa Station

TOTOCO Odawara is located a 5-minute walk from JR Hayakawa Station bus stop.

TOTOCO Odawara is a new commercial facility that opened in fall 2019. It is a gourmet spot that rivals Odawara Fishing Port’s Fish Street, with impressive seafood bowls that look great in photos, all-you-can-eat seafood, and the famous Odawara Fishing Port Pudding.

The souvenir shop is also large and sells a wide variety of souvenirs, from seafood to vegetables, sweets, and processed products.

TOTOCO Odawara: A super popular spot to enjoy fresh seafood in Odawara

Odawara Station

The end of the line is Odawara Station. The Umemaru-go bus starts from Odawara Station and returns to Odawara Station.

Near Odawara Station, there is a commercial facility called minaka Odawara.

Inside the building, which looks reminiscent of the Edo period, there are many Odawara souvenir shops. It is a very complete commercial facility with a food court and a restaurant area, as well as a footbath on the rooftop.

minaka Odawara

It’s okay if you don’t have a car. Let’s travel to Odawara, a castle town steeped in history and culture, on the Umemaru-go bus.

Odawara is a fusion of history, culture, nature and gourmet food. If you ride the Umemaru-go bus, you can efficiently visit the main sightseeing spots and fully enjoy the charm of Odawara without a car.

The Umemaru-go route, which is designed to provide easy access to major tourist spots from the bus stop, perfectly matches the needs of us tourists.

Furthermore, we offer a wide range of tourist-friendly services, such as a warm welcome and kind support from the people at the tourist information center, a guide who talks about the charms of Odawara on the bus, free guided tours, and commemorative photos with samurai and gun corps. I am. Odawara City is a very kind town to visitors.

It’s okay if you don’t have a car. Ride the Umemaru-go bus and experience Odawara’s history, culture, and the warmth of its people.

It’s sure to be an unforgettable trip.