A Recreated Edo-Period Post Town: Odawara Shin-Jokamachi, a Souvenir & Food Spot at Minaka Odawara

A Former Post Town That Once Thrived in the Edo Period, Reborn in Front of Odawara Station: A Full Tour of Odawara Shin-Jokamachi

During the Edo period (1603–1868), Odawara City in Kanagawa Prefecture flourished as Odawara-juku, the 9th of the 53 post towns along the Tokaido—the main road connecting Edo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto—and was one of the largest post towns on the entire route.

In present-day Odawara, a commercial complex brings that historic post town back to life. It is Odawara Shin-Jokamachi, located right in front of Odawara Station. With Edo-period streetscapes lined with the finest shops from Odawara and Hakone, it has become a popular new starting point for sightseeing.

In this article, we introduce the highlights of Odawara Shin-Jokamachi, a modern revival of Odawara’s old post town.

Odawara Shin-Jokamachi

Odawara Shin-Jokamachi is a commercial complex in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, designed to recreate the atmosphere of a former post town. It gathers the specialty foods of Odawara and Hakone in one place, making it a popular sightseeing spot for souvenir shopping, sit-down meals, and street food alike.

Step Back in Time: Streetscapes That Recreate an Edo-Period Post Town

Odawara Shin-Jokamachi stands out for its facade, which recreates the look of an Edo-period post town.

Rows of tiled roofs, with noren (traditional shop curtains) and signboards lining the eaves. Storefronts modeled after hatago (inns for ordinary travelers in the Edo era) recall the atmosphere of Odawara-juku, where travelers along the Tokaido once gathered.

Rising directly behind it is the tower wing of Minaka Odawara. Edo-style streets and a modern glass-walled high-rise standing side by side—a view found only here, right in front of Odawara Station.

Odawara-juku once welcomed travelers as the 9th post town of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido. Today’s Odawara Shin-Jokamachi carries that legacy forward through its architecture.

Fill Your Stomach and Stock Up on Souvenirs: A Modern Post Town Built for Odawara Sightseeing

Odawara Shin-Jokamachi is a four-story building. The 1st floor is a souvenir floor packed with specialties from Odawara and Hakone, the 2nd floor offers full-fledged restaurants featuring local ingredients, the 3rd floor is lined with light meals, cafes, and sweets shops, and the 4th floor houses the hotel “Tenseien Odawara Station Annex.”

1F Jokamachi Ichiba: A Souvenir Floor with Specialties from Odawara and Hakone

The 1st-floor “Jokamachi Ichiba” is a souvenir floor that brings together the specialties of Odawara and Hakone in one place. A full 14 shops are gathered here.

When you think of Odawara, you think of Sagami Bay. The selection of seafood souvenirs is generous, ranging from smoked products and himono (dried fish) to dashi (Japanese soup stock) and bottled delicacies.

The lineup of sweets and confectionery is just as varied, mixing Japanese and Western styles. Baked goods made with Odawara citrus, cheesecakes from southern Hakone milk, rusks made with original-blend flour, rich gateau au chocolat, traditional wagashi, and more. For street snacks, candied fruit and bean snacks (mame-gashi) with over 40 different flavors are popular.

Beyond food, you’ll also find Hakone yosegi-zaiku, the traditional wood mosaic craft of the Odawara-Hakone region. Items like guinomi (small sake cups) and keychains, with their beautiful geometric inlay patterns, make excellent souvenirs and travel keepsakes. Charming Japanese-style accessories are also on offer.

This floor also has an information center that doubles as a tourist information desk.

2F Restaurants: Set Meals Made with Local Ingredients

The 2nd floor is a dining floor lined with restaurants that make the most of local ingredients from the seas around Odawara. There are four restaurants in total.

“Sakana no Shokudo Kaijiruya” is run directly by members of the Odawara and Manazuru fishery cooperatives. Local fish chosen by the eyes of seasoned fishermen are served as set meals or in shellfish miso soup.

“Unagi Kyoya” is a reservation-priority unagi (eel) specialty restaurant where artisans hand-grill the eel and finish it with a uniquely blended sauce.

“Ajiya Densuke” is a horse-mackerel specialty restaurant that keeps live aji in an in-store tank. Their signature aji fry set meal lets you enjoy fresh Odawara horse mackerel.

For meat lovers, “Tonkatsu Wabuta” uses Wabuta Mochibuta, a premium Japanese pork brand delivered directly from contract farms. It is known for light fat and a clean, natural sweetness.

3F Tea Houses & Sweets: A Floor for Light Meals and a Sweet Break

The 3rd floor brings together light meals and sweets, from long-established Odawara shops to Shonan-style desserts.

The stars of the light-meal lineup are the dishes from old Odawara establishments that have shaped the local food culture. Age-kamaboko (fried fish cake) freshly fried after each order, and aji no karaage (deep-fried whole horse mackerel) prepared with a unique technique. A dish that has won Gold and Top Gold awards at the Karaage Grand Prix is also served on this floor. You can also grab takeout and snack as you stroll.

Himono (dried fish) made using methods passed down from the Edo period are also sold as souvenirs.

The sweets selection covers both Japanese and Western styles.

Local wagashi like mitarashi dango (sweet soy-glazed rice dumplings) and Odawara Castle Monaka, cream puffs (shu-cream) made with Shonan ingredients, wa-crepes (Japanese-style crepes) by a long-running Asakusa shop in Tokyo, and matcha drinks and sweets.

There is also a corridor lined with rows of red chochin (paper lanterns), letting you soak in a Japanese atmosphere—another charm unique to the 3rd floor.

Restrooms and Smoking Area Are on the 2nd Floor

There are no restrooms inside the individual shops at Odawara Shin-Jokamachi. Restrooms are located on the 2nd floor, and a smoking area is set up at the same location.

A One-Minute Walk from the Station: Post-Town Convenience, Recreated

Odawara Shin-Jokamachi is about a one-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Odawara Station.

The ticket gates are on the 3rd floor. After exiting the gates, turn left and head straight to reach the East Exit. On your right, you’ll find a down escalator to the 1st floor; take it down, and Odawara Shin-Jokamachi will be right in front of you.

Odawara-juku, the post town where Tokaido travelers rested before crossing Hakone Pass, was one of the largest stations on the entire route. The complex’s location right by the station passes the same convenience as a transport hub, once enjoyed by Edo-period travelers, on to today’s visitors.

A Post Town in the Shadow of Odawara Castle, Where Specialties of Odawara and Hakone Come Together

A streetscape that recreates Odawara’s old post town. Here, you’ll find everything from Odawara classics to modern trends crafted with locally grown ingredients.

Tradition and trends, sightseeing and everyday life, sit-down meals and souvenirs. Elements that may seem to sit at opposite ends come together in one place to celebrate Odawara—another charm only a post town reborn for the modern age can offer.

A one-minute walk from the station is all it takes to soak up the mood of an Edo post town. Be sure to stop by Odawara Shin-Jokamachi.