A Perfect May Afternoon in Odawara

Odawara is a small castle town near Hakone, about an hour from Tokyo.
On this afternoon, I walked around Odawara Castle and Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine.

There were only a few people around, and the early summer air felt really nice.

I stopped by Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine, a small shrine right next to Odawara Castle.

As soon as I passed through the torii gate, the atmosphere changed.
A narrow path surrounded by tall green trees led quietly toward the shrine.

I walked through a tunnel of ema plaques.

I stopped for a moment in front of the shrine’s prayer hall, bowed quietly, and put my hands together in prayer..

It sounded like a prayer ceremony was taking place inside,
and the deep sound of drums echoed through the shrine grounds.

There’s something about praying at a shrine that makes my mind feel calmer and more clear.

There is also a bronze statue of Ninomiya Sontoku in the shrine grounds.
Ninomiya Sontoku was an agricultural reformer and philosopher from Japan’s Edo period.
Seeing him reading inspired me to keep learning.

The shrine is surrounded by deep green trees, and the air feels incredibly fresh.

Bright pink azaleas were blooming in one corner of the grounds.

After walking around, I took a short break at the café terrace inside the shrine grounds.

I ordered an Odawara mikan soda.

It was light, refreshing, and not too sweet — perfect after a walk.

This kind of sunny May afternoon is probably the best season for sitting at an outdoor café in Japan.

Weekends can get busy with visitors,
but on a quiet weekday, it’s the perfect place to stop by, slow down, and relax for a while.