Tokaido Walk (8)Ninomiya-Odawara (off Tokyo): April 29, 2011

I walked the last part of Kanagawa Prefecture’s coast area today. It was from Ninomiya to Odawara.

Most parts of old Tokaido have turned into National Rout 1 around here. The road runs through a narrow space between the sea and the mountains. Houses and shops continue (without any spaces) along the street throughout the area.

It is only 10-20 meters from the road to the sea in some parts. It seemed that they were not free from tsunami and other natural disasters. I found in many places the board signs which showed the height of the points from the sea level.

The sunshine was mild and the air was fresh. It was wonderful to see the sea and the mountains at a same time. Oranges and other fruits were planted in the mountains.



I visited a shrine in the middle of a mountain. There spread the Sagami Bay was just below. It was so beautiful.



There remained pine trees in some parts of the street.

I walked westwards and moved into Odawara, the 9th shukuba station.

The city has been the center of the region (current west Kanagawa Prefecture) for hundreds years. Odawara Castle lies in the center of the city. The castle was developed by the Hojo Family, one of the famous 16th century daimyo (regional rulers).
The castle (reconstructed in the postwar period) attracts many tourists.
The city flourished as one of Tokaido’s terminals in the Edo period. It also developed handcrafts and food industries.

There are handcraft centers as well as tourist information centers in the city. One of them is along old Tokaido.