Kanagawa & Shizuoka road trip: Tokyo to Odawara and Ito
This 97.2 km route through Kanagawa and Shizuoka connects Tokyo to Odawara, Nishihirabatake Park, the Sakura Slide area, Enoura Observatory, Odawara Castle, and Ito. The drive showcases winter cherry blossoms, coastal scenery, and modern art installations across Japan's Kanto and Izu regions.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Odawara
- End
- Yokohama Service Station
- Stops
- 6
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Odawara — Day 1 destination; first major stop on the roadtrip.
- Enoura Observatory — Modern art museum designed by Hiroshi Sugimoto; coastal location near lunch spot.
- Odawara Castle — Historic castle with outdoor café; visited on Day 3.
- Ito — Onsen town on Izu Peninsula; reached at dark; overnight stop.
- Tokyo (Departure Point) — Early morning flight arrival; starting point of the roadtrip.
- Yokohama Service Station — Service station selling special Yokohama strawberry cheesecake KitKat.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- The drive from Tokyo/Narita to Odawara takes about 2.5 hours. Rent a car at Narita Airport for a road trip through Kanagawa and Shizuoka.
- Timing
- Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom in February (winter sakura) and can last for about a month. They are deeper pink than typical light pink sakura trees.
- Avoid
- During cherry blossom season at Nishihirabatake Park, the sakura slide and kiddy train may be closed without notice. Check ahead before visiting.
- Food
- At Kawazu cherry blossom festival, arrive early to avoid afternoon crowds. Expect heavy traffic (took 40 minutes to drive 3km during peak time) on long weekends like Emperor's birthday.
- Food
- Parking at Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival costs ¥1,000. Bring cash for parking attendants and street vendors along the river.
- Where to stay
- Book ryokan stays in advance during peak seasons (they fill up quickly). Ryokan rooms feature private open-air onsen baths and kaiseki dinner included.
- Tip
- Japanese service stations (rest stops) have high-quality food and snacks—much better than fast food. Try specialty items like regional KitKat flavors and melon bread.
- Food
- Nishihirabatake Park has a castle cafe with views overlooking the city and park. It's located in the observatory area accessible by upstairs from the park.
- Tip
- Enoura Observatory requires advance ticket and parking lot reservations. It's designed by architect Hiroshi Sugimoto and features modern art installations.
- Food
- Wakaba is a retro ice cream parlor from the 1940s in Ito with Wes Anderson-style aesthetics. Open year-round even in cold weather.
- Transport
- Nishihirabatake Park is a 15-minute walk from the nearest train station. During cherry blossom season, cars are banned; a bus with jazz music drops visitors at the park.
- Food
- Many coffee shops in Odawara prefer drip coffee over espresso. Some now offer oat milk, though it's still rare in Japan. Ask ahead if you need specific milk options.
Video on this route
5 days in kanagawa and shizuoka (2 hrs from tokyo!) 🌸