Odawara Area

When you exit Odawara Station, the street in front of the ticket gate has few neon lights, at first glance a quiet local city. But step into the alleys a few minutes from the station, and a snack bar street with small signs appears. This is an adult hideaway area not touristy, bustling with local regulars.

The nightlife district of Odawara Area spreads on both the east and west exits of Odawara Station. The east side around 'Odawara Ginza Street' concentrates snack bars and girls bars. The west side around 'Odawara Station West Exit Shopping Street' has hostess bars and izakayas scattered. Overall, it's a compact scale you can walk around.

At night in Odawara, snack bars are the most common, featuring a homey atmosphere with mama and regulars. Prices are reasonable at around 3,000–5,000 yen per hour. Girls bars have many young female staff, with cover charges around 1,000–2,000 yen. There are a few hostess bars, with set fees 5,000–8,000 yen, cheaper than Tokyo. Concept cafes and host clubs are almost nonexistent.

A unique way to enjoy Odawara is to first visit a snack bar and interact with locals. Even if you don't speak Japanese, many mamas are kind. Also, viewing the illuminated Odawara Castle before heading out adds atmosphere.

Access: about 1.5 hours from Tokyo by Odakyu Line, or about 35 minutes by Shinkansen. Most shops are within a 5-minute walk from the station. Operating hours: snack bars 8pm–midnight, girls bars 7pm–1am. Many shops closed on Sundays, so check.

For first-timers, get the local info magazine 'Odawara Night Guide' or tell a taxi driver 'snack bar street'. Few shops have English support, so learning simple Japanese phrases helps.