Odawara Castle was as an impregnable castle owned by the fifth daimyo of the Hojo clan, the samurai family that governed Kanto area for about a century from the end of 15th century. From the Edo period, the castle became a reserve for Hakone and Tokaido and functioned as a cornerstone of defense in the Kanto region. The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1960, and reopened in May 2016 after the completion of a seismic retrofit and renewal of the exhibition etc. This three-layered, four-story castle tower has a tsuke-yagura (connecting tower) and watari-yagura (hall turrets) on the top. A full view of Sagami Bay can be observed from the top floor. Besides this, in October 2016, Tokiwagi Gate SAMURAI museum newly opened within the square where the castle tower rises up. Visitors can enjoy an exhibition that truly captures the artistry of the armor and the spirit of the samurai. The park on the castle premises is renowned for its flowers, and many people visit during the plum, sakura, iris, hydrangea and chrysanthemum flowering seasons.