ODAWARA ODEN HONTEN （小田原おでん本店）

ODEN (おでん) is a Japanese supposedly winter dish consisting of several ingredients such as boiled eggs, DAIKON, radish, KONNYAKU, and processed fish cakes stewed in a light, soy-flavored DASHI broth. KARASHI (Japanese mustard) is often used as a condiment.

Ingredients vary according to region and between each household. So what defines an ODAWARA ODEN? My understanding is that there are 2 criteria that needs to be met. One must be able to enjoy 1) SURIMI products from one of the 13 officially registered KAMABOKO companies and 2) UME-MISO as a codiment.

* Surimi is a fish-based food product intended to mimic the texture and color of the meat of lobster, crab and other shellfish.

This is the entrance to ODAWARA ODEN. At first glance, the entrance is too gorgeous but once you go in, a family atmosphere will be waiting for you. So no need to stop but just walk in!

Detail
Phone 0465-20-0320 (Note: high chance English is not acceptable)
Address 3-11-30 Hamacho, Odawara-City 


大きな地図で見る

Price
Rather cheap. One dish is from 300-600 yen.

Example of DISH


Vegetable ODEN Dish
You can enjoy various fresh vegetables in DASHI broth.

Cabbage Cheese ODEN
This is one special cuisine - one you cannot find in an authentic ODEN place.

Single Item Order
One can order single item at a time. DAIKON, ATSUAGE, GANMO is a typical ingredient.

AJI-ZUSHI
ODEN place usually does not serve SUSHI but this place is special. One of the master's family runs a SUSHI place and he makes this special AJI-ZUSHI. One must item you should try out!

CHASHITSU de Lunch（茶室 de ランチ）
The only room that you can reserve is the CHASHITSU (tea-ceremony room). There is a small Japanese garden in between the main dining and CHASHITSU. Lunch at CHASHITSU is 2,800 YEN.

SUSHI TOKI-YOSHI （鮨 時よし）

Looking for good SUSHI?
If you are looking for fatty tuna, this is NOT the place to go. If you are a real SUSHI lover and enjoy fresh fish caught in the seas around SAGAMI bay (JIMONO or KINKAI-MONO), this IS the place to go. The name of the SUSHI place is called SUSHI TOKI-YOSHI.

An elderly gentleman is the host and a lady is helping him out.
There is NO sign in front of the SUSHI bar. When the place is open, there is a NOREN in front of the entrance.

Once you enter, there is a counter for eight people towards the left. Two tables for four and a ZASHIKI (tatami-mat space) towards the right. There is no menu so the best place to sit is at the counter where you can point the fish you want to eat.

Detail
Phone 0465-35-3565 (Note: high chance English is not acceptable)
Address 1-3-16 Shiroyama, Odawara-City

大きな地図で見る

Price
Slightly expensive but considering that you can enjoy a full course of JIMONO, it is rather reasonable. Average spend is 6,000-8,000 Yen for lunch and 8,000-10,000 Yen for dinner.

Example of SUSHI

Japanese horse mackerel (AJI, 鰺)
Versus fatty tuna, we call this category HIKARI-MONO. The literal translation is shiny fish. Less fatty but very delicious!

Vinegared mackerel (SHIME-SABA, シメ鯖)
Have never eaten such "sweet" SHIME-SABA before. Very delicious indeed.

Fulvia mutica(TORI-GAI, トリガイ)
Most SUSHI place uses frozen TORI-GAI. However, this gentleman is very committed & dedicated and will not have TORI-GAI on the menu unless he has access to the shell itself. We Japanese people very much like this kind of personality which we call KODAWARI. It is very easy to spot because in the counter, you can find the shell!

Forest Adventure Odawara

To enjoy good dinner and hot springs, you might want to consider working out during the day. A good place to do so just opened today in Odawara. It is called the Forest Adventure.

Forest Adventure provides 8 adventure courses which is integrated into the natural cedar forest. (For those suffering from kafunsho, a kind of hay fever caused by the pollen from cedar trees, beware!) After completing the courses, you will definitely enjoy a sense of accomplishment!


Access
The best way to access this place is by car. It is less than 5 minutes from the closest highway exit, Ogikubo IC of Odwara Atsugi Road. Otherwise, take the JR line / Odakyu line / Daiyuzan line to Odawara Station. From here, you will have 2 options: 1) take a taxi from the west exit or 2) take a bus to Ikoino-Mori from #1 bus terminal from the east exit.

Clothing
You will want to have comfortable shoes and clothes. Depending on the weather, you might get slightly dirty so be prepared!

How to get started
1) Arrive at Forest Adventure Odawara (making a reservation in advance might be a good idea!)
2) Briefing by instructor, papers signed and payment made (Adult = 3,500 yen)
3) Equipped by instructor

4) Security briefing
5) And you are on your own to enjoy the 8 courses

Details
For details, please see the 2010 Brochure.

Recommendation
This is a place of learning for the children. Therefore, trying out the courses with your family is a good way of enjoying this park. Note, the children has to be over 110cm in height. You are given the basic rule & guidance and the rest must be thought through by the child. Parents are not to give out the answer but caution the child when he/she breaks the Rule #1: to be connected by one way or another at any time with the carabiner once you are off the ground.

It might be difficult to see but a first grade girl is up on the trees. At the initial security briefing, she was so scared and had cried for 1 hour. But she had overcome her fear and was enjoying the activities.....until she arrive on the 5th activity.

Personally, I thought this was a team-building exercise that I had enjoyed when I was in the UK. It turned out not to be but very enjoyable even as adults.