It was one of the most famous among the castles built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi,[1] and was the site of his first meeting with Date Masamune.

[3] During the siege of Odawara in 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi built the castle to show his power and put pressure on the Late Hōjō clan.

Although intended from the start as a temporary fortification, it was built with massive stone walls and a tenshu central keep.

It was constructed in secret in a wooded area over an 80 day period, so that when the trees were cut one night, the castle suddenly appeared.

To the Hōjō defenders, it looked like the castle was built in just one night, which resulted in demoralization and a loss in the will to continue resistance against the Toyotomi army.