Obata (written: 小畑, 小幡, 小畠 or 小圃) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Chiura Obata (1885–1975), Japanese-American artistGyo Obata (born 1923), American architectHideyoshi Obata (1890–1944), general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War IIIsao Obata (1904–1976), Japanese karate masterJumpei Obata, Japanese football playerKayoko Obata (born 1971), Japanese long-distance runnerKunihiko Obata (born 1980), retired amateur Japanese freestyle wrestlerObata Kagenori (1572–1663), Confucian scholar and samuraiObata Masamori (1534–1582), Japanese samurai warriorObata Toramori (1491–1561), Japanese samurai warrior of the Sengoku PeriodReiko Obata, Japanese-American koto performer and composerSaori Obata (born 1978), Japanese tennis playerTakeshi Obata (born 1969), Japanese manga artist