Explore Shimoda through two themes: the history of Japan’s opening to the world and the connection between city and landscape. At Ryosen Temple and the museums, the focus is on historical developments; in Shimoda Park, the view takes in the city center and the sea. You can plan a stay centered on cultural history or include a scenic walk. The city’s history becomes tangible at specific places, while the park draws your gaze beyond the center to the surrounding landscape.

Traces of Japan’s Opening to the World

One key historical site is Ryosen Temple. In 1854, it served as a reception venue for Commodore Perry and a place for negotiations with the shogunate. The detailed provisions of the Treaty of Shimoda were also finalized there. The reception, negotiations, and treaty agreement are thus all connected with one place. If you are exploring Shimoda’s history, the temple offers a tangible point of reference for these events of 1854.

Perry Road is also part of the historical story. It is said to have been the route Commodore Perry’s delegation took to Ryosenji Temple in the late Edo period. The temple as a reception and negotiation site thus stands alongside a traditional account of a connection between the road and the temple. The phrase “is said to have been the route” preserves the uncertainty of this historical attribution.

Museums with Different Perspectives

The MoBS Kurofune Museum is located on the grounds of Ryosen Temple. It houses more than 3,000 original visual materials relating to Japan’s opening to the world. Its focus is therefore on visual materials on this subject. The Shimoda History Museum takes a different approach, focusing on local artifacts relating to Shimoda’s history and culture. Together, the two museums offer different perspectives on history—from visual materials about Japan’s opening to the world to a broader selection of local topics.

The Shimoda History Museum displays valuable local artifacts relating to the city’s history and culture, including materials about Perry, Townsend Harris, Putyatin, and Yoshida Shoin. The museum also offers the opportunity to learn about Shimoda’s history as a port that opened to the world. Individual exhibits may change. If you are visiting specifically for one of these subjects, it is a good idea to check the current exhibition before your visit.

City and Sea Views in Shimoda Park

Shimoda Park adds a landscape perspective to the cultural history. It is located on a small hill overlooking central Shimoda. From several viewpoints in the park, visitors can see the city and the sea and take a walk through nature. This sets the park apart from the temple and museums: the focus here is on views and walking through nature, rather than historical sites or collections.

This distinction can help you choose what to focus on: Ryosen Temple ties the events of 1854 to a specific place, the MoBS Kurofune Museum focuses on visual materials about Japan’s opening to the world, and the Shimoda History Museum on local artifacts and culture. The park complements these historical perspectives with views of the city and sea. This lets you take different interests into account, from cultural topics to scenery, when planning your time in Shimoda.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Izunokuni, Nishiizu, Iwata, Shizuoka, Omaezaki, Atami, Hamamatsu, Fuji

For the broader travel overview: Shizuoka Prefecture.