Shimoda: Perry history and park views

Shimoda invites you to discover history and landscape side by side: in 1854, Ryosenji Temple became the site for a reception and negotiations, while Shimoda Park offers views across the town centre to the sea. Museums covering topics from the opening of Japan to local history complete the picture. This lets you plan a stay combining historical discoveries with walks in nature.

Shimoda’s history at specific sites

In 1854, Ryosenji Temple served as a reception venue for Commodore Perry and as a place for negotiations with the shogunate. The detailed provisions of the Treaty of Shimoda were finalised there. The temple thus connects Perry’s reception with the conclusion of specific treaty provisions—a defining landmark in Shimoda’s history.

Perry Road is also part of this historical story: it is said to have been the route Commodore Perry’s delegation took to Ryosenji Temple in the late Edo period. This attribution adds the tradition of a route to the historical sites.

Museums on the opening of Japan and local history

The MoBS Kurofune Museum, located on the grounds of Ryosenji Temple, houses more than 3,000 original visual materials relating to the opening of Japan. This extensive collection gives the subject a distinct focus within Shimoda’s cultural offerings. For travellers interested in Japan’s opening to the world, the collection provides a concrete point of connection.

The Shimoda History Museum displays valuable local artefacts related to Shimoda’s history and culture, including materials about Perry, Townsend Harris, Putyatin, and Yoshida Shoin. This broadens the focus beyond Perry to include several other historical figures. At the museum, you can learn about Shimoda’s history as a port that opened up to the world.

Views and walks in Shimoda Park

Shimoda Park is situated on a small hill overlooking Shimoda’s town centre. From several viewpoints in the park, visitors can see the town and the sea; they can also walk through nature. This offers a different emphasis from the temple and museum exhibits: here, the focus is on the landscape, views, and time outdoors. If you would like to combine culture and nature during your stay, Shimoda offers both as distinct experiences.

When planning your day, you can think of the historical sites and the park as different interests: the temples and museums lead into Shimoda’s history, while the park offers walks and views. This makes it easier to decide whether you want your trip to focus mainly on cultural history or to leave time for nature and views across the town and sea as well.

Choose a holiday rental to suit your travel plans

When looking for a holiday rental in Shimoda, you can first consider which aspects of the town matter most for your trip. The cultural sites mentioned are associated with Shimoda’s town centre; from its small hill, the park offers views across the centre. If you are travelling with varied interests, you can make culture and nature two separate priorities rather than limiting yourself to just one kind of discovery.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Shimada, Susono, Kawazu, Nishiizu, Inatori Higashiizu, Yaizu, Fuji, Higashiizu.

For the overview of the wider region: Shizuoka Prefecture.