Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture

"Shimoda" in Shizuoka Prefecture

Shimoda is located near the tip of the east coast of the Izu Peninsula. Shimoda is a historic place where for Japan to pave the modern Japan.

In 1639, at the beginning of the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) , Japan closed its borders to the outside world. The Edo Bakufu, the central government in Japan, continued its isolationist policy for over 200 years, but in 1853, Matthew C. Perry(1794-1858), a United States Navy Commodore, visited Japan with four steamships and urged the country to open up. Perry returned the following year and signed the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan. Under the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan, Shimoda was opened for foreign countries and the Treaty of Shimoda was concluded between the United States and Japan in 1857.

In the downtown Shimoda, there are many historical sites, related to the history at the end of the Edo Age. If you walk to the west from Shimoda Station, you will find Fukusenji Temple.

At the temple, the conference was held towards the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between Japan and Russia, in November 1854. In the following year, the treaty was concluded.

After visiting Fukusenji Temple, I walked south to the center of Shimoda City. My next stop was Kaizenji Temple. Kaizenji Temple was founded in 1350 and move to the current place in 1590, at the site of the residence of TODA Tadatsugi (1531 - 1597) , who was the castle lord of Shimoda Castle. At the end of the Edo Age, the thirteenth Shogun, TOKUGAWA Iesada (1824 - 1858) stayed at the temple, when he was on the way to Kyoto from Edo (present-day, Tokyo).

To the south of Kaizsenji Temple, Hofukuji Temple is located. When Shimoda was opened to foreign trade following the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan in 1854, the Shimoda magistrate, TSUZUKI Mineshige(1803 - 1858) , established a temporary magistrate's office at Hofukuji Temple.

There is also an anecdote about Hofukuji Temple related to SAKAMOTO Ryoma(1838 - 1867), who is very known as a historical figures and was a key figure in the overthrow of the Edo Shogunate at the end of the Edo Age. SAKAMOTO Ryoma was a samurai of the Tosa Feudal Domain (present-day, Kochi Prefecture), but he escaped from the Feudal Domain in January 1862. After that, he entered the Kobe Naval Training School. In the Edo Age, escaping from a Feudal Domain was a crime.

In January 1863, YAMANOUCHI Yodo(1827 - 1872), who was the domain lord of Tosa Feudal Domain (present-day, Kochi Prefecture), stayed at Hofukuji Temple. KATSU Kaishu(1823 - 1899), who lobbied the shogunate to establish the Kobe Naval Training School, happened to visit Hofukuji Temple when YAMANOUCHI Yodo stayed. Using the opportunity, KATSU Kaishu persuaded YAMANOUCHI Yodo to pardon SAKAMOTO Ryoma for the crime of defecting from the Feudal Domain.

If you will walk further to the south from Hofukuji Temple, you will see Taiheiji Temple. The temple was rebuilt by TODA Tadatsugu(1531 - 1597) in 1590. TODA Tadatsugu was the land lord of Shimoda. Taiheiji Temple was recently renewed and became very modern temple.

TODA Tadatsugu was originally from Tahara on the Atsumi Peninsula, in Aichi Prefecture. His son TODA Takatsugu(1565 - 1615) distinguished himself in the Battle of Sekigahara and became the feudal lord of Tahara, where was his father's hometown. When I visited the temple, the front gate was closed. It is said the grave of TODA Takatsugu is located in the temple.

Further to the south from Taiheiji Temple, you will find the site where YOSHIDA Shoin(1830 - 1859) was detained.

YOSHIDA Shoin was a samurai of the Choshu Feudal Domain (present-day, Yamaguchi Prefecture). He escaped from the Feudal Domain in January 1852. In 1853 when Commodore Perry, commander of the United States Navy, arrived in Japan, YOSHIDA Shoin was impressed by the advanced of Western civilization. In 1854, when Commodore Perry returned to Japan, he attempted to board the American fleet from Shimoda. YOSHIDA Shoin's attempt was rejected and then was detained.

YOSHIDA Shoin was sent back to Choshu Feudal Domain. After spending about two years in prison, he opened a small private school "Shokason-Jyuku" on the outskirts of Hagi in 1857. Many of the students at "Shokason-Jyuku" played important roles in the movement to overthrow the "Edo Bakufu" shogunate in the Edo Age, and in the subsequent Meiji government.

At the south end of downtown Shimoda, Ryosenji Temple is located. Ryosenji Temple was founded by IMAMURA Masanaga(1597-1653), who was the second Magistrate of Shimoda, in 1635.

After the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan was signed in 1854, Ryosenji Temple was designated as the reception place for Commodore Perry and his party.

When the Treaty of Shimoda was signed, Americans were granted the right to walk around the downtown Shimoda freely. Commodore Perry's army soldiers would have also walked this road.

If you head south on Perry Road, you will come to Chorakuji Temple.

The Japan-Russia Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed at the temple in 1854. The following year, the instruments of ratification of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan were exchanged.

Returning to Perry Road and walking along Perry Road, you will arrive at the foot of the ruins of Shimoda Castle. Ruins of Shimoda Castle is located on a small hill. From the halfway up the hill, you can see a panoramic view of the downtown Shimoda.

The eastern end of Perry Road is again near Shimoda Port.