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Before you go
Your trip to Shimoda.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Shimoda – Shizuoka Destination Izu Peninsula
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Haneda (HND) Tóquio · 199 km
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Estação de Izukyu-Shimoda 1 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
Izukyu-Shimoda is a little over 2 hours from Tokyo on the Odoriko and Saphir Odoriko limited expresses, and the Izukyu line runs from Ito along the east coast in about 1 hour. Buses connect Shimoda with Shuzenji and the west coast.
How many days
One day covers Perry Street, Ryosen-ji and a beach. With two days, add Cape Irozaki and Mount Nesugata, or a full day of beach in summer.
When to go
Beaches tend to be crowded in July and August. Spring and autumn have milder days and fewer people. In June, hydrangeas commonly bloom in Shimoda Park. During typhoon season, from August to October, the sea can be rough.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
No. Buses leave the station for Shirahama, Cape Irozaki and the west coast, and the historic center is walkable. A car helps if you want to visit several beaches in one day.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Shimoda
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Morning
Perry Street and Ryosen-ji
Walk along Perry Street by the canal and visit Ryosen-ji temple, where the supplementary agreement to the treaty with the United States was signed.
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Afternoon
Shirahama Beach
Take the bus to Shirahama Beach, see the red torii of the shrine on the rocks and walk the sand.
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Late afternoon
Shimoda Port
Return to the port to watch the late afternoon over the bay, from where sightseeing boats depart.
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Evening
Kinmedai
Have kinmedai simmered — the red fish that is a symbol of the town.
2 days in Shimoda
Day 2
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Morning
Cape Irozaki
Take a bus to Cape Irozaki at the southern tip of the peninsula and walk to the lighthouse and the small shrine on the rock.
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Afternoon
Mount Nesugata
Back in Shimoda, ride the ropeway up Mount Nesugata to see the port and the bay from above.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Why is Shimoda important in Japanese history?
It was one of the two first ports opened to foreign ships in 1854 after Commodore Perry’s arrival, and it hosted the first United States consulate in Japan.
Which is Shimoda’s best-known beach?
Shirahama Beach, with clear sand, about 10 minutes by bus from the station, with the shrine’s torii on the rocks.
Can you get from Shimoda to Cape Irozaki by bus?
Yes. Buses leave Izukyu-Shimoda Station and take about 40 minutes to the cape at the southern tip of the peninsula.
What to eat in Shimoda?
Kinmedai — red fish simmered in sweet soy sauce — local seafood from the port and spiny lobster in season.
Beyond the guide
