The plinth-mounted bust of Matthew C Perry commemorates the landing of the US commodore and his men at this spot in 1854.
This museum showcases the work of native son Chōhachi Irie (1815–99) including one of his masterpieces, Shungyo-no-zu (Dawn in Spring; 1875). His frescos and plaster works are unimaginably detailed – magnifying glasses are available so you can get a better look.
A 15-minute walk south of Shimoda Station is Ryōsen-ji (了仙寺), site of the treaty that opened Shimoda, signed by Commodore Perry and representatives of the Tokugawa shogunate. The temple's Black Ship Art Gallery displays artefacts relating to Perry, the Black Ships, and Japan as seen through foreign eyes and vice versa.Behind and up the steps from Ryōsen-ji is Chōraku-ji (長楽寺), where a Russo-Japanese treaty was signed in 1854; look for the cemetery and namako-kabe (black-and-white lattice-patterned) walls.
