Ryosenji Temple and Perry Road

Ryosenji Temple in Shimoda holds a central place in Japan's modern history as the site where the 1854 Treaty of Shimoda was negotiated between Commodore Matthew Perry's delegation and Japanese officials, formally opening the port to American ships. The temple's small treasure museum displays original documents, gifts exchanged during the negotiations, and artifacts related to the opening of Japan, alongside more traditional Buddhist statuary. From the temple, Perry Road follows a willow-lined canal lined with restored Meiji-era wooden buildings now housing cafes, craft shops, and galleries, tracing the route Perry's men walked between the harbor and the negotiation site. Visitors typically spend 30 to 45 minutes at the temple and museum, then another 30 to 45 minutes strolling the roughly 400-meter length of Perry Road, for a combined visit of about 1 to 1.5 hours. The canal and willows along Perry Road photograph best in the softer light of late afternoon, and weekday mornings keep both the temple grounds and the street largely free of the tour groups that pass through midday.