These photos were taken in a photogenic old section of Shimoda called Perry Road.

Shimoda is a pretty little seaside town of significant historical value to the Japanese. Back in 1854 it was one of 2 ports (the other being Hakodate) that were officially opened up to international trade relations beyond some small dealings with the Chinese and the Dutch. The American navy, led by a Commodore Perry, sailed in to Tokyo Harbour with his "smoking dragon" (which is what some Japanese believed the boats to be) steamships and cannons and demanded that Japan open up it's previously strictly closed ports. They graciously acquiesced in the light of the American show of strength and so began the cultural invasion of the west into Japan. All through Shimoda there are little tributes to this early relationship and it's interesting (surprising, I guess) that the Japanese have turned such a dark moment from their history into a sort of gracious acceptance worthy of symbolic, respectful tributes.

Anyway, to get there costs about ¥4000-ish yen and takes about 4 hours, depending on trains and connections. Well worth it for the clean air, friendly locals and pretty sights. It's also close to some great, clean white sand beaches like Kisami Ohama, just a 15 minute bus ride away from Shimoda station. Expect to pay around ¥4000 yen a night for basic minshiku accomodation.