Shimoda Park (下田公園, Shimoda Kōen) is an attractive, wooded park on a hill next to Shimoda's city center. Fortifications for the defense of the city once stood on the hill, but now only ruins remain. Shimoda Park is the site of the Monument to the Opening of US-Japan Diplomatic Relations built in 1957 and is home to more than one thousand hydrangeas (ajisai), which bloom throughout June. From the far side of the park you can get a preview of the wildly rugged coastline of the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula.

There are several entrances into Shimoda Park, including one at the eastern end of Perry Road and one near the Shimoda Aquarium. The main trail through Shimoda Park takes about 30-45 minutes to walk and passes through the hydrangeas and by the historic monuments. In addition, there are a few side trails that lead to lookout points with views out towards the city and along the coast.

Getting there and around

The park can be reached in a 20 minute walk from Izukyu-Shimoda Station. Alternatively, take a bus from the station bound for the Shimoda Aquarium (海中水族館, Kaichū Suizokukan) and get off at Ryosenji Temple (了仙寺, 200 yen one way, hourly), from where it is a 5-10 minute walk to the park entrance. Or stay on the bus all the way to the aquarium (about 7 minutes, 200 yen) from where it is just a few steps to the closest park entrance.

How to get to and around Shimoda
How to get to and around the Izu Peninsula

Hours and Fees

Hours

Closed

Admission

Hotels around Izu Peninsula

Top rated on the Izu Peninsula
Budget:
    • SOKI ATAMI
      Luxury
      Situated in Atami in the Shizuoka region with Atami Sun Beach nearby, SOKI ATAMI features accommodation with free private parking, as well as access to a sauna. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and a lift, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The ryokan offers a hot spring bath and full-day security. Fitted with a balcony, the units offer air conditioning and feature a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with bidet and slippers. A fridge and kettle are also available. At the ryokan, each unit is fitted with bed linen and towels. The ryokan offers a buffet or Asian breakfast. There is a coffee shop on-site. Guests can relax in the garden at the property. Hakone-Yumoto Station is 27 km from SOKI ATAMI, while Shuzen-ji Temple is 33 km from the property.
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    • Pearl Star Hotel ATAMI
      Luxury
      Facing the beachfront, Pearl Star Hotel ATAMI offers 5-star accommodation in Atami and features a fitness centre, terrace and restaurant. The property is set 600 metres from Atami Sun Beach, 26 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station and 30 km from Shuzen-ji Temple. The hotel has a sauna, room service and free WiFi throughout the property. Some rooms come with a kitchen with a fridge, a microwave and a minibar. A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the hotel. Pearl Star Hotel ATAMI offers a hot spring bath. There is an on-site bar and guests can also make use of the business area. Speaking English, Japanese and Chinese, staff at the reception can help you plan your stay. Mount Daruma is 44 km from the accommodation, while Hakone Checkpoint is 24 km away.
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    • Watei Kazekomichi
      Luxury
      Featuring mountain views, Watei Kazekomichi provides accommodation with balcony, around 2.1 km from Atami Sun Beach. There is an on-site restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available. Guests can use the hot spring bath and the open-air bath, or enjoy sea views. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units with a wardrobe, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a terrace and a private bathroom with a hot tub. The ryokan offers certain units with garden views, and each unit is equipped with a kettle. At the ryokan, all units include bed linen and towels. Guests can also relax in the garden or in the shared lounge area. Hakone-Yumoto Station is 28 km from the ryokan, while Shuzen-ji Temple is 33 km away.
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    • Atami Sekaie
      Luxury
      Atami Sekaie is set in Atami, 2.6 km from Atami Sun Beach, 25 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, as well as 36 km from Shuzen-ji Temple. There is an on-site restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk. At the ryokan, each unit comes with a private bathroom. Hakone Checkpoint is 22 km from the ryokan, while Hakone Shrine is 25 km away.
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    • Rakuten STAY Atami
      Mid-range
      Located in Atami and with Atami Sun Beach reachable within 700 metres, Rakuten STAY Atami provides a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi and a terrace. The property is around 26 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, 29 km from Shuzen-ji Temple and 43 km from Mount Daruma. Lake Ashi is 29 km away and Hakone Open-Air Museum is 35 km from the hotel. Each room is fitted with a coffee machine, while selected rooms come with a balcony and others also offer sea views. Guests at the hotel can enjoy an Asian breakfast. Rakuten STAY Atami offers a hot spring bath. Hakone Checkpoint is 25 km from the accommodation, while Hakone Shrine is 28 km away.
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    • Kiten - slow & work stay -
      Mid-range
      Located in Atami, 200 metres from Atami Sun Beach and 26 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, Kiten - slow & work stay - provides accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning and a terrace. It is situated 34 km from Shuzen-ji Temple and features a shared kitchen. Hakone Shrine is 27 km from the guest house and Lake Ashi is 28 km away. A fridge and kettle are also provided. At the guest house, every unit includes a desk and a private bathroom. Mount Daruma is 48 km from the guest house, while Hakone Checkpoint is 24 km away.
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    • Guest House MARUYA
      Budget-friendly
      Located in the central area of Atami and a 15-minute walk from JR Atami Station, Guest House MARUYA offers capsule rooms fitted with Japanese futon-bedding. Guests can take a few minutes' walk to soak in the nearby hot springs or a 10-minute drive to visit the Atami Castle. JR Shinyokohama Station can be reached with a 50-minute ride on the shinkansen (bullet train). Haneda Airport is a 2-hour drive away from the property. There is a shared kitchen and lounge, where guests can socialise and relax. Washing machines and towel rentals are available at a surcharge. Each room at MARUYA Guest House comes with a power outlet and clothes hangers. Bathroom facilities are shared with other guests. Meals are not provided at the property; however, there are several dining options nearby.
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    • Taiseikan
      Mid-range
      Offering an open-air bath and sea view, Taiseikan is set in Atami, 2.3 km from Nagahama Beach and 24 km from Shuzen-ji Temple. Ideally located in the Ajiro Onsen district, this ryokan offers a shared lounge, as well as a hot spring bath and a public bath. Free WiFi is available and private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. The units in the ryokan are fitted with a kettle. There is a private bathroom with bidet in some units, along with slippers, a hair dryer and free toiletries. All units will provide guests with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Hakone-Yumoto Station is 33 km from the ryokan, while Mount Daruma is 38 km from the property.
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    • ATAMI SPRING TERRACE HOTEL
      Mid-range
      Set in Atami, 1.5 km from Atami Sun Beach, ATAMI SPRING TERRACE HOTEL offers accommodation with a garden, private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. The property is located 27 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, 34 km from Shuzen-ji Temple and 48 km from Mount Daruma. Offering free WiFi throughout the property, the non-smoking hotel has a hot tub. Some rooms also feature a kitchenette with a fridge, a microwave and a stovetop. At the hotel the rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. ATAMI SPRING TERRACE HOTEL has a spa and wellness centre, including a hot spring bath. You can play table tennis at this 3-star hotel. Hakone Checkpoint is 24 km from the accommodation, while Hakone Shrine is 27 km from the property.
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    • Hotel Kan-ichi
      Luxury
      Boasting natural hot spring baths and a massage salon, Hotel Kan-ichi provides luxurious Japanese-style accommodation with free Wi-Fi. Popular Sun Beach is a 3-minute walk away. Rooms are fitted with a flat-screen TV, a fridge and a telephone. The en suite bathroom comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Some rooms feature tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. Kan-ichi Hotel’s the public bath is available from 15:00-9:30, and the private bath is available from 15:00-9:30 (no reservation required). The on-site massage salon offers relaxing massages and rejuvenating beauty treatments. The karaoke lounge bar can also be used. Traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast are prepared using seasonal ingredients, and they are served in the guest room. Hotel Kan-ichi is located a 13-minute walk from JR Atami Shinkansen (bullet train) Station. Atami Castle is a 3-minute drive away, and Kinomiya Shrine is a 5-minute drive from the property.
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