Shimoda City might not be known so well internationally, but it is famous in Japan for its magnitude due to its location, distinctive terrain, and its historical background. From the 17th century, it had developed as a relay port between Osaka and Edo, which is now Tokyo. The port was highly indented and the ships were able to avoid strong winds even in storms and contrarily ships were also able to wait for their favorable wind there. The city was so extravagant that such a song was written; "Don't stay long in Shimoda, because your wallet will be empty". In the late Edo period, Shimoda along with Hakodate was opened to overseas trade as the first international port of Japan. Therefore, there are several historical sites remaining in and around Shimoda City.
The coastline was almost intact and was what it had been in those days. I recognized that it must have been an ideal port for rest and shelter. The first U.S. consulate in Japan was placed in Shimoda City. Various episodes of the first USA consul general, Townsend Harris, have been handed down up till the present. Additionally, Shimoda City was the place where lots of young Japanese people of promise gathered, who were worrying about the future of Japan in the midst of harsh interference from overseas. I took a short walk along the coastline, viewing the same scenery which they would have seen.
(Aug. 28th)
伊豆旅行記： 下田市にて感慨に浸る
下田市はおそらく海外には名が知られていないだろうと思うが、日本では街の規模の割に知られた街である。それはこの街の位置、独特の地形、そしてその歴史にある。江戸時代には江戸と大坂（今の東京と大阪）の間の海運の中継地として風待ち港として栄え、下田には長居をするな、財布が空になると唄に詠われたほど栄えた。江戸末期には日本で最初に開港された。海外からの船が多く到着するようになり、江戸末期から明治初期にかけての歴史遺産が多数残されている。実は数日滞在して見て回りたかったのだが、ほんの数時間の滞在でこの街を出た。
ペリーがやって来た時代と海岸線には変化がなく、嵐を避けるには絶好の港だと実感した。またアメリカの領事館が初めて設置された場所でもあり、着任したタウンゼント・ハリス領事にまつわるエピソードも残っている。またこの地は押し寄せる海外からの軍事力に怯え、日本を何とかせねばならないと考えた若者たちが集った街でもある。彼らが見たであろう海岸線を眺めながらしばらく散歩した。
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