Major city · Japan
Shimoda下田
Give Shimoda two nights if you surf or want beach time; one night is enough for the Perry history, the ropeway and a seafood dinner.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov
- avoid Aug (crowded and hot), typhoon season Sep
- Airports
- HND · NRT
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Shimoda sits at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, where the Izukyu line ends. It is the port where Commodore Perry's black ships arrived in 1853, and today it is a small beach town: white-sand bays, surf breaks, hot springs and locally caught fish. The centre is walkable; the beaches need a bus. Most travellers come from Tokyo for one or two nights, often as the last stop on an Izu loop.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Shimoda, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyA safe, small beach town.
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 (≈ US$19) Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHND Tokyo Haneda (Odoriko trains run from Tokyo station, not the airport; allow about 3 h by rail from central Tokyo).
- Getting aroundCentral Shimoda is small enough to walk: station to the port is about 15–20 min.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Sit-down mealSeafood set dinner¥2,000–3,500 (≈ US$14–25)
- Metro or bus rideBus ride to Shirahama¥300–500 (≈ US$3–4)
- Museum or sight ticketAquarium admission¥1,700 (≈ US$12)
- Budget bedGuesthouse or minshuku bed, a night, per person¥3,500 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel or pension double room, a night, per room¥16,000 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel or pension double room, a night, per room¥35,000 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) · High ¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HND Tokyo Haneda (Odoriko trains run from Tokyo station, not the airport; allow about 3 h by rail from central Tokyo) · NRT Tokyo Narita (Long transfer into Tokyo first, then the Izukyu line; a car or bus from Tokyo is not faster)
Weather and climate
Shimoda: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
11°C52°F
3°C37°F
6 rd
Feb
11°C52°F
3°C37°F
7 rd
Mar
14°C57°F
6°C43°F
11 rd
Apr
18°C64°F
11°C52°F
11 rd
May
22°C72°F
15°C59°F
11 rd
Jun
24°C75°F
18°C64°F
13 rd
Jul
28°C82°F
22°C72°F
12 rd
Aug
30°C86°F
24°C75°F
10 rd
Sep
27°C81°F
21°C70°F
12 rd
Oct
22°C72°F
16°C61°F
10 rd
Nov
18°C64°F
11°C52°F
8 rd
Dec
14°C57°F
6°C43°F
6 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Central Shimoda is small enough to walk: station to the port is about 15–20 min. Buses leave from outside the station for Shirahama, Irita-hama and Irozaki. The Shimoda Ropeway climbs Mount Nesugata for the bay view. A rental car helps if you want several beaches in one day.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Kawazu
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Izukyu line north, about 20 min
Known for early cherry blossoms in late Feb–early Mar; small and quick.
Ito, Shizuoka
goDoor to door: About 1 h 10 min
Izukyu line north, about 50 min
Onsen town with a good seafood market; easy half day.
Izu
cautionDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Izukyu line to Ito, then JR or bus onward
Spread out; a car makes this much easier.
Mishima
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
Izukyu line to Ito, then JR Ito line to Mishima
Mostly a Shinkansen junction; useful as a way out, not a day out.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around Izukyu-Shimoda station
Walkable to the port, Perry Road and the ropeway; best for one night with bags.
Shirahama
Beach district 4 km north-east; buses about twice an hour, 10 min. Best for surf and sand.Beach district 2.5 mi north-east; buses about twice an hour, 10 min. Best for surf and sand.
Irita-hama and Kisami
Quieter west-side beaches with gentler waves; bus toward Irozaki, get off at Nyuta.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–18,000 (≈ US$75–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel or pension double room1 × 2 nights × ¥16,000 | ¥32,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ¥13,000 | ¥52,000 |
| Odoriko from Tokyo, one way2 × ¥5,890 | ¥11,780 |
| Local train from Tokyo with a change at Atami or Ito, one way2 × ¥3,780 | ¥7,560 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥10,830 |
| Trip total≈ ¥29,790 per person per day, bed included | ¥119,170≈ US$850 |
2026 estimate in yen; travel to Shimoda excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Seafood set dinner | ¥2,000–3,500 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Sushi lunch | ¥1,500–2,500 (≈ US$11–17) |
| Ropeway return ticket | ¥1,200 (≈ US$9) |
| Aquarium admission | ¥1,700 (≈ US$12) |
| Onsen day admission | ¥1,000 (≈ US$7) |
| Bus ride to Shirahama | ¥300–500 (≈ US$3–4) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Buses to the beaches run roughly twice an hour: check the last return before you go.
- August is peak beach season and rooms sell out; book weeks ahead.
- September can bring typhoons; rail lines on the peninsula sometimes stop.
- Many small restaurants close one weekday and shut early: check before walking out.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Shimoda下田
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies in Shimoda; most are in Tokyo. The US consulate in Nagoya covers central Japan (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Tokyo → Izukyu-Shimoda, Odoriko: about ¥5,890 (≈ US$40), 2 h 45 min
- Tokyo → Izukyu-Shimoda, local trains: about ¥3,780 (≈ US$30), change at Atami or Ito
- Shimoda Station → Shirahama, bus: about 10 min, roughly twice an hour
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- バス停はどこですか？ — Where is the bus stop? (basutei wa doko desu ka)
- 大人一枚お願いします — One adult ticket, please (otona ichimai onegaishimasu)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
The tourist association office is across the street from the station and can help with orientation.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Shimoda. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov · avoid Aug (crowded and hot), typhoon season Sep · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for HND and NRT: last Odoriko departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: station and Perry Road, the port and ropeway, Shirahama, Irita-hama and Kisami.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (ropeway, aquarium, Ryosen-ji museum) and eat pages with last orders.
- Typhoon and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.