Gyokusenji Temple in Kakisaki, Shimoda City, is a nationally designated historic site that preserves the story of Japan’s opening in the late Edo period.
In 1856, when Townsend Harris arrived in Shimoda as the first U.S. Consul, Gyokusenji became Japan’s first American consulate.
On its grounds lies a cemetery for American and Russian Black Ships crew members, a tangible reminder of international contact during that era.
The temple offers an accessible way to experience Shimoda’s history as a stage for Japan’s opening, making it a recommended spot for a historical walk.