At the end of the Edo period, many historical incidents took place in the town of Shimoda, such as Perry's arrival, the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Friendship between Japan and the United States, and the great tsunami of Ansei. If you go up to the top of Mt. Nesugata, which overlooks the town of Shimoda and the Izu Islands, you will have an opportunity to reflect on history.
Mt. Nesugata is popular as a natural park with seasonal flowers and an outstanding view. You will enjoy the topography of the Suzaki Peninsula and Shimoda Bay from the observatory.
| ｜Area | Southern Izu Area (Shimoda City) |
| ｜Geological Period | 10 million ~ 2 million years ago, a block of rock formed when the magma further down the submarine volcano cooled and solidified. |
| ｜Itinerary | Shimoda Ropeway Station→ Summit Station→ Mt. Nesugata Park (Nesugata Observatory, Kurofune Observatory, Aizen Myoou’s Hall) → Kurofune Lookout Station *After finishing the tour at the summit, the summit restaurant is available. |
| ｜Distance | Approx. 1km |
| ｜Duration | 60 minutes |
| ｜Level | Walking (with stairs) |
| ｜Meeting Point | In front of the Shimoda Ropeway Station <MAP> |
| ｜Ending Point | Ropeway Summit Station |
| ｜Participation Fee | Adults: 1,500 yen Elementary school children: 750 yen *A round-trip ropeway ticket of 1,500 yen will be charged separately. |
| ｜Number of Participants | 1 to about 10 people (1.000 yen more when operating for 1 person) |
| ｜Reservation | Please make a reservation at least one week in advance. |
| ｜What to Wear/ bring | Comfortable clothing, footwear (no sandals), hats, drinks, etc. |
| ｜Notes | The tour will be operated in case of light rain, but in case of stormy weather it will be cancelled. In summer, the tour is not in operation. Please read about the cancellation policy. |
| ｜How to Apply | Please apply from the "Reservation Form" at the bottom of the page. |
Shimoda Ropeway Station
It is a 1-minute walk from Shimoda Station, and there is a free parking lot, making it easy to access by train or car.
The entrance is the meeting point.
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Shimoda Ropeway
Enjoy a gondola ride in the air. It takes 3 minutes to reach the summit of Mt. Nesugata. As you climb higher while looking at the Inouzawa River below, you will be surrounded by lush green mountains, including Shimoda Fuji. You will start the tour in a sightseeing mood.
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Mt. Nesugata Park
When you get outside, the first thing you will be impressed by is the view of the sea. Follow the promenade to the observatory while looking at the seasonal flowers.
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Distant View of Shimoda Port and Suzaki Peninsula
The Suzaki Peninsula that spreads out in front of you is a flat table-shaped peninsula. Occasionally, you can see a sightseeing boat in the shape of a black ship.
How was Shimoda Bay formed? Your guide will explain about it.
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Mountaintop Mt. Nesugata Park
At the top of the mountain, there are two observatories, a free rest room, and Aizen Myoou Hall. You can get a Goshuin, a red ink stamp, at the ticket office.
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Ruins of the Kurofune Lookout Post
In the Edo period, there was a guard post in Shimoda to investigate the ships. They also kept a lookout form this hill for foreign ships approaching Japan.
