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Black Ship Festival (Kurofune Matsuri), Shimoda

Events · Shimoda · Originally covered on this site in 2017 (in Japanese); rewritten in English and updated 2026-10-24.

Each May, Shimoda commemorates the 1854 arrival of Commodore Perry's fleet with parades, ceremonies and fireworks over the harbour.

When
a weekend in mid-May (16–18 May in 2025)

In 1854, Commodore Matthew Perry's "Black Ships" anchored off Shimoda after the Convention of Kanagawa opened the port to American ships. Every May the town remembers it with the Kurofune Matsuri, one of Izu's biggest festivals.

Programme

When

The festival takes place over a weekend in mid-May; in 2025 it ran from 16 to 18 May. Dates change each year, so check Shimoda's tourism site.

Walk the old town on the same day: Perry Road runs from the harbour to Ryosenji.

Sources

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