Japan has the resources to entertain even the most discerning traveller provided said traveller has the resources to partake in the many delights she has to offer. In addition to cash, our most precious resource was our appetites, which unlike cash could not be restored by a quick trip to an ATM.
After gorging ourselves on the amazing food in Tokyo, we took a fast train down to Shimoda. Shimoda was the inspection port for all goods coming to Edo (today's Tokyo) during the Edo period (1603 -1868), when Japan was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This was also the port that in July 1853 Commodore Perry sailed his black ships into when he came to advise Japan that they should open their markets to foreign trade or he would come back and kill them.
 |
| Perry Road |
Apparently the Japanese were not particularly offended because in 1854 a treaty was signed and Shimoda was opened to foreign ships and later a street in Shimoda was named Perry Road, a musuem was created in his honor, a Black Ship Festival is celebrated every year and the manhole covers in Shimoda are decorated with a bas relief of Perry's black ships.
Today Shimoda is a seaside getaway for Tokyo folks and a thriving fishing port whose claim to fame is a very delicious deep sea red snapper called Kinmidai or Alfonsin.
Many people in Shimoda do not speak English, but we were still able to enjoy the wonderful foods of the town. In one very small restaurant we had to point at someone else's lunch and in others we went outside with the waitress and placed our orders by pointing at the selections of plastic food in the display case outside. No mater the method of ordering, all the food was quite wonderful.
Very fresh Kinmidai Sashimi is available in the super market in Shimoda
The stout fishing boat fleet of Shimoda is set up for very deep water bottom fishing.
No comments:
Post a Comment