Kamo

The southern Izu district of Kamo included Shimoda, where sea approaches became a concern of successive governments. The Odawara Hojo built Shimoda Castle in 1588 against the expected advance of Toyotomi naval forces. In 1590 the fleet arrived and the castle surrendered, shortly before the fall of Odawara ended Hojo rule.

Tokugawa control gave the harbour another role. A lookout post was set up at Suzaki in 1616 and moved to Oura in 1623. In 1636 it was rebuilt as a ship-inspection station, examining coastal vessels sailing in both directions. Harbour works followed, including a breakwater at Takegahama in 1645. The inspection station moved to Uraga in 1721, ending Shimoda’s first period as the seat of a maritime magistrate.