Useful Information
Yokohama (横浜) is
Japan's second largest city with a population of over three
million. Yokohama is located less than half an hour south of
Tokyo by train and is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture.
Towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868), during which
Japan maintained a policy of self-isolation, Yokohama's port
was one of the first to open to foreign trade in 1859.
Consequently, Yokohama quickly grew from a small fishing
village into one of Japan's major cities. Until today,
Yokohama remains popular among expats, has one of the
world's largest Chinatowns and preserves some former Western
residences in the Yamate district.
■ Top Attractions in Yokohama
Sankeien
Garden
* Traditional Japanese landscape garden
Sankeien (三溪園) is a spacious Japanese-style garden in
southern Yokohama which exhibits a number of historic
buildings from across Japan. There is a pond, small rivers,
flowers and wonderful scrolling trails that make you think
you are in Kyoto.
Minato Mirai 21
* Yokohama’s new city center
Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい 21) is a seaside urban area in
central Yokohama whose name means "harbor of the future". It
has many large high-rises, including the Landmark Tower,
which was Japan's tallest building from 1993 until 2014. The
area was a large shipyard until the 1980s, when development
began to turn it into a new city center.
Zoorasia
* Large, well kept zoo in the city outskirts
Zoorasia (ズーラシア) is one of Japan's newest, largest and best
kept zoos. The zoo was established in 1999, and since then
has been operating under the themes of "Symbiosis of Life"
and "Harmony with Nature". The animals are generally kept in
spacious areas that mimic their natural habitat to a degree
that is not usually seen in Japanese zoos.
Yokohama Chinatown
* The largest of Japan’s three chinatowns
Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街, Yokohama Chūkagai) is Japan's
largest Chinatown, located in central Yokohama. A large
number of Chinese stores and restaurants can be found in the
narrow and colorful streets of Chinatown. Various events and
festivals such as Chinese New Year around the beginning of
February are also held at Chinatown.
Cup Noodles Museum
* Museum about instant cup noodles
The Cup Noodles Museum (also known as the 安藤百福発明記念館, Andō
Momofuku Hatsumei Kinenkan) is a fun and interactive museum
in Yokohama's Minato Mirai District that shows the history
of instant ramen noodles using a combination of whimsical
exhibits and hands on workshops. It was opened by the Nissin
Food company, whose founder invented instant ramen noodles
in 1958 as a fast and convenient food. It is the second cup
noodles museum to open in Japan; the first is the Cupnoodles
Museum in Ikeda, north of Osaka.
■ Food and Restaurants
Experience
Japan's Cultural Awakening with Gyu-nabe
Ohtanawanoren, a restaurant in the city, continues to serve
gyu-nabe, a hot pot, and Japanese take on beef stew, made
with beef cubed like dice, miso and green onions all stewed
over an earthen charcoal brazier in a specially made shallow
pot. Other long-storied restaurants famous for their
gyu-nabe include Janomeya and Arai-ya, first established in
the late 1800s.
Yokohama is where Napolitan and Seafood Doria were invented
Napolitan is a popular pasta dish created in Yokohama. The
dish is said to have been first invented by the Shigetada
Irie, Head Chef of Hotel New Grand, a classic hotel and
symbol of the city. After the end of World War II, the chef
saw Occupation Forces pour ketchup over boiled pasta, so he
came up with an idea to make the dish more appetizing by
adding garlic and onions that go perfectively with tomato
sauce. The chef named this dish Spaghetti Napolitan.
Bashamichi Ice - A Taste of Meiji Era
Ice cream in Japan is said to have started as "Aisukurin"
made by Fusazo Machida at Bashamichi in Yokohama back in
1869. Today's recipe for Bashamichi Ice, which is adjusted a
bit for modern pallets, features a simple taste that is
somehow nostalgic at the same time.
(Yokohama Bashamichi Ice).
Taste
the Original Yokohama Cocktail
Louis Eppinger, Manager of the Grand Hotel, invented Japan's
first original cocktail called the Bamboo in 1889.
See Bars and Nightlife for list of bars.
■ Transportation
Explanation of transportation
toward Yokohama. The train and the bus route map, etc. are
displayed.
Getting Around Yokohama
Yokohama Train Map
Find the train route map of Yokohama City here.
Tour Bus and Taxi
Information on sightseeing buses and taxis touring Yokohama
city.
Tour Boat and Sightseeing Ship
Information on sightseeing boat touring Yokohama City.
Eco-friendly Transportation
Learn about the unique means of transportation available in
Yokohama: rental bicycles, Velotaxis, “Jinrikisha”, etc.