Yokohama

Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan with a population of 3.7 million people. It is in the center of Japan, along the coastline of Japan’s Pacific Ocean. Japanese people consider Yokohama as a city of dreams because it is famous as a tourist mecca and has all urban function including business and culture. Yokohama is written in Japanese Kanji as 横浜, which means horizontal beach when translated directly.

Yokohama was originally just a small fishing town when in 1854 Matthew C. Perry arrived with his fleet of U.S. naval warships at the harbor of the neighboring town of Kanagawa. After five years Kanagawa was assigned as Japan's first port under the Harris Treaty where nonnatives could live and trade. However, Kanagawa was an essential post station on the Tōkaidō, Japan's main east-west road at the time, and the Japanese government did not want nonnatives to have access to it. Rather, it built up the port at Yokohama, which was disconnected from the highway and had a deepwater harbor better than that at Kanagawa. The area thrived with the development of Japan's foreign trade and shipping after the Meiji Restoration, and in 1889 the city of Yokohama was established through the amalgamation of Kanagawa and Yokohama. Essential municipal services such as water, power, and gas were introduced starting in the late 1880s. The city developed quickly, getting to be one of the country’s major ports and trading centers.

Yokohama was destroyed by the great Tokyo-Yokohama earthquake and fire in September 1923, which killed around 20,000 individuals. The city was rebuilt rapidly, and the northwestern area was produced into a major industrial zone. The ward government’s system was presented in 1927.  Yokohama was extremely damaged by Allied air attacks in 1945, amid World War II, yet this time recreation was hampered by the U.S. control of Japan. The pace of remaking accelerated in the 1950s. Population growth started increasing at a quicker rate after 1960, and by 1980 the city had outperformed Ōsaka to wind up distinctly the second biggest in Japan.

Yokohama Weather

Weather in Yokohama highlights four seasons, which are spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Numerous travelers visit Yokohama in spring, which falls in the month of March to May, and autumn, which falls in the month of September to November. Summer in Yokohama can be humid, but is tolerable for those guests used to this type of climate.  Yokohama weather in winter are cool, yet the city does not often encounter extreme cold. The average temperature in January is 10 degree Celsius.

During May to September or summer season, Yokohama stays hot and humid enough for the visitors with the average of 27 deg Celsius. In addition, this season is marked by the weather specialists as rainy season since rainfall is very common throughout the season. The wettest month of the year is September with more than 300mm of precipitation and the hottest and sunniest month is August with the average high temperature of 30 deg Celsius and usually has 215 hours of sunshine. On the other hand, night becomes comfortable for the travelers since the temperature tends to drop low during nighttime.

During the winter season in Yokohama, the temperature rarely drops below the freezing level. There are snowfalls during the first two months of the year that may affect you plan. The average high temperature in Yokohama during the winter season stands at 11 degree Celsius while the low varies between 7 and 2 degree Celsius. Usually, January has the coldest temperature of the year.

Best Places and Things to do in Yokohama

Minato Mirai 21

Minato Mirai 21 or simply Minato Mirai Is the central area of Yokohama, Japan. Minato Mirai was originally created in 1980s as a large master-planned development and new urban focus planned to bond Yokohama's traditionally significant areas business centers of Kannai and the Yokohama Station region.

Today, Minato Mirai is a center place for business, shopping, and tourism. The business area is host to several hotels, office towers, convention center, art museum, cafes, shops, and much more. The most recognizable feature of Minato Mirai is the 296 meter high Landmark Tower, which is the tallest skyscraper in Japan and a superb attraction in the city.

Sankeien Garden

Sankeien Garden is a vast classical Japan garden that covers more than 175,000 square meters and renowned for its seasonal beauty. Sankeien contains numerous historical houses and structures that are perceived as being culturally substantial by the government. These structures were conveyed to the park from areas everywhere throughout Japan, and incorporate a three storied pagoda located high up on a hill deep somewhere inside the garden. This pagoda, initially built in Kyoto in the mid-1400s and was moved to Sankei-en in 1914.

As people walk around the Sankeien Garden, bridges, streams, small waterfalls, bamboo groves, and ponds can be discovered. In late March or early April, the cherry blossoms,known as sakura, are in full bloom. In July and August, there is a pond quite inside the entrance that is overflowing with the magnificence of Japanese pink lotus blooms. In late autumn time, people can appreciate the changing shade of the leaves. In winter, plum blooms begin to bloom in mid to late February which consider as the nature's method for telling the Japanese individuals that winter is practically over.

Seabus

The best way to view Yokohama is from the sea while enjoying a pleasant ocean breeze. Several companies offer sea shuttle services around Minato Mirai. Some cruise offer lunch and dinner and can go further in Tokyo Bay to see the Yokohama Bay Bridge and different attractions while feeling the bay’s calm wave and water. Longer cruises may incorporate entertainment and nomihodai, which means all-you-can-drink. Seabus is a must try here in Yokohama

Yokohama Bay Bridge

The Yokohama Bay Bridge is a 860-meter long and 460-meter high suspension bridged constructed in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It opened on September 27, 1989 and one of its role is to connect the ports of Tokyo and Yokohama as far as harbor logistics. It also serves as a vital road for relieving city traffic congestion. The Yokohama Skywalk which is a review deck situated beneath the bridge has been closed since September 2010 but is still a popular date spot and has been featured in several movies.

Yokohama Station Area

Yokohama Station, situated in Nishi-ku in Yokohama, is the fundamental access for travelers arriving in Yokohama. The station is serving 760 million passengers a year, making it the fifth busiest train station in the world. Yokohama station area is packed with restaurants, department stores, shopping centers, retail establishments, karaoke, gadgets stores and many more. This station area has also several excellent hotels which are preferred of most foreigners because of its closeness to different attractions.

Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama Chinatown is known as one of the world's best Chinese food spot. It has more than 600 shops and just a 2500 square meter area. Workers from restaurants and food stalls call out in loud voices to entice customers. The buildings and signs sparkle and dazzle in brilliant hues and it is like a totally different world once you make a stroll.

Chinese Food culture has been developing and growing in numerous ways and in Yokohama Chinatown, it's possible to have a taste of the different variety of Chinese food.

The most famous and common food cuisine in Yokohama Chinatown are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Sichuan cuisine.

Beijing Cuisine

In the past, Emperors requested that cooks to create dishes from food that was harvested or collected from their huge tracts of land. Dishes that were made mainly uses wheat flour and meat. Pecking duck is one of the famous Beijing dishes in which an entire duck is cooked in an oven and served. Normally the skin, meat, and bone are altogether served as a feature of one course. A steamed bun and boiled Chinese-style dumpling are another Beijing cuisine. People will frequently notice these delicious steamed buns in the city, particularly in pre-winter and winter in Chinatown.

Shanghai Cuisine

The Shanghai cuisine usually includes fish and shellfish. Because of fermented seasonings such as vinegar, soy sauce, and Chinese wine, the taste of Shanghai cuisine is thick and a bit sweet. Every October and November, Shanghai bushy crab is very popular, as well as their steamed pork buns.

Guangdong Cuisine

The feature for Guangdong cuisine is its assortment. It usually comprises of dishes that are lightly seasoned and that make great use of natural flavors. Shark fin soup and chop suey are two of the famous Guangdong cuisine.

Sichuan Cuisine

Since Sichuan is located in the middle of high mountains, where its place tends to be very icy, hot and spicy dishes are very common in Sichuan cuisine. Spicy bean curd and shrimp with chili sauce are two of the top rated Sichuan dishes.

The cuisines stated above are just some food people can taste at Yokohama Chinatown, there are still lots of cousins and restaurants that can be tried in the area which gives delicious dishes.

Zoorasia

Zoorasia is one of Japan's most current, biggest and best-kept zoos. The zoo was built up in 1999, and work under the themes of "Symbiosis of Life" and "Harmony with Nature". The animals are kept in spacious areas that replicate their natural territories to a degree that is not usually in Japanese zoos.

The animal presentations of Zoorasia are spread out among seven environmental areas which are the Asian Tropical Forest, Subarctic Forest, Oceanian Grassland, Central Asian Highland, Japanese Countryside, Amazon Jungle and African Tropical Rainforest. Elephants, polar bears, black bears, okapi and proboscis monkeys are some of the zoo’s highlights. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes, and also nature trails and recreation structures for children.

Yokohama Restaurant for Yokohama Originated Dishes

At the point when Yokohama's port opened to the outside world, nearby farmers started cultivating cabbages, tomatoes and onions, and raising domesticated animals to feed the population in Westerners living in the city's foreign settlement. The existence of these new ingredients, combined with influence from the inhabitants themselves, made Yokohama one of the supports for the development of Japanese-style Western dishes.

There are numerous restaurants visible in Yokohama but restaurants that serve Yokohama originated dishes are recommended for tourists. Some well know Yokohama originated dishes are Gyunabe, Napolitan, and Sanma-men. Gyunabe consists of boiled beef with traditional Japanese seasonings such as soy sauce, tailoring the dishes to the Japanese palate. In 1872, eating beef became a symbolic gesture of support for modernization among public. Napolitan is a Yokohama-born Pasta that is very popular nowadays. Napolitan generally consists of spaghetti, tomato ketchup or tomato-based sauce, onion, mushrooms, green peppers, sausage, and bacon.  Sanma-men is a famous Yokohama ramen dish consists of noodles in a hot soy sauce broth, covered in stir-fried vegetables, prominently bean sprouts.

Must Try Yokohama Sushi Restaurants

In the land of sushi, there are no shortage of sushi restaurants in Yokohama. Whether you are going to the second most crowded city after Tokyo as a backpacker or luxury vacationer, there is a sushi joint to suit all tastes. Some of the must try sushi restaurants according to reviews are the Kabanoosushi, Nihonryourikonohana, Mawashisushi Yokohama Sky, Mawashisushi Yokohama Sky, Sushiro Higashikanagawaten, and Magrodonya Miuramisakiko.

Kabanoosushi serves authentic Japanee fare in a modern atmosphere. Their sushi selection is rich, and the chefs dedicated to crafting some of the city’s finest. Nihonryourikonohana is one of the Yokohama’s favorite luxury sushi restaurants that allows guests to dine in the comfort of private rooms upon request. With a seasonally rotating menu to ensure the utmost quality and freshness of their fish, you know their sashimi is amazing. Mawashisushi Yokohama Sky is a sushi establishment that attracts an influx of foodies, drawing a queue for seats in the house each evening. Sushi is served on a conveyer belt, and special orders are requested through an iPad in front of you. For travelers, there is an English menu introducing the ingredients, and the iPad is supported in both languages. This eatery is a favorite for the fact that it offers fresh sushi at an affordable price. Sushiro Higashikanagawaten accurately encompasses the description of a “working man’s” sushi establishment. Reasonably priced and served efficiently on conveyor belts, patrons are easily in and out of Sushiro Higashikanagawaten within the lunch hour. Their flavourful salmon and tuna dishes are staples at this restaurant, as their fish literally tastes like they are transported directly from the sea and onto your plate. Inside the busy mall of Yokohama World Porters is the carousel sushi establishment of Magrodonya Miuramisakiko, which often draws crowds because of dramatic and entertaining filleting of its bluefin tuna. Needless to say, any dish featuring the bluefin is a must try. Their menu also offers a wide variety of unique pairings using negitoro.

Everywhere you go in Yokohama make sure to bring a camera to take a photo of the different attractions. You might also want to bring a friend to fully enjoy your trip. Also, write a list of your wanted destinations and bring a map that will serve as a guide on your trip. Write a review of your stay and register a vote for the place you enjoyed the most for some other tourists considering Yokohama as their next destination.