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Yokohama Images 15 images Created 24 Mar 2009

Looking out over the panorama of Yokohama from Japan's tallest building, you can hardly believe that 150 years ago, Japan's second largest city was hardly even a village. When Commodore Perry's Black Ships sailed in and demanded that Japan open itself up to the rest of the world after its long insular snooze, Yokohama was opened up as an international port. The city quickly grew around the port and foreign concessions opened up. Yamate Bluff quickly became a virtual European village. Chinatown, just below the Europeans' bluff bustled, as it still does, with the sizzle of noodles being stir-fried and the smell of ginger and sesame.
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  • Shomyoji Arched Bridge - Shomyoji was built by Sanetoki Hojo during the Kamakura period, and was made the Hojo family temple of the Kanazawa area. The Jodo style garden with Ajiike Pond in front of the main temple is its most unique feature not to mention the arched bridge. The temple's bell was portrayed in the woodblock print "Shomyo-no-Bansho," one of eight prints depicting views of Kanazawa by Hiroshige Utagawa.
    shomyoji.jpg
  • Minato Mirai or "future harbor" is Yokohama's showpiece along with Cosmos World amusement park.  Take a spin on the Big Wheel, a bayside ferris wheel, or the roller coaster that plunges into a  or the roller coaster that plunges into a large pool.  Despite all these modern attractions, Minato Mirai is one of the world’s most successful urban renewal programs.  This was once the site of red brick warehouses, bustling with sailors and longshoremen during the port’s heyday of the silk trade.
    minato-mirai-1.jpg
  • Phoenix Konzoji Temple in the Hiyoshi area of Yokohama is a part of the Tendai Sect of Japanese Buddhism, once upon a time a powerful force with its own militia and Shogun protectors.   What makes Konzoji Temple unique are the cartoonish bas reliefs of dragons, "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" and far more colour than the usual austere sensibilities of Japanese temple motifs.
    konzoji-temple-2.jpg
  • Aka Renga Red Warehouses - Minato Mirai was once the site of red brick warehouses, bustling with rowdy sailors and longshoremen during the port's heyday of the silk trade.  Abandoned for decades, Aka Rengu or Red Warehouses are now the venue of restaurants, boutiques, art spaces and cafes.
    aka-renga-yokohama-1.jpg
  • Yamate foreign settlement, called Yamate Bluff, was strongly connected to historical events at the opening of Yokohama's history and its port. Many beautiful western houses on the hillside disappeared in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 but a few of them remain. Those existing were mostly built after the earthquake. Seven of these western houses are preserved by the city and open to the public to give people a taste of Yokohama's history.
    yamate-bluff-6.jpg
  • One of Japan’s most lavish gardens was first opened to the public in 1904.  It was once the private estate of silk baron Hara Sankei who wanted to share the  beauty by opening up his grounds. Besides Japanese style landscaping, there are numerous tea houses in the garden - such as this one with its unique bridge.
    sankeien-16.jpg
  • In 1859, when the port of Yokohama opened, many Chinese immigrants arrived in Japan and formed settlements. Many Chinese traders came to Japan and built a Chinese School, Chinese Community Center, and various other facilities in what represented the beginning of Chinatown. Japanese government regulations at the time meant that immigrants were not permitted to live outside of the designated foreign settlement areas and thus Chinatown was formed.
    yokohama-chinatown-3.jpg
  • The port alongside Yamashita Park has always been a favorite promenade along Yokohama's harbour. Here landlubbers can enjoy the sea breezes without ever having to board one of the ships from around the world that dock at the port.
    yokohama-port-2.jpg
  • Yokohama Bay Bridge crosses Yokohama harbour which is within Tokyo Bay. The suspension bridge spans a total length of 860 meters one of the longest in the world.
    yokohama-bay-bridge-03.jpg
  • The Grand Hotel has been one of Yokohama's most chic venues since 1927. It's supreme location on the waterfront overlooking Yamashita Park and the port make the Grand the perfect spot for afternoon tea.  Take in the marble floors and staircase, art deco light fixtures, puffy velour sofas and lounge chairs - a glimpse into Yokohama's past.  What made all this grandeur possible was Yokohama's preeminence as Japan's largest port, a status it still enjoys today.
    yokohama-grand-hotel.jpg
  • Kimono at Sankeien a garden, once the private domain of Hara Sankei.  Sankeien is one of Japan's most exquisite gardens although it is made up of various Japanese garden components from various sources in Japan. The cherry blossoms in spring make Sankeien a favorite spot in Yokohama for residents and visitors alike.  Besides the landmark three storied pagoda, koi ponds, streams and an elegant feudal lord's residence, numerous tea houses are scattered throughout the expanse.
    sankeien-17.jpg
  • Yamashita Park has always been a favorite promenade along Yokohama harbour. Here you can enjoy the port's maritime breezes without even boarding one of the ferries or ships from around the world that dock at the port.  Open, green, public spaces are a rarity in Japan and locals have always cherished this park.
    yamashita-park-3.jpg
  • Minato Minai Queens Building - Looking out over the panorama of Yokohama from one of Japan's tallest buildings, you can hardly believe that 150 years ago, Japan's second largest city and largest port was hardly even a village.
    minato-mirai-3.jpg
  • Kannonzaki Lighthouse - Soaring 40 meters above the cliffs on the tip of Kannonzaki - the promontory of the Goddess of Mercy, Kannonzaki  Lighthouse was designed by French engineer Francois Leonce Verny at the request of the Meiji Government and was first used in 1869. The present structure is the third to stand here, a white, octagonal concrete building and from the observation tower up to a thousand ships a day can be seen passing by.
    kannonzaki-lighthouse.jpg
  • The Nippon Maru with the gracious nickname "Swan of the Pacific Ocean" was built in Kobe in 1930 and originally a training ship for the cadets of the Japanese merchant marine. After 54 years of service, the ship was brought to the Yokohama harbor and opened as a part of the Maritime Museum.
    nippon-maru-04.jpg