Weekend Walks in Yokohama

Berrick Hall on the bluff of Yamate, Yokohama

2012-02-26T21:11:00.009+09:00

Hello I am Shinya Ota, a national registered tourist guide living in Yokohama.

Until February 21, Youth Gallery, exhibition of artworks by students of schools in Yamate area, was held at Six old western style houses and Osaragi Giro Museum. Berrick Hall was one of the sites for the event and artworks by Saint Mall International School were exhibited.

Berrick Hall is the largest old western style house preserved in Yamate area. It was designed by Jay Hill Morgan in Spanish style and built as a residence of English businessman Mr. B. R. Berrick in 1930. In the 1940's after the war, the house was once occupied and used for the allied forces dormitory. After his death, the house was donated to the Catholic church and used as dormitory of Saint Josef International school until 2000.

He lived in the house for 10 years until he left for Canada before

the war between the U.K and Japan broke out. Beside doing his business, he was acting as Finish Consular in Yokohama area.

The large rooms on the first floor were used for party etc related to his public duty.

The Second floor was used for his office and his family's rooms. The small windows on the upstairs are shaped four leave-clover, an Islamic design. The house is open to public and used for various events throughout the year.

Address: 72 Yamate, Naka Ward, Yokohama

Tel: 045-663-5685

Admission: free

Open : 9:30 thru 17:00 (Closed on the second wednesdays , Dec 29 thru Jan. 3)

This weekend in Yokohama

2012-02-20T19:22:00.008+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a national English tour guide. I am a native of Yokohama. This week, following events and exhibitions are held in Yokohama Port area.

Charming Sale at Motomachi Shopping Street

Tuesday, February 21 until Sunday, February 26

The street will be crowded with shoppers who are looking for a good buy of Clothes, shoes, bags etc. This is a harbinger of Season which tell Spring is around the corner.

Many shops open 10:00 through 19:00.

Access to Motomachi Shopping Street:
5 minute-walk from JR.Ishikawa-cho station of the JR.Negishi
line,1 minute-walk from Motomachi Chukagai station of the Minato Mirai Line
Website: http://www.motomachi.or.jp/html/?refr=top

Plum Blossom Viewing at Sankeien Garden

Saturday February 11 until Sunday, March 14

9:00 thru 17:00 (ticket booth closes at 16:30)

The garden boasts of 600 plum trees. One of the best places to enjoy viewing Plum Blossom in Yokohama. Plum blossoms have started blooming. However, you need to wait a while until they get in full bloom. The good time to bisit the garden to see the flowers will be around the end of the month.

Place 58-1 Honmoku Sanno-tani, Naka-Ku, Yokohama

http://www.sankeien.or.jp/guide/map.html/

Phone:045-621-0634

Admission: 500 yen for 12 years old or older

Hina Doll Exhibition at Yokohama Doll Museum

Saturday, February 4 until Sunday, March 25

9:30 thru 17:00 (ticket booth closes at 16:30)

Families with girls display Hina Dolls at their homes to pray for their healthy growth at this time of year. Hina Dolls are dolls in traditional court style Kimono costume. At the museum, they exhibits various types of Hina Dolls.

Place 18 Yamashita Cho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama

http://www.museum.or.jp/yokohama-doll-museum/

Phone: 045-671-9361

Admission : 300 yen for 15 years old and older

This weekend in Yokohama

2012-02-16T20:53:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a national English tour guide. I am a native of Yokohama. This weekend, following events and exhibitions are held in Yokohama Port area.

Art Festival Yokohama Yamate

Art works by Sant Mall International school students are exhibited at Berrick Hall, which was built as a house of Mr. B.R. Berrick, and later used as boarding house of an international school. The event is held until Tuesday, February 21.

Plum Blossom Viewing at Sankeien Garden

Saturday February 11 until Sunday, March 14

9:00 thru 17:00 (ticket booth closes at 16:30)

The garden boasts of 600 plum trees. One of the best places to enjoy viewing Plum Blossom in Yokohama. According to the official website, start of Plum blossom has delayed this year. Maybe

around the end of February will be good time to visit .

From 11:00 on Sunday February 12, Rice Cake Pounding Event is held.

Place 58-1 Honmoku Sanno-tani, Naka-Ku, Yokohama

http://www.sankeien.or.jp/guide/map.html/

Phone:045-621-0634

Admission: 500 yen for 12 years old or older

Hina Doll Exhibition at Yokohama Doll Museum

Saturday, February 4 until Sunday, March 25

9:30 thru 17:00 (ticket booth closes at 16:30)

Place 18 Yamashita Cho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama

http://www.museum.or.jp/yokohama-doll-museum/

Phone: 045-671-9361

Admission : 300 yen for 15 years old and older

Cup Noodles Museum in Minato Mirai Area, Yokohama

2012-02-12T20:04:00.014+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a national tour guide and a native of Yokohama.

It is February, the coldest month of the year here in Japan. I like walking very much, but it is rather comfortable to spend time indoors.

A museum dedicated to the father of instant noodles opened last year just across the street from World Porter, a shopping mall, near the Red Brick Warehouse. I wanted to visit the museum sooner. But I hesitated to go because I was afraid it would be too crowded to enjoy. A few month later now, I decided to go.

A instant noodle was an invention of Mr. Momofuku Ando in the 1950s and go become one of imperative products in our modern life. "Cup Noodles" is especially loved for its easiness to prepare around the world. The five story building exhibits the history of instant noodles as well as the inventor's life, gives an occasion for you to enjoy making a instant noodle by yourself at the factory or pack a cup noodle in your taste choosing your favorite seasoning and ingredients like you do at "Subway".

The third floor is always crowded with visitors who are waiting to try making your own cup noodles. I wanted to do it but I decided to make it next time. The second floor exhibits the history of instand noodles and shows interesting story about Mr. Ando's Aha moments during his struggles to invent them with lot of pictures and a replica of his wooden shakes.

The picture on the right shows Mr. Ando when he visited super a market chain in the US in an attempt to export instant. He got an idea to invent "Cup Noodles" there when he saw the staff trying a noodle by cracking the noodles into pieces, pouring hot water into a paper cup with the noodles.

On the fourth floor, there is a Asian market-like food court "Noodle Bazaar". You can eat Chinese, Korean, Thai, Malaysian and Italian noodles for 300 yen. I ordered a Singapore style noodle with creamy soup. They are in an half serving so you can try some others.

From the deck on the restaurant floor you can see harbor view of Yokohama Minato Mirai Area.

The museum is open from 10 a.m until 6p.m(close on Tuesdays)

Admission: 500 yen for adults

Address:2-3-4 Shinko, Nakaku, Yokohama

Nearest station: JR Sakuragi-cho station(12minutes on foot)

This weekend in Yokohama

2012-02-08T21:00:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a national English tour guide. I am a native of Yokohama. This weekend, following events and exhibitions are held in Yokohama Port area.

Plum Blossom Viewing at Sankeien Garden

Saturday February 11 until Sunday, March 14

9:00 thru 17:00 (ticket booth closes at 16:30)

The garden boasts of 600 plum trees. One of the best places to enjoy viewing Plum Blossom in Yokohama. According to the official website, start of Plum blossom has delayed this year. Maybe

around the end of February will be good time to visit .

From 11:00 on Sunday February 12, Rice Cake Pounding Event is held.

Place 58-1 Honmoku Sanno-tani, Naka-Ku, Yokohama

http://www.sankeien.or.jp/guide/map.html/

Phone:045-621-0634

Admission: 500 yen for 12 years old or older

Hina Doll Exhibition at Yokohama Doll Museum

Saturday, February 4 until Sunday, March 25

9:30 thru 17:00 (ticket booth closes at 16:30)

Place 18 Yamashita Cho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama

http://www.museum.or.jp/yokohama-doll-museum/

Phone: 045-671-9361

Admission : 300 yen for 15 years old and older

Spring Festival at Yokohama Chinatown, Yokohama

2012-01-29T20:16:00.005+09:00

On January 23rd , New Year in Lunar Calender has started and is cerebrated here in Yokohama Chinatown. Here in Japan, Chinese community live in Solar Calender as we do but it is still an important event it is about 150 years now since they formed its community.

Maybe it is an important event for them to recognize their roots and Chinese Heritage.

Many Chinese descendants study at Japanese schools, work for Japanese companies, marry with Japanese. They have emerged into Japanese society now but it is an important event for them to recognize their roots and Chinese Heritage. Restaurants and shops on the streets decorate their entrances by typical new year decorations such as lanterns and trees with oranges and envelops.

I missed the New Year's day's events on the first day and this weekends. They cerebrate until Sunday, February 5th this year and the streets will be crowded with many visitors. They will hold an event of Chinese traditional performance at 11:00 and 14:00 for a hour each at Yamashita-cho Park on Kan Kei Byo Dori or Kwan Tai Miao street one street back from the main street on Saturday, 4th and Sunday, 5th.

Skate Link at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

2012-01-22T05:29:00.009+09:00

Low pressure front is coming down to South and it has brought cold winds from Siberia. It is very cold. February is the coldest month of the year. That means it is getting colder. While we tend to stay home with air-conditioner on, I like walking around. I take a walk in Winter as much as I do in Summer, just looking forwards to sipping a hot coffer in a coffee shop on the way. Some people like spend outdoors. Akarenga Park, or Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, may be a good place for those people. Art Rink, a Skate Rink, is now open at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse this year. It opens around this time of year every year and it is a famous destination who love skating.

The Rink is always packed with skaters. But there is a change you can occupy the rink with other few people in the morning as the above right picture. You can rent skating shoes for 500 yen a pair. They have stock of shoes ranging from 15cm to 32cm.

The Red Brick Warehouses were originally built as a bonded warehouse of Yokohama Customs about 100 years ago and had been a symbol of Japan's modernization. For some years they were left unused until they were renovated to use as a shopping and event place. There are events throughout the year and it is a magnet for visitors to the city.

The skate rink is open until Wednesday, February 22, 2012

except Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

Weekdays 13:00- 22:00

Weekends and National days 11:00- 22:00

Admission : 500 yen for adults

Nearest Stations: The Minato Mirai Line Bashamichi Station 6minutes

JR Line Sakuragi Cho Station 15 minutes

(Fire Brigade Ceremony is held in the first week of the year at the park. You can see acrobatic performance in a traditional fire fighter uniform. )

Sankeien garden in Winter Season

2012-01-14T05:41:00.010+09:00

On Monday, January 2nd, a ceremony called "Hochou Shiki" or Cooking Knife Ceremony was held at Kakusho Kaku residence in Sankeien garden.

Kakusho Kaku, or "Flying crane" building in English, is a house built by Mr. Sankei Hara, a billionaire through trading of silk and the founder of the garden, as his residence. As the birds eye view of the building resembles flying cranes, it is named so. He loved arts and many famous Japanese artist stayed the house as his guests. The building is not open to public for events such as a wedding ceremony or a tea ceremony.

The Hochou Shiki is a ceremony that a chef　in ancient formal clothes cut and slice fish without touching it with bare hands in front of a large cutting board. It is a ceremony kept according to a manner stylized by Emperor Kouko during his reign(884-887 A.D).

”Gagaku”　or Japanese ancient court music is performed during the ceremony.

The subject of this ceremony was "Debune no Tai" or Tilefish in a shape of sailing ship.

The garden is beautiful year around. However, I am waiting for Spring when the garden comes alive with Cherry Blossoms. That is more than 2months away.

Sankeien Garden

58-1 Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-War, Yokohama

Phone:045-621-0634

http://www.sankeien.or.jp

Hours: 9 a.m to 5 p.m (Ticket booth closes at 4:30 p.m)

Closed on December 29th, 30th and 31st.

Admission: 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for children

300 yen for senior citizens older than 64

New year prayer at Kwan Tai Temple in Yokohama Chinatown

2012-01-02T08:53:00.013+09:00

The year of Dragon has just started.
At the beginning of the year, let me allow to extend you my best wishes for a happy new year!

I was not able to post regularly last year. So I would like to write about my hometown Yokohama regularly this year. That is my resolution of the year.

I am living in Shin-Yamashita next to Yamashita area for many years. I often go to Chinatown for events, for lunch , for tea, for shopping and sometimes just for waling around. I often walk through Kwan Tai Temple, however, have never entered the temple to offer prayers. Last year it was very challenging for many Japanese. Though we thought we should do something to change, we ended up with feeling no way out. I wanted to do something different and change our life good way this year.

So I decided to visit the temple first thing in the morning of new year this year. At the entrance, I buy a bundle of incense sticks for 500 yen. Someone bought paper bills and was burning them in the burner,which I do not know why. Maybe they are offering money to the deity in the other world. I guess... That is completely different from what we do at Shinto Shrine. That's very interesting.

There are five incense burners in front of the statue. Each of them is put a number. There are five incense sticks in the bundle. I place one stick each at each burner following that number.

After placing incense sticks, I finally enter into the building. I see people are kneeling down on a mat to pray in fron of the altars. I leaned from a staff that you say your address, name and birth date at heart, vow three times and pray for something. I follow what they are doing clumsily. That was an humble experience.

Kwan tai temple is a Chinese temple built by the Chinese community in Chinatown. It is said to have been built around 1862. The temple enshrines Kwan, a famous general in the ancient Chinese Imperial army in about 200 AD. He is known for his allegiance to his master and virtuous behaviors he shown even to his enemies. He is said to have invented Chinese book keeping system to feed troops. Therefore, he is worshiped for his military ability and virtues even after his death, and he has become a deity. He is a Taoist symbol of integrity and loyalty.

The temple was completely destroyed three times: first by earthquake, second by air raids in World War II and third by arson. But it was restored each time and has continued to be the center of the community. The current temple is the forth one, built in 1990.

A famous Feng Shui practitioner says that Kwan Tai Temple is a cosmic place, where spiritual power gathers and energizes people. Now I prayed for my family's well-beings. I hope my prayer reached to General Kwan and I could spend happily this year.

It is located at the corner of Chusan Ru and Kwan Tai temple street.

Address :140 Yamashita Cho, Naka- Ward, Yokohama

Tel: 045-226-2636

Open : 9:00 thru 19:00 throughout the year

Diwali in Yokohama 2011

2011-10-18T05:52:00.014+09:00

Hello, It was beautiful Sunday.
On October 15 and 16, there was the Indian event of lights at Yamashita Park. "Diwali in Yokohama" has been held at this time of year for the past several years. During the two day event, a lot of musics, dances and plays are shown. Many Indian food restaurants sell many variety of food across India.

Many Indian merchants came to Japan since Port of Yokohama opened in 1859 and formed
a community here as Yokohama was the most convenient place to start up business. However, the Kanto great earthquake hit Yokohama in 1923 and many Indian lost their houses. Many of them choose to move to Kobe. In an effort to help those who affected by the disaster, Yokohama city offered various assistance though many of them did not return. The water fountain at the corner of Yamashita park was gifted from the Indian community to thank it.

The famous Indian Poet Rabindranath Tagore visited Japan and he once stayed at his friend's house in Sankei-en garden for a few months. Yokohama is a sister city with Munbai, India. There is an Indian school in Yokohama. We have many historical and economical connections with India. Still Yokohama is one of the cities many Indian live. So that is not strange that they choose Yokohama to cerebrate their traditional event.

I wanted to go there for both days. But it was a windy and partly rained on the first day. I decided to come next day hoping it would be sunny. 　

It was around 11 o'clock in the morning on Sunday when I got there and Kathak dance was being performed at the center stage. Katak was a classical dance in norther India with history of more than 4,000 years. Katak dance artist Atsuko Maeda was dancing lightly and gracefully. I learned later that she has danced since she was six and studied the dance in India. Dances from other part of India and Boｌlywood dance followed. I enjoyed them but Katak by Ms. Maeda was excellent.

In the middle of Bollywood dance, I decided to move to food section before tables were occupied as it was around 12 o'clock. There were many restaurants. I bought a glass of beer and a set dish of two different curries and a piece of Nan bread.

I choose a vegetable curry and a chicken curry. Listening to the Bollywood music under the sunny sky, I was very happy to enjoy both beer and Indian food, my favorite food for just 1,000 yen in total.

I like this event very much because many Indian people come here to cerebrate the event and we can see wonderful arts performed by professionals like Maeda and enjoy the international atmosphere of the city. I believe they will hold the event next year and I hope you come to see it.

What is going on this weekend in Yokohama

2011-10-05T21:21:00.007+09:00

Octoberfest 2011 Yokohama is held from Friday, Sep. 30 thru Sunday, Oct. 16 at Akarenga Park. This is the biggest beer festival with 2,000 seats in Yokohama. Last year more than 100,000 people visited the event. Of course, I am one of them. You can enjoy the atmopshere of Octoberfest with Munich music band, German beer and food.
Hours: 12:00 to 21:30 (Mon-Fri)
11:00 to 21:30 (Sat, Sun and National days)
Admission: 200 yen

Worldfesta Yokohama2010
Event of World foods....Restaurants of various countries come to Yamashita Park. At the center stage, there are musics and dances.
Period: Sat, Oct.8 and Sun, Oct. 9
Hours: 10:00- 17:00

Double Tenth Festival.
Oct.10 is a national day of Republic of China to celebrate the revolution.
10:00 - 12:00 Art performance show at Chinese school behind Kwan Tai Temple
13:30 - 15:00 Parade
16:00 - 20:00 Lion Dance performance across the streets

The Yokohama triennale 2011 is now held at Yokohama Museum of Art, BankART Studio NYK and some other locations in the central area.
Period:Aug 6(Sat) thru Nov 6(Sun)
Closed: Thursdays

Hours: 11:00- 18:00 Admission: 1600 yen for adults

The Interiors of Passenger Ships
At NYK Maritime Museum, exhibition "The Interiors of Passenger Ships" is held now.
The museum is in the old building used as Yokohama branch of a shipping company and dedicated to showing the history of Japan's modern shipping industry. NYK operated many passenger ships around the world before the age of travels by aircraft. The museum shows the history of the interiors through displaying pictures, furniture and other materials.
Period: Aug 6(Sat) thru Nov 27(Sun)
Closed: Mondays
Hours: 10:00 - 17:0
Admission: 400 yen for adults

China's National Foundation day at Yokohama Chinatown

2011-10-02T16:04:00.015+09:00

Hello, October 1st is the China's national foundation day. At Yokohama Chinatown, they cerebrated the day by parade and lion dances across the streets.

Chinese have formed their community in Yokohama Chinatown since they came to Yokohama after Japan ended its reclusive country policy and opened the port in Yokohama about 150 years ago. They came to a small town called Yokohama as servants of European trading companies or entrepreneurs who start businesses soon after a shipping company inaugurated a service between Shanghai and Yokohama. They started businesses such as restaurants, barbers, hardware shops, etc., built a school for their kids and the Kwan tai temple in the town. That is the start of the town what is today known as Yokohama Chinatown. Now it has become one of indispensable piece when we talk about Yokohama.

Last Saturday they cerebrated the 62nd anniversary of the national foundation day of their mother country in mainland China with parade and lion dances. From 4 o'clock in the afternoon, five groups of lion dancers and bang beaters visited businesses and homes. I ran into one of them at the entrance of Kwan Tai Temple where the lion was about to enter.

The lion moves following the beat. Or Do they beat a gong following the lion movement? Egg or Chicken....?!?!

They visit businesses nearby to pray for their prosperity. Other members of the group beat a gong. They perform a lion dance when they cerebrate something throughout the year.

The sound of firecrackers... It goes with Chinese celebrations. Its piercing sounds and smoke surround the streets. On October 10 they celebrate the national foundation day of Republic of China. If you are interested in the Chinese customs of Lion dancing or want to hear the sound of gong with firecrackers, you are encouraged to visit Chinatown on October 10.

What is going on this weekend in Yokohama

2011-09-29T21:12:00.008+09:00

Hello, We had a beautiful early Autumn day today. I like the smell of wind. I sound silly but it smells special which makes me feel relaxed and happy... really nice smell..But this beautiful season is very short... I think we must enjoy this precious season.

From tomorrow, Octoberfest 2011 Yokohama will start. At Chinatown, they celebrate their national days. Many events will be held in waterfront area during this nice season.

This weekend following events will be held or are currently being held.

Octoberfest 2011 Yokohama is held from Friday, Sep. 30 thru Sunday, Oct. 16 at Akarenga Park. This is the biggest beer festival in Yokohama. Last year more than 100,000 people visited the event. Of course, I am one of them. You can enjoy the atmopshere of Octoberfest with Munich music band, German beer and food.
Hours: 12:00 to 21:30 (Mon-Fri)
11:00 to 21:30 (Sat, Sun and National days)
Admission: 200 yen

China's national foundation day on Saturday, Oct.1
Mainland China cerebrate its 62nd national foundation day. At Yokohama Chinatown, they cerebrate the day with parade and lion dances.
From 14:00 they parade through the streets of Chinatown. From 16:00 Five groups of Lion dancers visit businesses and homes in the town praying for prosperity and good harvest in the midst of sounds of fire crackers.

The Yokohama triennale 2011 is now held at Yokohama Museum of Art, BankART Studio NYK and some other locations in the central area.
Period:Aug 6(Sat) thru Nov 6(Sun)
Closed: Thursdays

Hours: 11:00- 18:00 Admission: 1600 yen for adults

The Interiors of Passenger Ships
At NYK Maritime Museum, exhibition "The Interiors of Passenger Ships" is held now.
The museum is in the old building used as Yokohama branch of a shipping company and dedicated to showing the history of Japan's modern shipping industry. NYK operated many passenger ships around the world before the age of travels by aircraft. The museum shows the history of the interiors through displaying pictures, furniture and other materials.
Period: Aug 6(Sat) thru Nov 27(Sun)
Closed: Mondays
Hours: 10:00 - 17:0
Admission: 400 yen for adults

Takuwan Boeki Exhibition at Japan Overseas Migration Museum, Yokohama

2011-09-24T05:51:00.009+09:00

Hello, The typoon has gone. The Silwer week, three days off for many living in Japan, has come.

The first day of the week, I spent morning doing an erround around Yokohama Station and I stopped by Japan Overseas Migration Museum on Minato Mirai on my way home.
Now New exhibition "Takuwan Boeki" or Pickled Daikon Radish Trading, which was done between Japan and North America by a Japanese or "nisei" Japanese in North American.

Many immigrants in North America wanted Japanese food products in their daily life. It is natural that they started to import foods from the country they originally came. They imported varieties of food products such as Miso paste, soy sauce and Green tea. Even Bamboo shoots, lotus roots, burdocks, udos and Butterburs were imported from Japan as they were indispensable ingredients to make Japanese meals.
They were distributed by Japanese businesses into Pacific Northwest and it became the basis for pupularity of Japanese food in later years.

For the exhibition is assigned a conference room on the floor. There were copies of Japanese news paper which shows advertisements by those businesses engaged in "takuwan boeki". The original plates of advertisements, labels of canned foods are displayed.
The picture above left is the original print plate of advertisement by Kamozuru, a
Japanese sake. Kamozuru is a sake brewed in Hiroshima and taste sweet. I have drunk it before. I never knew it was imported in North America such a long time before.

Geisha brand was a very popular canned food products and also exported around the world.

The Museum is dedicated to showing the history of Japanese Migration. More than a million people migrated in the last 100 years. it shows its history by displaying pictures, materials used by them and video clips. Those displayes are written both in English and Japanese ( Unfortunately materials at the exhibition "Takuwan" are written only in Japanese.) If you are interested in the history of Japanese migration or decendants of Japanese, please visit once.

Access : about 10 minutes from Bashamichi station exit #4 of the Minato Mirai Line
or 20minutes from JR. Sakuragi-cho station.
Open : except Mondays and Dec 29 through Jan.3
Hours: 10 am thru 5pm
Admission: Free

What's going on this weekend in Yokohama

2011-09-10T17:34:00.007+09:00

Hello, it's getting cool in the morning and the evening. Air looks "transparent". Air is transparent as matter of fact. But I feel it like that. I think that is all about the end of Summer.

This weekend following events will be held or are currently being held.

Moon Viewing Event
At Sankeien Garden in Honmoku, Moon Viewing Event is held until Tuesday, September 13. During the event, the garden is open until 20:15 and a concert is held from 18:15 until 20:15 at Rinshun-Kaku Pavilion. It is a good chance to see the beautiful garden under full moon. Admission: 500 yen for adults

Cupnoodles Museum is open in Minato Mirai at 12:00 on Saturday, September 17. The museum is a museum run by Nissin, the company who invented a instand noodle. There are displays about history of instant noodles. The museum is located in front of World Porter and Cosmo Clock, the ferris wheel.
Admission :500 for adults

The Yokohama triennale 2011 is now held at Yokohama Museum of Art, BankART Studio NYK and some other locations in the central area.
Period:Aug 6(Sat) thru Nov 6(Sun)
Closed: Thursdays

Hours: 11:00- 18:00 Admission: 1600 yen for adults

The Interiors of Passenger Ships
At NYK Maritime Museum, exhibition "The Interiors of Passenger Ships" is held now.
The museum is in the old building used as Yokohama branch of a shipping company and dedicated to showing the history of Japan's modern shipping industry. NYK operated many passenger ships around the world before the age of travels by aircraft. The museum shows the history of the interiors through displaying pictures, furniture and other materials.
Period: Aug 6(Sat) thru Nov 27(Sun)
Closed: Mondays
Hours: 10:00 - 17:0
Admission: 400 yen for adults

The photo exhibition at Yokohama Archives of History, Yamashita, Yokohama

2011-09-10T07:14:00.009+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide and a native of Yokohama.

Now Photo exhibition "Yokohama Nostalgia- street corners in the 30's of Showa period" is held at Yokohama Archives of History until Sunday, October 23rd, 2011.

Showa is the era Hirohito, the previous emperor, was on the throne. That corresponds to 1926 through 1989 in the western calendor. In the 30's of showa era, which is around 1955 through 1965, we were on the way to high economic growth surviving hard time after the World Wide War II. However, scars of the war were still observed across the city. U.S. military installations stayed in the center of the city. There used be cannals in the center of the city. There were once beautiful beaches in Honmoku and Negishi and Nori or sea-weed cultivations were major industry there. The Harbor view park was the park you could really see the Harbor nearby. But the number of people who know them are getting a few. The exhibition shows pictures from the period taken by photographer Mr. Motochika Chikase. You can see the life of people in the center area through the pictures. Unfortunately they are no English captions. However, if you have been living here since then or once lived then, you are encouraged to visit.

Yokohama Archives of History is located near Osanbashi Pier. There was the British Consular in the same place. The buildings used as the consular are sitting and used now as the part of the archives. The archives has a permanent exhibition about the history of Yokohama from the 1850's. The good materials to show the diplomatic settings of Japan and the neiboring countries are displayed both in English and Japanese.

For your information,the place the archives is now located is around the site where Matthew Calbraith Perry and his naval troops landed in 1854 to exchange a treaty with the shogunate government that lead Japan to opening the country towards western countries. This is a picture of camphor tree standing on the patio of the archives. They landed on the beach near a camphor tree. The tree was burned down in the large earthquake and this is the second generation raised from the root of the same tree.

Website of Yokohama Archives of History:
http://www.kaikou.city.yokohama.jp/en/index.html

What 's going on this weekend in Yokohama

2011-09-01T20:42:00.006+09:00

Hello, A typhoon is approaching to the mainland and bringing a lot of rain. I hope it will disappear or go away from here so we can enjoy weekend.

This weekend following events will be held or are currently being held.

The Yokohama triennale 2011 is now held at Yokohama Museum of Art, BankART Studio NYK and some other locations in the central area.
Period:Aug 6(Sat) thru Nov 6(Sun)
Closed: Thursdays

Hours: 11:00- 18:00 Admission: 1600 yen for adults

The Interiors of Passenger Ships
At NYK Maritime Museum, exhibition "The Interiors of Passenger Ships" is held now.
The museum is in the old building used as Yokohama branch of a shipping company and dedicated to showing the history of Japan's modern shipping industry. NYK operated many passenger ships around the world before the age of travels by aircraft. The museum shows the history of the interiors through displaying pictures, furniture and other materials.
Period: Aug 6(Sat) thru Nov 27(Sun)
Closed: Mondays
Hours: 10:00 - 17:0
Admission: 400 yen for adults

The Yokohama Triennale 2011 at NYK waterfront warehouse, Yokohama

2011-08-24T20:56:00.014+09:00

Now Yokohama Triennale 2011 is held from August 6 through November 6 with the title
OUR MAGIC HOUR How much of world can we know?

The Triennale is held at two main places and some neighboring locations this time.
One of the main places is NYK waterfront warehouse and the other is the Yokohama Museum of Art. NYK waterfront warehouse is located on Kaigan dori street in front of quay near the NYK Maritime Museum. It had been built and used as warehouse for a long time before it was renovated as an art exhibition hall.

On entering the building, you are welcomed by a tree trunk with roots sticking out of the ceiling. It was my first experience to look at trees from under the roots. Just like this, there are many installations to refresh ways to see world.

A hippo sculpture made of large amount of clay is sitting in the center of large floor. There are many large-scale installations at the venue.

This is an art work by an Indian artist. Under the object like lamp shade is a diorama of world map lying on the floor. It gives us a birds-eye-view. I felt as if I am looking over the world from above and being drew into the mystic world.

There are many video art works exhibited at the venue.
This is a video art work in which an artist is writing a sutra on a miror by hand which reflects sky. Beside this work, there are many video art works here at the venue.

On the first floor there is a cafe and a book store. You can drink coffee looking at the quay if you are tired from walking around.

NYK Waterfront Warehouse(BankART Studio NYK) venue is open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. except Thursdays. Admission :1,600 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for college or vocational school students and 700 yen for high schooler. You can enter both the venues on the same day or later. There are tie-up projects at Shinko Pier Exhibition hall and on Kogane-cho area. If you want to see those events, there is a ticket including them. 1,800 for adults, 1,000 yen for college or vocational school students and 700 for highschooler.
Access: 5minutes walk from Bashamichi station or Nihon Odori station of the MM line to Kaigan dori street.

Lotus Flowers viewing at Sankeien Garden, Honmoku, Yokohama

2011-07-31T16:12:00.014+09:00

Hello,
How are you doing these days?
We have rainy days this weekend. I thought as if rainy season has come back.
It was raining cats and dogs at the dawn yesterday. By the time I woke up on Saturday, it turned to a drizzling rain. I decided to go to Sankeien Garden to see lotus flowers. I went to the garden at this time of the year last year to see lotus flowers. But I remember I did not enjoy viewing them because the sun was strong by 7 o'clock and it was crowded with visitors. So I thought I might be able to enjoy this time if I go there. Just as I thought, there were fewer visitors in the rain when I got there at 7 o'clock and I was able to see the flowers in the garden in a quiet setting.

When you pass the entrance, you can see a large pond with a Pagoda on the top of the hill behind and you can see lotus flower ponds on your right. I am sure your eyes will catch the view of ponds with green leaves and pinkish dots of Lotus flowers on your right from the gate.

It is said that Sankei Hara loved a Lotus flower most as it grows under the mad and blooms beautifully. They have been in bloom from the middle of the month. The flower bloom just a few days but you can see them any time at this time of the year as they are blooming one after another. But they start to open flowers at dawn and close them by noon. If you want to see them open , it is better to come early in the morning. For those visitors who want to see the flowers open, the garden opens from 6 o'clock until August 7.

The first day of lotus flower:The flowers are not opening yet.

The second day:The flowers are opening in the morning. But they close petals by noon.

The third day

The fourth day: The petals have fallen completely.

Official mouse catcher in the garden!?: He/she(?) was taking refuse from the rain under the shrub.

In the garden, there are a Pagoda, a thatched roof house, old houses, etc. Ten buildings are listed as national important cultural assets. They will be open for visitors from 9 o'clock. The building behind the picture on the left is Kakushou Kaku,a flying crane house in Japanese. It is a house Sankei Hara built for his house in 1902. Famouse Japanese painter Taikan Yokoyama is one of the visitors who visited and stayed frequently. (FYI The house is not open to public. But it will be open from Friday, August 12 through Tuesday, August 16.)

Sankeien Garden
58-1 Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Phone:045-621-0634
http://www.sankeien.or.jp
Hours: 9a.m to 5p.m( Ticket booth closes at 4:30p.m)
During the weeks of Lotus flower viewing it open from 6 o'clock.
Closed on December 29th, 30th and 31st
Admission: 500yen for adults
200yen for children
300yen for senior citizens old and older than 65
Access:
From JR.Yokohama Station(East Exit) Line:
Bus #8 and #148, 3 minutes walk from Honmoku Sankeien Mae Bus stop.
From JR.Negishi Station of the JR.Negishi/Keihin Tohoku Line:
Bus #58, #99 and #101, 7 minutes walk from Honmoku Bus stop.
From JR.Sakuragi-cho Station of the JR.Negishi/Keihin Tohoku Line:
Bus #8 and #148, 3 minutes walk from Homoku Sankeien Mae Bus stop.
From Motomachi Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line:
Exit #4, Bus #8 and #148 3minutes walk from Honmoku Sankeien Mae Bus stop.
Parking lots: yes

Motomachi Swiming Pool in Motomachi Park, Yokohama

2011-07-05T21:22:00.008+09:00

Hello,
Motomachi Swiming Pool in Motomachi Park will open from Saturday, July 9 this year.
Motomachi swiming pool is located in Motomachi Park near Motomachi shopping streets and the Foreign Cemetery and has been loved by locals as an oasis in the neighborhood since 1930. Every year the pool becomes full with locals who take a refuge from summer heat in the city. The pool is open from Saturday on July 9th through Sunday on September 4 this year.

The place was boast of abundant water from the bluff and waterworks run by a Frenchman once stood there about 140 years ago. The outdoor swimming pool was built in 1930 to utilize the abundant water from the bluff. I am not sure whether water from the spring is still used now. The water in the pool is a bit cool. It doesn't smell like Chlorine, a distinctive smell of swimming pools.It has 8 lanes in the 50 meter long pool. Depth at the both end is 1.2 meter and maximum depth is 1.4 meter.

The pool is located near Motomachi shopping streets. If you go from Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line, Use Exit #5, walk toward Motomachi shopping street, turn left at Motomachi Square building and Gap and walk along the Foreign Cemetery.( Do not go up the slope on the left, which leads to Yamate Area. ) It is about 5 minutes.

Open: Saturday, July 9 through Sunday, September 4th, 2011.
Hours : 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 200 yen/ hour
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 300 yen/ hour (night hours)

Note:
Yokohama Pool Octopus Point card
You can get a stamp on the card every time you visit. You can swim an hour free for 12 visits or two hours free for 20 visits.(Ask staff members for details);
Coupon book
A 1,000 yen coupon book for 6 hours and a 1,500 yen coupon book for night hours are sold. The coupons are good until September
2013. They are not refundable;

Facilities
The facilities are very old though they are maintained well;

locker
You need to have a 10 yen coin to use a locker in the locker room. The lockers are small. it is like a shoes-box.
Visitors with tattoo are accepted
Different from other municipal pools, visitors with tattoo are allowed to use this pool;

Address: Motomachi 1-77-4, Naka Ward, Yokohama
Phone: 045-651-7123(Japanese only)I

Roses in full bloom, Yamate, Yokohama

2011-05-20T20:49:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide. I am a native of Yokohama, Japan.

It is the middle of May. Sun shine is getting stronger and hotter day by day. However, it is still good enough to enjoy walking in the day. But the season of rain and humidity is around the cover. You will need to take an umbrella with you when you go out soon.

Here in Yamate and Yamashita, roses are in full bloom. During the Golden week at the beginning of the month, there were no signs of flowers in the gardens. In these two weeks, the views have changed drastically from monotonous to colorful. A variety of roses are competing each other from their beauty. One of the gardens attracting visitors is harbor view park on the hill of Yamate. The rose garden boasts of 8,000 m3 in size, 1800 rose bushes from 80 varieties of roses are planted. The British residence, the former British Consul General's residence, looks beautiful with the roses

Walking around Minato Mirai

2011-04-25T20:47:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota. I am a registered tour guide living in Yokohama.
I have posted infrequently these days. I was out of shape during the winter because of cold winter. I am now getting better and I am waling in weekend once again.

The season of Cherry blossoms was over here. It is now in the Golden week, a week of national holidays. It could be nine days long holiday for some lucky guys. How are you guys doing this holiday season?

On May 5th, we celebrate Children day, a national holiday to wish for children's healthy growth. We fly carp streamers during the week. According to a chinese legend that only carp could swim up whitewater rapids and become dragons , they are considered a symbol of success. It was an ordinary sceenery that carp streamers are flying at this time of the year until the 1970s even in downtown Yokohama. You have a chance to see them flying when you visit Navios Yokohama near Red Brick Warehouser in Minato Mirai. Not a single carp. More than 10 carps are swiming.

At Yokohama Doll Museum near Yamashita Park, they are displaying Samurai Warrior dolls now. We have a custom to display the dolls at home at this time of the year to pray for our boys' success. The admission to the museum has been reduced to 300 yen an adult from 500 yen since this April. Please visit the museum and see their Samurai Warrior dolls selection and see carp streamers flying at Navios Yokohama near
Red Brick Warehouse.

Cherry Blossoms viewing, Kamonyama Park, Yokohama

2011-04-10T16:24:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota. I am a registered national tour guide and a native of downtown Yokohama.

Cherry Blossoms are now in full bloom. There are many places to view Cherry Blossoms. One of the famous places is Kamonyama Park near JR Sakuragi-cho Station. It is on the hill of Noge, where is about 15 minutes walk from the station.

This park was built in 1885 to commemorate Ii Naosuke, master chief of Tokugawa Shogunate for his contributions to conclude the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States. Following the treaty, trading seaport was open in Yokohama. The park was built on the hill of Noge where the port is observed. The statue of Ii Naosuke stands in the park looking towards the port. Unfortunately, you cannot see the port from the park as high-rise buildings in Minato Mirai district surround it now. The name of the park "Kamon" is after Ii's official title in the Imperial Court.

In the park of about 24,727 m2, about 200 cherry trees have been planted. At this time of year, people in the neighborhood come to view cherry blossoms and throw a viewing party under the trees. Some come to the park early in the morning to place a blue tarp to keep their place. They bring foods and drinks and enjoy them viewing blossoms with friends or families. It is common sight across the country.

In front of the park is Minato Mirai district. There was a shipyard in the area. Now it has been replaced by high rises and you cannot see the port from the park.

It was about 11 o'clock in the morning. Number of visitors were not many yet.
But there were some empty blue tarps or marks. That means the ground will be occupied with visitors soon.

Some come to the park early in the morning and place a tarp or draw a line to claim their territories :)

The bronze statue of Ii Naosuke is in the park. He was the master chief of the Tokugawa shogunate. He took initiates to conclude the treaty with the United States and end its closed door policy. Trading port was open in Yokohama following the treaty. He was later assassinated by a group of rebels who opposed it.

Five places to view Sakura in Yokohama

2011-04-01T21:12:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota. I am a registered national tour guide and a native of Yokohama, Japan.

Spring has finally come. Now Sakura, Cherry blossoms are starting to bloom here.
Following is my suggestion where to view Sakura in Yokohama.

No. 1 Sankeien Garden
In a Japanese style garden of 175,000 m3, you can view Sakura.
Address:58-1 Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Phone:045-621-0634
Website http://www.sankeien.or.jp
Hours: 9a.m to 5p.m( Ticket booth closes at 4:30p.m)
Closed on December 29th, 30th and 31st
Admission: 500yen for adults

No. 2 Negishi Shinrin Park
Negishi Shinrin Park is a huge open field of 181,339m3 and a perfect place to do catch-balls, jogging, taking a nap on grass, walking with dogs etc. You can enjoy viewing Sakura and observe how Japanese people do Sakura viewing party.

No. 3 Foreign General Cemetery
There are many cherry trees in the cemetery. The cherry blossoms in the cemetery are very beautiful. The beginning of April, when they are in full bloom, is one of the best times to visit. Near the grave of Ms. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, there is a cherry tree brought from the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, DC. She was an American writer, who lived in Yokohama about 100 years ago. Cherry trees in Washington DC were originally brought from Japan as a gift of good will by her suggestion over 100 years ago. A group of people who knew the fact worked on the U.S. government to allow them to bring a few trees back to Japan to plant near her grave. One of the trees was planted beside her grave. (Another one has been planted near the police station on Motomachi Main Street.) They were brought here about two decades ago.

No. 4 Iseyama Kotaijingu Shrine on the hill of Noge
It is 20 minutes on foot from Sakuraghi-cho station. Many visitors visit the area to view Sakura during the season. You may be impressed with the stillness of the place and the beauty of cherry blossoms in the precinct. If you are lucky, you may have a chance to see a Japanese wedding ceremony in the precinct.

No. 5 Honmoku Street
From Kominato through Honmoku Wadayama on the street, it is covered by Sakura blossoms and look pinkish in color. It may be nice to walk the section of about 1 km with viewing Sakura.

Weeping Sakura in bloom at Yamashita Park, Yokohama

2011-03-29T16:25:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota and I am a national tour guide and a native of Yokohama.

It's getting warmer day by day here. Spring is just around the corner.
Sakura, cherry blossom, has not started to bloom here yet. But you can see Sakura in bloom in front of the Hikawa Maru in Yamashita Park now.

When we talk "Sakura", it usually mean "Someiyoshino", a variety with slightly pink petals. But there are some varieties in Sakura and "Kanhi Zakura" , a variety with dark pink petals, which starts to bloom in March. Now you can see Cherry blossoms are out in front of the Hikawa Maru in Yamashita Park. They are a hybrid of "Someiyoshino" and "Kanhi Zakura". So it looks like they are "Someiyoshino" but they start to bloom earlier.

Their branches are weeping with a lot of blossoms and swollen buds.
I guess "Someiyoshino" will start to bloom in a few days.

Pony Center in Negishi Shinrin Park, Negishi, Yokohama

2011-02-27T22:04:00.008+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, I am a registered national tour guide and a native of Yokohama.

We had a warm weekend here. The temperature was above 20C or 68F in the day.
I walked to Negishi Shinrin Park in Negishi from my home in Honmoku in the morning of Sunday as I had not walked lately and wanted to see Plum blossoms.

Negishi Shinrin Park is located 20 minutes by car from Yamashita park and there once stood a horse racetrack where first western-style horse race was held in Japan about 140 years ago. Now the place is known as a beautiful park of 193,102 m2. There are about 340 cherry blossom trees in the park. In April, Many visitors come to the park to see Cherry blossom. In the park, There are Equine Museum of Japan and Pony Center adjacent to the park. In the Pony Center, there are about ten horses and ponies are fed. About 9 o'clock Sunday mornings, you can see they trot on the playing fields. For 15 minutes from 1:30 p.m. every Saturday, visitors can feed carrots to ponies. On the third Sunday of every month, children from 3 years old and before elementary school who visited the museum can ride on ponies and elementary school kids can ride on horses. The reception is from 1:30 p.m at the museum and you have to show a ticket. This month, the event is held on March 20. In April, the event is also held on April 3rd and 17th. I guess cherry blossom will start to bloom by the end of March. It will be nice to take your kids to the park to view Sakura and let them ride on the horses.

There are parking lots for 200 cars adjacent to the park. it is 300 yen for the first 2hours and 50 yen every 20 minutes after that on weekdays. 400 yen for the first 2hours and 100 yen every 30 minutes after that on Saturdays, Sundays and National holidays. During the season of Cherry blossoms, they are always full and not easy to park cars. Using public transport is strongly recommended. Get off at Takinoue bus stop by bus number 21 from JR Negishi Station or Motomachi near south exit of JR Ishikawa-cho station. Fare is 210 yen for adult and 110 yen for kids.

Start of New Year at Yokohama Chinatown, Yokohama

2011-02-09T06:32:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama.

February 3, 2011 is the new year day in Lunar Calendar. At Yokohama Chinatown, they cerebrated the year of Rabbit throughout the town and the streets were crowded with a bunch of visitors even though it was a weekday.

Especially at Kwan Tai Temple, there are a lot of people who came to offer prayers for new year. The temple was surrounded by smoke of burning incense sticks and bangs of chinese drum all the day.

They are cerebrating New Year days until Thursday,February 17, 2011. The streets are being decorated with new year decorations and its atmosphere.

The Nippon Maru, sailing ship, on NIppon Maru Memorial Park, Minato Mirai, Yokohama

2011-01-28T06:54:00.009+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Yesterday, January 27th, was the 81th anniversary of the commission of the Nippon Maru in 1930. The Nippon Maru was a sailing ship built to train young candidates as sailors. She trained about 11,500 sailors until she was decommissioned in 1984. She has been afloat on a man-made pond in Nippon Maru Memorial Park near the JR Sakuragicho station since 1985.

On the day of anniversary, the admission for the Nippon Maru and Yokohama Port Museum is free. I visited last year on the anniversary. At that time, people were making a long line to enter the ship to cerebrate the 80th anniversary and it was fully packed with visitors and I could not see inside well. But this time, I was able to enter without waiting in line. I was welcomed by captain's salute at the entrance. There are guides who once boarded her as trainees long long time ago and they are willing to answer every question you may have and tell funny episode during their training voyages.

I did not realize it when I visited last time but they have installed audio equipment here and there and give English audio guide. The rooms are displayed as they are being used now. It helps you imagine how the life of training would like. If you are interested in sailing ships, there is no doubt that this is a place to visit. If not, it would be nice place to take a photo of yourself and your family in front of the ship surrounded by stylish high rises in Minato Mirai Area.

The usual admission is 600yen for over 14 years old

Open: except New Year days and Mondays (Tuesday when Monday falls national holiday)
Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Web site : http://www.nippon-maru.or.jp/
Access : Five minutes from the JR Sakuragicho Station
15 minutes from the Bashamichi Station of the Minato Mirai Line

Yokohama Marine Tower's 50th anniversary, Yamashita, Yokohama

2011-01-20T07:18:00.017+09:00

Hello, it is January 20th. In the lunar old calendar, it is "Daikan" or the coldest day in winter. It is said it will be cold like that until the beginning of February.

50 years ago in January 15th, Yokohama Marine Tower was open as a lighthouse with observation deck above 100 meters. The tower was listed as the tallest lighthouse on the Guinness world record book until 2008 when it ceased the function as a lighthouse. (The elevation is 106 meters and the deck is located 91 meter above the ground. )

It has been loved by people of Yokohama as its landmark since then. I am a native of this area and feel home when the tower comes into my sight after returning from travels. I often hear many Yokohama native living here make the same remarks.

On the 50th anniversary day, we were able to enter the tower's observation deck
with just "50 yen". (It is usually 650 yen for adults). So many people were making a long line before the tower on the day to cerebrate. I was among them of course.

From the deck, you are able to see the view of the city 360 degree. On a clear day, you are able to see as far as the Hakone and Tanzawa range and the Boso Peninsula across the Tokyo Bay though I could not see them on the day.

On the 2nd floor where the elevators from the deck arrive, there is a souvenir shop and many Yokohama souvenir goods on the shelf. Among them is Silk Handkerchief. They were main products exported all over the world 100 years ago. It is still produced in the city. There are restaurants on the first floor. You can drink beer or cafe viewing street and the park at the open deck if you like.

On the first floor, a mozaic work made by a famouse Japanese painter Kiyoshi Yamashita, featuring Old days of Yokohama, and a light used until 2009 are displayed.

Address: Yamashita 15, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Hours : 10 a.m. through 10:30 p.m.
(Ticket booth closes at 10 p.m.)
Website:www.marinetower.jp/index.html
Access :
(Motomachi Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line)
2 minutes from Exit #2

What's happening in Yokohama this week

2011-01-14T06:43:00.003+09:00

Hello,

Yokohama Marine Tower was build on January 15th, fifty years ago.
This Saturday, they cerebrate 50th anniversary by offering "a 50 yen
admission" for every visitor. The normal admission for adult is
750 yen, 500 yen for high school/junior high school students and
250 yen for elementary school students. That is a good opportunity
to enjoy panoramic view of Yokohama from above 109 meters with
generous admission. Besides, they offer free soft drinks for the first
500 visitors.

Address: Yamashita 15, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Hours : 10 a.m. through 10:30 p.m.
(Ticket booth closes at 10 p.m.)
Website: http://www.marinetower.jp/index.html
Access :
(Motomachi Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line)
2 minutes from Exit #2

Have a nice weekend!

Ice Skate Rink at Akarenga Red Brick Warehouse, Yokohama

2011-01-12T20:16:00.008+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota. I am a registered national tour guide and a native of Yokohama, Japan.

It's been very cold this week across the country. We tend to stay home to avoid cold
weather and lack an opportunity of workout. However, Ice Skate Rink is open at Akarenga, Red Brick Warehouse this winter again. I went to the park in the morning of Sunday, January 9 for coffee with my friend. The rink was crowded with people who
enjoyed ice-skating.

The rink is 40 meter long and 23meter wide. It looks large at a quick look. But it is small for a large number of skaters during the weekends. It would be rather correct to use "Walk in through the crowd than "skate". But still it is very nice to skate in an open air setting. I started sweating in just 10 minutes.

The rink is open until Sunday, February 28th, 2011 except Wednesday, February 24th.

At ticket booth, Pairs of gloves are sold for 200 yen.

You can rent skate-shoes for 500 yen. Sizes are from 15 cm.

There was a fire department new year ceremony on the park. Fire engines including those from U.S. Navy were displayed next to the rink.

Also, there was a cos-play event in the building. you were able to see girls in cos-play dress.

Address: 1-1 Shinko, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Hours : 1 p.m. through 10 p.m. on weekdays
11 a.m. through 10 p.m. on weekends/national holidays
Close : Wednesday, February 24th, 2011.
Admission: 500 yen/Adults, 400 yen/Children
Shoes rental: 500 yen
Other note :There are coin operated lockers but they are small (about 30 cm wide, 30 cm height).There are no other facilities to keep your belongings.
Access :
[JR.Sakuragi-cho Station]
15 minutes through Kishamichi Promenade
by walk
[Nihon Odori Station of Minato Mirai line]
15 minutes by walk

Happy New Year from Honmoku Shrine, Honmoku, Yokohama

2011-01-05T20:34:00.014+09:00

Happy New Year!
I hope you have a wonderful and prosperous year.

I visited Honmoku Shrine in Honmoku during new year holidays.
The shrine is the biggest shrine in the Honmoku area with long history of more than 800 years. It was originally located on Honmoku Point surrounded by woods and called Honmoku Jyuniten Shrine until 1946, when the U.S.armed forces occupied Honmoku area and it was forced to relocate to another area. The Shrine finally moved to the current place in 1993 following exchange arrangement of plots after reversion of Honmoku Naval housing area from the United States. It is now located in a quiet residential area of Honmoku Wada with trees of Honmoku Sancho Park on its back.

On the New Year day, in spite of cold temperature, people are making a line of over 100 meters before Torii Gate to visit the shrine and pray. I needed to be in the line for 30 minutes until I reached the gate in a cold weather.

When I climbed the steep stairs to the precinct, I was welcomed by lion dances with festive music all performed by kids. Honmoku Shrine is the only shrine you can
watch those lion dances and traditional plays in the neighborhood. Many shrines play recorded festive music. But here, they are played live. There is a lesson class of those arts. The community of Honmoku has taught kids them in order to convey its tradition from generation to generation.

On the left from the main building, there is an office. After praying at the main building, people go to the office and draw omikuji, personal fortunes, buy omamori, lucky charms or ema, wooden tablets. Many hang omikuji on branches of trees in the precinct after reading them. Those who bought ema write down their wishes on them such as passing a school admission exam or succeeding love and hang on stands .

People visit Shrine during the first three days of the new year and Lion dances and other plays are during that period. The shrine is famous for a traditional event called Oumanagashi during summer festival in the first week of August. This is another chance to see Japanese tradition in person.

Address: 19 Honmoku Wada, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Website: http://www.honmoku.or.jp (Japanese)
Access :
[Yokohama Station]
Expected time: approx.40 minutes
There is a bus terminal on east side of the station next to Sogo department store.
From stand No.2, take bus #58 and get off at Sannotani. Turn right at the corner of
Denny's. The Shrine is just the end of the road.
[JR.Sakuragi-cho Station]
Expected time: approx.30 minutes
There is a bus terminal in front of the station.
Take bus #58 from stand No.2, bus #99 from stand No.8, or bus #101 from stand No.1 and get off at Sannotani. Turn right at the corner of Denny's. The Shrine is just the end of the road.
[JR.Ishikawa-cho Station South Exit]
Expected time: approx.25 minutes
Go up the street toward Motomachi, cross the main street and turn right.
There is Motomachi bus-stop.
Take bus #99 or #101 and get off at Sannotani. Turn right at the corner of Denny's. The Shrine is just the end of the road.
[JR.Negishi Station]
Expected time: approx.20 minutes
Take bus #58, #99, or #101 from bus stand #1 in front of the station.
Get off at Sannotani and turn left at the corner of Denny's. The Shrine is just the end of the road.

Skygarden of Yokohama Landmark Tower, Minato Mirai 21 district, Yokohama

2010-12-13T06:15:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

The end of the year is around the corner. I decided to go to the the Landmark Tower Sky
Garden, the observatory floor of Yokohama Landmark Tower, which is as high as 273m above the ground as the combination ticket for the exhibition of Dogas at Yokohama Museum Art and Sky Garden, which is going to expire the end of this month.

The building was built on Minato Mirai 21 district in 1993. Yokohama Landmark Tower is the 3rd tallest building next to Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree, both in Tokyo. The tower houses a hotel and offices. It is now a landmark of downtown Yokohama. There is a shopping mall "Landmark Plaza" beside it. The buildings are crowded with visitors throughout the year.

The observatory floor is on the 69th floor of the tower. It is 273m above the ground and
commands a panoramic view of the city and neighboring areas as far as Hakone Mountains. You can view the Mt. Fuji on a clear day. You go up in an elevator to go to the floor, which travels in 40 seconds with max speed of 750m per minute. Because of the pressure, you have a slight earache in the ear shortly after it starts to go up.

There is a coffee shop and souvenir shops on the floor.
Around the foot of the tower, you can see the view of buildings of Minato Mirai 21 district such as Pacifico Yokohama, Redbrick Warehouse, Amusement park etc.
Sky Garden is open from 10 a.m. thru 9 p.m. throughout the year.

Admission
Adult( 18 to 64 years old) 1,000 yen
Senior citizen and High school student 800 yen
Child 500 yen

Western-style houses "World Christmas 2010", Yamate, Yokohama

2010-12-06T06:42:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide and a native of Yokohama.

Since Wednesday, December 1, World Christmas 2010, exhibitions of Christmas is held at eight western-style houses in Yamate, Yokohama now.

This year, Christmas decorations with image of Hungary, U.K., Poland, Swiss, Finland, German, Belgian and Japan, are exhibited. Yamate was a foreign settlement from 1867 until 1899 and traders and their families who came to Japan after Port of Yokohama was open lived there. In the area, schools, churches, hospitals and a consulate office and other buildings were built for them in western-style. Troops from France and U.K. were stationed on the area where harbor view park is now located to protect them. Even after the area was returned to Japan's control, many foreigners remained there for a long time. With those buildings, Yamate area has exotic atmosphere and lures many visitors who want to enjoy it throughout the year.

Those western-style houses were residences of wealthy foreign traders or a residence of British consular. The event is held from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at following locations until Saturday, December 25, 2010. On December 22, 23 and 24, they are open until 7 p.m.

British House Yokohama
Bluff No.111
Bluff No.234
Ehrisman Residence
Berrick Hall
Bluff No.68
Bluff No.18
Diplomat's house

Foliage on Sankeien Garden, Honmoku, Yokohama

2010-11-29T06:05:00.007+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota. I am a registered national tour guide and a native of Yokohama.

Trees on the roads have turned yellow or blown here in Yokohama. The season of foliage is now on the peak. Sankeien Garden is one of the best place to see foliage of leaves in a quiet setting in downtown Yokohama. A crowd of people have been visiting the garden to enjoy beautiful foliage now.

The garden was built in a vast area of valleys facing a beach in Honmoku by a wealthy silk trader Sankei Hara. He gathered old buildings like a Pagoda, thatched roof house, etc. from Kyoto and Kamakura and opened it to public in 1906. Ten buildings out of them are national designated important cultural assets. You will be surprised that such a still place exists in the city area. The garden is known as a place you can enjoy Sakura, or cherry blossoms and you may have visited it in April. If you have never visited it in the season of foliage, I encourage you to visit Sankeien Garden.

Those houses were used by Sankei Hara, a wealthy silk trader, as his residence and guest houses to host famous artists or politicians.

A carpet of fallen ginkgo leaves

A bud of camellia/ Throughout the year, there are always some folowers or blossoms in bloom at the garden.

Wedding ceremonies are often held in the garden. The couple in this picture is posing before a camera crew who took pictures for their wedding.

There is a large farmer's house with a thatched roof in the garden. You can enter the building and see how people in the rural area lived until about 150 years ago.

Sankeien Garden
58-1 Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Phone:045-621-0634
http://www.sankeien.or.jp
Hours: 9a.m to 5p.m( Ticket booth closes at 4:30p.m)
Closed on December 29th, 30th and 31st
Admission: 500yen for adults
200yen for children
300yen for senior citizens old and older than 65
Access:
From JR.Yokohama Station(East Exit) Line:
Bus #8 and #148, 3 minutes walk from Honmoku Sankeien Mae Bus stop.
From JR.Negishi Station of the JR.Negishi/Keihin Tohoku Line:
Bus #58, #99 and #101, 7 minutes walk from Honmoku Bus stop.
From JR.Sakuragi-cho Station of the JR.Negishi/Keihin Tohoku Line:
Bus #8 and #148, 3 minutes walk from Homoku Sankeien Mae Bus stop.
From Motomachi Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line:
Exit #4, Bus #8 and #148 3minutes walk from Honmoku Sankeien Mae Bus stop.
Parking lots: available

Yokohama Museum of Art, Minato Mirai, Yokohama

2010-11-18T21:11:00.009+09:00

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Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide and a native of Yokohama.

Right now, at Yokohama Museum of Art, exhibition of Edgar Degas, a impressionist painter, is being held until December 31st. The exhibition shows 120pieces of his works. The museum is located in front of Yokohama Landmark Tower across the street in Minato Mirai 21 area.

The museum was built in 1989 and they have a rich collection of works from western artists like Dali, Milo, Picasso and Cezanne as well as Japanese artists like Taikan Yokohama and Seison Maeda. There are a section for photograph and sculptures. Sculptures are placed on the stairs here and there. Sculptures made by Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese American are exhibited on the second permanent exhibition floor.

They hold special exhibitions like this one very often.
There are cafe and museum shops on the first floor, where you can enjoy coffee after watching those artworks and shopping of stationary calendars, souvenirs of Yokohama or books on art.

Admission for Edgar Degas exhibition:
Adults 1,500 yen / College & High school students 1,200 yen /
Junior High 600 yen

They are selling a special ticket for the exhibition with admission
to Skygarden of Yokohama Landmark Tower for 2,000.- The admission to
Skygarden is 1,000 yen. You can go to the top floor of the tower and
view the whole view of the city by paying 500 yen. I think it is a good
buy. You can use the ticket for Skygarden at another day until December
31. Of course I bought it and I will go to the tower later.

Hours: 10 a.m - 6 p.m closed on Thursdays or Friday when it falls on a national holiday.
10 a.m - 8 p.m on Fridays

Access: 3 minute-walk from Minato Mirai Station Exit #3 on the Minato Mirai Line,
10 minute-walk from JR Sakuragi-cho Station on the Negishi Line.

Western section of the regular exhibition floor

Japanese art section of the regular exhibition floor

Author posing with a Munch's figure at the Museum shop

There is Museum cafe just next to the shop.

Bashamichi, Horse-Drawn Carriage Road, Kannai, Yokohama

2010-11-12T21:31:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am a registered national tour guide and a native of Yokohama.

On November 3, there was a festival on Bashamichi, Kannai. There were street restaurants of various foods, shops selling products of Yokohama and neighboring cities, portrait painters, etc. Visitors are making a long line to wait to ride in a rickshaw or a horse-drawn carriage.

Bashamichi, or Horse-Drawn Carriage Road, was built in 1866 to connect Kaigan-dori, the harbor road and Yoshidabashi bridge at teh entrance of Isezaki shopping street. The street is called Bashamichi in Japanese, which means Horse-Drawn Carriage Road, because the road was wide enough for carriages.

The port area was surrounded by canals and the access to the area was strictly controlled. People has to pass through check gates when they go inside. There was a gate near Yoshidabashi bridge. It is said 80% of visitors entered or exited crossed the bridge. Bashamichi bustled. The street was extended to Bankokubashi bridge when the nation's first quay capable of berthing large ships was built, which is Shinko Pier now.

The Yokohama Specie Bank head office was built at the corner of Bashamichi and Minami-naka street. Bashamichi was a show window of Western things. It was Bashamichi, the first photo studio was set up and the first shop of Ice cream was open. Also the street is know as the street illuminated by Japan's first gas lamps.

What's going on this weekend in Yokohama

2010-10-22T21:16:00.002+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota and I am a registered national tour guide and a Yokohama native.

It is expected to be fine and as hot as 25 C or 73F this weekend here Yokohama.
Following is the event of this weekend:

Yamate Cathoric Church Charity and Bazaar
At Yamate Cathoric Church on Yamate, Charity and Bazarr is held from 11 a.m to 3 p.m., Saturday on Oct 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24.

Sail drill on the Nippon Maru, Nippon Maru Memorial Park
Sail drill is held from 10:30 to 11:30 and from 15:00 to 16:00, Sunday, Oct. 24
on the sailing ship the Nippon Maru near JR. Sakuragi-cho Station.

Yokohama India Culture Festival
At Port Opening Memorial Hall, Culture event of India is held from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. There are classes of Art, Yoga, making chai, foods, etc.
Place: Port Opening Memorial Hall
Access: 3 minutes from Nihon Odori Station of the Minato Mirai Line

Have a nice weekend!

Grand Sumo Exhibition Tour in Yokohama

2010-10-21T08:52:00.008+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota. I am a registered national tour guide and a Yokohama native.
This Sunday there was a Grand Sumo Exhibition at Yokohama Bunka Taikukan, or Yokohama Culture Stadium in Kannai, Yokohama. Grand Sumo Tournaments are held six time a year at Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka. Between the tournaments, Sumo wrestlers travel across the country to show Sumo in the tours.

I went to the exhibition with my American friend, who is a big fan of Sumo for more than a decade. The exhibition starts from 8 o'clock in the morning and end at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. There is a photograph and autograph session with Rikishi, or Sumo wrestlers at the entrance hall, where fans are making a long line to take a photo. At the ring, wrestlers were practicing Butsukari-Geiko, a practice one wrestler tries to hold the attacker as he slides backward toward the edge. We had a chance to look at famous wrestler such as Hakuho, a Yokozuna who is Mongolian, Balto, a Georgian and Koto-Oshu, a Bulgarian as close as a few meters on the floor.

There is a session famous wrestlers fight with kids in a humorous way followed by exhibitions of doing wrestler's hair, Sumo Jinku, or Sumo Songs by wrestlers and Shokkiri, or Comic Sumo which shows prohibited techniques such as slapping a face and kicking knees by two wrestlers in a comical way. We bought a meal box and canned beers and had them while the show. From 2 o'clock a tournament starts after the Yokozuna entering Dohyo ritual.

There were many foreign audiences to see the exhibition. Some of them come with their small kids. I am very sorry that the kids got bored and many of the families had to leave by the time the tournament starts. It may be boring for kids but viewing Sumo from the close distance is a great opportunity to know Japan's culture. So I hope many families come to show their children Sumo.

We bought a ticket on the 2nd floor for 5,000 yen. A seat on the floor is more than 10,000 yen. I think a seat on the 2nd floor is good enough to enjoy it. If yo go to Ryogoku Kokugikan, or Ryogoku Sumo Stadium, you can buy a ticket of similar seats just for 2,000 yen. But at exhibition tours, you can watch practice session and other interesting stuffs. I think it is worth visiting if Sumo Exhibition Tours come to your town. I think they will come to Yokohama around this time of next year again.

At the entrance hall, photograph session is held. Audiences are making a long line to take a photograph with Rikishi, or Sumo wrestlers.

Practice is shown to the audiences on the ring. Wrestlers are doing Butsukari geiko to warm up their bodys during the time. They do practice very hard like that every day.

"Hakuho", a Yokozuna Champion, is participating the practice.

Georgian wrestler "Balto". At the exhibition tours, audiences are able to see those cerebrities from a few meters away.

Doing hair of popular Japanese wrestler "Takamisakari"
It shows how to do Sumot wrestler's knot.

2010-10-16T08:36:00.004+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota and I am a registered national tour guide and a Yokohama native.

The Sun is setting early and it is getting cool day by day. Ginko nuts are falling on Yamashita street. Weather will be fine and there are many event around Yamashita Park this weekend. Following is the event of this weekend:

Yokohama Oktoberfest at Akarenga Park
On the space of 4,400m2 with 1,902 seats (648 seats inside the tent and 1,254 outside) is Oktoberfest, a German beer festival, held.You can drink German beer and some local brewed beer enjoying foods.
Dates: Friday, Oct.1 thru Sunday, Oct.17,2010
Hours: Saturdays, Sundays and Oct.11 11:00 -21:00
Weekdays 12:00- 21:00
Place: Akarenga Park
admission: 200 yen
Access: 15minutes from Jr. Sakuragi-cho Station
6minutes from Nihon Odori Station of the Minato Mirai Line.

Motomachi Food Fair
At Motomachi Naka Shopping Street, or Craftman street, Restaurants on the street have food stands at some places on the street around Motomachi Plaza, Daikan-zaka slope and Shiokumi-zaka slope. You can enjoy foods such as French, Chinese, Japanese and Italian offered by the restaurants at cheaper price.

Dates: Saturday, Oct.16 and Sunday, Oct.17, 2010
Hours: 18:15- 21:30
Place: Motomachi Naka Shopping Street, one street off Motomachi Shopping Street
Access: 3minutes from Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line
or 5minutes from Ishikawa-cho Station of the JR.Negishi Line.

Diwali in Yokohama 2010/ The Festival of Lights
At Yamashita Park, Diwali, the event of Indian New Year is held.
As usual, Indian restaurants from Yokohama area have stands to offer Indian
foods and beverages. Musics and dances, traditional and new like Bollywood dances are performed in the park.
Dates: Saturday, Oct.16 and Sunday, Oct.17, 2010
Hours: 10:00 - 20:00
Place: Yamashita Park
Access: 5 minutes from Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line
Website: http://www.imayokohama.org/whatnew.html

Yokohama International Festa
At Zounohana Park and Hatoba Kaikan building, an event of food and entertainment is held.
Dates: Saturday, Oct.16 and Sunday, Oct.17, 2010
Hours: 10:30 - 17:00
Place: Zounohana Park and Hatoba Kaikan Building
Access: 5 minutes from Nihon Odori Station of the Minato Mirai Line

Have a nice weekend!

Always: Sunset on third street, Yokohama Doll Museum

2010-10-13T17:34:00.007+09:00

Hello I am Shinya Ota. I am a registered national tour guide and a Yokohama native.

Now at the special exhibition room of Yokohama Doll Museum, exhibition of miniatures by a group "Rougans" or presbyopia in English is held until Sunday, October 24, 2010. The group is lead by the Director of the Museum, Koji Ishizaka, also famous as an actor.

The exhibition room is filled with exquisite miniatures and dioramas made by the group. Many of their works feature people and life of Showa era in the 1950s. (Showa is the era when Hirohito was an emperor. ) The 30s of the showa era or around the 1950s was when Japan was poor but people were living with hope that their life would be improved. One of the work titled " Suzuki Auto" features a set of movie "Always:Sunset on third Street", the movie which depicts people's life in Tokyo when Tokyo Tower was being constructed. If you are a fan of miniature models or interested in the era, please visit the museum.

Inside the special exhibition room

Suzuki Auto featuring a set from movie title "Always:Sunset on third street"

Diorama featuring Hong Kong

Diorama featuring the Yokohama landing by Commodore Perry and his troops

The Yokohama Doll Museum
Place: 18 Yamashita-cho, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Tel:045-671-9361
Hours: 10:00 - 18:30
Closed on the third Monday of the month
Admission: free for special exhibition at Special exhibition hall.
Webpage: http://www.museum.or.jp/yokohama-doll-museum/

2010-10-09T06:18:00.002+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide and a Yokohama native.
This weekend, we have a lot of events across the central area.

Yokohama Oktoberfest at Akarenga Park
On the space of 4,400m2 with 1,902 seats (648 seats inside the tent and 1,254 outside) is Oktoberfest, a German beer festival, held.You can drink German beer and some local brewed beer enjoying foods.
Date: Friday, Oct.1 thru Sunday, Oct.17,2010
Time: Saturdays, Sundays and Oct.11 11:00 -21:00
Weekdays 12:00- 21:00
Place: Akarenga Park
admission: 200 yen
Access: 15minutes from Jr. Sakuragi-cho Station
6minutes from Nihon Odori Station of the Minato Mirai Line.

Double Ten Day, National day of Taiwan in Yokohama Chinatown
October 10 is the national day of Republic of China or Taiwan.
On the ground of Yokohama Overseas Chinese School, event of Chinese traditional
performances will be held from 12:30 to 15:00, followed by parade on the same
site from 15:30 to 16:40. Yokohama Overseas Chinese School stands next to Kwan Tai
temple. Also lion dance will be performed across the streets from 17:30 to 20:00

Date: Sunday, Oct.10, 2010
Time: 12:30 - 20:00
Place: Yokohama Overseas Chinese School and streets of Yokohama Chinatown.

World Festa Yokohama 2010
At Yamashita Park, restaurants and shops of various countries come. You can enjoy
foods and drinks from various countries on the open air setting. Also Dances and musics from Apec member countries will be performed cerebrating hosting Apec meeting this November.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct.10, 2010
Time: 10:00 - 17:00
Place : Yamashita Park near Motomachi Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line.

Yokohama Jazz Promenade
At various places in Central area, Jazz concerts will be held this weekend.
There are paid indoor concerts. Followings concerts will be held outside and
free.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct.10, 2010
Time: 12:00 - 16:30
Place: Motomachi Shopping streets, Isezaki Shopping Mall, Bashamichi Streets,
JR.Kannai Station South Exit near City Hall, Zounohana Park, World Porters,
Queens Park, Dock Yard Garden

On Saturday, Oct. 9, as part of the event, a Dixie Jazz Band Parade starts from
Nippon Maru Memorial Park near JR.Sakuragi-cho Station at 13:00 towards World
Porters along Kishamichi Promenade.

Have a nice weekend!

The Amsterdam at Osanbashi Pier

2010-10-06T11:08:00.004+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide and a Yokohama native.

This morning The Amsterdam, a 62,000ton passenger vessel, arrived at the Yokohama
International Passenger Terminal or Osanbashi Pier. Some US.Vets who stationed in
Yokohama in the 1950 may know it by the name of "South Pier".

She arrived before 9 o'clock from Sendai, a city on the Northeast coast.
The passengers were welcomed by the performance of Taiko Drum
from the roof of the terminal, which is called "the back of whale" from
its wavy shape. The pier has two 450meter berths. But It looked small as
she fully occupied the berth from the end to the other end. From the pier,
there is port cruise by a restaurant boat "Royal Wing" four times a day.
(For more information, visit royalwing.co.jp They have a English web page)
Depending on the season, a boat to Izu islands off Izu Peninsula leaves
from the pier.

The pier has a terminal building which houses checking counters for passengers,
Customs,Immigration, Quarantine, souvenir shops, coffee shop, information counter
and a restaurant. The Events like Hawaiian dance, concerts, flea markets are
often held in the floor and the terminal is visited by many people throughout
the year whether a ship stays or not.

This month following vessels will come to Yokohama.

From 14:00 on Oct.12 to 12:00 on Oct 14 The Fuji Maru
From 10:00 to 15:00 on Oct.19 The Pacific Venus
From 23:30 on Oct.20 to 15:00 on Oct.25 The Oceanic

Map of Osanbashi Pier

Passengers looking towards passenger terminals

The back of Whale.... It is called so because of its wavy roof.

Information center on the floor, which is sleepy on weekdays is busy with passengers.

Street towards downtown

October in Yokohama and What is going on this weekend

2010-10-02T08:35:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota. I am a registered national tour guide, and a native of Yokohama. I have not posted in my blog nearly a month. I was awfully busy with my final projectvat a IT school near Yokohama station. I learned web-programming and related technology so that I can catch up with the IT world for the next decade. I hope.
Now the school is finished. It started from July when the Summer season arrived and ended as the season was over. It is October now, the season of Fall.

I walked Yamashita Park street yesterday. This is one of my favourite street to walk in the morning. It was the following day of long rain. I saw a few ginkgo leaves and fruits scattered on the road, a sign of changing season. With a month or so, the color of the street will turn to brown with foliage of ginkgo trees.

October is a good season to visit Yokohama and spend a weekend there because there are a lot of event waiting for you. following is the event of this weekend:

Yokohama Oktoberfest at Akarenga Park
On the space of 4,400m2 with 1,902 seats (648 seats inside the tent and 1,254 outside) is Oktoberfest, a German beer festival, held.You can drink German beer and some local brewed beer enjoying foods.
Date: Friday, Oct.1 thru Sunday, Oct.17,2010
Time: Saturdays, Sundays and Oct.11 11:00 -21:00
Weekdays 12:00- 21:00
Place: Akarenga Park
admission: 200 yen
Access: 15minutes from Jr. Sakuragi-cho Station
6minutes from Nihon Odori Station of the Minato Mirai Line.

Noge Daidogei Autumn Festival
At Noge district near Sakuragi-cho Station, street performance event is held this weekend. You can have a chance to see a lot of Japanese street performers and their performance in a place.
Date: Saturday, Oct.2 and Sunday, Oct.3, 2010
Time: 11:00 - 16:00
Place: Noge district
Access: 6minutes from Sakuragi-cho Station of JR Line or Subway Blue-line

Isezaki Shopping Mall Big Band Jazz
At Isezaki shopping mall Jazz bands perform Jazz musics. Noge is just 7minutes walk from there. If you visit Noge Daidogei this Saturday, it will be nice choice to visit there too.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010
Time: 12:00 - 16:30
Place : Isezaki Shopping Mall
Access: 5minutes from Kannai Stations of JR Line or Subway Blue-line

Have a nice weekend!

Nissan Gallary near Yokohama Station, Yokohama

2010-09-12T17:47:00.011+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.
I have seen a lot of police officers standing almost every corner of the streets on Minato Mirai and neignboring areas these days. They are wearing bullet-proof jackets with different prefecture names from ours. They are from Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima. They have been deployed all the way to Yokohama to strengthen security until APEC summit meeting this November. The number of police will increase more for the meeting which hosts chiefs of the countries like presidents and prime ministers in the Pacific Asian Areas. I saw a police officer from another prefecture was being asked for directions by a woman on the road. He was answering to her question how to get somewhere in the place he had arrived just a few days ago. Thank you, Officer for your hard work!

You may know Nissan Motor, a car maker, relocated its headquarters from Ginza, Tokyo to Yokohama this June. They have a new building on Minato Mirai just across the river from Yokohama Station. I visited there this Saturday to see the floor open to public.

The floor is called "Nissan Gallery" officially. In the middle of the hall, a large display video panel is sitting and some 40 cars are displayed around. Many are ones we often see on the road. Some are vehicles sold only in the North America or Middle east. Beside the luxurious car, which costs 12,600AED (AED must be a currency unit in the UAE. But I have no idea how much it is...), I found a small car, which is a bit smaller than Rover Mini, but the body looks heavy for its size. It weighs some 1,000kg. It is an electric vehicle named "Tama". It was used as taxi in the 1950. It runs at a speed of 35.2km an hour and for 96.3km. The car was designed in 1947, when electricity was in abundant supply in spite of chronic shortage of oil. That was a fresh surprise that an electric vehicle was developed long time ago, produced on commercial basis and they ran on the street.

The staff members are very friendly and always glad to answer any questions about the cars on the floor even in English. They have a coffee shop, and a souvenir shop in the floor. The coffee is just 260 yen a cup. Nissan Gallery is the nice place to spend a part of your weekend if you like motor cars.

The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. They are closed on the first Monday of the second Monday of the month. But it is not fixed when to close. It would be better to check at www.nissan.co.jp/GALLERY/ beforehand. It is located on the east side of Yokohama station. There is a bridge which connects between the building and Yokohama station near YCAT. It is just 3 minutes from Yokohama station.

The staff members there are very friendly and glad to answer any questions about the cars.

This is a car sold only in the middle east. It costs 12,000 AED. I don' t have any idea how much it is actually.

The Tama is an electric vehicle used in the 1950 as taxi. It is not a hybrid.
Look at inside!... very simple...

The history of the company and their products are written on the wall. The end of the hall is there a coffee shop.

What will happen this weekend?

2010-08-27T06:14:00.003+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Following events will be held this weekend

Yamashita Area

"Japan viewed by second generation Japanese American solders " at Japan Overseas Migration Museum
Hours: 10a.m. -6 p.m.
Date : until Sunday, September 26. except Mondays

At this event, they display various photos and materials to show us how "Nisei" or second generation Japanese American solders who stationed surrendered Japan viewed Japan.
Access : About 10 minutes from Bashamichi station on the Minato Mirai Line or 15 minutes from JR.Sakuragi-cho station
Admission: Free

Until Sunday, August 29, 2010
Beach in Akarenga soko, or Red Brick Warehouse Park
At the park, a beach of 36 meter long and 18 meter wide
has appeared. Some 87 tons of sand were brought from Brisbane,
Australia. Also, a swimming pool for kids is placed near the
beach.

Negishi open base Bon Odori Festival, Negishi, Yokoham

2010-08-22T17:29:00.009+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

At Negishi housing area of the US Naval Base, Bon Odori Festival was held and the area was open to public Saturday afternoon. I have visited the event every year except last year, when I was out of town. One of the reasons why I visited there was beer. I like beer very much. At the event, there were many food stands which sell various kind of American beer, micro-brewed ones. I would buy some foods and drink some cups of beer sitting on the bench in front of the stage where music band plays musics. I was looking forward to it this time. But what happened this year!! There are a few stands which sell beer!! Those stands sold only canned Haineken..Cheering up, I decided to eat a hot dog and wash it down with coke. ..and then... oh my..I found my digital camera became dead all of sudden.
Absolutely,it was not my day....

The housing area is adjacent to the Negishi Shinrin Park. The park used to be a horse racing track and the part of the track is still controlled by the navy. The observation stand sit on the naval housing area.

In spite of hot weather, many people living near the area came to the event. Until two years ago, we had many stands which sold American beer. But this year, only a few stands sold beer but Dutch ones.

You can buy foods and drinks either by US.dollar or Yen at the
rate of 100 yen to one dollar.

A navy sailors band played and sang music at the stage until it got dark and Bon Odori dancing started.

What will happen this weekend?

2010-08-20T06:59:00.004+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Following events will be held this weekend

Yokohama Farmers market at Minato Mirai
Hours: 9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
Date : Sunday, August 22, 2010
This event is held at the fourth Sunday of the
month. Farmers in Yokohama get together to sell
their produce harvested in Yokohama from Tomatoes
to strawberries to Ice Cream.

Place: Takashima Chuo Koen Park
5-2 Minato Mirai
From exit #4 Shintakashima Station of the Minato
Mirai Line, 2 minutes by walk

Negishi Bon-odori- U.S. Naval Negishi Housing Area
Hours: 3 p.m.- 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2010
(The event will be cancelled and held on Sunday, August 22 in case
of rain. )
The Naval Negishi housing Area is open for Japanese for Bon
Odori dancing event. A band from U.S.Navy performs music and
American style foods and Beers are sold at food stands.

Place: Negishi Community Center Parking lots
Access: Bus #21 or #103 from JR. Sakuragi-cho bus terminal
get off at Yamamoto-cho Yoncho-me bus stop
There is a sign-board of "U.S. Naval fleet" near the
bus stop.

"Japan viewed by second generation Japanese American solders " at Japan Overseas Migration Museum
Hours: 10a.m. -6 p.m.
Date : until Sunday, September 26. except Mondays

At this event, they display various photos and materials to show us how "Nisei" or second generation Japanese American solders who stationed surrendered Japan viewed Japan.
Access : About 10 minutes from Bashamichi station on the Minato Mirai Line or 15 minutes from JR.Sakuragi-cho station
Admission: Free

Beach on Red Brick Warehouse, Yokohama

2010-08-18T13:43:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

The holiday week was over. However, hot summer of over 35C or 95F has continued now with no sign of slowing down the heat.

Now at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Park, a beach with sands from Brisbane, Australia is open until Sunday, August 29. The beach is a full of families with little kids playing on the beach. A large swimming pool for kids are sitting besides the beach. Kids are enjoying playing with water. If you have little kids, it would be nice to take them there and let them play.

A beach of 36m in length and 18m in width with 87 tons of sands has appeared on the park.

The sands were brought from Brisbane, Australia.

Motomachi swimming pool in Motomachi Park, Yokohama

2010-08-15T16:59:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Today is August 15 and in the week of "Obon". Everybody travels to their hometown or make a vacation trip this week. Airports and train stations are crowded with those travelers. Cars are bumper to bumper on many of national highways. I am Yokohama native and I do not like to travel during a peak season. I go to swim at Motomachi Swimming pool in the morning and relax drinking in the afternoon. That is how I spend my obon holiday for these 10 years.

I posted about Motomachi Swimming Pool last month. I have received a lot of inquiries for further information. I will write about the pool once again.

The pool is located in Motomachi Park near Motomachi shopping streets and the Foreign Cemetery. A brick factory and waterworks ran by Frenchman A. Gerald stood there about 140 years ago. The site was near the Yamate bluff and a place fresh water wells out.

The outdoor swimming pool was built in 1930 because of the abundant water from the bluff and has been loved by people since then. If I remember correctly they use spring water for the pool. The water in the pool is a bit cool. It doesn't smell like Chlorine, a distinctive smell of swimming pools.It has 8 lanes in the 50 meter long pool. Depth at the both end is 1.2 meter and maximum depth is 1.4 meter.

The pool is located near Motomachi shopping streets. If you go from Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line, Use Exit #5, walk toward Motomachi shopping street, turn left at Motomachi Square building and Gap and walk along the Foreign Cemetery.( Do not go up the slope on the left, which leads to Yamate Area. ) It is about 5 minutes.

Open: Saturday, July 10 through Sunday, September 5th, 2010.
Hours : 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 200 yen/ hour
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 300 yen/ hour (night hours)

Note:
Yokohama Pool Octopus Point card
You can get a stamp on the card every time you visit. You can swim an hour free for 12 visits or two hours free for 20 visits.(Ask staff members for details);
Coupon book
A 1,000 yen coupon book for 6 hours and a 1,500 yen coupon book for night hours are sold. The coupons are good until September
2013. They are not refundable;

Facilities
The facilities are very old though they are maintained well;

locker
You need to have a 10 yen coin to use a locker in the locker room. ( I wish they had a bigger lockers. The lockers are small. it is like a shoe-box. You need to keep your bag as much as you can);

Visitors with tatto are accepted
Different from other municipal pools, visitors with tatto are allowed to use this pool;

Address: Motomachi 1-77-4, Naka Ward, Yokohama
Phone: 045-651-7123 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 045-651-7123 end_of_the_skype_highlighting(Japanese only)I

What will happen this weekend?

2010-08-12T08:25:00.003+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

This weekend following events will happen:

Yokohama Chinatown
Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15, 2010
Kitamon Festival will be held at North
gate of Yokohama Chinatown.
From 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.on August 14, Kun Fu shoes throwing
contest is held in front of the gate. They compete how far
they can throw their Kun Fu shoes by foot. There are men,
women and couple sections to compete. Everyone can
participate in the competition by paying 1,500 yen each.
(2,000 yen for a couple. ) Winners are awarded by 50,000 yen in
cash.

Kitamon or north gate is the gate near Yokohama Stadium and Naka
Ward office.

Honmoku Area
Thursday, August 12 - Monday, August 16, 2010
Sankeien Garden
Old Japanese style buildings used as residence are now being open
to public at Sankeien Garden. You can enter inside of buildings called "Kakushoukaku" and "Hakuuntei", both built in the early 20th century during the period.

Yamashita Area
Until Sunday, August 29, 2010
Beach in Akarenga soko, or Red Brick Warehouse Park
At the park, a beach of 36 meter long and 18 meter wide
has appeared. Some 87 tons of sand were brought from Brisbane,
Australia.

Summer Festival at Honmoku Shrine, Honmoku, Yokohama

2010-08-08T22:01:00.016+09:00

Hello I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

The rainy season was over and it is August, the month of activities. This weekend, summer festivals were held throughout the country. The Summer festivals are held at this time of year. We have Shinto dancing performances, Bon Odori dancing, enjoy eating at food stalls and playing games at game stands at shrines and carry Mikoshi or Portable Shrines on our shoulders through the streets of our communities. Many Japanese spend their weekend traditional way during the weekend.

At Honmoku Shrine in Honmoku there was a summer festival. On Saturday evening, there was Okagura or Shinto dance performance. In the same precinct, street vendors sold street foods such as cotton candy, Okonomiyaki pancakes, Yakisoba fried noodles. Kids enjoyed goldfish scooping or shooting games. The place was filled with smell of sweets, sauce from Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba. They are staples for the festivals. Japanese share the experience of Summer festivals. Many adults remember fondly the smell.

The following morning, people in the neighborhood put on traditional Matsuri cloths and carried portable shrines on the streets of Honmoku. There are 6 communities in the neighbor of the shrine and each community has its Mikoshi. They got together, followed the same route and showed off briskness by carrying their Mikoshi vigorously under the scorching sun.

Many communities often use recorded music during the procession. But at Honmoku, they played festival music live. That is part of
their pride of community with long history more than 400 years.

In the presinct of the shrine, there are street food stalls of shaved ice, fried noodels, pancakes and game stands.

Kids try to catch goldfish using scooper made of thin paper.

They carry portable shrines on their shoulders across the streets.

Each community has its own portable shrine and the members wear their community's Matsuri cloths distinct from other communities.

A flot of Matsuri musicians. They play the drum, the flute, etc, live for Matsuri.

Shishi, or Lion.. He pretend to bit human's head. Those who are bitten are believed to live healthy.

What will happen this weekend?

2010-08-05T22:48:00.003+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama.

This weekend following events will be held:

Ouma Nagashi at Honmoku Shrine
Saturday, August 7 - Sunday, August 8, 2010
They transport a straw figure in the shape of
horse to the sea in Honmoku and release to the
sea. Ouma Nagashi has been held for more
than 400 years now. From 6 p.m. on Saturday, Kagura ,
or Shrine dance and music is performed at the precinct.
People in the area carry Portable shrines on Honmoku streets
on Sunday around 10 a.m. through 2 p.m.

Address:19 Honmoku Wada, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
From JR.Sakuragi-cho Station
Bus terminal at Minato Mirai exit
Bus #101 from platform no.1, #58 platform no. 2,
or #99 platform no.8. get off at Sannotani bus-stop
From JR Negishi Station
Bus #58 bound for Yokohama or Sakuragi-cho station,
#101 for Sengen-Shako. get off at Sannnotani bus-stop

Summer Festival at Motomachi Itsukushima Shrine
Sunday, August 8, 2010
They carry portable shrines across the Motomachi shopping street
around noon on Sunday.

Bon Odori at YC&AC
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, August 7 - Sunday, August 8, 2010
The ground of an international sports community will be open
for public for Bon Odori, Summer traditonal dancing event.
address: 11-1, Mameguchi-dai, Naka-Ward, Yokohama
Website

Portuguese sailing ship Sagres visited Yokohama

2010-08-01T21:51:00.003+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Last week, Portuguese Nave training ship Sagres visited Port of Yokohama on her around the world voyage, which started January 19th, 2010. She stayed at a pier near Japan Coast Guard base and was open to public on 25th. I did not know about her visit. I happened to find her on my way home from the farmer market, about which I posted on this blog last week.

She started her voyage from Lisbon this January and visited ports on South American nations and San Diego, the United States before Japan. She visited Japan to commemorate the 150 anniversary of Peace treaty between Portugal and Japan.

She was built in Hamburg, Germany in 1937 and has been used as sail training ship after purchased by Portuguese Navy in 1962.

She left Yokohama for Shanghai on July 28th. She will visit Macao and South Asian countries and complete here commission this December.

My brother Toshi poses on deck. The ship is maintained perfect.

Is he holding a real one?

The kitchen room. What will they have this evening?

What will happen this weekend?

2010-07-29T22:22:00.002+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

This weekend following events will be held at Yokohama Central area:

Morning Glory exhibition at Sankeien Garden, Honmoku
300 pots of Morning Glories are now exhibited in the
garden. The flowers have been loved by Japanese as a flower
of Summer since Edo period. They bloom early in the morning and close its flowers by noon.
Place:Sankeien Garden
Date:Wednesday, July 28 through Sunday, August 1.
Hours: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Fire works at Minato Mirai
8,000 fireworks will be displayed at Minato Mirai Area. It is one of the most famous events in Yokohama and many people come to see
the spectacular event from Tokyo, Kawasaki and other areas near Yokohama.
Place: Rinko Park near Pacifico Yokohama, Minato Mirai
Date : Sunday, August 1, 2010
Hours: 7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Farmers market at Minato Mirai, Yokohama

2010-07-25T13:16:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

This morning, a farmer was held at Takashima Chuo Koen Park in Minato Mirai district from 9 a.m. Farmers in Yokohama come to the park to sell their produce once a month at the fourth Sunday. It has been held since last year. I like farmers market very much because we can buy fresh vegetables, fruits, and products such as ice cream, pickles and bottled jams in season at reasonable price, and enjoy conversation with farmers. They are willing to give us tips like how to cook.

What they sell changes every month. This time, there were eight farmers and they sold water melons, bitter melons, tomatoes, egg plants, small green papers.

I bought a bag of water spinach at 100 yen , egg plant at 150 yen and 300g of small tomatoes at 150 yen. They are sold at 200 yen, 250 yen and 500 yen respectively if you bought at a super market.

You will be surprised to know wide variety of vegetables are produced in the city. Many of the farmers join the market regularly.
but some join irregularly. At the market held in May, there was a ice cream shop by a dairy farmer from Totsuka ward and they sell a delicious ice cream. I hope they will come back soon.

The Farmers market is held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the forth Sunday of the month at Takashima Chuo Koen Park near Marinos town, a home ground of soccer team F. Marinos Yokohama.

Small tomatoes are just 50 yen per 100g

Bitter melons are in season. Indespensable ingredient when you make Goya Champuru, an Okinawan popular dish.

View Takashima Chuo Koen Park in a larger map

What will happen this weekend in Yokohama

2010-07-23T10:01:00.002+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

This weekend following events will be held:

Lotus flower viewing at Sankeien Garden
Hours: from 6 a.m.-
Date : Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25, 2010

Yokohama Farmers market at Minato Mirai
Hours: 9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
Date : Sunday, July 25, 2010
This event is held at the fourth Sunday of the
month. Farmers in Yokohama get together to sell
their produce harvested in Yokohama from Tomatoes
to strawberries to Ice Cream.

Place: Takashima Chuo Koen Park
5-2 Minato Mirai
From exit #4 Shintakashima Station of the Minato
Mirai Line, 2 minutes by walk

Lotus flowers viewing at Sankeien Garden, Yokohama

2010-07-18T08:13:00.007+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

The rainy season has ended. Days of high summer will follow. At this time of year, many ponds in Japanese gardens are covered with lotus flowers. They bloom in the dawn, close their petals by noon and fall in four days. They have been regarded as sacred flowers in Asia because of the neat and clean appearance since ancient times.

At Sankeien Garden, they are opening its garden at 6 a.m. on weekends so visitors can view lotus flowers. I visited the garden at 7 o'clock last Saturday. There were many visitors who came to see the flowers and the lotus pond was surrounded by them. I was just wondered what I did come to see, people or flowers? Anyway, it was nice to see beautiful flowers in the morning fresh air. Regrettable thing is wooden traditional houses in the garden were closed and we were not able to see inside. (They are open from 9 o'clock. )

The Morning Lotus Flowers Viewing
Date : July 19, July 24 and July 25.
Hours: from 6 o'clock
Admission: 500 yen
Parking lot: available 500 yen/ parking
Using public transportation is recommended as parking space is limited.
Website: Sankeien English
Access :
from Yokohama Station
Take bus #8 or #148 at East exit bus terminal near
Sogo department store and get off at Honmoku Sankeien
3 minutes from the bus stop.
Fare : 210 yen
from Sakuragi-cho Station of Subway line or the JR Negishi line
Take bus #8 or #148 at bus terminal and get off at Honmoku
Sankeien
3 minutes from the bus stop.
Fare : 210 yen
from Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line
Take bus #8 or #148 at Yamashita bus stop near exit #4
and get off at Honmoku Sankeien
3 minutes from the bus stop.
Fare : 210 yen

What will happen this weekend?

2010-07-16T06:57:00.004+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

This weekend, following events will be held at Yokohama

Aloha Yokohama 2010
Artists perform hawaian musics or dances. Hawaian shops and
restaurants open in the terminal building during the period.
Place : Osanbashi Pier International Passenger Terminal
and surrounding areas such as Landmark Plaza and World
Porters.
Date : Friday, July 16 - Monday, July 19, 2010
(At Landmark Plaza and World Porters, from Saturday, July 17
through Monday, July 19.)
Hours: 2 p.m.- 8 p.m. Friday
10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday
(At Landmark Plaza and World Porters, from Saturday, July 17
through Monday, July 19.)

Lotus Flowers viewing
Lotus flowers are now in bloom. The flowers are known as they burst into flower in the early morning. Sankeien will open from 6 a.m. on weekends and Holidays during the period.
Place: Sankeien Garden, Yokohama
Date : Saturdays, Sundays and July 19 from July 10 - Jul.25
Hours: from 6 a.m.

Yokohama Port Fireworks show3,000 fireworks will be set off at Yamashita Park
Place: Yamashita Park
Date : Sunday, July 18, 2010
Hours: 7 p.m.-

Motomachi Swimming Pool at Motomachi, Yokohama

2010-07-11T08:39:00.012+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Motomachi Swimming Pool opened on Saturday, July 10th. I was looking forward the day for a long time. Looks many other people were looking forward,too. There was a lot of people at the entrance when I got there though it was 15 minutes before the open.

The pool is located in Motomachi Park, where was the site a Frenchman A. Gerald' ran a brick factory and Waterworks about 140 years ago. The site was near the Yamate bluff and a place fresh water wells out. He built storage tanks using bricks produced at his factory, connected them by a pipeline between the waterworks and the bank of the canal, and supplied water to ships. The remains of the facility is designated as a national cultural asset and preserved near the park.

The outdoor swimming pool was built in 1930 because of the abundant water from the bluff and has been loved by people since then. (I am not sure whether they use spring water or tap water now. But the water in the pool is a bit cool.) It is a 50 meter-pool with 8 lanes and maximum depth of 1.4 meter.

The pool is located near Motomachi shopping streets. If you go from Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line, Use Exit #5, walk toward Motomachi shopping street, turn left at Motomachi Square building and Gap and walk along the Foreign Cemetery.( Do not go up the slope on the left, which leads to Yamate Area. ) It is about 5 minutes.

Open: Saturday, July 10 through Sunday, September 5th, 2010.
Hours : 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 200 yen/ hour
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 300 yen/ hour (night hours)
Note:
Yokohama Pool Octopus Point card
You can get a stamp on the card every time you visit. You can swim an hour free for 12 visits or two hours free for 20 visits.(Ask staff members for details);
A 1,000 yen coupon book for 6 hours and a 1,500 yen coupon book for 6 night hours are sold;
The facilities are very old though they are maintained well;
You need to have a 10 yen coin to use a locker in the locker room. ( The lockers are small. it is like a shoe-box. )

Address: Motomachi 1-77-4, Naka Ward, Yokohama
Phone: 045-651-7123 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 045-651-7123 end_of_the_skype_highlighting(Japanese only)

Guided tour at Yokohama Power Station, Yokohama

2010-07-04T16:48:00.017+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Now Factory tours are the craze in Japan. Here in Yokohama, there is a large industrial area in Tsurumi Ward, where is just across the port by the bay bridge from Yamashita. There are many large factories in the vast area along the Tokyo Bay. Right now four companies have guided tours in the Ward. They are Tokyo Electric Power, Tokyo Gas, Nissan Motors and Kirin Brewery.

I went to Yokohama Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power with my brother Toshi by my car from Honmoku through the Bay bridge. If you get there via Yokohama Station, it takes about 40 minutes. But it is just 10 minutes through the Bay Bridge.

The tour started at 10:30 a.m. In the tour of 90 minutes, we watched a video about history of our lives with electricity at a small theater, saw a scale model of the station, generators, operation room and went up to the top of the exhaust tower to see the view of the city.

The tour guide gave us the whole image about the station by a scale model on the floor.

They have eight generators and distribute electricity to half of households in Yokohama. The eight generators are housed in a large building. The length of the building is about 330meters. That is as long as the flight deck of USS.George Washington.

The operation room is controlled by a team of four staff members 24/7. I wanted to take a picture of the room. But it was prohibited.

We moved to the exhaust tower by an electric mini-bus.

We went up the tower of 200 meters by the elevator, which climbs the tower in 2 minutes.

From the observation deck, you can see the view of the city and Mt.Fuji. Unfortunately, it was foggy and we were not able to see
the mountain.

It is a good idea to visit the station on a sunny Sunday and see the view. It is free. They have no English guided tours. So you should visit with your friends who speaks Japanese and interprets.

Summer purification rite at Motomachi Itsukushima Shrine, Motomachi, Yokohama

2010-07-01T20:18:00.007+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Today it is July 1st. The first half of year has ended. Time flies like an arrow, doesn't it? The rainy season will end in about three weeks. Then, Summer, a season of outdoor activities will start.

Motomachi is known for its fashionable shopping streets across the country. But only a few knows there is a Shinto shrine. That is Motomachi Itsukushima Shrine. It is located one street off the main street and enshrines goddesses and has been worshipped by people of Motomachi.

Every half a year on June 30th and December 31st, a ritual to drive evil spirit out is held at the shrine and people in the neighborhood come to join the rite. They purify themselves and pass through a ring made of straw and circle around three times. The concepts of pure and impure are the main characteristics of the religion and have cultural importance for many of us in our life even in the 21st century.

The rite started at 6 p.m. We make an offertory at the reception.
There is no written rule on how much we should pay. Most of the participants pay 1,000 yen. Some pay 10,000 yen. (I wondered if they are just rich or they have some large evil to drive out??) I followed the majority. A copy of prayer, and an envelop are handed to each participant. In the envelop, a paper doll and pieces of tiny square paper like confetti are contained.

The procedure of the rite is like this:
The priest recites ritual prayers beside the ring. We follow him by reading the copy. Then he wave leaves of Camellia over us. We pull a paper doll out of the envelop, put it over our body and breathe on it praying evils be out. We sprinkle the confetti over the body and shake them off to the ground. We put the doll into the empty envelop and pass it to the priest. ( I guess he will burn them later. ) We go through the ring three times following the priest. At the end, we visit the main building of the shrine and pray.

I wish I could take photos of each process. But I was busy with
the rite. (I seriously thought I wanted to turn around my life this year by the help of indigenous gods and goddesses. )

The rite finished in half an hour. I joined the rite first time. I am a new face for all of the other. It seems they are living in the neighborhoods and knows each other. It is another refreshing discovery that even in the middle of the city a close-knitted community exists.

It is getting hot day by day from now. I hope you enjoy summer season without any accidents .

The shrine is located on Motomachi Naka street, a backstreet of Motomachi main street. On this August 8th, they will hold the summer festival and carry Mikoshiportable shrines around the streets.

Beer Street on Yamate, Yokohama

2010-06-25T04:51:00.012+09:00

(left:Well used from 1885 to 1901 Right:Debris of brewery)

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.
It is humid and hot. According to the weather forecast, we will have a lot of rain during this rainy season and it is likely to be hotter on average this summer. Now at the end of the day, we want to satisfy our throats with well-chilled beer. Summer is the season we appreciate it the most.

There is a street called Bier-Sake Dori, or Beer Street on Yamate. There used to be a brewery, which was originally built and run by a Norway-born American Mr. William Copeland(1834- 1902). He had acquired technique of brewing beer in Norway. He arrived in Japan in 1864. In 1870, he started a brewery called Spring Valley Brewery at Kitagata village near Yamate street, where there was an ample supply of well water. The beer made there was shipped across the country but he could not make ends meet and his brewery was taken over by the Japan Brewery Company in 1885. The company launched sale of beer under the brand of "Kirin" in 1888. (The Japan Brewery Company was taken over by Kirin Brewery Co.,LTD. in 1907.) The Factory in Kitagata was used until 1923 when the Great Kanto Earthquake hit and devastated the area and it ceased operation.

There is now an elementary school on the site the factory once stood. Now few would know there was the first brewery in the nation and a birth place of the brand "Kirin" if there were not a giant stone monument and the unique name of the street. There are a few wells used at the time. You can see one of them on the ground of the school near the street, which was used from 1885 to 1901.

Mr. Copeland is resting on the ground of the Foreign Cemetery with his wife. There is Bluff garden, a garden cafe just across the Foreign Cemetery on Yamate street. Every year around this time, it becomes Beer garden. It may not be a bad idea to drink a glass of draft beer thanking Mr.Copeland for his dedication to the brewery, which leads to the great brand.

The Brewery existed on the site now Kitagata Elementary school stands.

The street along the school is named Bier Sake Dori, or Beer street after the brewery.

There is a large stone monument to commemorate the brewery, and debris of the brewery on Kirin park next to the school.

There is Bier Sake Dori down the slop on the left at Bluff Clinic near Ehrismann Residence if you go down Yamate bluff street from Harbor view park toward Yamate Catholic church.

Bluff Garden is open as a beer garden restaurant from June 19 until around September this year.

2010 Yamate Seiyokan Festa June, Yamate, Yokohama

2010-06-16T17:59:00.008+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Since last Saturday on June 12, an event of flower arrangements and table settings "2010 Yamate Seiyokan Festa June" is held at seven old western style houses on Yamate, Yokohama.

Many foreigners were living on Yamate Area since the area was assigned a foreign settlement in 1867. Since then, they built houses, churches, hospitals, schools, consulates, etc., on the hill. Some of those old houses are preserved and known as " Seiyo Kan" or western style house. There are seven houses on Yamate: British House Yokohama, the former British Consular General's residence; Bluff #111, House of Mr. Laffin; Bluff #234, an apartment; Ehrismann Residence, a Swiss trader's house; Berrick Hall, a Englishman's house and used as a dormitory later; Bluff #18, a former residence of Yamate Catholic Church priest; Uchida House, the home of a Diplomat. I visited all of them last Saturday and this Wednesday. Some were designed by a famous architect, some are in Spanish style. All of them were built a long time ago but maintained in a good order. They are located along Yamate street from Harbor View Hill Park to Italian Garden within a range of 30 minutes walk distance. I recommend you start early in the morning to avoid scorching sun.
Open : 9:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. from Saturday, June 12 through Sunday, June 20, 2010.
Admission : fee

Bluff #111

British House Yokohama

Bluff #234

Ehrismann residence

Berrick Hall

Uchida House

Bluff #18

African Festa 2010 in Yokohama, Red Brick Warehouse, Yokohama

2010-06-14T10:59:00.020+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Monday start with rain and this is a start of rainy season in Yokohama area. We need to go through a month-long rainy season until the middle of July.

Last weekend on Jun 12 and 13, there was AFRICAN FESTA 2010 at Red Brick Warehouse, an event in which more than 50 non-profit organizations, some 30 embassies from African nations and many businesses to introduce African culture, life and problems the continent is facing. I did not realize we had such an event. But my brother told me about it and we decided to visit there together.

At the main stage on the site,musics were played and groups of dancers danced. We walked through Yamashita Park toward Red Brick Warehouse. From around Yamasita Park, we could hear the sound of African music played at the stage.

We got there by noon, the site was crowded with visitors.

At section of embassy booth, staff members wear their own countries' ethnic clothes.

I saw a Japanese woman at fair trade section, who wear Kimono but with African pattern. It looks nice on her.

At fair trade section, hand-made dolls and various products were sold.

At food sections, there were about 20 restaurants. you could eat African foods from various African countries there.
We ate grilled chicken and Ethiopian dish. We washed them down by South African beer and Ichiban Shibori beer. Unfortunately, the photograph does not show the image of the dish by strong sunshine.
(The guy with beer bottles is my brother "Toshi". He is a man of free spirits)

You could take a picture of yourself in African dress. I wish I could....

Rica chan fashion contest at Y151, Yamashita, Yokohama

2010-06-10T08:44:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

On the previous post, I wrote about the anniversary event of port opening Y151. At the last day of the event, "Rica-chan doll" fashion contest was held at Yamashita Park. Some of the readers may not know about Rica-chan doll. It is a popular doll loved by girls for more than 40 years. She is a Japanese answer to Barbie dolls of the United States. She is in "her 40's" now. Her appearance is very different from Barbie: She is not skinny like a supermodel; she looks soft. They show cultural differences between the United States and Japan. But anyway, they both have been loved for a long time now. When Rica-chan became 40 years old, the Yokohama Doll Museum and Motomachi shopping street designed "Motomachi Rica- chan". A version of Rica-chan doll wearing clothes of Motomachi brands. She wears Jacket and skirt of "Fukuzo", bringing a handbag of "Kitamura" and a loaf of French bread of "Ponpadour", those are famous shops in Motomachi. When they launched the sale of the version, it is said about 1,000 dolls were sold in a single day. I think this shows how she is loved and also how strong the brand image of Motomachi is.

At the contest, there were seven contestants. they are students of fashion design school. They designed clothes for Rica Chan doll in a future. A group of the students designs her clothes using Japanese kimono with belief that we would stick to our tradition and culture even in a distant future. one designs clothes like a astronaut suit, another Eco-friendly clothes using remnants of clothes. The winner won the assortment package of Kitamura and cokes for a year. (I would be glad that I could get only cokes for a year!!)

Following is a event held this weekend:

[Firefly Evening]
*Saturday, June 5- Sunday, June 13, 2010
At Sankeien Garden, during the event, the garden is open until 8 p.m.
Open : 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. Admission : 500 yen
Access: Bus from JR.Negishi Station

Cosplay event at Y151, Yokohama

2010-06-07T09:37:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Last weekend, here in Yokohama Central town, we had various events to celebrate the 151th anniversary of the port opening at Yamashita, Yamate, Chinatown, Motomachi, Kannai and Bashamichi. I walked around Yamate, Yamashita and Motomachi areas on last Sunday. I ran into young guys on the streets or at parks in a weird costume like a figure from animations or comic books is wearing. I saw them at Harbor View Hill Park, on the Yamate main street, Motomachi Park and Yamashita Park. I later learned that there was a Cosplay event at the area. They are walking the streets of those areas, enjoy chatting with friends, posing for photographs. It looks they are enjoying the occasion emensely.

It is not that surprising to me now. But I remembered I was not able to believe my eyes when I encountered young guys in such costumes first time a few years ago. Usually they gather at a convention hall or a park to enjoy don costumes. But this event is held not only in a limited area of a park, but covers large areas of town as its venue. I guess it is the first event of this sort ever held in that point. Someone told me that Yokohama is one of the places they often choose to gather.

The definition of cosplay from Wikipedia:
Cosplay , short for "costume play", is type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan. Favorite sources include manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies.

France-Yama Hill, Yamate, Yokohama

2010-06-02T09:21:00.014+09:00

Hello. My name is Shinya Ota, and I am a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Today, June 2nd, is the anniversary of the opening of the Port of Yokohama. Public schools in Yokohama are closed. Children's admission is free at the Yokohama Doll Museum, Sankeien Garden, Marine Tower, Landmark Tower Observation Deck and the Nippon Maru. Admission is free for everyone at the Yokohama Archives of History, Zoorasia and Kanazawa Zoo.

The port was opened in 1859 following the treaty signed with the United States. At that time, the samurai ruled the country, and there was disagreement among the samurai as to whether they should simply expel the "barbarians" or open the country to them, acquire the latest Western technology and maintain their independence. The former movement was lead by several regional feudal clans, such as the Satsuma clan in Kyushu and the Choshu clan in western Honshu, who attempted to overthrow the central government, which supported the latter course of action. Conservative samurai did not appreciate the foreign presence in Japan, and a number of foreigners fell victim to these rebels.

Britain and France sent marines to Yokohama to protect their citizens, stationing them on the Yamate hill, where they had command of the foreign settlement and the port. The French marines were stationed on the hill near the British camp from 1863 until 1875. The French Consulate was built on the same site in 1894 and was in use until the 1940s. The site was purchased from France by the City of Yokohama, and it built the present park, naming it France-Yama. The remains of the consulate, which was destroyed by fire, still stand halfway up the hill.

The ruins of the Consulate and a replica of the windmill.

A windmill was used to raise water from the well. (As there are no documented historical references regarding the appearance of the original windmill, the one which stands here now was designed with reference to other windmills used at the time in Yamate.

At the foot of the hill, an iron framework from "Pavillon Baltard", the central market in Paris, (1860s through 1973) is displayed.

On the wall near the main gate to the park, where the main building of the consulate stood, a medallion of the Republic of France placed on the building is displayed.

The France Yama is a part of the Harbor View Hill Park and
open:
6 a.m.- 7 p.m. on April through September;
7 a.m.- 6 p.m. on October, November, February and March;
7 a.m.- 5 p.m. on December and January

What's going on this weekend

2010-05-29T07:29:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Now at the rose garden in Yamashita Park, roses are blooming in full.

Following events are held this weekend

[Display of Clock presented by Commodore Perry]
*Saturday, May 29- Sunday, June 6, 2010 except Mondays.
At Yokohama Archives of History, a clock presented by Commodore Perry to a Samurai at Shimoda magistrate office in 1854 is displayed. The clock of 33.5 by 24.5 cm in size works by a spring.
Open: 9:30 a.m- 5:00 p.m.
Admission: 200 yen
Access : 5minutes walk from Nihon Odori Station of the Minato Mirai Line.

[The Nippon Maru in full sail]
*Sunday, May 30, The sailing ship Nippon Maru is displayed in full sail at Nippon Maru Memorial Park,Minato Mirai.
You can see her sails being unfurled from 10:30 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. and furled from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

[Azalea Bonsai Exhibition]
*Sunday, May 23- Sunday, June 6, 2010
At Sankeien Garden, some 100 bonsai miniture tree pots of Azalea are displayed.
Open : 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission : 500 yen
Access: Bus from JR.Negishi Station

[Yokohama Dragon Boat Race]
*Saturdays & Sundays, May 22, 23, 29, 30, 2010
From 9 a.m.
On water in front of Yamashita Park, about 200 teams of Chinese dragon boat fight for championship during the four days.
Access : 10minutes walk from Nihon Odori Station of the Minato Mirai Line or 15 minutes walk from Kannai Station of the JR. Negishi Line.

[Port Opening Anniversary]
*Saturday, May 29- Sunday, May 30 & Wednesday, June 2, 2010
At Rinko Park on Minato Mirai, which is sitting behind the Convention Center Pacifico Yokohama, Events like concerts, food festival and Fire works are held.

#1. World Kitchen: Restaurants of various ethnic food get together
Open : 10:00- on May 29 and May 30

#2. YES Yokohama Entertainment Showcase
At Queen's stage on Queeen's Park next to Queen's, dance performances are held
Open : Noon- 8 p.m. on May 29 and May 30
* Be careful this is not held at Rinko Park.

#3. Tour on MSDF vessel Shirayuki
The vessel is open for public at Shinko pier #8
Open : 10 a.m.- Noon, 15:30 p.m.- 5 p.m. on May 29
9 a.m.- Noon on May 30
Access: 15 minute-walk from JR.Sakuragi-cho Station of the JR.Negishi Line. Shinko pier #8 is near to the shopping mall World Porters and Rinko Park.

Have a nice weekend!

Western style house #111 on Yamate, Yokohama

2010-05-24T07:16:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan. Last weekend, there were a lot of events in Yokohama like dragon boat race at Yamashita Park, farmers market at Minato Mirai and Azalea Exhibition at Sankeien Garden. I hope many of readers saw some of those events. I missed a chance to see any of them because I was out of town.

So I have nothing to report.....Sorry...Let me show you some of pictures of Yamate Western house #111, which I visited last week.

The Western house #111 was designed and built by J.H.Morgan as a house of a wealthy English money exchanger Mr. Ruffin in 1926. Originally it stood at another area of Yamate and was moved to Harbor View Park after it was purchased by the city in 1996.

You cannot see it but there is a large void in the hallway and it is surrounded by a corridor on the second floor, from where you can look down the hallway. That makes the space look very spacious.

There are flower arrangements here and there in the house.

The back side of the house is used as a cafe shop "Enoki Tei" and many women are spending their off time gracefully by chatting with friends or reading a book.

Blossoms are in full bloom and they are giving off nice smell.
I often see the blooms at this time of year. I do not know what their name is. Don't you know the name? If so, please let me know.

The British Residence Yokohama, Yamate, Yokohama

2010-05-19T20:16:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

At the previous posting, I wrote about roses at the Harbor View Hill Park on Yamate. The park stood on where the British consulate General and the British camp were once located. There are no traces of them except the Residence of the British Consul General.
That is present the British Residence Yokohama behind the rose garden of the park. The ferroconcrete building was built in 1937 by English engineers from Shanghai using imported materials on the land overlooking the harbor. The City bought the residence from the Britain when they closed it and it is open to public as conference rooms or event halls.

[Event of This weekends]
[the 12th Isezaki Pottery Charity Bazaar]
*Until Sunday, May 23, 2010
Open : 10:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.( 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. on May 23)
In front of Yurindo book store at Isezaki Shopping Mall, now Isezaki Pottery Charity Bazaar is held. Pieces of pottery from ten famouse places like Arita and Imari are sold at prices from 100 yen to 100,000 yen.
Access: five minutes from JR.Kannai Station or Kannai Station of Subway Blue Line.

[Azalea Bonsai Exhibition]
*Sunday, May 23- Sunday, June 6, 2010
At Sankeien Garden, some 100 bonsai miniature tree pots of Azalea are displayed.
Open : 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission : 500 yen
Access: Bus from JR.Negishi Station

[Yokohama Dragon Boat Race]
*Saturdays & Sundays, May 22, 23, 29, 30, 2010
On water in front of Yamashita Park, about 200 teams of Chinese dragon boat fight for championship during the four days.

[Minato Mirai Farmers Market]
*Sunday, May 23, 2010
Open: 9 a.m.- 10 a.m.
At Takashima Chuo Park across the street from Marinos Town, Minato Mirai,some ten farmers across Yokohama sell their produce like vegetables, fruits, jams, ice creams and homemade breads.
Access:
Shintakashima Station of the Minato Mirai Line Exit #4, 2minutes ; Yokohama Station East Exit, 16 minutes; Sakuragi-cho Station, 20 minutes.

Have a nice weekend!

Roses on the Harbor View Hill Park, Yamate, Yokohama

2010-05-17T04:40:00.007+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Roses are the flower of Yokohama city and there are many gardens of roses around Yamate area. Now roses have started to bloom here. During the last weekend, a lot of visitors came to see roses on the Harbor View Hill Park. On the garden of 5,000 square meters, over 20 species of roses like Princess Diana, Victor Hugo and White Christmas are in full bloom. There was a British army camp back in the 1860 there and a British consular behind the park. You can see the view of harbor and the Bay Bridge from the park.

Access: 10 minutes from Exit #5 Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line

Lunch at Yokohama Chinatown, Yokohama

2010-05-11T20:02:00.007+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

At lunch time on weekends, Yokohama Chinatown are crowded with tourists. But on weekdays, it is crowded with office workers from adjacent offices, who come to have lunch with their co-workers. Many restaurants offer set meals for lunch time on weekdays. We call those today's specials "RANCHI"(RAN-chi) in Japanese. The today's specials come with a Chinese dish, a cup of soup and a small serving of Chinese pickles, sometime a small serving of a fruit. They orders a different today's special each and share those dishes each other. If you have lunch with two other co-workers, you can eat three different dishes. (Restaurants have three to four choices at most.) A today's special is around 700 yen to 1,000 yen. When I worked near there, I used to have lunch at the town twice a week. The taste, quality and price are different at each restaurant, needless to say. My favourite restaurant is Jukei-hanten or Chungkin Restaurant, a Szechwan style Chinese restaurant, famous for spicy dishes. Their today's specials are a bit expensive but cheap for its quality. A Szechwan Spicy Bean Curd is one of their signature dishes. They have three restaurants in Yokohama Chinatown. I like a restaurant on Peking Ru near main street because of its quiet atmosphere. They have a today's special on weekdays. You can eat at 1,000yen to 1,500 yen each. They are served until 2 p.m from 11 a.m. at most of restaurants during weekdays.

Followings are what I took yesterday at Yokohama Chinatown.

Walking from Sakuragi-cho Station to Yamashita Park

2010-05-10T07:24:00.007+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

We are now in good season to enjoy weekend outside. It sets in a rainy season in June. Some tips on walking around Yokohama.

View Weekend Walks in Yokohama #1 in a larger map

This is a short range walk, just about 5km. It would be a walk of just two to three hours. Good enough if you want to enjoy walking
lightly in the morning before sunshine is not getting strong.

Sakuragi-cho Station
The first railroad was built between Shinbashi, Tokyo and Yokohama.
Sakuragi-cho Station is the end of the line.
Sakuragi means cherry trees... But no cherry trees around here??

There is Nippon Maru Memorial Park across the street from the station. Nippon Maru is a sailing ship used to train seamen's colleges students.

Near Nippon Maru Memorial Park starts Kishamichi Promenade. It was a railroad leads to Red Brick Warehouse.

You can see the view of Minato Mirai area from the promenade.

On the left side is World Porters, a shopping mall.

At the end of the promenade stands an Anchore for a large oiler which weighs 25tons.

Red Brick Warehouse....they are called AKA-RENGA-SOKO in Japanese. They were used as warehouse until the 1980s. Now the warehouses are used as a shopping mall and event halls.

Inside the warehouse

Zounohana Park across the brige from Red Brick Warehouse
... good place to rest if you are tired

View of Osanbashi Pier from Zounohana Park

View of Red Brick Warehouse from Zounohana Park

Old building... I believe it has stood there for more than 50 years. There were many building like that in the are when I was a kid.

Near Osanbashi Pier

On the roof of Osanbashi Pier, there was a wedding.
You can have a good 360 degree view of Yokohama Port from there.

Street of Yamashita Park

Yamashita Park The Hikawa Maru, a passenger boat, is mooring, now used as a museum.

A bizzare statue... a Human's head with western hairdo .. The first western style barber open here in Yokohama. Before the 1860s, men wore a topknot.

Statue of goddess, a fountain presented from the City of San Diego,
a destination of this walk. Motomachi Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line and the East gate of Yokohama Chinatown is across
the street from the statue.

The Yokohama Parade, Yamashita, Yokohama & What is going on this weekend

2010-05-04T15:54:00.009+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

We have sunny happy golden week here this year. We have rain on the day of the Yokohama Parade very often. We are lucky this year.

The Yokohama Parade is the 58th time this year since it was first held in 1953 to cerebrate the remarkable recovery of Yokohama and Japan from the war. The 1st parade was just a procession of U.S.military vehicles, fire engines and military bands, according to my dad memory. My memory was a lot of colorful floats of rich companies in the 1980s, when Japan was becoming No.2 in the world economy. Many of those colorful floats have disappeared in these ten years. But we still have many kind of groups in the parade like samba dancers, people of the Andes in traditional clothes, Korean folk dancers and Chinese lion dancers,among others. Those made the parade really like what we are about. Plus the float of Yokohama Bay Stars, the baseball team of our town.(I hope they would do better this year ...)

The parade started from Yamashita Park and went to Isezaki-cho through Red Brick Warehouse and Bashamichi Street. I watched the parade just in front of Hotel Montrey on Yamashita Street,standing there in the crowd during the parade. Many visitors brought a ground sheet or a folding chair to sit on. I stood there about two hours. My legs went numb by the time I began to walk again. I should have come earlier to get good place with a folding chair. Next time...

This weekend we have following events:
Yokohama Fashion Week 2010, Red Brick Warehouse #1
Saturday, May 1 - Sunday May 16
Silk Scarves in different designs are displayed.
11 a.m -5 p.m.on May 5, 14, 15 and 16, you can try a silk weaving
(Material fee 500 yen)

LE VOLANT MOTOR SHOW, Red Brick Warehouse
10 a.m - 5 p.m., Sunday, May 9
The newest cars from various car makers around the world are displayed.

Yokohama Hawaii Festival 2010, Pacifico Yokohama Convention Hall
10 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 8
10 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 9
Admission: 500 yen
The event of Hula dances, Hawaii musics, foods, etc.
Access : Five minutes walk from Minato Mirai Station of the Minato Mirai Line.

Enjoy Yokohama this weekend!

The Curry Exhibition in Yokohama 2010, Red Brick Warehouse and Event News this week

2010-05-02T13:59:00.011+09:00

Hello, How are you doing? I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

We are in Golden Week, a Spring holiday, from April 29th until May 5th here in Japan. Fortunately it will be sunny during the holiday. As I informed earlier, The Curry Exhibition 2010 is held at Red Brick Warehouse. About ten curry restaurants and shops sell curry dishes and other foods like Samosa, a fried potatoes snack; a Tandoori Chicken; an Indian beer; croquettes, etc. The area around Yamashita Park are crowded with visitors from early morning. I got Red Brick Warehouse by 10 a.m. There were Japanese Curry shops, Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese, among others. I bought cups of vegetable curry, bean-curry, chicken curry and an Indian bread. (A small cup of curry costs 300yen to 500yen. Looks a bit small. But it is an enough portion if you try various curry dishes.) I sat on a seat in a tent. But sitting on the turf near the venue and enjoyed eating the foods might be another good choice. I tried about 6 different curry dishes. I liked a vegetable curry by a Nepalese restaurant, which was not so busy. It was spicy, rich flavor, but not salty. I did not like a spinach curry by an Indian restaurant. That tasted blunt for me. The restaurant was crowded all the time. I do not know why... Anyway, I enjoyed the foods and beer. This is my first day of the holiday. A good start!

The Curry Exhibition is finished today. But tomorrow on May 3rd, there is the Yokohama Parade. Floats with colorful decorations and marching bands parade from Yamashita Park to Isezaki-cho through Red Brick Warehouse and Bashamichi Street. The parade starts from Yamashita Park at 10:00.

I found the art exhibition of working people at the gallery hall at Red Brick Warehouse No.1 is held. It is an exhibition by a group of ordinary people who like painting and held 10a.m.- 7p.m.until May.9.(10a.m.-1p.m.on May.9.)

I will update these event information on my website frequently. Please visit my website Weekend Walks in Yokohama

What's going on this weekend in Yokohama

2010-04-28T20:29:00.007+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

From April 29th, the golden week starts. I guess some of you folks may have started the holiday from this Monday. This weekend, precisely speaking, this week, following events are held in Yokohama:

[The Curry Exhibition 2010]
April 29-May 2 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
(on April 29 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.)
at Red Brick Warehouse
Curry shops come together across the country. Visitors can taste various curry dishes from various areas.
ingredients for curry dishes, curry taste snacks, and cakes
that get along with the dishes are sold there.

[Sail Exhibition of the Nippon Maru]
April 29 unfurling 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
furling 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
at Nippon Maru Memorial Park near Sakuragi-cho Station
You can see the sail ship in full sail and operations of
unfurling/furling 29 pieces of sails.

Enjoy the golden week!

Noge Daidogei, Street Performances 2010, Noge, Yokohama

2010-04-25T06:23:00.008+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

We had a sunny warm weekend. As I informed in the previous posting, "Noge Daidogei", a street performance event was held at Noge streets near Sakuragi-cho Station this weekend.

Speaking of Noge, it comes to mind as a street of bars and restaurants, where company employees working in the adjacent business area such as Kannai, Sakuragi-cho and Yamashita go with colleagues for drink with Yakitori BBQ to grumble about their bosses or work on their way home. I am one of them. (I have been this streets many times in the evening. But I have never been here in midday.) After I visited the town this Saturday for Noge Daidogei, street performance event, I learned through this event that the town is not only the drinking place, but an entertainment area with an atmosphere of old town for ordinary citizens. "Nigiwaiza",a vaudeville theater, is located in the town and the center of entertainment for senior citizens.

What's going on in Yokohama this weekend

2010-04-23T06:59:00.003+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

This weekends, following events will be held in Yokohama:

[The 36th Noge Daidogei, Noge street performance event]
11 a.m. - 4 p.m., April 24 & 25
Noge streets near Sakuragi-cho station of the JR.line
and Yokohama subway blue line
40 groups of street performance will show their performance
on the streets of Noge.
map

[80th Anniversary event of the Hikawa maru, Yamashita Park]
10a.m.- 5p.m on April 25
The Hikawa maru, a passenger boat which carried 25,000
passengers in her 238 voyages across the Pacific ocean.
She becomes 80 years since she was commissioned in 1930.
She is now resting off Yamashita Park as a museum.
On April 25, visitors can enter the boat free of admission
and are allowed to enter an area where usually off-
limit. The first 200 visitors are served a cup of
soup, made by a recipe about 80 years ago.

Have a great fun!

Daidogei, street performances in Zounohana Park, Yokohama

2010-04-21T06:42:00.004+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Last weekend, there were Daidogei, street-performance events in Minato Mirai area, Isezaki shopping mall, Zounohana Park, and World Porters. I went to see one of the events at Isezaki shopping mall last Saturday and posted about it last time. On Sunday, I went to Zounohana Park near Osanbashi Pier.

The event of Street performances started at Noge area near Sakuragi-cho Station back in 1986. This event has spread across the adjacent areas. Nowadays, there are many Daidogei events held around here at this time of year. This year, the event was held at Zounohana Park at the first time.

It started at 11:30 same as other venues did. The different thing from other venues is it kicked off with a play of 30 minutes by some ten performers, which was a series of dances, acrobats, juggling, Japanese traditional lion dance with music and exchange of jokes among them. The exchange of jokes between the master of the Japanese traditional street performance and a American Juggle was especially good. The master speaks in high spirited tone and the juggler in his American accented Japanese. They showed their performances at their time slot at their allocated places. Thanks to that wonderful weather and the event, I enjoyed the weekend very much.

This weekend, at Noge area, the event of street performances will be held. I encourage that you visit there this weekend. You will have another chance to know the life of ordinary Japanese.

Yokohama Daidogei, street performance event, at Isezaki mall, Yokohama

2010-04-18T07:30:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

It's beautiful day.. I could not believe the cold rainy days we had this week. A perfect day to go out and enjoy this wonderful day.

This weekend, at Minato Mirai area and Isezaki mall at Isezaki-cho, Yokohama Daidogei 2010, a event of street performers are being held. I went to Isezaki mall yesterday.

Isezaki-cho was located in front of the gate to the foreign settlement and thrived as an entertainment and shopping area
for a long time before the Yokohama station area was developed and many businesses moved there. Isezaki mall is the center of the area. During the occupation period by the U.S.forces until the 1950s, there was a garrison near Isezaki-cho and there were an officers club, theaters, department stores for the military members and their families in the mall. So many of veterans stationed in Yokohama may know the street name of Isezaki.

At Isezaki mall, 11 artists: pantomimists, an acrobat, jugglers, and stand-up comedians, particiated the event and showed their performances on the road from 11:30 until 17:30. Among them, I liked a performance by Wang Hu, who performed a tightrope walking and a Chinese traditional art "Changing masks", a performance to change his wearing masks quickly one after another. He got big laughs from the audience by his funny talks in Chinese accented Japanese. Even if you do not speak Japanese, you can enjoy their performances immensely. The event will be held from 11:30 until 17:30 today, April 18. On April 24, Daidogei in Noge, street performance event in Noge, will be held near Sakuragi-Cho Station. I recommend you visit those events this weekend or next weekend.

Camphor tree on the Yokohama Archives of History

2010-04-14T12:47:00.006+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

We, Japanese, learn at Middle school that in 1854 a squadron of U.S.naval ships arrived off Tokyo bay and that lead to the end of
long closed-door policy of the country over 200 years. Everybody knows the name of Matthew Calbraith Perry, who lead the fleet. He landed on Yokohama with his troops in his second trip to Japan and exchanged a treaty to secure a place to get water and provisions for U.S.whalers and protection of its crews. The picture of the scene is on our textbook of history. In the picture, there is a large camphor tree on the right towards bay.

Last Sunday, I visited Yokohama Archives of History, where materials on the history of the opening of the country and Port of Yokohama are collected. The archives has opened again after renovation this month. I've never visited it before. So I decided to stop by on my way back from the Nippon Maru last Sunday. (please see my post on April 12.) In the building, there is an permanent exhibition about the history in both English and English. That is organized very well and you will get general information about the history of Japan and the surrounding countries, relationship between Japan and the United States, life of western people living in the foreign settlement around the late 19th century quickly.

On the patio of the building, there stands a large camphor tree. I learned from the staff at the reception that the tree is the same one as the tree on the picture we see on the textbook and the Commodore and his troops landed around here. This is where the new history of the country started. I also learned later that the tree is not the same one. It had burned down in the fire after the big earthquake in 1923 and they raised the second generation from the loot of the burned tree.

Website:
www.kaikou.city.yokohama.jp

The Nippon Maru in full sail,Nippon Maru Memorial Park, Yokohama

2010-04-12T06:24:00.005+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered national tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

It was a warm beautiful day. A perfect day for a walk around. I thought I wanted to wear a short-sleeve shirt. I went to Nippon Maru Memorial Park to see the Nippon Maru in full sail. The ship is usually exhibited with sails being furled. We were able to see the ship in full sail. By the time the work started at 10:30, there were many spectators gathered around the sail ship to see the work. Some 50 staff members got on board, climbed the rigging and walked on foot ropes. The highest mast is 46 meter high from the water. The members are all volunteers. For a guy with acrophobia like me, it is completely difficult to understand why they are willing to do that. They furled 29 pieces of sail in perfect order. The captain explained what they were doing now and told us some interesting stories about the sail ship using microphone. So we could see the whole work, which is about an hour. ( Unfortunately it is only in Japanese.)

They show the work on April 11th, 29th, May 30th, June 13th, 27th, July 19th, August 8th, September 5th, 26th, October 10th, 24th, and November 7th this year. You can see them unfurling the sails from 10:30 to 11:30 and furling from 15:00 to 16:00 on these days.

Cherry Blossoms and wedding at Iseyama Shrine in Noge, Yokohama

2010-04-07T10:45:00.009+09:00

Hello, I am shinya Ota, a registered tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Cherry blossoms are scattering now. Life of the blossoms are so short. We wait for cherry blossoms start to bloom during the long winter, but they bloom just for a few moment and are gone so soon. I am feeling a bit sad when I see blossoms falling.

Last Saturday, I visited various places to view cherry blossoms. n. I went to Iseyama Kotaijingu Shrine on the hill of Noge, 20 minutes on foot from Sakuraghi-cho station. Noge area, which include Kamonyama Park, Noge Zoo and the Shrine, are visited by many visitors during the season of cherry blossoms. On this day, I saw groups of people, young and old, women and men, walking towards hilltop with foods and drinks in a plastic bag. They looked happy. I believed they came to have lunch with their friends,viewing cherry blossoms.

Iseyama Kotaijingu shrine is a Shinto shrine of the sun goddess on the hill, looking down on the port and the foreign settlement. (Nowadays, the Shrine is surrounded by buildings and you cannot look down on the port area from there.) The main idea of building the Shrine was to protect Japan, a sacred land from evil spirits by placing a shrine, the guardian of Japanese tradition. There is Yamate bluff, where many foreigner resided, across the settlement. So people who promoted the idea thought it could strike a good balance to build a shrine there geographically. It may sound silly today, but many of Japanese thought so seriously at that time.

I went there about noon and I was very impressed with the stillness of the place and the beauty of cherry blossoms in the precinct. When I decided that I spent enough, a procession of wedding came into the precinct to have a Shinto wedding ceremony. Western style wedding is a majority nowadays, but a Shinto-style is still popular. I learned later that the shrine is a popular place for a wedding in Shinto in the vicinity. In Spring and fall, especially on a "Taian" day or a most lucky day in Lunar calendar, there are many weddings held there. You may have more chance to see the ceremony on those days. A good chance to experience Japan.

Iseyama Kotaijingu
address: 64, Miyazaki cho, Nishi-Ward,Yokohama
map: www.iseyama.jp/

Cherry Blossoms of Washington DC in Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery

2010-04-03T20:36:00.009+09:00

Hello, I am Shinya Ota, a registered tour guide living in Yokohama, Japan.

Cherry Blossoms are now in full bloom here.
I decided to visit as many places to see cherry blossoms as I could today. Let me see... I visited five places this Saturday.

One of the places... Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery.
In the yard of 20,000 square meters, there are about 4,200 graves of foreigners who died in Yokohama. Many of them dedicated their lives for the development of Japan in various fields such as education, railways, architecture and business. There are many cherry trees in the cemetery.

On Saturdays and Sundays from April until November, we are allowed to enter the yard by donating about 200 yen. Near the grave of Ms. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, there is a cherry tree brought from the banks of the Potomac river in Washington DC. She was a American writer, who lived in Yokohama about 100 years ago. Cherry trees in Washington DC were originally brought from Japan as a gift of good will by her suggestion over 100 years ago. A group of people who knew the fact worked on the US.government to allow them to bring a few trees back to Japan to plant near her grave. One of the trees were planted there and another one near the police station on Motomachi main street. They were brought here about two decades ago.

Cherry tree of Washington DC near the grave.

The cemetery is open to public from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays until November.

For more information, please refer to the Website of Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery
www.yfgc-japan.com/map_e.html