Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo, and with a population of 3.7 million is the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture. It is on Tokyo Bay, a little south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu.It is a major commercial hub and port of the Greater Tokyo Area.
Until the end of the Edo period Japan still had a policy of national seclusion and the country was closed to foreigners. In 1853/4 Commodore Matthew Perry near Yokohama with a fleet of American warships, demanding that Japan open several ports for commerce, and the Tokugawa shogunate agreed by signing the Treaty of Peace and Amity. The first port was Yokohama in 1859. Yokohama became the focus for foreign trade in Japan, although foreigners lived in a separate area surrounded by a moat.
It also has one of the biggest “Chinatowns” in the world. (outside of China of course..)
While I was there the 2014 Flower Garden was happening, this is an annual flower event. This year, the whole garden was produced by a Danish floral artist, Nicolai Bergmann, with “Marriage” as the theme.
There are two red brick buildings are old shipping warehouses from the early part of the last century that have been renovated to today house known as the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse its a renovated complex with shops, restaurants and an event venues. It was originally customs buildings, with two Warehouses No.1 and No.2
The Cup Noodle Museum is in Yokohama and many other interesting museums. Silk Museum, Tin Toys museum, Maritime Museum, Newspaper Museum, Horse Museum, Streetcar Museum, Tennis Museum, Doll Museum. Other interesting little facts… 1865 the first ice cream and first beer in Japan were manufactured in Yokohama.
Definitely requires a second visit…
Just Life in Japan 