Yokohama Part IV Chinatown's Gates

I wasn't planning on going to Yokohama's Chinatown, also known as Yokohama Chukagai, 横浜中華街, but since it was right there, I did go. Because I took a lot of photos, I will try to keep the entries here from being too long. So the first Chinatown entry is about the most noticeable thing one sees when going to Yokohama's Chinatown. Which is the gates. 

Since I was coming from the waterfront, the first gate I saw was 朝陽門, Choyo-mon. 

 Also known as the Sunrise Gate or East Gate. The blue color relates to this. Blue is the color that represents the dragon of the east, Seiryu. Which is another name given to the gate, 青龍門,Seiryu-mon.

 All the gates are very impressive, in size, color and ornamentation. 

While I didn't try to see all ten of the gates, I did see two more.

 This red gate is 善隣門, Zenrin-mon.

It is known as the Good Neighbor Gate.

Built in 1955, it was to show the goodwill between Chinese and Japanese people.

It was the first gate built in Yokohama's Chinatown.

One more gate to show. This one is at an entrance to,市場通り, Ichiba-dori. Which means Market Street. It is a shopping street that originated in the 1920's

Just a peek at the colorful and busy Chinatown. More photos of it in my next post.

Yokohama Part III Yamashita Park

One of the nice things about the Yokohama waterfront is there are wide pathways that you can walk. Including an elevated boardwalk. Very nice views from there looking out to Tokyo Bay or into the city. 

This green copper dome caught my interest.

It is the Yokohama Indian Water Fountain. Inside is a drinking fountain. This was donated by Indian residents of Yokohama in gratitude for assistance following the 1923 earthquake, and in memory of those lost during it. 

Sunset sky was lovely. I wish my photos could show how serene it was.

There is a lot to see along the waterfront. I wish I had visited 山下公園, Yamashita Park earlier. Perhaps another visit is needed in the future. It is a large area.

One of the highlights of the park is the roses. Another is this fountain.

Yokohama's sister city in the United States is San Diego. It makes sense. Both are port towns, both have strong navy ties.

As a gift to Yokohama, in 1960, San Diego gave them a copy of a statue that is in San Diego.

The Guardian of the Waters by sculptor Donal Hord.

I was surprised to see these mission bells. Growing up in California, I am familiar with California Mission history and the 20th century bell markers of Camino de Real. I didn't expect to see them in Japan.

I did expect to see roses. Pretty in the twilight but not easy to photograph in less light. It is lovely to see roses blooming in December.

Japanese Meiji style street lamps. These have a feeling of both western and eastern style combined.

This is the Hotel New Grand with the Yokohama Marine Tower in the background. Built in 1927 after the Great Kanto Earthquake, it was the place to stay for dignitaries and celebrities.

While there have been modern upgrades, a lot of the interior design details have been preserved, along with the architectural details outside. The blog Old Tokyo has photos from a 1940 brochure here https://www.oldtokyo.com/yokohama-hotel-new-grand-picturesque/ 

Ode to Joy in Yokohama, Part II

Imagine going to a place and being surprised by a choir and orchestral concert. Pardon the shaky video but this is what was happening inside Osanbashi Hall the day I visited. This is the baritone solo part of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor finale.

Or in less words, "Ode to Joy". Which is a New Year's tradition in Japan. The orchestra was the Yokohama Bay Philharmonic conducted by 松本 宗利音, Matsumoto Shurihito. I do not know the name of the baritone soloist.

I could hear the rest of "Ode to Joy" while looking at various things in Osanbashi Hall. Like these ema for the King, Jack and Queen Towers. Supposedly if you wish for something while looking at the three buildings, your wish will be granted. I'm guessing the idea for the ema here came from that. 

There's also a Japanese garden in the Hall. Well, a facsimile of part of one.

It was time for lunch and I noticed this very light space in the dark hall. 

 The restaurant is cafe&dining blue terminal.

I was seated at a rather high bar in the middle of the restaurant. Which felt a little ackward, to be honest. If a restaurant isn't full, why do they do this to solo diners?

 The place did have nice views.

I went with their lunch set. Coffee, 

salad, 

 and chicken curry. I was cold so warm was needed. And this was spicy hot. It was a nice Japanese style curry.

Back outside after eating my late lunch, I walked back to shore. That is the King, 神奈川県庁,  Kanagawa Prefectural Office. The Art Deco style building was built in 1928.

A final look back at Osanbashi Pier and everything that is there. 

Yokohama Part I

A day with no rain meant getting out to an interesting place. This time it was Yokohama. I took a train to the Nihon-Odori Station. No transfers from Ikebukuro Station. That was good.

Because there were illuminations to see and royal architecture. 

 I'd like to go back and spend more time in Yokohama. Because there is a lot of interesting architecture there. First up was the Yokohama Kaigen Church. Founded in 1872, it was the first Protestant church in Japan. The current building was built after the 1923 Great Earthquake.

 This nice Empire style building was the British Consulate. Now it is part of 横浜開港資料館, Yokohama Archives of History. Which is open to the public.

I took a photo of this building not because of historical reasons but because it and many other buildings reminded me of Portland, Oregon. This was 横浜貿易協会, Yokohama Trade Association building. 

I made it out to Yokohama Harbor and with the clear blue sky it was a gorgeous sight. Along with the various buildings along the skyline. Like the Queen Tower 横浜税関本関庁舎, Yokohama Customs Building. Built in 1934, it's Romanesque Revival architecture features a copper dome.

Clear views of the buildings included the 横浜赤レンガ倉庫, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. Warehouse building 1 was built in 1913, and the buildings there still exist because they implanted iron in between the bricks.

Towers and more towers. Plus the famous Cosmos Clock 21 Ferris Wheel. Something I noticed which adds to the attractiveness of the area is the open spaces and greenery along the waterfront.

 Another view of the Queen Tower from the Osanbashi Pier.

As for me, my plan was to talk a walk along the Osanbashi Pier. It's really interesting because you are actually walking on the roof of a large building. Which appeared to be shaped like a ship. 

The building is Osanbashi Hall. It the location of the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal. I'll have a bit more from inside it in my next blog post. 

Meanwhile, I was enjoying the views.  

Like the moon over 横浜ベイブリッジ, the Yokohama Bay Bridge. 

And the view back to the skyline. 

Yes, I did see all three. King, Queen and Jack Towers. 

That little dome in the distance is the top of the clock tower of 横浜市開港記念会館, Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall. Also known as the Jack Tower. I'd like to get a better look at it one day. The building is a lovely Neo-renaissance style, opened in 1917.