You know how every city has a certain feel to it? If I were to describe Yokohama, I would definitely say that it feels like Sydney in a lot of ways. For one, despite being just a thirty minute train ride from the heart of Tokyo, there were way less people than compared to the capital. It also had a lot less tall buildings and more greenery lining the streets, with even a huge port to rival my beloved Sydney Harbour. Anyway, since my friend lives in Yokohama, I was lucky enough to explore the place from a local’s perspective for the day!
Our first stop of the day was Yokohama Chinatown, which is apparently the largest of its kind in Asia! While I’ve been to my fair share of Chinatowns, what stuck out to me was how bustling this one was. It definitely felt more tourist-orientated, with plenty of things to see and do wherever you look. There was also plenty to eat, with street stalls selling everything from bubble tea to pork buns the size of my face. I’m not sure how authentic it all was, but I really loved the atmosphere of the place!
Of course, I couldn’t leave without taking a snap of Chinatown’s famous gates! There are actually quite a few of these scattered around the area, and they all mark the various entrances to the district.
Afterwards we walked to the international passenger terminal, where you’ll find a pretty good view of the harbour. I have to say though, walking on the dock was quite an experience in itself! It really felt like we were on a giant space ship, for lack of a better description.
Strolling around Red Brick Warehouse, which is a historical building that houses a lot of shops, food outlets as well as event venues. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to do some proper shopping, but it was fun to poke around all the quirky stores inside!
My first time eating potato wedges in months at a little izakaya. Oh how I missed them… This particular place my friends and I visited specialised in seafood and wine, which I really enjoyed. To be honest, I never really drank much before coming to Japan. However, I really like the fact that good food is also a huge part of the drinking culture here, which could either be a good or bad thing!
Anyway, that was my day in Yokohama before hopping on the last bus home. My only regret is that I didn’t get to see the harbour lit up at night, but I know I’ll definitely be back to see it on my second visit. Until next time!
