Rund's Halloween Makeup TutorialOct.27.2020
Japan is definitely a country with plenty to see. Though big cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka might have already been on your travel radar, Yokohama might not be a place you’ve thought to check out. Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan, and it has plenty of spots that are a definite must see. The city is only a 30 minute train ride from Tokyo. It’s also located on a harbor, and has a gorgeous waterfront area to explore. There are fun and quirky museums, an amusement park for some thrills, a bustling and vibrant Chinatown, and plenty more. So, let’s go ahead and point out some spots you won’t want to miss in Yokohama.
Alright, so you might be wondering why you need to visit Chinatown when you’re in Japan. Well the answer is simple: food and shopping! Yokohama is home to the largest Chinatown in the entire country. In a space that is only around 250,000 square meters, you will find over 600 shops and restaurants. The food here is amazing, and the colorful shops are sure to entice you to at least browse. The place is beautiful, no matter what time of day you visit. However, when it’s all lit up at night, it’s somehow even more spectacular.
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Yokohama was one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade. Today the waterfront is known as Minato Mirai and boasts everything from chic boutiques, to an observation deck, and even an amusement park. The name literally translates to “future port”, and it’s not hard to tell where the inspiration for the moniker came from. The whole area definitely has a very futuristic vibe. The skyline here is breath-taking. You’ll notice the giant Ferris Wheel, called the Cosmo Clock, right away. One trip around will take about 15 minutes and offers up spectacular views. You can find the wheel right in the middle of the amusement park called Cosmo World.
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Yokohama is actually home to not one, but two museums about ramen noodles. The first is called the Shin-Yokohama’s Raumen Museum (yup, actually spelled that way). To say it’s an actual museum is kind of a stretch. It’s actually a really amazing looking recreation of the Japanese village as it would have looked in 1958. Here you’ll find a collection of rare ramen shops cooking up regional bowls of ramen, sure to have you slurping away your cares. If you still want more hot ramen action, you’ll want to also check out the CupNoodles Museum. You’ll find actual exhibits here, providing some interesting info on ramen and the man who invented ramen in cup form. You can also create your own ramen.
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If you need a mini reprieve from the city, this gorgeous garden is well worth a visit. It opened to the public in 1904, and is a perfect place to take a relaxing stroll. There is a tranquil pond, babbling streams, lovely flowers, and plenty of natural beauty to ogle. But, this garden also holds some historic buildings from all over the country. You can see a feudal lord’s former residence, and several tea houses. There’s even a three storied pagoda that used to be part of an ancient temple in Kyoto.
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If you want to take in a bit of culture via performance art, this is the place to do so. Musicians, street performers, magicians, stand-up comedians, and traditional forms of Japanese storytelling all can be found here. The auditorium seats about 400 people and can make for a night of serious fun. The performances change daily, so you could go more than once and never see the same show twice.
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