Yamashita
Yokohama was a small sleepy village on a long narrow sandbar on a bell-shaped estuary at the mouth of the Okagawa river. The name "Yokohama" is derived from the giographical shape of the land. The estuary was reclaimed to create more farming land long before the port was opened. No one would not be able to imagine there was a estuary.The part of the reclaimed land is Kannai and Isezaki-cho now. Yamashita area is sitting on the sandbar, the place where Yokohama village was.
On February 6th, 1854, Commodore Perry and his troops landed the north end of Yokohama village near a camphor tree to negotiate with the Tokugawa Shogunate and sign "Japan-US peace treaty", or Kanagawa treaty. That place is around the crossing of Osanbashi Pier. The camphor tree that witnessed the scene is still alive on the premises of the Yokohama Archives of History.
In the area, there are many places to visit: Yamashita Park, the Hikawa Maru, Marine tower(the world tallest lighthouse), the Yokohama Archives of History, the Silk Museum, Yokohama Doll Museum, Osanbashi Passenger Terminal. Yamate, Chinatown, Minato Mirai are within a walking distance from the area. You can get to Sankeien Garden in Honmoku in 15 minutes by bus from there. So it is a convenient place to start a sightseeing from Yamashita area. Coming to Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line, walking around Yamashita and going to other areas may be a good plan to see Yokohama efficiently.
Map of Yamashita
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Places to visit
[Yamashita Park]
Yamashita Park is a seaside park of about 74,000 square meters. The Hikawa Maru, an international passenger vessel, which shuttled between Seattle and Yokohama more than 238 times and carried about 25,000 passengers by 1960, is moored eternally at the eastern end of the park. There are areas covered by turf and people come to spend time with their families, having lunch in a sunny day in Spring and Fall.
Yamate, Motomachi, Chinatown and Minato Mirai area are within a walking distance. If you are living in Yokohama, it would be good idea to spend time with your families having lunch. At the west side of the park, there is a convenience store "Happy Lawson". You can buy snacks, drinks, souvenirs, etc. There are round tables with chairs outside of the store.
In Yamashita Park across from Hotel New Ground, stand "Shidare Zakura" or weeping cherry trees. They are a hybrid of "Someiyoshino" and "Kanhi Zakura" varieties. The blossoms are pink in color and open by the end of March.
Access :
*Train: 5 minute-walk from Exit #4 Motomachi Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai Line
15minute-walk through Chinatown from JR.Ishikawa-cho Station
*Bus: 5 minute-walk from bus stop "Chukagai Iriguchi"(Chinatown) route #8, #58 from Sakuragi-cho or Eastside bus terminal of Yokoham Station
2 minute-walk from bus stop "Yamashita Koen Iriguchi"(Yamashita Park) route #26 from Sakuragi-cho or Eastside bus terminal of Yokoham Station
Yamashita Park Parking: 500yen for first one hour
250yen each 30minutes after then
(At the Yamashita Parking, wheel chairs can be borrowed for free of charge.)
[The Hikawa Maru]
Yokohama was a main portal to Japan before the age of aircraft came. She was a passenger vessel in the golden age of the passenger liners. She was built at a shipyard in Yokohama, made the first voyage in 1930, served 238 times on the trans-pacific route 238 times and carried 25,000 passengers until she retired in 1960.
Now she sits eternally in the water at the eastern end of Yamashita Park as a museum. Sections in the ship such as the bridge, the engine room, dining rooms are open to visitors. Many of sections are equipped with furniture used at the time so that visitors can enjoy the atmosphere back then. At the section of museum, pictures, equipment used at the time, etc., are displayed with explanations in English. It helps you understand the history of the ship and the golden age of passenger liners.
Open : 10 a.m - 5 p.m except Mondays and following days of national holidays Admission: 200 yen for adult[Yokohama Doll Museum]
The museum is displaying their collection of dolls around the world at the main hall and has a theater, cafe, museum shop and a small exhibition room. A special exhibition on dolls is held from time to time. At the time of New Year, they hold an exhibition of Silk Crepe Fabric every year. This year, they display Japanese traditional New Year Feast such as grilled fish, boiled vegetables, fruits, desert, etc., hand-made with Silk Crepe fabric by Michiyo Yazuka. Those works look as if they were real and smelled nice. It will give you a chance to know our traditional art. Another exhibition you must not miss is Hina Doll Festival in March. Hina doll festival is the day to wish healthy growth of girls. Every year on March 3rd, Hina doll festival is celebrated by displaying Hina dolls at home of family with girls. The museum displays Hina dolls of various ages across the country from February.
Access : Five minutes from Motomachi-Chukagai Station of the Minato Mirai LineWebsiteYokohama Doll Museum
[Yokohama Marine Tower]
Yokohama Marine Tower is 106 meters high tower with observation deck, originally built as a lighthouse and once recognized as the world tallest lighthouse by the Guinness Record Book. It was built on January 15th, 1960 and has been loved by people of Yokohama as its landmark since then. (It ceased its function as a lighthouse in 2008) From the observation deck at 91 meters above ground,you are able to see the view of the city 360 degree. In a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji and Hakone-Tanzawa ranges, the Boso Peninsula across the Tokyo Bay and Skyscrapers of Shinjuku. Read full story...
[The Red Brick Warehouse Park]
Aka Renga Park, or the Red Brick Warehouse Park, comprises two warehouses made of bricks. The ware-houses were built about 100 years ago to store goods arrived from or leaving for foreign countries. They were closed in 1989 due to decrease of usage. After renovation, the facilities were re-opened as a complex of shops, restaurants and cafes on April, 2002. The second floor of the warehouse 2 is also used as an event hall. Events and Festivals are held around the year. In September, a large tent is built and Oktoberfest, a German Beer Festival, is held. Read full story...
[Japanese Overseas Migration Museum]
The Museum is owned and operated by the JICA (Japan International coopera-tion Agency) to show the history of Japanese migration to North and South America over 100 years of history. More than one million Japanese have emigrated to North and South America as laborers.Pictures of migrants and items used by them, such as Furniture, tools, etc, are displayed. Audio Video equipment is placed and you can watch video clips about their lives. All the materials are written in both Japanese and English. So if you are a foreign citizen of Japanese origin or interested in the history of Japanese emigration, you should visit the museum. I am sure you will enjoy it.
Open : Except Mondays and Dec.29 through Jan.3Hours : 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Admission: Free