【11選】横浜みなとみらいのおすすめ観光名所を日帰りで回りまくってみた！【赤レンガ/山下公園/横浜中華街/大さん橋/ロープウェイ・エアキャビン】

【11選】横浜みなとみらいのおすすめ観光名所を日帰りで回りまくってみた！【赤レンガ/山下公園/横浜中華街/大さん橋/ロープウェイ・エアキャビン】

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at T okyo Station Travel to Yokohama, Japan! First of all, what is your image of Yokohama? You may have an image of a city like Yokohama Station, or a city that is home to professional baseball. Or maybe you have the image of a town with a concert venue, like Shin-Yokohama Station. But I think the most important attraction in Yokohama is Minato Mirai. Minato Mirai is packed with attractions such as the sea, night views, a large Ferris wheel, the popular commercial facility Red Brick Warehouse, and Chinatown. Furthermore, a new urban ropeway has recently been built, and it has become a hot topic of conversation. Yokohama Minato Mirai has not only improved the convenience of transportation, but also the cityscape, It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan! And Yokohama City, where Minato Mirai is located, has a population of 3.78 million people, making it the most populous city in Japan. What’s more, it has a huge population, more than 1 million people behind second place Osaka City. *Tokyo is not included in this population comparison because it is divided into wards rather than cities. So, this time we will take a day trip to the popular sightseeing spots in Yokohama Minato Mirai! In the past, the place called Yokohama was just one village called Yokohama Village. I would like to unravel with you the “history” that led to the village becoming one of Japan’s leading port towns and the popular tourist attraction it is today! There are a total of 11 sightseeing spots that we will visit this time.　 Will we be able to visit all 11 checkpoints and return to Tokyo Station on a day trip…!? Yokohama is one of my favorite cities since it’s relatively close to my home, so I’m going to have fun going there! To travel from Tokyo to Yokohama, take the Tokaido Main Line. 8:00am departure, Tokaido Main Line bound for Atami Arrived at Yokohama Station at 8:28 a.m. From Yokohama Station, transfer to the Keihin Tohoku/Negishi Line. One stop from Yokohama Station, I arrived at Sakuragicho Station. So, in less than 40 minutes from Tokyo Station, I arrived at Sakuragicho Station! This time I was traveling alone again, so my travel partner… Homemade travel guide! First of all, you may be wondering what it means to count Sakuragicho Station as the 1st checkpoint. The reason for this is that Sakuragicho Station is not only the gateway to Minato Mirai, but also an important place in understanding Yokohama’s history. Among the songs written in the Meiji era called Railway Songs, of the 66 lyrics in the Tokaido edition, the 5th lyric… After passing Tsurumi and Kanagawa, we arrived at Yokohama Station, When we look into the harbor, the smoke from a hundred boats stains the sky. The Yokohama Station in these lyrics corresponds to the current Sakuragicho Station, which is where I am now. In other words, Sakuragicho Station, where I am now, corresponds to the original Yokohama Station. Moreover, Yokohama Station at that time was the first railway station in Japan. In other words, this is where the history of railways began! Specifically, on October 14, 1872, the railway officially opened between present-day Shiodome Station in Tokyo and Sakuragicho Station in Yokohama. And at Sakuragicho Station, there is a facility called the Old Yokohama Gallery, which has various exhibits, including steam locomotives that were actually running when the railway was founded. So, let’s head to the old Yokohama Gallery first! In effect, that location is the 1st checkpoint. And it’s just a short walk from Sakuragicho Station! First, pass through the south ticket gate of Sakuragicho Station. The landmark is SILS MARIA, the store where raw chocolate originated. After passing through the south ticket gate, instead of going down the underpass in front of me, I proceed to the path on the left. Since my destination building is already in front of me, I cross at the crosswalk in front of it. So, I arrived at CIAL (annex) where the gallery I was looking for was located! You can already see the steam locomotive in the gallery on this first floor! By the way, there is also a restaurant on the left called KITEKI as train whistle, which is named after Yokohama. The Old Yokohama Gallery features steam locomotives that were actually running when the railroad was founded, reproductions of medium-sized passenger cars, panel exhibits, and dioramas. Admission is free, and it’s only a 1-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station, making it a highly recommended place for a short sightseeing in Yokohama! By the way, do you know where the trains that were running when the railroad was founded originally came from? The correct answer is the United Kingdom, the country where railways were invented! It is said that it was transported from the UK all the way to Yokohama via the Suez Canal. In addition, passenger railways opened in the UK in 1830, which is over 40 years earlier than in Japan. Amazing…!!! Of course I thought the exhibits were amazing, but what surprised me even more was how railway culture had developed to what it is today in just 150 years. However, I can easily imagine the impact it must have had when a railroad like this was created in an era when people traveled on foot or on horseback. It was exactly the words that appear in the lyrics of the railway song No. 66: “Thank you to the train that gave people wings” ! So, the 1st checkpoint has now been cleared! The 2nd checkpoint is the famous promenade that you should definitely visit when you come to Minato Mirai! Moreover, the promenade is lined with beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom this April! So, let’s head over there! First, I go back to Sakuragicho Station, where I started. By the way, there is also an exhibit on the history of this area inside Sakuragicho Station. 2nd generation Sakuragicho Station The first Yokohama Station (currently Sakuragicho Station) Sakuragicho Station I’ll take this path. Welcome to Minato Mirai! Next, let’s take this path. A much-talked-about ropeway that was built in 2019 (this will be introduced in the second half of the video!) Next, at this intersection, I proceed in this direction. So, we arrived at the entrance of the second checkpoint, but before that, there was a scenery I wanted to show you. It’s at the top of the stairs to my left. I arrived at that place! Nippon Maru Memorial Park From this hill, you can also see the next second checkpoint. And on the left is the first sailing ship Nippon Maru, which was called the “Swan of the Pacific” ! This ship is now designated as an important cultural property. *This video was taken at a later date. At night, it is beautifully lit up! In addition, the landmark tower, the symbol of this city, stands in the background! This park is very open and comfortable, and surprisingly not crowded, so it’s a recommended park when you want to refresh yourself! So, let’s end the detour and move on to the second checkpoint! The 2nd checkpoint is the Kisha-michi as train road! First of all, this train road is a promenade of about 0.3 miles that connects the central area where you are now to the Newport area along the coast. However, if it was just a promenade, I wouldn’t choose this place as a checkpoint. At first it looks like a single promenade, but it is made up of two small artificial islands and three bridges connecting them. first bridge There are two highlights of this train road. The first is that it is a very historically important place. It was in 1997 that this train road opened as a promenade as it exists today. In the olden days, it was used as a real railroad track, as its name suggests. This rail beneath my feet is proof of that! Yes, this is a site that utilizes the remains of an abandoned railway line called the Rinko Line, which opened in 1911, and has developed part of it as a green space. It was originally created for the purpose of transporting cargo. In the first place, Yokohama was opened by American Commodore Perry’s “Black Ship Arrival,” which is even mentioned in Japanese textbooks. Naturally, there is a lot of work involved in transporting cargo at ports. Therefore, it is common for such freight lines to be located near ports. However, in reality, not all of them were used to transport cargo; some of them also carried people. Transportation carrying people continued until 1961. It has a very nice smell of the sea. The second highlight is these cherry blossoms! However, the cherry blossoms bloomed late this year, and there were fewer blooms than expected… So, I plan to come here again to take pictures when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom…! *This video was taken at a later date when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom! It was a weekend, so it was very crowded, mainly people coming to see the cherry blossoms…! *Here is the video from the original day. A ropeway that flows close to this train road! This ropeway is also magically illuminated at night! So, I arrived at the Kishamichi goal! This square is called “Canal Park” , and the ropeway “Air Cabin” that runs parallel to the train road also ends here. And beyond that, the 3-star hotel Navios Yokohama, which has a characteristic shape like an Arch of Triumph, rises. Navios Yokohama So I successfully cleared the second checkpoint! One thing I would like to pay attention to is the rail under my feet. If you see a rail like this, we recommend that you ask yourself, “How far does this rail extend?” Passing through the Navios gate, I try to follow the rail to the end. So, the rail ended at this place, just past the Navios gate. However, it’s a little too early to give up here. This time, I would like to take a look at what happens when I cross the intersection in front of me! This is because the next 3rd checkpoint is also located in the same location and is related to this rail. So let’s go! By the way, when I look behind me, I can see Kishamichi, the ropeway, and Landmark Tower beyond the Navios gate! Amazing…!!! “Newport Central Park” across the intersection Hello!! This character’s name is Garden Bear. She is a garden fairy who lives in Yokohama! Your hairstyle is the coolest in the world…! I found a bench that looked nice, so I decided to take a little break here. view from the bench By the way, the weather was nice today, and I’m glad the wind wasn’t too strong! If the wind is strong, the microphone may pick up wind noise, also, if the sun is strong and I’m wearing a cap, the strong wind will blow it away… (lol) Break is over! Now, you can see that the rail I mentioned earlier has been slightly reopened in this park. But we’re not done yet! This is because there is a super popular tourist attraction further along this rail. So let’s go! I arrived near the tourist attraction! The rail we saw earlier has reopened from this location! This is because, although this area is currently a very popular spot in Yokohama, it was once used as a warehouse at the port. Yes. That is the third checkpoint, the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, a tourist attraction that represents Minato Mirai! At that time, the Kishamichi railway line continued to the seaside side called Newport Wharf. In other words, in the video you’re watching now, the railroad used to curve sharply to the right, pass where the current Navios gate is, and go all the way to Kishamichi. First of all, this Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is a cultural and commercial facility located in the Minato Mirai Shinko district. Although it is now a popular tourist spot in Minato Mirai, it was originally built by the government as a port warehouse for Yokohama Customs. The Red Brick Warehouse is divided into two buildings: Building 1 on the right and Building 2 on the left. Building 2 was completed in 1911 and Building 1 in 1913. Building No. 2 is a commercial facility, and the theme on the first floor is “Comfortable Hospitality of Port Yokohama” , and the second floor is “special attention to detail that creates a feeling of premonition” . Currently, it is a very popular tourist destination in Yokohama with over 6 million visitors annually. On this day, a gorgeous flower event was being held! By the way, these two red brick buildings are actually operated by different organizations. Building 1 is operated by a public interest incorporated foundation, and Building 2 is operated by Yokohama Red Brick Co., Ltd. Welcome to Red Brick! I get the impression that some sort of event is held at this Red Brick Park on most weekends. I recommend checking the event schedule on the official website beforehand! Although it was a weekday, we were lucky that an event was being held as it was the cherry blossom and spring break season! And now comes the main point. First of all, this red brick warehouse was built about half a century after Yokohama opened its port in 1859 with the arrival of American Commodore Perry. At that time, there was an urgent need to develop a modern port. As modern as it is, the structure of this red brick warehouse at the time was extremely excellent and innovative. It is said to have become a model for port warehouse architecture, including Japan’s first commercial elevator. By the way, that elevator is still on display at the side of Building 1, so let’s go take a look! Japan’s first commercial elevator Although I couldn’t see inside, I could still feel the atmosphere! Additionally, Building No. 2 was reinforced by inserting iron between the bricks, and even during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, about 100 years ago, damage was limited to about 30%. In 2007, it was certified as a “modernization industrial heritage” , because it retains its historical atmosphere while also having fire extinguishing equipment and earthquake resistance. In other words, commercial elevators did not yet exist in Japan until this warehouse was built. I think it’s really amazing that there was a time when people were able to get by without elevators. And I can also imagine that the era when these elevators first appeared was truly innovative. What’s more, those of us who find elevators so old make us wonder how much of the future we’re actually living in. Nowadays, elevators are commonplace and convenient, It makes me think again that all of these things are built on each technological advancement and the continuous efforts of our predecessors. The red brick warehouse finished its role as a port warehouse by 1989, and after a gap of about 13 years, it was reborn as the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse in 2002. At that time, this outdoor space we are currently in will be developed as a red brick park. Furthermore, for 13 years until 2002, this place had been left unmaintained… It’s hard to believe from the current state of this popular tourist destination. During my last trip to Shizuoka, I briefly introduced it in the Gotemba part. This red brick area was famous for being the filming location for a detective drama from 1986 to 1987, and graffiti on the warehouse was rampant at that time. It’s such a peaceful area now, but back then it might have been perfect for an atmosphere that looked like something out of an old detective drama. After hearing this far, you may be wondering why this place ended its original role as a warehouse. At that time, as technology advanced, these cargoes were gradually replaced by containers. As a result, the amount of cargo handled decreased dramatically in the 1970s. The word “container” may be familiar to us now, but at the time, this system was truly innovative, and has been called “one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century” ! However, at the time when containerization became widespread, there was one turning point in Yokohama’s history that cannot be said to be irrelevant to us today. At that time, this red brick building was beginning to finish its role as a warehouse, and there were plans to demolish the entire building and turn the site into a container terminal. However, the mayor of Yokohama at the time prevented the demolition of the warehouse in order to utilize the site as a tourist attraction. In other words, if it weren’t for the mayor’s efforts, this land might have become a container terminal that the general public cannot enter. I love the current tourist destination of the Red Brick Warehouse, so I feel grateful and say Nice Mayor! I once again realized that behind the scenes, the sights that we take for granted today actually exist thanks to the hard work and passion of many people! *This is a photo from a time when I had lunch with my mother at Bills, a popular restaurant in Red Brick. parmesan chicken schnitzel (2,300 yen) berry berry pancake (2,000 yen) The third checkpoint is now cleared! The fourth checkpoint will take you to the “place of beginnings” that led Yokohama to be reborn as a port town that represents Japan! First, head towards the light blue bridge on the left! So, this Newport Bridge has a view of the ocean on the left, but the focus here is on my feet. yes. This bridge also has the remains of abandoned railway tracks. As I mentioned earlier in Kishamichi, when you see a rail like this, it’s interesting to trace what’s going on next, so let’s move on a little further! Elephant Trunk Park Welcome! Hey!!! Yokohama is definitely the best…! It’s just fun!! So, beyond the small bridge I mentioned earlier, the road is divided into two parts, and the left side is an elevated walkway called the Yamashita Rinko Line Promenade. Astute people may have already noticed that this sidewalk used to be a freight line called the Yamashita Rinko Line! In other words, the site of a disused railway line was rebuilt as a promenade. So cute…!!! And here comes the main point. If you go up to this observation space on the promenade that connects the park you are currently in to the famous Yamashita Park over there, you will see a very important historical sight, so let’s go! I went up to the observation area on the hill. This place offers a spectacular view of the ocean, but this is not just a spectacular view. Please pay attention to the area called “Elephant Trunk” where the breakwater curves. That area is where Yokohama, which was once just a village, became a famous port town. Yes, as I’m sure you all learned in school, this is the exact place where American Commodore Perry led his large fleet 170 years ago in 1854. The fleet had an incredible displacement of 10 times that of the large Japanese ships of the time, and was equipped with huge paddle wheels. Common name: Black Ships It is said that the Japanese people, who were isolated from the rest of the world at the time, were shocked by the sight of a fleet of seven ships on such an unusual scale spewing out smoke. Commodore Perry’s mission was to open up Japan to the world. At that time, it seems that Japan was needed as a transit point for the United States to expand its activities to Asia. However, the people of Edo (as old Tokyo), who had been isolated from the country for a long time, could not easily accept American demands. “Should we close the country or open it?” After such great suffering, about a week after Perry’s arrival, a meeting was held in a makeshift reception area. The 4th checkpoint is the site of the meeting, which can be called the “beginning place” of Yokohama Port, a turning point in history! And it’s just a short walk from here, so let’s head over! First, I’m going to walk along the elevated promenade that you can see right in front of me. By the way, if you want to visit Minato Mirai, it might be best to visit in the morning or around noon. I get the impression that this town is crowded with people, including students, in the evenings. It’s still around noon, so there aren’t many people here, so you wouldn’t think it’s a popular tourist spot. And on the right side, there is a famous road called Nihon Odori as Japanese Wide Street. This road is also a very important place in history, and it has something to do with the 4th checkpoint, which we are heading towards right now, so I will introduce it to you later! Continuing along this promenade leads to the famous Yamashita Park, but this time I will go down to the ground level from the stairs on the right, just before that. It is decorated with paintings depicting the old scenery of Elephant Trunk Park that I introduced earlier. After going down the stairs on the promenade, turn right here. Next, cross this intersection directly in front of me. So, I arrived at the 4th checkpoint! This is the place where the Japanese and American representatives at the time held a historic meeting, and concluded the Treaty of Peace and Amity between Japan and the United States. A meeting that would shape the history of Yokohama was held here, and five years later, in 1859, Yokohama opened its port and began trading. It may look like a plain square other than the fountain, but isn’t it more than enough to make you think about an important turning point in history? After that, the area east of here called Yokohama Yamate turned into a foreign settlement. Specifically, the Nihon Odori Street that was visible from the promenade earlier was the boundary line. The border is just a short walk to the right from here, so let’s go there. Nihon Odori as Japanese Wide Street In other words, the area to the east of Nihon Odori Street, which was built in 1870, was a foreign settlement, and the area to the west was a Japanese town. Furthermore, if you go straight down Nihon Odori Street, it will lead you to Yokohama Park, where Yokohama Stadium, the home base of professional baseball, is located. By the way, in autumn, beautiful yellow ginkgo trees bloom in this place, but please be careful as there may be a strong smell of ginkgo trees… (lol) Also, between Nihon Odori Street and the fourth checkpoint that I introduced earlier, there is this Port Opening Museum. I have actually been to this museum, and it is a very interesting place with detailed explanations of what it was like when the port opened, so this is also a recommended spot for sightseeing in Yokohama! So, the 4th checkpoint has also been cleared! Next, the 5th checkpoint, I’m getting hungry, so I’m off to eat lunch! First of all, the place I am having lunch this time is not the famous Yokohama Chinatown. Of course, Chinatown was also a candidate for lunch, but lately it’s been extremely crowded even on weekdays, and it’s spring break season, so I decided against it… (lol) So, I’m thinking of having lunch somewhere closer. That restaurant is actually already behind me! So I arrived at the 5th checkpoint in no time! The official website for this restaurant states, “Enjoy your time with your loved ones in a gorgeous space full of nostalgic Yokohama atmosphere” . But I ate alone. It was fun to be alone…! (lol) Also, this restaurant was founded in 1963, so as of 2024 it will have been in business for about 61 years. “Scandiya is located in front of the Open Port Plaza, where the Treaty of Amity and Amity between Japan and the United States was signed in 1854. ” “We look forward to seeing you at The Yokohama. ” As stated on the official website, it is the perfect restaurant for this historical trip to Yokohama! So, the 5th checkpoint has also been cleared! The next 6th checkpoint is a popular tourist attraction in Yokohama that rivals the Red Brick Warehouse, and is also a park with an important history in Yokohama! First, turn left at SCANDIA, cross this intersection, and continue along the road. Actually, I was really tired until I ate lunch just now… That’s because I left home at 6 a.m. and was active the entire time. But thanks to the lunch time I had just now, I was able to fill my stomach and most importantly, I was able to sit down and rest, which helped me recover! So I have arrived! It was about a 3 minute walk from the restaurant I mentioned earlier. The Great Tokyo earthquake occurred in 1923, about 100 years ago. Yamashita Park was created seven years after the huge amount of rubble left by the earthquake was reclaimed. According to the official website of Yokohama City, Yamashita Park has such a historical background, “This is a park with many attractions, including views to the ocean, monuments, and monuments.” As it is written like this, the first point of interest is this Indian Water Tower. Japanese people were not the only victims of the 1923 earthquake. With the opening of Yokohama, many Indian residents and foreign merchants were also affected. This area of Yamashita Park was also said to have suffered devastating damage. At that time, the people of Yokohama poured their efforts into supporting Indian merchants affected by the disaster. This drinking fountain was donated by the Indian people in return for their help. Also, this is not currently used as a drinking fountain, but is displayed and preserved as an important relic. Swim smoothly! Another highlight of Yamashita Park is the fountain in the central plaza and the statue of the guardian deity of water holding a water jar. This statue was donated in 1960 by Yokohama’s sister city, San Diego, California. Sister cities are international cities that are linked together for the purpose of cultural exchange and friendship. It all started in 1955 when Yokohama City donated snow lanterns. Later, at the Japan-U.S. Mayors Conference held in Yokohama, the then mayor of San Diego proposed a sister city relationship. By the way, for those who don’t know where San Diego is, first of all, many people probably know that Los Angeles is located on the west coast of the United States. And San Diego is located just south of Los Angeles on that same west coast. San Diego is said to be one of the safest cities in America, Although it is a big city, the people are kind and it is said to be the greatest city in America. On the right side of the central plaza is the Marine Tower, and you can also see the Hotel New Grand, which is famous for being the place where American General MacArthur stayed. Another thing that Yamashita Park is famous for is this ship called Hikawa-Maru! The Hikawa-Maru is a 12,000 ton class cargo and passenger ship that was completed in 1930. It operated on the North Pacific route for a long time, and is currently open to the public as a museum ship, and has been designated as a national important cultural property. Specifically, it was in service until 1960, so it was a ship that was active for about 30 years! By the way, NBA king LeBron James was drafted in 1st place in 2003, and this year (2024) will be his 21st year. In other words, this ship lasted longer than LeBron. (The analogy is a mystery…) The name Hikawa-Maru comes from Omiya Hikawa Shrine in Saitama Prefecture, which is located to the north of Tokyo. For this reason, even now that the ship has been preserved, Hikawa Shrine is said to be enshrined inside it. I visited Omiya Hikawa Shrine with my mother about six months ago, so I feel a sense of affinity with Hikawa-Maru! This is a very nice park! Captain Bear & Sailor Bear! (so cute…!) Yokohama is a great city! Please come!! So, the 6th checkpoint has also been cleared! The next 7th checkpoint is in the mood for something light to eat, so let’s go to Yokohama’s famous gourmet district! First, go out from the entrance of this central plaza and walk straight ahead. First, go out from the entrance of this central plaza and walk straight ahead. So, I have arrived! The 7th checkpoint is Yokohama Chinatown! Chinatown was crowded on this day as well, so I’ll only explain it with captions…! First of all, this is the largest Chinatown in Japan and the largest in East Asia. It has a history of more than 150 years, including the time when it was a settlement starting in 1866. Today, there are over 600 restaurants, making it one of the largest Chinatowns in the world! The unique gates that can be seen everywhere are called pailou, which were built based on Feng Shui philosophy. Also, this feng shui is actually surprisingly important when tracing the history of Yokohama Chinatown. First, in 1858, Japan concluded a treaty with the United States, and then went on to conclude commercial treaties with major countries such as England, France, and the Netherlands. As a result, Yokohama village developed into a famous port town. After the opening of Yokohama’s port, Chinese people who came to Japan along with Westerners started doing business, and Yokohama Chinatown gradually formed. Along with this, settlements were also created for foreigners to live. It seems that the speed of change in this town was amazing at the time, and in just a few years after the port opened, the land along the coast was filled with trading posts, and the surrounding area was also developed at a rapid pace. The landfill around here was one of them. However, this area, which has become a foreign settlement, was originally inhabited by the people of Yokohama Village. In other words, they apparently had a troubled history of being evicted from the area. Also, the streets of Yokohama are either parallel or perpendicular to the coastline, but for some reason, Chinatown is the only city that faces diagonally. The answer is Feng Shui, which I mentioned earlier. In China, there is a culture that values feng shui, and this diagonally oriented cityscape is said to be in line with feng shui. In other words, the fact that the land suitable for feng shui was vacant at the time was a very fortunate thing for the formation of Yokohama Chinatown! *This photo was taken about six months ago when my family and I visited a famous restaurant called Jo-genrou in Chinatown. It was so delicious!!! So, the 7th checkpoint has also been cleared…? (I ended up not eating anything because it was crowded) The next 8th checkpoint is to go to the famous deck where you can see the most beautiful scenery in Japan! Sorry, I took the wrong path…! (lol) This path was the correct one! The landmark is the police station on the right. Next, exit through this gate to the right. By the way, Yokohama Park is right in front of me. Yokohama Stadium I decided to take a quick detour to Yokohama Park! Yokohama Park opened in 1876 In other words, this is a historic park that was built four years after Japan’s first railroad opened in 1872. Scratch scratch!! It was a good detour! Is the 8th checkpoint next…? To be honest, I was a little tired…(lol) This trip, unlike my previous trip to Kyoto, I was able to walk from checkpoint to checkpoint without using most trains or buses, which made my legs tired. However, this trip is also very fun!! By the way, in what direction am I walking now? I’m simply walking towards the sea. *I will introduce this route on a map later. It was so crowded in Chinatown earlier that I gave up on eating something light, but there is another cafe at the next checkpoint, so I would like to take a break there if possible! I learned something on this trip. Yokohama Chinatown was not a place that I would casually say I would stop by just because I felt like eating something… That place was so crowded that I thought so! (lol) There was someone walking their cat just now passing by♪ So, after passing through the main street of Chinatown and turning right at Yokohama Park, I arrived at this familiar park. Yes, this is the place where the Japan-US Treaty of Peace and Amity was signed, which we visited as the 4th checkpoint! From this place, I will cross the intersection in front of me and proceed to the other side. After walking the cat, I saw a person walking while holding a dog♪ I feel like we live in an era where dogs and cats are kings and queens…(lol) On the left is the Red Brick Warehouse, which we visited at the third checkpoint, and On the right side, you can see Yamashita Park, which I visited at our sixth checkpoint! So, I have arrived. The 8th checkpoint is Yokohama Port Osan-bashi as big pier! First of all, the official name of this place is Yokohama Port Osan-bashi International Passenger Terminal. The indoor space on the right route is a vast hall containing an immigration lobby, cafes, restaurants, and shops. However, the highlight of Osan-bashi is the outdoor deck on the left route. So, let’s go up to that outdoor deck! sorry! Before that, I would like to take a break that I couldn’t get in Chinatown earlier at the indoor hall! This time I stopped by this cafe/restaurant called Blue Terminal! This is an Australian style cafe and restaurant that opened in 2017. The open interior of the store and the ocean view are amazing! Chocolate bread pudding 880 yen (very delicious…!!!) When I look up, Spectacular views of the ocean, Yokohama Bay Bridge, and Hikawa-maru! So, I took a break! It was absolutely delicious!!! The warm bread pudding paired with the cold ice cream was a great combination! It was like watching sumo wrestling and ice skating at the same time. (What does that mean…?) So, after taking a break for about 30 minutes and eating some sweets, it was time to go up to the outdoor deck! Every time I travel, I realize how important it is to take breaks… So, I went up to the deck of Osan-bashi! First of all, this outdoor deck is approximately 480 meters long and is the second huge passenger ship terminal in Japan, where two large Queen Elizabeth II class ships can dock at the same time. Although there is a wooden deck underfoot, this Osanbashi as big pier is not actually a pier. If it’s not a pier, what on earth is this place we’re on? The answer is the quay! First of all, a pier is a structure where the bottom of the deck is supported by pillars, so seawater flows under the floor. On the other hand, a quay is a “wall”, so the difference is that the area below the deck is completely reclaimed. By the way, in the old days, it really had the structure of a pier. In other words, the name Osan-bashi as Big Pier may be more accurately called “Big Quay” . However, the Japanese word sounds a little strange, so it seems that the current name was created to reflect the vestiges of when it was a pier. It’s interesting to learn a lot of things just by tracing the origins of names like this! Next, I arrived at the center of Osan-bashi! This spacious rooftop deck is named “The Whale’s Back” . (The person who named it is a genius!) Also, this passage leading to the indoor hall is made with beautiful curves like this. This three-dimensional, edgy deck was apparently designed by a London architectural firm. I think this place is well worth visiting just to see the architectural design. the road to the head of Osan-bashi head of Osan-bashi view from the head From the head of Osanbashi Bridge, you can also see Tokyo Bay and Daikoku Pier. Further behind Daikoku Wharf lies Kawasaki’s factory area, famous for its “factory night view” . By the way, during my first year as a company employee, I worked in a warehouse in Kawasaki’s Higashiogishima for just one month as part of my training. There, I had the valuable experience of seeing many huge warehouses lined up on a very vast site, something that I would not normally get to see. Also, Osanbashi is the home port of Asuka II, the largest passenger ship registered in Japan. Therefore, depending on the timing of your visit, you may even see Asuka II parked on this side! However, these days, there are even bigger luxury cruise ships in the world than Asuka II. And for some reason, those ships never come to Osan-bashi. Do you know why? The hint is in front of me to my right. Yes, the answer is Yokohama Bay Bridge! In order for a ship to come to Osan-bashi, it has to go under the Bay Bridge, but modern super-large passenger ships are too tall to pass under the Bay Bridge. Therefore, when such a large ship comes, it is said that it is decided not to greet it at Osan-bashi but at Daikoku Pier on the other side. The people who built the Bay Bridge back then may not have thought that a ship so large that it would not be possible to pass through it would ever come… Above all, the biggest highlight of Osan-bashi is the view towards Minato-Mirai on the left! I think this view is one of the most spectacular views in the island nation of Japan! Yokohama Landmark Tower, a 70-story skyscraper Popular tourist spot Red Brick Warehouse Yokohama Grand InterContinental Hotel looks like the white sails of a yacht floating on the sea What’s more, at dusk on a clear day, you can see such a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji…! ! ! *The photo was taken at this location in December 2023. If you were asked by a foreign tourist, “Where is the best view in Japan?”, what would you immediately think of? Of course, I think the answer varies depending on the person. However, if we were to have a discussion about “Where is the best view in Japan?”, I think it would definitely be one of the candidates! So the view from Osan-bashi is amazing that we highly recommend visiting this place! By the way, this place is about a 25-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station, but it’s about an 8-minute walk from Nihon-Odori Station on the Minato-Mirai Line! I made a simple map of the route from Yamashita Park to Yokohama Chinatown to Osan-bashi! This is a recommended walking course! So, the 8th checkpoint has also been cleared! By the way, I’m a little tired…(lol) What do you do if you get tired during your trip? There are many options, but here are some highly recommended places to relieve your fatigue in Minato-Mirai! So far I have been traveling on foot, but this time I will take the bus! The bus stop is right in front of me! “Red shoes” bus It is a sightseeing tour bus with a distinctive red and yellow retro body! The bus starts from Sakuragicho Station and makes regular trips around the Yokohama Bay Area, including Red Brick Warehouse and Yamashita Park. The price is a flat rate of 220 yen for adults and 110 yen for children. So, I took the bus for about 15 minutes and got off at a place called Hammerhead. The 9th checkpoint is in the direction of the white sail-shaped hotel, not this hammerhead. Yokohama Hammerhead is a commercial facility that also includes a passenger ship terminal, and opened in 2019. From Hammerhead, I pass through a park called Newport Park. I turn left here. I can already see the building at my destination! In front of it are World Porters & Cosmo World. So, I have arrived. The 9th checkpoint is Manyo Club! First of all, this Manyo Club is a hot spring facility for day trips, but overnight stays are also available, and it is located along the coast near the Red Brick Warehouse. If you go by train, you can walk 5 minutes from Minato Mirai Station or take the shuttle bus from Sakuragicho Station (departing from Royal Park Hotel). I’ve been here for the first time in about 13 years, so I’m looking forward to it! According to the official website of this hot spring, it is described as “a hot spring village in the city where you can relax all day long” . In addition to hot springs and meals, we also offer a variety of other services, including guest rooms for rest and overnight stays. The hot springs are brought daily by tanker truck from the source in Atami and Yugawara. This facility offers a variety of hot springs, including an open-air bath, a cypress bath, a large public bath, and a private family bath! And the biggest attraction is the observation footbath garden. From the huge footbath garden, you can see the beautiful scenery of the Minato-Mirai area, and on a clear day, you can even see Mt. Fuji! It was the best hot spring…! Surprisingly, I didn’t find much that had changed from 13 years ago. However, I noticed that they had introduced self-checkout! Also, there was a notice on the open-air bath that said, “The hot spring may be visible from the recently built passenger ship terminal nearby” . This new passenger ship terminal is probably the Hammerhead that I just took the bus down to. In other words, when a ship comes to Hammerhead, I think there is a possibility that this open-air bath will be slightly visible from the ship. This hot spring was completed before Hammerhead, so this kind of problem has arisen… (lol) So, the 8th checkpoint has also been cleared! There are only two checkpoints left! The night sky is beautiful outside…! First, let’s go back to the central area where I first visited. Because there is a popular ropeway there that was built a few years ago! Let’s head towards the World Porters, which can be seen right in front of me! Minato Mirai at night is a living work of art…! Cosmo World’s large Ferris wheel “Cosmo Clock” So, I arrived at the entrance of World Porters! Next, take the right path and go around the back side of World Porters. The destination ropeway is now in sight! I go up the stairs here and exit on the other side of the road. You can see the Landmark Tower, which always watches over this city, and its companion, the Ferris wheel. Even if you look all over Japan, you won’t find such an easy-to-understand symbol of the city. It is quite literally a landmark. Minato-Mirai is a really nice city! And the ropeway has become a new part of that wonderful scenery! Good luck from now on!!! Once you get off the escalator, go to the ticket counter on the left. So I arrived. The 9th checkpoint is Yokohama Air Cabin! This is an urban ropeway that connects Sakuragicho Station, the gateway to Minato-Mirai, to the goal point of Kishamichi, which I visited at the 2nd checkpoint, in 5 minutes each way! The project proposal was adopted in 2018 and opened in 2021. The official website describes it as “Japan’s first and world’s most advanced urban circulation ropeway”, and you can enjoy an aerial walk with a total length of about 0.4 miles. The fare is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children, and round-trip discount tickets are also available. Even though I say I love Yokohama, this is actually my first time riding this ropeway, so I’m really looking forward to it! Additionally, all cabins are equipped with an air conditioning system, so you can feel safe and comfortable even during periods of strong sunlight or hot weather. So, let’s get on board! So cool…!!! What is this futuristic vehicle…!? It’s bigger inside than I expected! Each ropeway can seat 8 people, and there are 36 of them! When I looked at the car in front of me, it seems like this ropeway starts with a lot of force…! Wow!!! Air walk memo 1: A strange voice comes out… (lol) Amazing…!!! All I can say is amazing. (lol) I can also see Kishamichi, which I passed this morning. The illumination of the cabin, station building, and pillars was apparently done by Motoko Ishii, a famous designer who also worked on the illumination of Yokohama Bay Bridge. She also worked on lighting up Tokyo Tower and Himeji Castle. How does it feel to walk in the air? The goal, Sakuragicho Station, is now in sight! World Porters already seem so far away… It’s so much fun that I feel like I’ll be there in no time… I have arrived at Sakuragicho Station, which we visited at the 1st checkpoint! The dream-like time has come to an end…! It was the best. Air walk memo 2: 5 minutes felt like 2 minutes. Air walk memo 3: The air cabin at night is especially amazing! The night view was fantastic! Air walk memo 4: Very convenient as a simple means of transportation! So, the 10th checkpoint has also been cleared! Sakuragicho Station at night has a completely different scenery than during the day. The last checkpoint is the place where you can see the wonderful cityscape of Minato Mirai, including the 10 famous spots we visited this time, from the highest point! First, go up the escalator on the left and head towards Landmark Tower! By the way, I came to Sakuragicho with my mother about six months ago. At that time, spread out next to this moving walkway, I was very impressed by how happy my mother was when she saw this scene! So, I arrived at the foot of Landmark Tower! This landmark tower is a 70-story high-rise complex building built, designed, and owned by Mitsubishi Estate. This Mitsubishi Estate is the same company that also handles the Gotemba Premium Outlets that I visited on my last trip to Shizuoka. Construction of this landmark tower began in March 1990 and opened in July 1993. This means that this huge building was built in just over three years. Mitsubishi Estate is amazing… Its height is 296.3 meters, making it the third tallest skyscraper in Japan. For reference, the first place is Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills (325 meters), and the second place is Osaka’s Abeno Harukas (300 meters). Landmark Tower is so high that it hurts my arm to lift the camera… (lol) By the way, when you hear 296 meters, you may think, “Why didn’t they make it 300 meters?” Initially, there were plans to make this building 300 meters tall. However, due to the presence of Haneda Airport near Minato Mirai, there was an altitude restriction, and as a result, the height of this building was 296.3 meters. Additionally, the upper floors from the 52nd floor of this building house the Yokohama Royal Park Hotel. And now comes the main point! The highlight of the Landmark Tower is the observation floor located on the 69th floor of the 70-story building! This observation floor is called the Sky Garden, and you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view! According to Yokohama City’s official website, the following is written: “On a clear day, you can see a vast view of not only Yokohama, but also Tokyo Tower, Sky Tree, Shinjuku, Boso Peninsula, Izu Peninsula, and Mt. Fuji.” “In addition, you can enjoy completely different views depending on the time of day, such as the setting sun in the evening, the night view of Minato Mirai, and the night view unique to the port where cruise ships and sightseeing boats come and go.” So, let’s go to the 69th floor Sky Garden! The entrance to the Sky Garden is located on the right side of Landmark Plaza. The cost was 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children. The elevator that goes to Sky Garden has a maximum speed of 750 meters per minute (approximately 45 kilometers per hour), making it the fastest going up in Japan and the fastest going down in the world! Passed the 50th floor in no time! You can’t casually eat instant noodles in such a super high-speed elevator… (lol) Arrived at the 69th floor observation floor! 11th checkpoint Sky Garden Spectacular view…! At an overwhelming height of 69 floors, you can easily overlook even skyscrapers! Especially from the observation zone towards Minato Mirai, you can see the route we took on this trip! First, we started from the 1st checkpoint, Sakuragicho Station, and passed through the 2nd checkpoint, Kishamichi. After passing through the gate-shaped Hotel Navios Yokohama and passing through the square beyond, we arrived at the 3rd checkpoint, the Red Brick Warehouse. Next, we continued along the coast via a pedestrian bridge to the 4th checkpoint, the site where the Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Amity was signed, and then to the Scandinavian-style restaurant SCANDIA at the 5th checkpoint. After eating, we headed further south along the coast and arrived at Yamashita Park, the 6th checkpoint. Next, we headed to Yokohama Chinatown, the 7th checkpoint that can be seen right in front of the central square. After that, we took a short detour to Yokohama Park and then headed towards the sea again. When we arrived at the 8th checkpoint, Osanbashi, we ate chocolate bread pudding and felt happy, then went up to the outdoor deck and enjoyed the spectacular view. Next, we took a sightseeing bus called Red Shoes and got off at a commercial complex called Hammerhead. After passing through Newport Park by the sea, we arrived at Manyo Club at the 9th checkpoint. After relaxing from the fatigue of our trip at a hot spring with a spectacular view, we then walked towards World Porters, enjoying the beautiful view of Minato Mirai at night. Then, we rode on the ropeway Yokohama Air Cabin at the 10th checkpoint, which I was most looking forward to this time! After enjoying the elegant walk in the air, we were back at Sakuragicho Station in no time. Finally, we took the moving walkway from Sakuragicho Station and arrived at Landmark Tower, where we are now! By the way, the view I just introduced is from the northeast zone, but there are also four other observation zones in this Sky Garden where you can enjoy different views, including the southwest zone where you can see Mt. Fuji and the sunset! I got on the elevator and was down to the 5th floor in no time! So, I’m back on the ground! It was truly an amazing time…!!! According to the official website, the following was written: “When I want to be alone, I look out over the city. I find myself worrying about small problems.” If you haven’t visited Sky Garden yet, we highly recommend you to try it out, even if you’re traveling alone! So, I have now cleared all 11 checkpoints…! Right now I feel both a sense of accomplishment and fatigue…(lol) Actually, during the trip, I was very surprised when a message appeared on the camera saying that the memory card was corrupted… Next, the camera displayed the message “Do you want to repair the data?” When I pressed the “Run” button, the message “Recovery failed” was displayed, which surprised me even more… At that time, I was just hoping that the only data that was corrupted was the one taken just before… (lol) So, I would like to go back to Tokyo Station and film the ending! PM8:30 Tokyo Station Marunouchi side I started from this place around 7:30 in the morning, so it took me about 13 hours to finish this trip…! I think of Yokohama Minato Mirai as a city that is like a theme park that you can enter for free. Every time I visit that wonderful city, I feel apologetic and wonder, “Can I really get in for free?” Minato Mirai is not only gorgeous, but also has a relaxing atmosphere, where you can feel the sea, feel the wind, and recently, there is a ropeway that moves slowly. I feel that it is such a mysterious city! 1th checkpoint: Sakuragicho Station / Old Yokohama Gallery 2th checkpoint: Kisha-michi as Old Train Road 3rd checkpoint: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse 4th checkpoint: Place where the Japan-US Treaty of Peace and Amity was signed 5th checkpoint: Scandinavian Restaurant SCANDIA / Hashed Beef Rice 6th checkpoint: Yamashita Park 7th checkpoint: Yokohama Chinatown 8th Checkpoint: Yokohama Port Osan-bashi as Big Pier I think these three places are highly recommended sightseeing and walking routes! 9th checkpoint: Day trip hot spring Manyo Club 10th checkpoint: Yokohama Air Cabin 11th checkpoint: 69th floor Sky Garden There may not be many sightseeing spots that are as inexpensive and enjoyable as Minato-Mirai. What’s more, what we introduced this time is only a part of Minato Mirai. I’m sure there are many other attractions in this city! Also, even at the same spot, you can enjoy completely different scenery depending on the season. So, I would like to travel to Yokohama again in the future with a different theme! By the way, there was one incident that happened during the trip that I didn’t introduce. That’s what a foreign tourist immediately noticed and told me about the fact that I had dropped my homemade guidebook at the first Sakuragicho station! He is the MVP of this trip…!!! I also brought a spare copy of my own guidebook, but I’m still very grateful to him! Finally, I hope that the data on the memory card marked as corrupt is intact… However, if all the data taken today is corrupted, I would like to try again on another day! If I don’t give up until the end, I will win in the end!!! *The captured data was safe! (I felt really relieved…) Thank you, Memory Card… So, thank you for watching!!! See you again on another trip…!!!

2024年4月　東海道シリーズ 第3弾
「横浜みなとみらいのおすすめ観光名所を日帰りで回りまくってみた！」

東京駅発＆日帰りの、みなとみらい一人旅です！
具体的には、11ヶ所の人気・おすすめ観光名所を回っていきます

1. 桜木町駅 / 旧横ギャラリー
2. 汽車道
3. 横浜赤レンガ倉庫
4. 日米和親条約締結の地
5. スカンディヤ
6. 山下公園
7. 横浜中華街
8. 横浜港大さん橋
9. 万葉倶楽部
10. ロープウェイ「ヨコハマ・エアキャビン」
11. 横浜ランドマークタワー 展望フロア「スカイガーデン」

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