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 Hiroshima - Culture

Yokohama is a bustling city with a population of more than 3 million people, making it Japan's second largest city after metropolitan Tokyo.

Yokohama is situated on a peninsula facing the western coast of Tokyo Bay and lies a mere 30 kilometers(18.6 miles) from Tokyo, the capital of Japan.

Because Yokohama is so close to Tokyo, many of the two cities' economic and other activities are linked. Indeed, people outside Japan probably see the two cities as one and the same. In practice, however, Yokohama has its own unique commerce, industry and culture; in both political and economic terms, it offers its own attractions and services.

The most important feature of Yokohama is its role as a port city, which has led to bustling activity in the fields of trade, commerce, marine transportation and shipbuilding. Its residents rate among Japan's most affluent, and Yokohama ranks top among Japan's six largest cities in terms of real income per household and second in terms of consumer spending, just behind Tokyo and far ahead of the others.

The harbour area is quite interesting, featuring the 73-storey Landmark Tower (the tallest in Japan), the Nippon Maru, Maritime Museum and the Art Museum.

The centre of commerce is Honcho Dori, which is lined with banks and office buildings, eg. Yokohama Banker's Club and the Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall.

From the top of the 106-metre Marine Tower, you can command a good view of the city and harbour, and on a particularly clear day, Mt. Fuji.

A stroll in Yamashita Park along the waterfront is not to be missed. There is a permanently-moored liner here, the Hikawa-Maru. Visitors are welcome on board.

The Port Viewing Park is situated on the west side of the Bluff, a prestigious residential area. The Foreign Cemetery lies here, final resting place for the 4,200-odd early foreign residents of Japan.

Chinatown
Also known as Chukagai, this is the largest Chinatown in the country. You will be greeted by a big vermilion Chinese gate at the entrance. Of interest here are the many shops selling Chinese products and curios, and of course the cuisine.

Yokohama Stadium is home to the Yokohama Taiyo Whales baseball team. When baseball's not on, it is used for soccer, American football and occasionally, rock concerts in the summer.

Sankeien Garden covers 170,000 sq km of landscaped gardens laid out around a large pond. Many historic structures were brought here from all over the country, eg. Rinshunkaku is the only remaining example of villa architecture from the time of the feudal lords, and Choshukaku is a tea-house built by the 3rd Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu Tokugawa.