Kanagawa’s International Port Towns
Though best known for its bustling Yokohama Chinatown, Kanagawa is home to a plethora of international communities. Explore a range of international cultures, with influences from South America and France — all in Kanagawa’s lively port towns, Yokohama and Yokosuka.
Verny Park
Facing Yokosuka Port, Verny Park is a vibrant, French-themed garden that features beautiful seasonal blooms and fascinating views of Yokosuka’s Bay Area. The 500-meter long park was named after a famed French naval engineer, Léonce Verny, who resided in and contributed to the building of several naval facilities in Yokosuka.
Verny Park is a well-known ohanami–cherry blossom viewing–spot in Yokosuka. The large cherry blossom trees extend their branches all over the park’s walkways, draping the scenery in a flurry of white and pink petals. Paired with the French-style architecture, such as the park’s signature circular gazebo, fountain, and street lamps, visitors can experience a uniquely Japanese-French spring day in Verny Park.
As cherry blossoms wither away, Verny Park’s iconic roses begin to bloom. Home to over 120 varieties of roses, visitors can take in the unforgettable sight of over 1,300 roses of various shapes, sizes and colors blooming alongside the bay.
Verny Park is open 24 hours a day, and admission is free. Beside the park, you’ll find a number of restaurants and cafes to sit in and relax while taking in views of Yokosuka Park. About a five-minute walk away are two shopping malls, AEON STYLE Yokosuka and COASKA Bayside, making the park the perfect place to unwind with a slow stroll before heading back indoors for some shopping.
Verny Park is located right outside JR Yokosuka Station.
Tsurumi Ward: Nakadori Shopping Arcade
Turning into Nakadori Shopping Arcade from the main road feels like stepping into a pocket of the past. Shops are built into the first floors of suburban houses, and colorful cloth roofs extend from the shops, creating a temporary escape from the sky above.
A quiet residential area, the shopping street is often customer to a handful of families, elderly, factory workers and salarymen strolling leisurely. There are many ways visitors can enjoy the street—whether it be grabbing lunch at a tasty and affordable bento shop or shopping at a produce store.
Nakadori Shopping Street is home to a large variety of stores selling food from across the world. Visitors can sample iconic Brazilian cuisine, such as pastels–crispy, airy puffed pastry stuffed with savory meats and cheese–, and wash them down with delicious fruit drinks imported from Brazil and other parts of Asia. Just down the street is an Okinawan restaurant selling Okinawa soba, a dish loved by Okinawa locals.
Most of these international eateries are also attached to grocery stores selling ingredients imported from the owners’ home countries. Visitors can take the chance to sample ingredients usually only found overseas, and challenge themselves with whipping up a non-Japanese meal back home.
Most shops along Nakadori Shopping Street open from late morning till late evening, though specific times vary from shop to shop.
Nakadori Shopping Street is about a 15-minute bus ride from JR Tsurumi station.
Yamate Area: Harbor View Park and Motomachi Shopping Street
The Yamate Area is the former residential area of Western immigrants who set up trade businesses in Yokohama in the 1850s.
Also known as 'The Bluff', the peaceful district lush with greenery and populated with Western architecture is a fantastic getaway from the bustling Yokohama city center. In particular, the nearby Harbor View Park and Motomachi Street are must-visits for any tourists in the area.
Boasting a fantastic view of Yokohama Bay, the 60,000-square meter Harbor View Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the port town. Filled with winding walking paths, beautiful architecture and breathtaking seasonal blooms in spring and autumn, you’ll see tourists and locals alike leisurely strolling the area.
The sunset and night view from the park tends to be favored. Imagine taking in the vast Yokohama Bay against the backdrop of pink, orange and blue skies, as it slowly transitions into the twinkling nightscape Yokohama is famous for.
Just 10 minutes away on foot from Harbor View Park is Motomachi Street. The shopping street came to life when Western immigrants began settling into the Yamate Bluff area, and residents in Motomachi started gearing their products towards this new population. Modern day Motomachi Street may seem like any other shopping street in Japan. However, there is deep history rooted in this 600-meter stretch that boasts more than 230 stores.
The Yamate Area offers a wealth of experiences to all its visitors. Beyond just Harbor View Park and Motomachi Shopping Street, the former residential area of Western immigrants showcases homes with unique and distinctly Western architecture.
The Yamate Area can be accessed via Motomachi-Chukagai Station and JR Ishikawacho Station, both of which are about an eight-minute train ride away from Yokohama Station.
Yokohama Chinatown
Yokohama Chinatown is arguably the most famous of the three Chinatowns found in Japan. Spanning approximately 500 square meters, the 160-year old area boasts an impressive 500 or so shops selling Chinese food, groceries, souvenirs and more.
Walking through the area transports visitors to what feels like a bustling main shopping street in China. Both sides of the roads are lined with buildings designed with distinctly Chinese architecture, and a large number of food street stalls can be seen at a glance. While many stop to take photographs of these unique buildings and shops, the highlight of this area is undoubtedly its huge variety of delicious Chinese food.
Visitors can choose from numerous restaurants boasting an array of unique Chinese dishes, all of which are marketed as authentic, delicious, and best of all, affordable.
The street food sold in the area is also immensely popular. Among the most popular treats are bubble tea, yaki shoronpo (fried soup dumplings), and egg tarts. The area offers much more than these three snacks, so bring your cash, foodie spirit, and an empty stomach!
Yokohama Chinatown is perfect for visitors who want to experience another Asian culture whilst traveling in Japan and also for foodies who want to sample Chinese cuisine.
Yokohama Chinatown is about an eight-minute train ride from Yokohama Station. It can be accessed via Motomachi-Chukagai or JR Ishikawacho Station.
