Yokohama is Japan's second largest city, located 20 miles from Tokyo. Its location on the west side of Tokyo Bay has made it one of the country's busiest ports. Yokohama is the capital of the Kanagawa Prefecture.
Outside of the major industrial and business parks, Yokohama also offers attractions for visitors. Its Chinatown neighborhood, the largest in the country, is one of the most popular sites, lined with shops, restaurants, noodle bars, souvenir stores and Chinese grocery stores. Other popular attractions include the Bay Stars baseball stadium, the Nissan soccer stadium, the massive Marine Tower lighthouse, the Hikawa Maru ship, the Sky Walk observation platform and Landmark Tower, the tallest building in the country.
Yokohama's improbable claim to fame is that it is the destination of many a ramen noodle pilgrimage. The noodles that people often mix with sauces, soups, meat or vegetables to make for a quick and cheap meal, have earned a museum in Yokohama. The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum contains exhibits and samples illustrating the history of ramen. In the basement, there is an installation recreating the Tokyo of the 1950s. Here, visitors can choose between ten ramen noodle shops.
Yokohama has always attracted international tourists and business people, some of whom have chosen to stay. The major expatriate presence adds another dimension to Yokohama's culture. One of the principle districts where expatriates settle is the Yamate neighborhood, which contains some fascinating examples of Western architecture.
Stellar public transportation and walkable neighborhoods make Yokohama a tourist-friendly destination. Add to that the beautiful collection of gardens, most notably Sankei-en Park. With acreage of over 175,000 square feet, the rolling grounds of Sankei-en provide respite from the busy streets and markets of Yokohama. Within the park are also several examples of traditional architecture, some of which are designated national landmarks.
