Red brick architecture was synonymous with 19th-century Yokohama. An iconic landmark, Yokohama Port Memorial Hall, boasts a clock tower with alternating red and white bricks. The Red Brick Warehouses on Shinkō Pier have survived through a century despite an earthquake, a world war, and the prospect of demolition. They are the focus of Yokohama shoreline today. But who first made bricks in Yokohama? Find the answer in Motomachi Park. Meiji-era buildings in Yokohama were built with bricks manufactured by a Frenchman, Alfred Gérard. He was born in 1837 in Reims, northern France, and arrived in Yokohama penniless in 1863. He…
Author: Glenn Scoggins
October 14 marked 150 years since the first railway in Japan connected Shimbashi in Tōkyō with Sakuragi-chō, the original Yokohama Station. There have been three Yokohama Stations, with the current location in use since 1930. However, for 15 years the name “Yokohama Station” belonged to an impressive but long-forgotten brick palace. How many people pass by its remains daily without recognizing its place in Yokohama’s history? The location of Sakuragi-chō was convenient to central Yokohama, but it was not on the main Tōkaidō route from Tōkyō to Ōsaka, requiring a time-consuming switchback. The opening of Tōkyō Station in 1914 ushered…
Nestled inconspicuously under the Nambu Line tracks is a cozy and friendly bar for lovers of craft beer and oysters, especially those on a tight budget. Cheerful manager Saya Takagi welcomes regular customers and first-timers with a warm smile. The tiny interior fills up quickly: the counter seats only two! The 7:10 ratio of beer taps to seats is impressive, as is the broad range of styles, from sour to IPA. Takagi’s goal is balance, and taps rotate through thirty domestic craft outlets. One tap is always reserved for local Mizonokuchi Brewery (Nokuchi Beers). On a recent visit, Pilsner Urenkel…