Book cafe élever is located inside a famous piece of architecture designed by Kazuyo Sejima, a member of the group of architects known as SANAA. The appeal of the building includes curves, light, and empty spaces. Featuring books and coffee, the cafe is, as it bills itself, “a little library with coffee.” The atmosphere of élever is always different whenever you visit. In the morning, rays of fresh sunlight stream in. Spend your afternoon here surrounded by books while gazing at a blue sky through an expansive window. At night, the window is like a frame that shows the light…
Author: Seasider
Yokohama has a rich legacy when it comes to beer. It was the location of Japan’s first brewery in the late 19th century (Spring Valley, now Kirin) and today it’s home to a couple of importers and a handful of craft breweries. Among the latter, Yokohama Bay Brewing is not only recognized across Japan, but has also garnered international attention. Brewer-owner Shinya Suzuki most recently won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup (it’s like the Olympics of beer), and it was hardly his first award on an international stage. Now, you can drink his delicious brews at a…
Autumn is in full swing so why not enjoy a stroll through the colorful foliage of Yokohama on the way to lunch or dinner with friends and family. At Navigante in Ishikawacho, you can enjoy similarly colorful, healthy Italian cuisine centered around fresh fish and vegetables. It’s the perfect spot for a memorable meal after enjoying the fall scenery. Owner Ryosuke Takahashi grew up in Yokohama and has been fishing since elementary school. He has fond memories of cooking fish he caught, which brought joy to his family. After university, he recalled those childhood experiences during his job search and…
Petero Yokoyama, a piano tuner and the representative of Piano Clinic Yokoyama, has been praised by European master performers for his almost magical tuning ability. His approach considers the unique characteristics of each manufacturer; he listens to the components of the piano’s voice and maximizes its inherent singing quality in the traditional Western style. When playing the keys, the sound resonates like harmony, allowing for rich expression of tonal variation through touch. Tracing the history of Western music and instruments born in stone churches, one inevitably comes to song (chant). In other words, we might say the human voice is…
Earlier this autumn, the Italian charcoal-grill restaurant &GRILL opened in the heart of Sakuragicho at the foot of Momijizaka, a crossroads of cultural facilities in Kanagawa, including the Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall, the Prefectural Library, and the Noh Theater. Chef Masayuki Watanabe honed his skills in Tokyo before spending 15 years at Charcoal Grill Green in Ishikawacho, a competitive dining district. Now, together with his wife Tomoe, a certified sommelier, they have shifted course from their days at Green and are charting a new path with this creative take on Italian cuisine. On opening the door, you discover an intimate…
Yokohama is ever-changing. So it is with all cities. But the transformation of central Yokohama has been fast over the past decade. One of the Seasider’s co-founders, My Huynh (our original designer), remarked on this when she recently returned for the first time in many years. She could hardly recognize Sakuragicho (we hear this from many). One thing, she said, hadn’t changed: people were friendly and attitudes, laid-back. Yokohama, however much you change, may your soul stay mellow!
Everybody’s Table, located just a minute from the Kannai Station, offers authentic Chinese food and craft beer. The director of the restaurant, Yuki Yamaguchi, also runs two ramen shops and a food truck service. This restaurant will only be open until December of next year as the station area will undergo redevelopment. Visit while you can! Though the restaurant opened just this past March, it always boasts a lively atmosphere, with locals of a wide age range coming to savor the delicious food and comfy interior. Chef Jumpei Shibata formerly ran a famous Chinese restaurant in Honmoku called “Xiang” which…
We recently had the pleasure of attending a reception party for an international conference to report on the Awazu Family Shodo Performance, presented by shodo (Japanese calligraphy) artist Awazu Kōka, her daughter Kōsen, and son Kōsho. The city of Yokohama has long been a stage for such global exchange, with the national and local governments alike hosting international events here. The city also has a large international community. Shodo performances by this group have become a common feature at receptions for such events, both welcoming guests from abroad to Japan and showcasing Japanese culture. The event we attended showcased a…
Yet another attractive establishment has opened in Bashamichi, where a diverse range of old and new dining establishments line the streets! The World Yakiniku Center, which opened in July next to Charcoal Grill Green, is an unusual yakiniku restaurant that incorporates food cultures from around the world. Owner Yosuke Katsuchi, who also operates Green, decided to open the yakiniku restaurant after the izakaya next door closed during the pandemic. Unlike the casual American-style ambiance of Green, the interior of this new place is chic and sophisticated. The menu is unique and differs considerably from typical yakiniku restaurants. It features ingredients…
It’s been a year since the Yokohama Seasider became an official NPO. Nothing much has changed for us, though. Over our 15+ years of publication, we’ve always been a community oriented magazine, written for Hamakko (Yokohama folks) by Hamakko. The magazine and website is still produced by Bright Wave Media, Inc. We are still supported by the sponsors you see in these pages (please patronize them!). We’re still carried by businesses and city facilities all over Yokohama. Thank you, Yokohama community, for making this work!