The skyline of the greater Sakuragicho area near our office has changed dramatically in the last few years. Multiple skyscrapers have gone up and the station itself has grown; construction continues, in fact, and will soon link Sakuragicho Station via an elevated walkway to the Bashamichi neighborhood. Even in quaint old Noge, high-rise apartment buildings are replacing aged structures on nearly every block. Such change is inevitable, perhaps, and it can certainly alter the character of a district. We hope city planners are keeping small businesses in mind and working to ensure a continued sense of community–that, after all, is…
Author: Seasider
Amid the high-end boutiques and restaurants found along the classy streets of Motomachi, you’ll be surprised to learn that there is only a single place selling wagashi (Japanese sweets). Kouro-an, a staple in the neighborhood since 2004, sells some artistically crafted sweets that make for excellent gifts. Executive Director and Hamakko Masaya Saito tells us that the family-run business also goes to great lengths to make its attractive products distinctly representative of Yokohama. Company president Tomoya Saito, Masaya’s brother, spent ten years honing his skills in the confectionery world prior to the Saito family opening the store. The name…
Delving into an entirely new culture, especially one that is as unique as Japan’s, takes courage and effort. Visiting here is one thing, but in order to live here, learning Japanese is a must. Once the language barrier is gone, the experience of living in Japan can become far more rewarding and enjoyable. If you plan on studying and/or working in Yokohama and are looking for a Japanese school, look no further than YIEA (Yokohama International Education Academy). They offer a variety of intensive programs that cater to their students’ needs and desires, and have an impressive lineup of successful…
Happy New Year to all our readers! We hope you enjoyed your Shogatsu with family and friends and are ready to kick off 2020 refreshed and determined. According to the Chinese zodiac 2020 is the year of the rat. While this sounds unappealing to most Westerners, in actuality, in Chinese culture the rat is seen as a sign of wealth and abundance. Actresses Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow are both rats. Also, due to rats’ prolific birth rate, couples wishing to be blessed with children might offer prayers to them. People born in the year of the rat are said…
As the decade comes to a close, the city of Yokohama is abuzz with change. The cityscape is rapidly transforming before our eyes as multiple, massive construction projects are finished or near completion: the Hammerhead pier, a new addition to Yokohama Station, the rebirth of the Shin-Takashima area, the high-rises of Kitanaka… the list goes on. The city is clearly poised to open 2020 with a bang. But let’s not rush things–the year isn’t over yet. Walking about town you can feel the excitement for Christmas and the New Year season slowly building. Stores are decked out in bright lights…
Yokohama’s location and history as a port have inspired themes of architecture and tourist spots in the city. Lotus Baguette on Kaigandori is a little cafe that resembles a fisherman’s cottage. Barrels serve as tables for freshly-baked pastries and the furniture is made of weathered wood, adding a chic and rustic touch to the cozy atmosphere. Its surroundings are similar to that of a wharf, and the view looks out on a harbor full of boats and the city’s iconic brick building, Akarenga, in the distance. Meals are made fresh in their “kitchen”, a bright purple van parked next to…
The Noge area continues to evolve as run-down buildings are renovated or replaced and hip, new restaurants appear among the nostalgic, Showa-era shops. HITSUJI Miyagawacho, of the former category, can best be described as a modern, upscale izakaya. Track lighting gives it a bright atmosphere as do the smiley staff headed by amicable owner and Yokohama native Masashi Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi also runs the popular, original HITSUJI in the center of Noge. He opened this second location in September. Both excel at attractively presented food and excellent drink choices. For appetizers we started off with Shirako Ponzu (vinegared milt, ¥680),…
The cold winter months ahead call for cozy comfort foods, and cheese fondue is definitely up there on the list. At Cheese Cafe 2, you’ll find everything from pizza to pasta and of course, fondue (R ¥980, L ¥1280), which comes with focaccia sticks to dip. It’s made with 5 different cheeses: red cheddar, mozzarella, steppen, Emmental and Gruyère. We couldn’t resist ordering a side of crispy Mushroom Fritters (¥580) to douse in our bubbling pot of thick, creamy cheese. Next came the Sweet Potato and Four Cheese Pizza (¥1580) which instantly filled the air with the sharp scent of…
by David Ellis Freshly-baked cheesecake is hard to beat–it’s hefty and decadent, but not overly sweet or rich. Fortunately for us all, Yokohama has a real cheesecake factory named Gateau Yokohama. Located on a quiet river canal with boats docked outside, it’s a nice, cozy place to have tea or coffee with friends. The factory has a tearoom and its main shop sells cheesecake and other sweets made within its facilities. We ordered the Blueberry Cheesecake (¥375) and the top two selling items: Yokohama Cheesecake (¥350), a plain cheesecake made with fresh cream cheese, and Yokohama Cheese Pudding (¥350). My…
A few years ago we introduced you to Satoshi Kimijima, the 4th-generation CEO of alcohol distribution company Yokohama Kimijimaya, not to mention guitarist and lead singer of his own band, Mystic Waters. Last month he converted warehouse space across from his head office in Minami-yoshidacho into a wine and spirits shop with a standing bar for tastings. Kimijima travels abroad extensively to carefully choose the best products to import, and to forge relationships with his suppliers, especially smaller, family-run businesses. While the main focus of this store is imports, domestic alcohols are available as well–and the main shop across the…