Hamahashikai, directly translated as “seaside bridge gathering/council”, is a group of young locals in their 30s and 40s working together to create a network between their respective communities in Yokohama. Every year in November, they hold a major event called the Unga (Canal) Parade, which began seven years ago as an effort to raise awareness, increase utility and revive the transportation system for the canals that run throughout the city. Hamahashikai also aims to create a better canal environment by implanting artificial reefs and conducting research on how to make it cleaner and more efficient. They further plan on using…
Author: Seasider
When you’re dining at Cafe & Bar Bottle Ship in its nautical-themed white and blue interior with a cocktail in hand, you feel like you’re on board a luxury cruiser. The ceiling was intentionally built low in order to create such an atmosphere, says owner Megumi Shirakawa. She’s joined by manager and bartender Keisuke Furubayashi, who mixes up an array of drinks and entertains his customers with impressive bartending skills. Unsurprisingly, original cocktails are his recommendation (¥700~). One that left me with lingering delight was the loquat fruit cocktail–a tea liqueur infused with the sweet, tangy flavor of loquats. Other…
Sake and soba. It’s a classic combination in some parts of Japan (Ibaraki, for example, comes to mind). And it’s a feature of the menu at the relatively new Ichi in Bashamichi. But there’s much more to the menu than this. Let’s climb the stairs to the elegant interior and have a look… Our search for a sake joint in the neighborhood was what led to our discovery of Ichi so we’ll start here. The selection is not expansive; there were four Kanagawa jizake (local, craft sake), and five sake from other regions of Japan. But the list was well…
Dining with a prime view of the harbor to accompany fine food and drink is always an enticing proposition. Third-floor fusion cuisine restaurant and wine bar Bay Side Bistro 1-1 & The Rooftop offers such scenery from its spot overlooking Zou-no-Hana Park. Add to that a mix of jazz, soul and pop playing from an all vinyl album collection and the ambiance is complete. The kitchen is run by veteran chef Yuzo Terashima. Terashima has dedicated over 50 years of his life to preparing French cuisine, including a five-year stint in Paris. He even speaks some French. The menu is…
The end of June marks the halfway point of the calendar year. With many projects, don’t you assess your progress roughly halfway through? It’s interesting that most of us only use New Year’s to reflect on the previous year, or to make new goals for the upcoming one. But if we tend to measure our lives in years, and our lives are a kind of ongoing project, maybe we should take assessments at halfway points. June usually marks the rainy season in Japan. It’s a quieter, more meditative season–good weather for ruminating. Am I closer to my goals for the…
If you love a classic American meal of cheeseburgers, salty fries, mac ‘n cheese, spicy chicken and spare ribs, all with an ice-cold bottle of beer or Pepsi, you’re in for a treat. MEAT Meets MEAT World Rally 〜U.S.A〜 at COMPASS in Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers is a buffet that serves authentic American cuisine featuring quality meat from the U.S. Besides Western food, COMPASS offers Chinese and Japanese selections during the event such as dumplings, sushi, tempura and tonkatsu (made with tender American pork cutlet) which are must-try. The kitchen crew behind the food counter is there to…
I’ve spoken to many managers and HR personnel over the years that have told me that they encouraged their employees to live in Yokohama, even if their jobs are elsewhere. Likewise, I’ve spoken to many employees who transferred to the Kanto area and who noted that they chose to live in Yokohama on the recommendation of somebody in their company. How has Yokohama convinced so many people of its suitability for living? I think the intimate community feel plays a big part. Even when you go inside of a business, there’s always the sense that people working there are neighbors.…
Yokohama is home to many hole-in-the-wall cafes and eateries. Every so often, if you’re lucky, you’ll stumble on a hidden gem like Nagi Coffee. Nestled in Matsumoto-cho just minutes from the hubbub of Yokohama Station, this charming little cafe is situated on the first floor of a lovely red-brick apartment which also houses an antique store. Nagi Coffee’s food is both delicious and generous in its portions. The atmosphere is cozy and nostalgia-inducing. And, of course, the coffee is top quality. It’s one of those rare cafes that’s well-rounded in every aspect. The cafe exudes warmth and calm, and one…
The Left Coast Tasting Room in Tsujido is quintessential Shonan. Laid-back surf culture is the vibe and you’ll easily fit in showing up wearing shorts, tank top and sandals after a day at the beach. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, just like its owner Takayuki “Timmy” Yatabe. Timmy and his wife Yuka have been running the American diner-style establishment for about six-and-a-half years. It was formerly known as Timmy’s Cafe, but last year Yatabe became the importer of California’s Left Coast beer, and hence the name change. There are usually six Left Coast beers on tap (16oz, ¥1000~) along…
While Hakone is known primarily for its hot spring resorts, several world-class museums and gorgeous views of Mount Fuji, we’d like to offer a lesser known reason for you to go: the Kamaboko Museum. It also shares its campus with Hakone Beer, a rather good craft brewery. Kamaboko, or “fish cakes”, are served with a variety of Japanese foods, from cheap bento to expensive kaiseki (multi-course) dinners. But how interesting could a museum about fish cakes possibly be? Very. The museum is fun, family-friendly, attractive, immersive and educational. It has exhibits detailing aspects of its centuries-old production history, but…