Wow, December is already here. This December marks the 20th one for us here at The Dark Room. It’s almost unbelievable how quickly the years have sped past. Reminiscing now, when we first opened we got phone calls asking stuff like, “Why in the world are you opening a darkroom in this day and age?” It was when the world was quickly shifting to digital cameras. There were many reasons we opened: we loved monochrome photography, we loved darkroom work, we admired the photographer Koen Shigemori, we loved Kiyoshi Suzuki, too. But to answer the question of “Why now?”, I’d…
Author: Seasider
Walking toward Motomachi from Ishikawacho Station, I discovered B&W, a small 2nd-floor bar with large windows allowing a glimpse of the homey interior. I couldn’t resist checking it out! The relaxed, non-smoking atmosphere and wooden furnishings made me feel right at home. The bar has four rotating taps of craft beer (half ¥550~/pint ¥950~). To start I decided on Yokohama Brewery’s Tsumugi, a hazy Belgian blond ale with a dry, fruity flavor. I was also fortunate enough to try the Apple White by Yatsugatake Beer. Owner and sommelier Hisaya Tamoto selects each bottle of wine (glass￥700~/bottle ¥3000~) according to the…
It will likely surprise many to learn that there is a spacious bathhouse facility located just beyond the exit of Kamihoshikawa Station. Manten no Yu provides a modern bathing experience with all the bells and whistles in an atmosphere that harkens back to the days of the samurai. The attractive entryway has been created in the semblance of an Edo era ukiyo-e (woodblock print) that depicts a wooden bridge leading into a village of wooden houses. Traditional Japanese scenery and items like a kago (palanquin) line the entrance. As you cross over the bridge you pass under another ukiyo-e of…
Simple, elegant, modern, and stylish–from the minimalist shop design, to the packaging and pastries, Makoon Yokohama is an embodiment of all of those qualities. This small, hole-in-the-wall bakeshop is beloved by locals, and even during our short visit, customers popped in to greet friendly manager and pâtissier, Ryuji Honda, and get their dessert fix for the day. All the packaged pastries that line the counter are handmade by Honda. We tried his pound cake which came in two flavors, chocolate (¥250) and caramel (¥230). Both had chunks of chestnuts in them, making for the perfect seasonal treats. The sable cookies…
DIRECTIONS: Print on A3 size paper, fold in 6 equal panels lengthwise and then in half vertically. A3サイズの紙両面に印刷し、横が6等分になるよう蛇腹折りにし、縦を二つ折りにします。
We’re always trying to reach new readers and build a closer community. We need your help. Every month, we search for new distribution spots. Can you introduce some? If so, we’ll buy you a cup of gourmet coffee at Cafe Elliott Avenue near Yamashita Park. It’s simple: introduce us to an appropriate place that can distribute 10+ magazines monthly, and we’ll treat you. We ask that you have a personal relationship with the place–you know the owner/manager, or are a regular. Then speak to them. If they say “yes”, we’ll contact them (using your name as our introduction) and handle…
Whenever I’m in a relaxing cafe, my mind resets. But the truth is, right now I’m a little discombobulated about directing some photographers. Whether I’m in the studio or at my desk, I can’t keep my thoughts from spinning. That’s why I come here. Yoshidamachi usually conjures up images of a bar town, but this is a place where you can sip coffee at your leisure. I’m usually busy with studio work and when I try to set my mind to administrative work, I find I can’t concentrate. Yep, times like those, I’m here. I’m not sure what the cafe…
With autumn finally arriving in Yokohama, the crisp, chilly weather calls for an extra cup (or two) of coffee in addition to our usual morning brew. Minato Coffee is a hidden gem located right outside Queen’s Tower A entrance, serving fresh, hot coffee perfect for the season. Their creamy cafe latte (hot ¥500/cold ¥520) is an instant pick-me-up that you can easily grab on the way to work or before exploring the city. If you prefer black coffee, they’ll let you choose from a wide selection of beans which alternate according to the season. We also recommend the mocha soft…
Uji-cha (tea from the Uji region of Kyoto) is one of the most famous of Japan’s renowned green teas. Everyone from peasants and laborers to samurai and emperors have sought it for its health benefits and refined taste. For centuries, skilled tea farmers from the Uji area of Kyoto Prefecture have passed their craft down through the generations. Tsuneo Horii’s family is one of those. The Horii family has been growing tea for over 120 years in Kyoto. They also process Tencha, tea leaves to make finely ground matcha powder. Horii opened his store in Tennocho five years ago and…
Finding a decent cocktail bar in the city is easy. Finding one that is entertaining and creative, while also offering quality drinks, is a rarity. Newjack delivers on all these points. Founder and Yokohama native Keisuke Yamamoto relies on his twelve years of bartending experience to always keep things fresh at his establishment. The bar’s name derives from the music genre new jack swing–a style often pumping from the bar speakers along with hip hop and underground grooves. Like the music, the philosophy here is to pay tribute to classic cocktail styles while using them as a base for innovative…