With the summer heat continuing deep into September, there’s nothing like savoring a cup (or cone) of gelato while taking a stroll by the harbor. Located at the entrance to Osanbashi Pier (a 20-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station), Yokohama Sorairo Gelato is the perfect place to satisfy your craving for this creamy, decadent treat. You’ll easily spot the little gelateria with its doors and walls painted pale blue and white, and large windows exposing the cosy, inviting atmosphere inside. The bright, vivid interior, and eye-catching “sorairo” (sky-colored) wallpaper at the entrance are the first things you’ll notice when you step…
Author: Seasider
Kurand Sake Market offers an opportunity to try a wide variety of premium sake from lesser known breweries, but it comes with a little bit of danger for anyone without a good sense of restraint. The sake is offered in an all-you-can-drink format with no time limit for ¥3240 (tax included). There are also options for 30-minute (¥1080) or 90-minute (¥2160) courses if you don’t expect to stay for long. Included in the courses are 100 types of each sake, shochu and fruit liqueurs from Kurand’s adjoining bar, Shugar. To help customers that can’t read Japanese, the English menu lists…
Walking into Kamakura Garage, the first thing that catches your eye is the attractive, colorful tile bar. Multiple windows give it a naturally bright atmosphere and the sunny attitude of the staff adds to that aura. During our lunchtime visit, American folk and acoustic tunes played in the background, adding pleasantly to the experience. Owner Kaz Segawa, works the bar chatting with guests while also putting the finishing touches on the dishes. If you are alone, have a seat at the counter and he’ll do his best make you feel at home. The day we stopped by there were three…
The craft beer scene in Yokohama continues to grow and the city boasts a significant number of bar options for fans. The most recent addition is 29BY in Yoshidamachi. It touts itself as a craft beer and washoku (Japanese food) bar, specializing in horse and yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). The name comes from a reading of 29 in Japanese, ni-ku, which is a homonym for meat. The B of BY stands for baniku (horse meat) and the Y represents yakitori. A good portion of the meat dishes are rare to raw. Beginners should try the Uma no Tataki Ponzu (lightly…
We hope everyone has been staying safe from the heat. Our newest employee is already used to tropical weather. This past month, we welcomed Meg to our team after her return from three years in Hawaii. During her time there, she studied art as a part of her university curriculum, then upon graduating, worked in the field of graphic design for a year. Meg was born and raised in Yokohama and attended international school here. She’s fully bilingual and joins us as a designer who will also contribute content. This issue is the first designed by her. Welcome back to…
In her impressive ten-year career, Keiko Mitsuhashi has made a name for herself as one of the top conductors in the world. Her accomplishments include being the youngest–and the first–Japanese to win the Antonio Pedrotti International Conducting Competition (2008), landing a spot in Newsweek Japan’s list of “100 Japanese People the World Respects” (2009), and winning the second prize in the Arturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition (2010)–the highest award ever given to a female conductor. Mitsuhashi has trained under legendary conductors, including Seiji Ozawa, and has become an inspiring role model. Mitsuhashi’s love for music started from a very young…
Uchida-Biyori is one of those rare establishments that satisfies customers through a focus on both craft beer and premium sake. As the two beverages are different, from their flavor and origin to how they are prepared and served, most bars aim to be proficient at one of them while offering the other as a minor alternative. Here, customers can sample the high end of both beverages. Owner Meishu Uchida opened the bar in May of this year after working in the beer industry at Yokohama Brewery and a pub in Tokyo. At Uchida-Biyori, you can enjoy craft beer from three…
While sitting and chatting in Starbucks in Meguro, fellow photographer Herbie Yamaguchi asks me, “Did you know that next to the Leica store in London there is a life-size, bronze statue of Donovan shooting the model/actress Twiggy?” Englishman Terence Donovan started his famous career as a fashion photographer with those photos of Twiggy, then went on to shoot the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Jimi Hendrix, Lady Diana and other celebrities. Born in 1936 to a British working class family, he originally pursued a career as a chef, but in 1957 switched gears to move into the world of photography. In…
Fans of premium sake, rejoice! In June the Meishu Center Yokohama opened its doors for business, boasting a selection of about 100 different high-end sake. Bottles indicating staff recommendations and tasting notes cover one wall of this cosy standing bar. A few small tables and two enticing fridges packed with sake complete the interior. The bar is run by American Brian Hutto, who moved to Japan in early 2016. He fell in love with sake and decided to start exporting it. To further financially support his business, adding a bar was a logical move for him. Now officially a Certified…
As the rainy season comes to a close and summer truly gets underway, we welcome the appearance of beer gardens and beach houses. Cold beer and a dip in the ocean are surely great ways to beat the heat. Heading to the mountains for some hiking is another fine option. We are fortunate in Yokohama to be able to enjoy life in a cosmopolitan city and yet have easy access to nearby beaches and mountains. The summer season is also celebrated with fireworks festivals in virtually every city and town across the country. These festivals are enjoyed by all from…