Ahh…the pollen is gone and the greenery has returned. This winter might have been one of the colder ones in recent memory, but with arguably the best weather of the year, May has come to the rescue. Starting off the month with a string of holidays is something that no one will argue about. Stock up on sunscreen, get your grills out of storage and shake off that winter malaise with some outdoor fun. Yokohama is ready to oblige. This month there is no shortage of great events in which to participate, so be sure to read our listings for…
Author: Seasider
Bruntons is not your average beer bar, possessing style and sophistication that set it apart from other establishments. The rowdy atmosphere so common at a sports bars is absent, too. This is a place where people with discerning tastes come to appreciate good beer in a calm, cozy atmosphere. With five bar seats and a few small tables, it can certainly seem intimate. The bar will not disappoint serious craft beer fans. The staff is knowledgeable and very particular about a correct pour. When we visited they had a healthy selection of craft beers from all parts of Japan, including…
When Tomei Wines sold its popular Motomachi wine bar to focus more on its wholesale business, owner Michael Scott promised he would someday be back with a brand new concept. Well, the wait is over. On March 31st Tomei Wines opened The Warehouse tasting room and retail shop in Yoshidamachi. The goal is to provide a rare wine experience that isn’t currently found in Japan. The concept is to give customers an opportunity to taste a variety of wines as they would when visiting a winery. When they find the ones that suit them, they can purchase bottles to take…
Feel like having a few craft beers on the way home? How about some bottles or cans to stock the fridge? Need a nice selection to impress friends at a barbecue? The newly opened Antenna America Yokohama, in the Yokohama Station complex, can serve all these needs. This satellite shop is run by Yokohama-based American craft beer importer Nagano Trading. Similar to its original Antenna America shop in Kannai, the new venue is both taproom and retail shop. You can buy draft beers to drink at the counter (pints ¥1000~) or choose from an impressive lineup of around twenty brands…
What spots do you recommend in Yokohama? People often ask us what the best places are to eat, drink, shop, relax, etc. Sometimes it’s people we encounter while doing our work. Sometimes it’s other business owners. Occasionally, it’s the local government exploring what inbound tourists might like. In fact, we’ve created a number of videos for Yokohama City, some showcasing our selections. You can find them on our website. Obviously, audience matters. Are we recommending for inbound tourists? Or are we talking to residents? Our magazine is actually primarily geared to residents, whether Japanese or international, though it’s certainly of…
Cafe/Bar Navy 045 covers everything you could probably want in a hybrid bar-cafe: a range of dishes from vegetarian to meat-based standards, affordable set lunches, a surprising selection of tea, alcoholic beverages and a friendly, intimate atmosphere. After several visits, it keeps growing on me. Most surprising is the selection of healthy and/or vegan dishes. There isn’t just one token item. Master Tatsunori Tamura says he offers more than the typical cafe because there are many yoga studios in the area and these dishes appealed to the yoga devotees. The four lunch sets (all for just ¥1000) include chili with…
Akatsuki no Kura is a sake-focused bar that is sure to be a big hit with fans of Japan’s national beverage. Brewing paraphernalia and detailed production illustrations line the hallway that leads into the spacious bar. You immediately sense you are in for a treat. The beautifully designed interior seamlessly blends the traditional with the modern. Classic American rock and pop is delivered from the sound system adding beautifully to the mood without ever feeling intrusive. The bar has a novel concept in service. Sake bottles line one wall in two rows; the top showcasing the regular selections while the…
Welcome to the 9th anniversary edition of the Yokohama Seasider! I can still remember where I was when I first wrote this greeting many years ago (it was a coffee shop in the Sakuragicho area). In fact, many of my memories of Yokohama are connected with stories I wrote and pictures I took for this magazine. Nine years is a long time and I think I’m most proud of the team I assembled to help me keep this going. This magazine is theirs as much as it is mine. We’ve been thinking recently that we should open up the magazine…
On February 16 we welcome in the year of the dog. According to the Chinese zodiac, the toshi-otoko and toshi-onna (men and women born under the current sign) of the year are said to be loyal, friendly and honest. These sound like just the type of people you’d like to spend a day or night out on the town with. All these lucky “dogs” will get their chance to celebrate with friends during the Chinese New Year festivities. Yokohama has the fortune of being one of only three cities in Japan that has a Chinatown, and as the locals know,…
Every year in January a new group of youth move into adulthood in the Coming of Age ceremonies that take place across the country. On January 8th young adults in their 20th year will celebrate with their classmates in their hometowns, some reuniting after many years apart. May they enjoy the moment. As the new year dawns most of us find ourselves putting the problems of the past year in the rearview mirror and plotting a bright, new course for 2018. Seeing the smiles on the faces of those young men and women following in our footsteps allows us to…