When the end of the year arrives, many of us probably think with surprise, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s here already.” We then begin to reflect on what we’ve accomplished. Maybe a few of us feel the pressure of some unfinished project or task that we’d like to complete before the New Year. And who doesn’t look forward to relaxing during the holidays? The end of the year comes with many emotions. We hope yours are overall net positive. It helps to be a part of a good community. Yokohama is a big city but feels small; it definitely has…
Author: Seasider
Yokohama offers a diverse selection of international cuisine, including Arabian, which had been difficult to find until Al Ain opened just a ten-minute walk from Kannai Station’s south exit. Those looking for authentic meals from the heart of the Middle East should definitely visit this unique restaurant. Owner and chef Ziad Karam always greets customers with a warm welcome. After arriving in Japan 25 years ago from Lebanon, he worked as the ambassador’s chef at the Embassy of Kuwait, where he served kings and heads of state. In contrast to the seriousness of such a setting, he is quite down-to-earth…
Many people living in Japan are familiar with Suntory’s famous mascot, Uncle Tory, but few may know that its creator called Yokohama home. Ryohei Yanagihara (1931- 2015), a long-time Yokohama resident, came up with the original design for the character in 1958, and it has since been featured in extensive marketing campaigns and on every can of Tory’s Highball and spin-off products. He also worked on the illustrations for some extremely popular Suntory marketing campaigns like “I want to be more human” and “Let’s drink Torys and go to Hawaii”. Yokohama residents have many more reasons to be proud of…
From the bustling downtown parks and curving coastlines of Hayama and Kamakura to the expansive mountains and pristine nature of Tanzawa and Hakone, Kanagawa has a lot to offer just a short day trip from the city. Fall is an exceptionally good time to travel, as nature’s colors seep away for a last hurrah before the winter slumber approaches. Be it temple light-ups, perfect weather for hiking, or a relaxing stroll in traditional Japanese gardens, this month we present you our top 5 autumn foliage viewing locations in Kanagawa (in no particular order). SANKEIEN Late November / JR Negishi Station…
In a world awash with so many cheap conveniences, it’s often difficult to find places that reconnect people to each other and nature. Recently, the “eco” lifestyle movement has emerged to counter this prevailing trend. Working with the theme “Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability” (or LOHAS for short), ecomo in Tsujido hopes to support a new, ecological lifestyle. Ecomo operates from a prefabricated warehouse with the large letters “ecomo” witten on the side. It is only a 15-minute walk from Tsujido Station. Ecomo’s managing company is an architectural firm whose goal is to create “houses friendly to the earth and…
Autumn is in full swing in Yokohama, though its yellow, orange and red hues may not reach peak vividness until later in the month. While trees lining the streets are reminder enough of the season, we really recommend you visit one of the city’s parks or gardens to enjoy nature’s true beauty. Sankei-en is quite lovely. Neighborhood temples and shrines, too, typically have a few old trees bursting with color. Yokohama is a rather convenient transportation hub so it won’t be too difficult for you to take a day trip somewhere in Kanagawa prefecture to revel in the crisp autumn…
If you are a fan of good barbecue, the recently opened Hanasaki Butchers Store will undoubtedly appeal to you. Its concept is based on Argentine-style barbecue, where friends and family gather around the grill to share good food and conversation. The open kitchen and warm atmosphere go a long way toward conveying that feeling. The restaurant’s signature offering is its wet-aged meats, which are stored for a few weeks in the fridge until deemed the perfect tenderness. A custom-made, charcoal-fired grill which can be raised or lowered incrementally insures the meats get cooked just right. The most popular menu item–for…
When talking about what is quintessential Japanese culture, it’s hard to imagine sake not entering the conversation from the very start. While Yokohama may not be a brewing hotspot, we are fortunate to have one of the premier sake distributor/retailers in the country right at our doorstep— Yokohama Kimijimaya. Yokohama native and 4th generation CEO of the company, Kimijima Satoshi, is a well-known figure in the sake world and around town. His business distributes to some of the most prestigious hotels, restaurants and bars in the country. As Executive Vice President of the Japan Sommelier Association, he also takes an…
For years, beer lovers all over Japan have flocked to Thrash Zone near Yokohama Station for its “extreme beer”, meaning strong, boldly flavored craft beers. Owner Koichi Katsuki also unapologetically plays extreme music, meaning punk and metal. For some, it takes getting used to–the beer certainly helps. He now has a new branch in Kannai. The new place, dubbed Thrashzone Meatballs, is much like the original. There’s still extreme craft beer for remarkably good prices. Pints start as low as ¥700 for his own beer, which Kochi brews at a small production facility in Yokohama. His brews take their inspiration…
Sake is one of the world’s most interesting alcoholic beverages. Although most compare its taste with wine, it is brewed more similarly to beer. Its taste is unique and its history and culture run deep. Recent developments in sake should be of interest to both sake novices and veterans alike. Japan’s national drink is in a state of flux. Alarmingly, overall sake sales have been declining for years and it now accounts for less than 10% of total alcoholic beverage market share in Japan. Sake breweries, meanwhile, are declining in numbers, too. The good news is that premium grades of…