Yokohama In Tokyo's Shadow

Above, the Yokohama waterfront. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Japan are missing out a lot if they bypass a visit to Yokohama. 

For monster fans, Yokohama was used as a battlefield in two Godzilla movies over the past two decades.

First, it was featured in Godzilla vs. Mothra (1991) during a battle between the Big G, Mothra and Battra.

Second, it was used in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001).

The port area of Yokohama is still easily recognizable to monster fans.

According to Inside Japan Tours:

The bustling city of Yokohama, the second-largest in Japan, is quite often overlooked in favor of its big brother, Tokyo. Given that one pretty much runs into the other, this isn’t too surprising. What is surprising, though, is how many visitors end up giving Yokohama a complete miss. Such a shame, as it has history and attractions to spare and is a great alternative to a day in Tokyo! Let’s shed some light on Yokohama, the city in Tokyo’s shadow. 

As one of the three ports opened to foreigners after Japan’s centuries of isolation, Yokohama has an interesting and unique relationship with the West. Opened in 1859, Yokohama quickly transformed from a sleepy fishing village into an international base of foreign trade. Indeed, Japan was quick to reap the benefits of Western technology, with Yokohama being the first place in the country to have a daily newspaper, gas powered streetlamps, and a railway line. 

Even today, Yokohama enjoys the reputation of being one of Japan’s most international and cutting-edge cities. That doesn’t mean, however, that it hasn’t preserved its rich history. Let’s take a look at a few spots around the city to truly make your visit a memorable one.

To read more, go here.