Yokohama

Yokohama used to be just a sleepy fishing village until the arrival of Commodore Perry's black ships just off its coast forced Japan out of its national seclusion policy and started building/modernising several ports (including Yokohama) around the country. Presently, as Japan's most populous municipality and the second largest city by population after Tokyo, Yokohama is a modern, inviting, and pleasantly busy commercial hub lying just South of Tokyo. Both Yokohama and Tokyo are continually growing, indeed so much so that their physical boundaries have merged and the area between the cities are completely built up. This means easy access by public transportation between Tokyo and Yokohama, and certain proximity of creature comforts available to foreign visitors befitting a modern port-city.

Central Yokohama

 The distinctive Minato Mirai building.

 "Swan of the Pacific" sail ship - visitors may enter to explore the ship.

 The inside of a shopping mall in central Yokohama - my visit was late at night, hence the noticeable lack of shoppers.

 Nice layout of plastic food samples outside a restaurant.

 More plastic food samples.

 Intrigued by the floor standing fire extinguisher holder.

 Snoopy!

 

The hanging lights in a restaurant that opened late. Unfortunately the food also took a long time.

 

Someone should really clue in the cafe owner to the hilariously offensive sign.

 Yokohama train station.

 An antenna-like structure found near Yokohama Station - no clue what it is though.

 One of the shops found near Yokohama Station.

 A river/canal flowing through Yokohama - loved the ambience.

Yokohama's Chinatown (Japan's largest)

 There are lots of these gateways in and around Yokohama's Chinatown so it's hard to miss.

 Another magnificent gateway - the sign on it reads, "Chinese Street" (i.e. "Chinatown").

 The crowds on a Saturday evening.

 An impressively built multi-tier restaurant.

 Plastic food samples plus large menus outside a restaurant.

 Even the sideroads are full of eateries.

 Probably one of the tallest gateways.

 Another common sight in Yokohama's Chinatown - accessories shops.

 A glass panel in the restaurant where I had my dinner.

 A small shopping mall.

 Even Hello Kitty has come to Yokohama Chinatown.

Some shots taken elsewhere in Kanazawa

 Found a McDonalds with a red sign (instead of the black ones common in other areas).

 A massive lantern (advertising a restaurant) near a large pedestrian walkway.

 The well-kept field at Kanagawa University.

 I think those laundries are clean.

 Always wanted to see these uniquely Japanese pizza delivery scooters.

 Fishes for sale along the sidewalk.