If you're visiting Yokohama, you have to make sure to visit Chinatown! Likened to the city of Kobe which also has a Chinatown, it is a great lunch or dinner spot to try some Chinese food, explore the temples and browse the many shops for the perfect souvenir. Chinatown spams for approximately 250 square metres and is home to over 500 shops and restaurants. It was established in 1859 after Yokohama opened up its ports to foreign trade, and served as an area to support traders and visitors from China. As a result, Chinese immigrants settled in the area and created the wonderful cultural hub we see today. The unique blend of both Chinese and Japanese culture makes it even more unique.
Chinatown is highly colourful and decorative! Its boundaries are marked by very distinct and ornate gates of which there are 10 in total! Each gate has its own unique carvings, symbols and patterns representing protection and the prosperity of the area. The main entrance gate is the most famous and is known as Zenrin-mon Gate. Chinatown is home to two famous temples, Kanteibyo and Masobyo. Kanteibyo is a temple dedicated to the Chinese God of War and Business, and Masobyo is a Taoist temple enshrining the Goddess of the Sea and protector for sailors. Both temples are small, but highly worth visiting during your trip! Shopping enthusiasts can rejoice as the area is full of unique shops selling teas, herbs, ceramics and souvenirs!
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during Chinese New Year or Autumn, you can witness the huge festivals for New Year and the Mid-Autumn festival where you can see dancing, parades, lantern displays, fireworks and enjoy amazing street foods. To reach Chinatown, take the Minatomirai Line from Yokohama station directly to Motomachi-Chūkagai station for approximately 10 minutes. If you’re exploring other parts of Yokohama such as Yamashita Park and the Minato Mirai area, you can also easily reach Chinatown on foot in approximately 15 minutes.
Want to experience the Yokohama City and Chinatown for yourself?
