Yokohama

The largest port city in Japan - Yokohama is the administrative center of the Kanagawa Prefecture. The population is nearly 4 million people, making it the second most number of inhabitants in the land of the rising sun.

Yokohama is located in Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo in the Kant region of the Island of Honshu. The city is rapidly developing as a major port in Japan in the late XIX century. Today, Yokohama is one of the largest ports in the country, along with Kobe, Osaka, Nagoya, Hakata, Tokyo and Chiba.

The city gradually acquires strategic importance for Japan from external and internal business perspective. One after another at the beginning of XX century, representatives of large corporations found their companies in the rapidly growing industrial city.

In 1923, a powerful earthquake razed much of the Japanese city. Data reported over 30 000 dead and 40, 000 wounded. An interesting detail is that then the majority of local believe that the natural disaster fell upon them because of black magic done by Koreans. Despite their irrational beliefs, the townspeople managed to quickly rebuild Yokohama. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, the city was destroyed again, this time by American bombers. This did not prevent the proud Japanese people to gather strength again and again to resurrect the city from the ashes. Proof of the intransigence of the residents of Yokohama is the fact that 20 years after the bombing - in 1972 Yokohama officially opened a modern subway.

The city has a strong economic base in Japan, especially in the shipping sector, biotechnology and other nano-technologies. Evidence for this is that in 2010, the automoive giant Nissan moved its main management there.

Yokohama has been recognized by tourists as the top destination in Asia. One of the intriguing places to be visited is the Sankeien Garden. Located in the southern part of town, a huge park attracts visitors with its preserved houses in authentic Japanese style. In the garden there are tea houses, lakes, colourful flowers and amazing tracks that will make you feel like you're in Kyoto, not in Yokohama. The park has been operational since 1904. It is available every day from 9:00 to 17:00, entrance fee is 500 yen.

The industrial part of town is also very attractive. Minato Mirai is a big business and tourist complex, located around the bay. In translation the name of the area means "port of the future". Not accidentally, locals call this the most representative part of Yokohama. Minato Mira visitors have the opportunity to tour hundreds of shopping centers, relaxation areas, baths with hot springs, museums and various parks. In the coastal part of town lies the impressive, 296 m high building, Landmark Tower. Around it are located other beautiful modern office buildings, building the overall appearance of Yokohama . Another trait of the city is the enormous Cosmo World Ferris Wheel, which always displays the correct time.

Yokohama attracts with its Yokohama Chinatown, which is registered as the largest in Japan and one of the largest in the world. There, visitors can test their culinary adventurism, taste some of their extravagant meals and drinks. There are lavish festivals held around the meeting of the Chinese New Year.

In Yokohama is the highest lighthouse in the world, Yokohama Marine Tower, which is located near the Yamashita Park.

At the same time, the city is located in a very convenient location. Yokohama is only 30 km from the metropolis of Tokyo.