Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I toured from central Tokyo to Yokohama Chinatown on a Harley Sports Glide (FLSB). Yokohama Chinatown is Japan’s largest Chinatown, a colorful area with over 400 restaurants and souvenir shops. There are a variety of ways to enjoy Chinese food and dim sum, as well as Chinese food and miscellaneous goods, relaxation, and fortune telling. This time, we will introduce the charm of Yokohama Chinatown.
Yokohama Chinatown originated in the area where Chinese people began to live when Yokohama opened its port in 1859. At that time, Chinese people lived in former rice fields near foreign settlements as traders and intermediaries. After that, the number of Chinese people increased due to the effects of the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. The city has also overcome difficult times such as the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Pacific War, and is now home to approximately 3,000 Chinese people.
There are four gates in Yokohama Chinatown. They are located in the north, south, east, and west, and are named after the four divine beasts of China. The Asayo Gate to the east is called Seiryu, the Enpei Gate to the west is called Byakko, the Ninwa Gate to the south is Suzaku, and the Genbu Gate to the north is called Genbu. . These gates were built based on the concept of feng shui, and are said to ward off evil spirits and bring in good luck.
There are also more than 10 temples in Yokohama Chinatown. Two of the most famous are the Kantei Temple, which prays for prosperous business and financial fortune, and the Mazu Temple, which prays for safe voyages, children, and marriage. These temples host events throughout the year such as the Spring Festival and Mazu Festival, and you can see traditional performances such as lion dances and dragon dances.
There are four things to see in Yokohama Chinatown: eating, drinking, shopping, and enjoying. I will introduce each of them.
eat
Yokohama Chinatown has over 400 restaurants. Among them, the most famous are dim sum such as meat buns and xiao long bao. Dim sum is a Chinese dim sum that is eaten for breakfast or as a snack, and is a small dish served in a steamer basket or plate and enjoyed with tea. In Yokohama Chinatown, you can buy and eat dim sum at specialty shops and food stalls. Meat buns are stuffed with pork, vegetables, and other ingredients wrapped in white dough, and are well-known in Japan. Xiaolongbao is a thin dough that wraps ingredients such as pork or chicken and soup, and when you bite into it, the soup spreads in your mouth. There are also many other types of dim sum, including fried and grilled dishes such as spring rolls and dumplings, noodles such as tanmen and dandan noodles, and rice dishes such as Peking duck and fried rice. Each piece of dim sum is small and cheap, so you can try a variety of flavors.
drink
At Yokohama Chinatown, you can enjoy Chinese tea and Chinese sake. Chinese teas include not only green tea and black tea, but also aromatic teas with flowers and fruits added to them. Chinese tea is said to be good for health and beauty, and it also has a relaxing effect. Chinese sake is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice or barley, and often has a higher alcohol content than Japanese sake. Chinese sake has different tastes and aromas, such as dry and sweet. In Yokohama Chinatown, you can enjoy drinks while listening to explanations from experts at shops and bars specializing in Chinese tea and liquor. Also, you can enjoy it even more deliciously by drinking it with dim sum.
buy
At Yokohama Chinatown, you can buy Chinese food and miscellaneous goods. Chinese foods include seasonings and spices, dried and canned foods, sweets, and tea that are essential to Chinese cuisine. Many of these foods are difficult to obtain in Japan, and are useful when making Chinese food at home. It also makes a great souvenir. Miscellaneous goods include traditional Chinese crafts, ornaments, clothing, accessories, feng shui goods, and fortune-telling goods. These miscellaneous goods not only allow you to experience Chinese culture and history, but are also said to bring good luck. In Yokohama Chinatown, you can buy Chinese food and miscellaneous goods at specialty stores and food stalls.
enjoy
You can enjoy relaxation and fortune telling in Yokohama Chinatown. Relaxation options include Chinese massage, acupuncture, and foot massage. These relaxation techniques are said to not only remove fatigue and discomfort from the body, but also regulate the flow of Qi. In Yokohama Chinatown, you can receive it at relaxation specialty shops and food stalls. Fortune-telling includes palm reading, the Four Pillars of Destiny, and Feng Shui. These fortune-tellers not only tell you your fortune, compatibility, suitable jobs, etc., but also give you tips and advice on how to improve your fortune. In Yokohama Chinatown, you can receive fortune-telling at specialty stores and food stalls.
Motorcycle parking lot in Yokohama Chinatown
There is no parking lot exclusively for motorcycles in Yokohama Chinatown. However, there are several paid parking lots nearby.
summary
This time, I toured from central Tokyo to Yokohama Chinatown on a Harley Sports Glide (FLSB). Yokohama Chinatown is Japan’s largest Chinatown, and there are four main attractions: eating, drinking, shopping, and having fun. There are a variety of ways to enjoy Chinese food and dim sum, as well as Chinese food and miscellaneous goods, relaxation, and fortune telling. In addition, Yokohama Chinatown has four gates and more than 10 temples, where you can feel the culture and history of China. There is no dedicated parking lot for motorcycles in Yokohama Chinatown, but there is a paid parking lot nearby. It is the perfect spot for touring by bike to Yokohama Chinatown. Please come and visit us at least once.
The English name of Yokohama Chinatown is Yokohama Chinatown.
