Colourful gates
At every entrance.
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · KimonBerlin — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · IMZANIROH — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ymblanter — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan's largest Chinatown, bigger than those of Kobe and Nagasaki. It grew up in the late 19th century, after Yokohama's port opened in 1859 and many Chinese immigrants arrived, often as agents of Western trading firms dealing in raw silk and tea. The district has some 250 Chinese-owned or Chinese-themed shops and restaurants, most of them packed into a small area of narrow streets hung with signs and red lanterns. Huge, colourful Chinese gates stand at its entrances; the first, the Goodwill Gate, went up in 1955, when the district was officially named Yokohama Chūkagai. It has two striking Chinese temples: Kanteibyō, dedicated to Guan Yu, with gold and colourful decoration and a white stone stairway, and Masobyō, built in 2006 for the district's 150th anniversary. Walking around is free; it is loveliest in the evening lights and busy at weekends. The nearest station is Motomachi-Chūkagai on the Minatomirai Line. Many popular Chinese dishes here contain pork, so ask about ingredients before ordering.
At every entrance.
Gold and colour.
Red over the streets.
Yamashita-chō, Naka ward, Yokohama
Many popular Chinese dishes here contain pork, so ask about ingredients before ordering, and check for certified halal restaurants before you go.