Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama’s Chinatown (Yokohama Chuukagai) is the largest Chinatown in Japan and one of the largest in the world. Boasting hundreds of restaurants, shops and various other curiosities, the neighborhood has become one of the Tokyo area’s must-see tourist spots. Having been reared on Sunday dim sum in Chicago’s Chinatown, I couldn’t resist stopping by for a look around and a bite to eat.

Yokohama Chinatown’s history stretches back to 1859, when the port of Yokohama was first opened to foreign trade. At the time, foreigners living in Japan were strictly regulated to living in specific settlements and Chinese traders were forced to take up residence in the area that is now Chinatown. These restrictions were eventually lifted, however and ten years after the war, in 1955, Chinatown was officially recognized by the local government and the Goodwill Gate (pictured above) was built. Sorry we tried to invade your country, here’s a gate.

The streets of Yokohama Chinatown are as bustling as, well, any other streets in Yokohama.

Now that’s what I’m talking about. Basket-steamed buns of all types were in no short supply, being sold by street vendors and shop windows all over Chinatown. Japanese etiquette be damned, I marched down the street proudly eating my pork bun with a grin.

The confusingly-named “China Museum” is in fact, a multi-story building filled with restaurants.

The sign in this photo reads “Roast cat, made to order!” Just kidding! Cats are usually broiled, not roasted.

Finally we reach the Pandaya (“Panda Store”). The Japanese sure do love their pandas and the vendors in Chinatown seem to have capitalized on this obsession, selling more panda merchandise than you can shake a bamboo branch at. Pandas themselves may be an endangered species but judging from Yokohama Chinatown, I would say that panda stuffed animals are not at any similar risk.