Uji-cha (tea from the Uji region of Kyoto) is one of the most famous of Japan’s renowned green teas. Everyone from peasants and laborers to samurai and emperors have sought it for its health benefits and refined taste. For centuries, skilled tea farmers from the Uji area of Kyoto Prefecture have passed their craft down through the generations. Tsuneo Horii’s family is one of those. The Horii family has been growing tea for over 120 years in Kyoto. They also process Tencha, tea leaves to make finely ground matcha powder. Horii opened his store in Tennocho five years ago and…
Author: Seasider
Finding a decent cocktail bar in the city is easy. Finding one that is entertaining and creative, while also offering quality drinks, is a rarity. Newjack delivers on all these points. Founder and Yokohama native Keisuke Yamamoto relies on his twelve years of bartending experience to always keep things fresh at his establishment. The bar’s name derives from the music genre new jack swing–a style often pumping from the bar speakers along with hip hop and underground grooves. Like the music, the philosophy here is to pay tribute to classic cocktail styles while using them as a base for innovative…
Neons lights have illuminated iconic streets, restaurants, pubs, and cities for decades, and despite advancements in technology, they’ve withstood the test of time. There’s just something about them that evokes a sense of nostalgia, a warmth and intimacy that can’t be achieved with LED–its soft, vivid glow immediately catches your eye and brings life to any atmosphere. They’re also easy on the eyes, unlike many loud, flashy signs nowadays. Hidenobu Takahashi was only 20 years old when he started working at a sign shop, where he trained to become a neon craftsmen for ten years until he started his own…
Osannomiya-hie Shrine recently held its large annual festival. Last year’s main festival was unfortunately rained out, but the so-called ‘shadow festival’ (which acts like a coda to the main one) managed to just barely avoid the same fate. To provide more background, Osannomiya-hie Shrine holds its main festival and shadow festival every year, and for the former, portable shrines are paraded around the Isezaki-cho Mall area. The shrines include a large one from Osannomiya-hie and nearly forty others from the surrounding neighborhoods. During the shadow festival, only Osannomiya-hie’s shrine makes the rounds of Isezaki-cho Mall. Since last year, our crew…
This is one of our favorite months of the year. Yes, we’re supposed to say, “We love every month in Yokohama!” Okay, fine, but we love some months more than others. What is it about the cooler weather? Come October, the aromas of more rustic seasonal dishes waft from homes and restaurants alike in Yokohama. Things just seem a bit quieter, a bit slower. Work rarely slows down for us at the Yokohama Seasider, though. Producing a monthly magazine takes a lot of effort. It always seems like we’re trying to catch up… We could use some help, and at…
All of us here at the Yokohama Seasider genuinely hope you take pleasure in reading this magazine. For one, we want you to experience and enjoy this great city. We want the magazine to be of value to you. We also produce this magazine as our means of living. We want what we do to matter, of course, just like any professional. We are always encouraged when we hear from people in the community that they appreciate what we do. Thank you. But help us make this publication even better for you (and our jobs even more meaningful)! What would…
The end of summer and deep into fall is the ideal time to take in the breathtaking nature of Tanzawa Oyama Quasi National Park. Mt. Nabewari, in particular, offers spectacular views of Mt. Fuji. It makes for a great day trip or weekend getaway for those seeking adventure or in need of a break from the city. The hike to the summit takes about three and a half hours. To get to the trailhead at Hadano Tokawa Park, take the bus from the north exit of Shibusawa Station bound for Okura (about 10 min, ¥210). Hadano Tokawa Park has a…
I don’t receive many professional requests for scenery photography. Most people figure they can go and snap a shot off themselves. So let’s imagine a request like, “I want a shot of sundown.” At the time of shooting, there are all kinds of conditions you need to check before you can take a comparatively attractive shot: Is it good weather? Are there clouds high in the sky? Did it rain the day before? You can’t really plan for these things. And other specifications, like taking it from a mountain or from the beach, for example, only complicate matters. In other…
With the summer heat continuing deep into September, there’s nothing like savoring a cup (or cone) of gelato while taking a stroll by the harbor. Located at the entrance to Osanbashi Pier (a 20-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station), Yokohama Sorairo Gelato is the perfect place to satisfy your craving for this creamy, decadent treat. You’ll easily spot the little gelateria with its doors and walls painted pale blue and white, and large windows exposing the cosy, inviting atmosphere inside. The bright, vivid interior, and eye-catching “sorairo” (sky-colored) wallpaper at the entrance are the first things you’ll notice when you step…
Kurand Sake Market offers an opportunity to try a wide variety of premium sake from lesser known breweries, but it comes with a little bit of danger for anyone without a good sense of restraint. The sake is offered in an all-you-can-drink format with no time limit for ¥3240 (tax included). There are also options for 30-minute (¥1080) or 90-minute (¥2160) courses if you don’t expect to stay for long. Included in the courses are 100 types of each sake, shochu and fruit liqueurs from Kurand’s adjoining bar, Shugar. To help customers that can’t read Japanese, the English menu lists…