It’s been about twenty years since I met Yoichiro Furuya. We were the same age and in our 30s. If you’re a cameraman in your 30s, you’re basically just getting started and don’t really know as much as you think. But at the time, I wanted to look cool so I talked about photography with swagger. I’m rather embarrassed to reflect now on how ignorant I actually was. But it was during this time that I met him. Now, as then, when fellow cameramen talk, they try to figure out how each other is doing, they engage in posturing to…
Author: Seasider
Turkish cuisine is richly flavored and quite varied, the result of being a confluence of many other cuisines, from the Balkans and Central Europe to the ancient cultures of the Middle East and Central Asia. Throughout Turkey, travelers can even enjoy a diverse array of regional foods. Yokohama residents can try many of these dishes in Ishikawa-cho at Ceyhan, a charming little restaurant run by friendly chef-owner Kemal Basmaci. Fluent in English and Japanese, Basmaci has created a menu that will please guests of many different tastes and dietary restrictions. If you’re timid and just want to test it out,…
It’s a gift-giving season for many people in Yokohama. There are sales at shopping malls, department stores and in retail districts like Motomachi. The city is lit up with special illumination in all of its popular districts. Special events–like concerts or extravagant dinners–are everywhere. For gifts, it’s easy these days to go online and order something. We’re not against that convenience, but please consider visiting a small, privately owned local shop for a unique gift. Yokohama has quite an array of original goods that are associated with the city nationwide, especially food items like Kiyoken’s shumai (Yokohama-style dumplings) or Ariake’s…
For those that aren’t up for a long ride out of the city, Yokohama is fortunate enough to have its very own onsen right in Minatomirai. The Manyo Club, located right on the harbor across from the Pacifico Yokohama, offers easy access from area hotels, and both Sakuragicho and Minatomirai Stations. Instead of you going to the onsen, they bring the onsen to you with authentic hot spring water brought in from Yugawara Onsen in western Kanagawa. I spent many relaxing hours exploring the impressive selection of baths this “urban onsen” has to offer, comfortably roaming the facilities in a…
Mutekiro sets the standard for fine dining in Yokohama. The word “muteki” means foghorn, symbolizing Yokohama’s identity as a port city. The character “ro” literally means “a many-storied building”, i.e. a “grand maison”. Since its opening at a former Motomachi factory site in 1981, the restaurant has achieved landmark status. Suzuki Nobuharu, owner and Yokohama native, aims to create priceless memories for his guests. All facets of the restaurant embrace the concept of wakon yosai–a blending of Japanese spirit with Western modernity. The interior is adorned with fine works of art including a woodblock print by Yokohama ukiyo-e artist Go’untei…
While the chillier weather may not appeal to some, the colors of fall always seem to make the month of November seem just a little warmer than the thermometer indicates. The leaf peepers head out in mass with camera in hand to all corners of the prefecture and beyond in search of the perfect shot. Even without leaving Yokohama’s city limits there is a surprising number of exceptionally photogenic places to be discovered. Another enticement of the brisk days is a trip to an onsen. A combination of both the autumn foliage and a hot spring visit surely makes for…
As the city of Yokohama prepares to host major upcoming events, such as the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the importance of developing housing services capable of meeting the needs of a diverse and sophisticated clientele is quickly increasing. Yokohama Weekly Co., Ltd., which manages 15 furnished apartment facilities in Yokohama’s central business district, stands prepared to meet the demands of this expanding marketplace. With the increasing attractiveness of short-term lodging options like Airbnb, serviced apartment agencies must think assiduously about how to maintain a competitive edge. Yokohama Weekly CEO and Yokohama native, Mr. Masayoshi Seki,…
What do you associate with autumn? Colorful autumn foliage is of course the typical answer, but what if you were to think in finer detail. Last month, you might have become conscious of autumn on seeing dragonflies or rice fields under the harvest moon. Maybe it’s autumn equinox flowers, chrysanthemums or cosmos that make you realize fall has resoundingly arrived. Living in a big city maybe you have other associations with autumn, namely annual events that happen this time of year. There’s the immensely popular Oktoberfest at Akarenga. The Yokohama Marathon is one for running enthusiasts. We’re big fans of…
Summer is coming to an end. Warm days will continue for several weeks yet, but evenings will be a little less muggy. Dragonflies cruise the wind currents in greater numbers. Rice fields grow thick with their bounty. Typhoon season is here, too, so enjoy the fine days while they last. Kids have already started going back to school, but what about you? Why not learn something new? As we put together our Spotlight column, events calendar and other features, we’re always amazed by the number of workshops and educational activities in Yokohama. This city is like a well-rounded university. We…
Yokohama Brewery in the Bashamichi area has been brewing fine hometown lagers and ales for almost twenty years. It often tries to use locally grown products in its beers to support the community. On September 29th it debuted a special brew featuring a product that you likely didn’t know was even being grown in the city: hops, the crop responsible for giving beer its bitterness and aroma. Furukawara Taku, who runs the Aromaful Vege Farm in Kohoku Ward, is likely the only person in city limits cultivating hops. On August 25th the brewery staff visited his farm and helped harvest…