Exploring Yokosuka by Dennis

For this time, I will tell you my trip to Yokosuka city. As I know, there is a museum named Mikasa museum, Mikasa is name of old Japanese warship. And I decided to see the museum.Since I decided it, I started looking for information about Yokosuka. The interesting thing in Yokosuka city is they have American navy base. That I could not believe it, and after arrived, I just understand it. I'll tell you later.

Mikasa Museum Park

First, Yokosuka city is located at the bottom of Kanagawa province. If you want to go to Miura peninsula, you will pass the Yokosuka area. I have already told you that in Yokosuka they have U.S. navy base there, right. Yokosuka city also have Japanese navy base in there until now.

Because of that, Yokosuka is turning into a region that many foreigners, and U.S. navy forces become second occupants residents in there after original Yokosuka`s residents.  So, Yokosuka city have a blended life style and make the area such as japan town in America. It`s funny, isn`t it? Many Japanese people in there can speak English and many foreigners also can speak Japanese.

Little park in front of train station

Lot of statue like this in bench

long pedestrian beside the main road

Once there, I just also found out that the Yokosuka city is the curry city. There is a statue of a duck who dresses sailor shirt holding a plate of curry rice. And there could also be called a hamburger city because a lot of hamburger restaurant open in there.  They have a lot of kind of hamburger, from American restaurant to Japanese restaurant and the taste is little bit different.

duck statue with a plate of curry rice

I went there using a ticket named Yokosuka gourmet ticket. Tickets are round-trip ticket for the train access, unlimited ticket to ride public buses and there is a meal ticket that you can use to enjoy Yokosuka’s curry or hamburger. You can buy tickets at Keikyu train stations. Keikyu is one of several railway companies in kanagawa province.

Yokosuka Gourmet Ticket

Yokosuka-chuou station

After arrived I go to the Mikasa museum. You can see the Japanese battleship Mikasa that used to fight in the First World War. For 1800's, the ship was already quite modern with all the weapons in it. Ship`s weapon are ranging from machine guns to the long banned canon as anti-ship weapons and anti-aircraft guns. You can find out the history of Japanese war, but there's only explanation in Japanese only. Overall, the explanation contains history of japan military, war at Japan Sea, to the description of the vessel itself.

From the ship you too can enjoy the atmosphere of Museum Park and beach at Yokosuka. You can also see Saru Island. Saru Island is place for recreation in Yokosuka area. In park`s museum you can also enjoy the rhythmic fountains with song, it was very interesting and pity to miss.

Seeing Saru Island From mikasa

Upon the satisfaction of seeing Mikasa museum, I went looking for food and since Yokosuka is curry city, I choose curry into my lunch menu. At Yokosuka there is a famous curry restaurant called Yokosuka Kaigun curry, which means Yokosuka navy forces curry.

 Yokosuka kaigun kare

You can also buy instant kaigun curry from store in that restaurant

At the restaurant I used Yokosuka gourmet ticket, I got full course menu that is very tasty. Because of that menu I also became too long in the restaurant. Now, Japan is entering winter that make day short, like about a 5 o'clock the sky is already dark.

But I still have a place that I want to go, so I hurried and went to Verny Park, where you can actually enjoy roses in that park, but because it was dark I could not get a good photo of the park. I am sorry guys.

Verny Park map

From park, you can see navy base

Verny Park in dusk

Francois Leonce Verny (1837 - 1908)

After a walked in there, and the time has also been shown at 6:30 tonight, I decided to take diner at Yokosuka, and certainly other famous foods in Yokosuka, the hamburger. There are a lot of Hamburger restaurant, clothing store and bars in the area called Dobuita Street. In night, that place is become gathering place of the foreign residents in Yokosuka. After enjoying a hamburger set menu, I decided to go back to Kawasaki.

Yokosuka navy burger

mural in Dobuita street (old time Yokosuka)

Dobuita street
source: panoramio

Accommodation

If you go from Tokyo station, you can take Tokaido Line to Shinagawa Station (10 minutes, 160 yen) and then change onto keikyu line to Yokosuka chuou Station (46 minutes, 620 yen). If you buy yokosuka gourmet ticket you can buy it for 1980 yen with all include.

More information you can check mikasa Museum:

〒238-0003　Kanagawa ken yokosuka shi Inaoka-chō 82 - 19
Tel: 046-822-5408(5225)

http://www.kinenkan-mikasa.or.jp/

Entrance fee 

Adults: 500 yen

Senior: 400 yen

Student: 300 yen

Yokohama by Jib

Hello people.  It took me so long to write this blog, because there are so many interesting places and things in Yokohama to write about. Many people might know about Yokohama, a famous seaport city of Japan. Now it is an Autumn in Japan. Japan's Autumn season is from September to November. As the season brings a more refreshing cool after the hot summer, it is one of the most beautiful seasons in Japan.

 I took a JR train on Minatomirai line to Motomachi-Chukagai station. Motomachi-Chukagai is situated in Motomachi district, close to the famous Yamate area of Yokohama. Yamate, located on a hill close to the harbor, is a quiet residential area with a foreign touch. Motomachi is situated at the foot of Yamate hill. When Yokohama Port was opened to foreigners,the number of foreigners increased,and it transformed into a business district. Today Motomachi is very popular among tourists as several attractions are located in the area.

         

Then I headed to one of many landmarks of Yokohama. Yokohama Marine Tower, located just 3 minute’s walk from Motomachi-Chukagai Station. This is the world’s tallest inland lighthouse with106 meter height. This magnificent tower was erected in 1961 as part of the centenary celebrations of the inauguration of Yokohama Port.  There is also an observation deck at the height of 100 meters (30th level) from where visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding areas. And in clear condition visitors can see Mount Fuji from there

     

I changed the direction heading back to the station again. From Motomachi-Chukagai station, there is a greenery park where I walked through to go to Yamate hill. 

Harbor View Park is the most famous park of Yokohama. On top of the hill, you can look over to see Yokohama Port. It is very popular among tourists as it provides a magnificent view of the bay and harbor. Visitors can also enjoy a scenic view of the Yokohama Bay Bridge from here.

     

Then, I straight away go to the YOKOHAMA TIN TOY MUSEUM. It located on the other side of the park. I walked 10 minutes to Yamate area where the museum located. For anyone who doesn’t enjoy walking, you can take a bus to the area which comes every 10-15 minutes. There were many signs leading to the museum, so you can just follow them. Then I reached TIN TOY MUSEUM, I feel very excited to have so many nice Japanese toys surrounding me. Inside Yokohama Tin Toy Museum, you can see a thousand pieces of tin toys at one time.  

Besides, at the Tin toy museum, there is a Christmas toy shop. Thousand pieces of Christmas decorations made me very exciting and cheerful. You can find everything you need for Christmas trees ornaments and pick up some Christmas presents for your friends and family.

 

The Yamate area retains a number of sites relating to its history as the main residential district of Westerners in Yokohama. Present day Yamate is still for the most part a hilly residential area with some pleasant parks. As visitors travel between Yamate's sightseeing spots, they will see by the international schools and churches that the presence of Western residents continues to this day. You can find many former western buildings which opened to the public and most have been furnished in their original style.

After travelling around Yamate area for a very long time, 

I continued going to Minatomirai where locating The Landmark tower, The Yokohama Port Museum and many other famous spots of Yokohama.

The Yokohama Landmark Tower is the tallest building and 3rd tallest structure in Japan, standing 296 meters high. It is located right in front of Minatomirai station. It also has the highest observation deck in Japan. On the 69th floor there is an observatory, Sky Garden, from which one can see a 360-degree view of the city, and on clear days Mount Fuji. The tower contains the world's 2nd fastest elevators, the speed allows the elevator to reach the 69th floor in just approximately 40 seconds.

The tower is opened from 10 AM to 9 PM, 7 days a week.

Admission: 1000 yen for the observation deck

Next to the Yokohama Landmark tower, located Yokohama Port Museum. The museum is situated along side the Nippon Maru sail training ship. Nippon Maru was built in Kobe in 1930 and was a training ship for the cadets of the Japanese merchant marine. It remained in the memories of the 11,500 cadets who were trained on it.  I was very excited to be in the historical ship of Yokohama, also many other children. I think it is very popular among children

I hope you enjoy a night view of Yokohama.  

 

Access :

The most central station is Minato Mirai Station on the Minato Mirai Line, which is located in the basement of Queen's Square and is two stations from Yokohama Station (3 minutes, 180 yen).

Minato Mirai is also easily accessed from Sakuragicho Station on the JR Negishi Line (Keihin-Tohoku Line), which is just one stop from Yokohama Station (3 minutes, 130 yen). The station is also served by the Yokohama Subway Line.

Source :  http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3200.html