Friday, June 5, 2009

My Take On Yokohama

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Yokohama is a memorable place for me. It is a place of many firsts.
This was the first foreign city I lived in.
This was where I had my first Christmas and New Year away from home.
This was where I experienced my first snow.
This was where I wore my first kimono.

This was where I lived for 6 weeks in Yokohama - The Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship Kenshuu Center. A place full of memories and learnings.

AOTS Yokohama Kenshuu Center or YKC (taken Dec. 12, 2007)

My room in YKC (taken Dec. 11, 2007)

View from my room overlooking the seaside train line and the baseball field where a scene from the j-drama Yamada Tarou Monogatari was shot -- wish I was there to see it though :-(
(taken Dec. 12, 2007)

Yokohama is a clean and beautiful city, and not to mention very very safe (just like the rest of Japan). It is just around 30-40 minutes from Tokyo and it is very easy to explore since most of the interesting spots are relatively near each other. Let me list down some of the beautiful places in Yokohama.

1) Minato Mirai (みなとみらい)
For me, minato mirai or the port of the future is the main attraction in Yokohama. Almost all major attractions in Yokohama is located in this area including the landmark tower (which houses the highest viewing observatory in Japan), cosmo world and the beautiful skyline near the port.

Minato Mirai - from Landmark Tower (taken Jan 6, 2008)

Landmark Tower (taken Dec 23, 2007)

Mt Fuji from Landmark Tower (taken Jan 6, 2008)

Access: JR Keihin Tohoku Line Sakuragi-Cho Station, Minato Mirai Line Minato Mirai Station

2) Motomachi (元町)
One of the major shopping districts in Yokohama and it is also home to one of the biggest Chinatown in Japan. Since Chinatown is synonymous to good and cheap food, you'll never get hungry in this place. Trust me!

Access: JR Lines to Ishikawa-Cho, Minato Mirai Line Motomachi-Chuukagai Station

3) Yamashita Park (山下公園)
Perfect place to relax and take in the view of Minato Mirai. Though this place is a bustling harbor, try to look at the waters and you'll be surprised how clear it is! :D

Yamashita Park (taken Jan 6, 2008)

Access: JR Lines to Ishikawa-Cho or Kannai Station, Minato Mirai Line Motomachi-Chuukagai Station

4) Yokohama Station Area (横浜)
Several shopping malls and gadget stores can be found in this area. If you like to go shopping, then this place is for you.

Yokohama Station Area (taken December 14, 2007)

Access: JR Lines to Yokohama Station, Tokyu Toyoko Yokohama Station

5) Hakkeijima Sea Paradise (八景島シーパラダイス)
This place is near our dorm so if we wanted to unwind or just wanted to have a nice walk, we usually go here. It is actually an amusement park with a big aquarium inside. There is also a shopping mall and several restos inside. This place is memorable since I spent my first new year's eve outside the Philippines here. They hold fireworks display every year to usher in the new year. :D

Access: Yokohama Sea Side Line Hakkeijima Station

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9 comments:

  1. Your pictures make me want to visit Japan

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  2. Your picture make me remember the days when i was also in training for AOTS, i stayed in the same hotel Yokohama Kenshu Center, its been six years now when i came to Japan, i hope i can go back there not as a trainee but as a tourist.

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  3. @A2V hi! wow! I was there last year and I also miss Japan. Like you, I also want to go back there as a tourist :D How long did you train in Japan?

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  4. @MJ Chan What I miss most of Japan is the peaceful sorroundings especially while we are walking around YKC, Iv'e stayed there for 1.5 months, 1 week in tokyo kenshu center (TKC) before staying at YKC for the rest of the training. What course have you attended on AOTS?

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  5. @A2V yes! I love the surroundings of YKC since it is near the ocean :D I have trained in YKC for around 6 weeks then proceeded to my company training. I stayed in Japan for 1 year. Oh, so you did not have a company training? Just in TKC and YKC?

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  6. @MJ Chan, Yes I did, When I was in Yokohama, I am attending company training in opamma for a month, it's around 30 minutes travel time, including walking beside sea paradise. I take a monorail ride to sangyo shinko center station then drop by the station near the sea paradise and have a walk up to opamma.I only stayed a week in TKC for the orientation.

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  7. @A2V oh!! I see. The very famous Yokohama seaside line! :D I missed YKC! hahaha

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  8. Your pictures make me miss Yokohama and more YKC(last visited in 1994)

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