Yokohama

December had us signing up for our fourth ITT tour, this time to Yokohama.  We are trying to keep it to 2 tours a month.  There are so many great trips and Japan is so big, I feel like we are hardly seeing anything.  Yokohama is between two to three hours away from Yokota AB.  I believe it is the second largest city by population.  First is Tokyo.  Duh.  Remember, if you want more info click on the hot link.

It's really nice taking a tour by bus.  I know a lot of people don't like to do it because you are on a time schedule but for me it's more relaxing and I can look out the window and gaze at the scenery.  I guess I could do it if we drove, since Doug usually drives but at least in the bus he can relax and watch the scenery too.  Here is our view from the bus crossing over the bridge into Yokohama.

See that long needle like thing in the middle of the photo below?  That's the Tokyo SkyTree, it is the newest broadcasting tower in Tokyo and displaces Tokyo Tower as the city's tallest structure.  I believe it's the tallest tower in the world or so Wikipedia says.  It opens to the public next May and will have an observation deck to view the city and is surrounded by all types of shops down below.

After crossing over the bridge into Yokohama, we stopped at a popular rest stop.  It's got bathrooms and little snack stores and the day we were there, a mini car show.  Doug was getting ideas for a future car purchase.  Yeah, right.

I believe Santa needs to leave this under the tree for me.

So after everyone got done drooling at cars that none of us could afford, we drove on to our first official stop, Yokohama Chinatown.  I thought chinatown's were an American thing, but Yokohama Chinatown is a very popular attraction for both locals and tourists.  Here is the Gate marking the entrance into Chinatown.

Need a policeman's help?  Good Luck, I don't know how many can actually fit into their small police station!

Of course, why does anyone go to any Chinatown?  THE FOOD!  Yokohama Chinatown is mostly made up of hundreds of Chinese eateries, from full-scaled restaurants to street-side vendors.  I love seeing the hanging meats outside Chinese restaurants and butchers.

After eating lunch at a sit down restaurant and paying way too much for char siu, we walked around to see what else made up Yokohama Chinatown.  From the photo below, it's restaurants and people.

However, there were a few temples.  I'm assuming they are Chinese temples but I really don't know.

As we headed back to the bus, "A" and I wanted a snack.  Despite the cold she got herself a snow cone & I got some bubble tea.  Yum.

Our next stop was by the harbor to take a one hour tour of Yokohama Bay.  "A" was very excited to take a boat ride.  For someone who gets carsick and plane sick she does great on boats.

Here is the view of Yokohama from the boat tour entrance.

Once on the boat you could relax upstairs at little plastic tables with the sun beating down on top of you creating a greenhouse like atmosphere.  No.

Or head downstairs where there are large sofas and you can sit and have snacks and drinks.  

Yes, Please.

We sat back had light refreshments and enjoyed the view of Yokohama Bay.

I have no idea what bridge this is.  Remember Japan is an island and there are a lot of harbors and ports  and bridges.  Let me know if you can tell me which bridge this is and if you want to be called a know-it-all.

It was a beautiful day and we had a great boat ride.  After, we walked a few blocks to the Yokohama Landmark Tower.  According to my friend, Wikipedia, it is the largest building and the third largest structure in Japan.  There are a lot of tall buildings here.

Yokohama Landmark Tower has the world's second fastest elevator.  It took us from the ground level to the 69th floor observation deck in just a few seconds.  The best part is you barely felt it moving.  The worst part is they pack you into it like sardines.  I would hate to get stuck in that elevator.  So we made it to the top and were greeted by spectacular views.

Here is looking towards Yokohama Bay...

And here is looking towards Tokyo.  That tall mountain on the upper right corner is Mt. Fuji.  That mass of concrete on the lower two thirds?  Well, that's the typical Japan metropolis.  Small town, huh?

There are also little photo op displays around the observation deck.  I'm pretty sure these are popular Japanese cartoons. "A" didn't care, she just liked trying on stuff and posing for pictures.

Yokohama Landmark Tower also houses a hotel, offices, restaurants and a shopping mall.  Since it was close to Christmas they had it decked out.

After leaving Landmark Tower, we boarded the bus to head back home to Yokota AB.  It was a long day but lot's of fun.  Once again, it's nice taking a bus tour because we could all close our eyes and sleep all the way home.

Until our next adventure...