Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama Chinatown is located in Yokohama city, Kanagawa prefecture, and is one of the 3 largest Chinatowns in Japan along with Kobe and Nagasaki. Throughout the year, over 20,000,000 people visit this area. The Yokohama Chinatown all started in the second half of the 19th century. In 1859, upon hearing of the Yokohama port, many Chinese people from Canton and Shanghai came to Yokohama. Because the Chinese characters are similar in Chinese and Japanese, the Chinese people had an easy time adjusting to their life in Yokohama. Ever since, the "Chinatown" of today has been built up.
In today's Chinatown, a total of 10 gates including north, south, east, and west stand at certain entrances. Out of the gates, "Zenrin Gate", which means "Chinatown", is the most symbolic. If you walk past the gates, a long line of restaurants, miscellaneous goods, souvenir shops and more connect house to house. There are over 600 stores in which you can enjoy a large range of cuisines, purchase various miscellaneous items, get relaxing massages, and even get your horoscope read! During Lunar New Year, parades with people in royal costumes doing lion dances and dragon dances occur. This spot is one where you can fully experience Chinese culture while in Japan!