Yokohama Chinatown

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Yokohama Chinatown's Goodwill Gate

Yokohama Chinatown's East Gate

Temple in Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama Chinatown (Japanese: よこはまちゅうかがい, Japanese Kanji: 横浜中華街 Mandarin Chinese: 横滨中华街 Heng bang zhong hua jie) is located on Yokohama, Japan. Just south of Tokyo. It has about 150 years of history. These days only a few Chinese people still live in Chinatown, but it has population of about 3000 to 4000. Most of the residents are from Guangzhou (Canton) but many come from other regions.

Yokohama Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Japan (larger than Chinatowns in both Kobe and Nagasaki) and it is one of the largest in the world. There are over 200 restaurants alone (other shops are not included for this number).

Contents

1 History
2 Transportation

2.1 Train
2.2 Bus
2.3 Seabus
2.4 Highway

3 See also
4 External links

History

In 1859, When the sea port opend in Yokohama, many Chinese and European immigrants arrived in Japan and formed a foreign settlement. Later ferry services between Yokohama and Shanghai and Hong Kong were started. Many Chinese traders came to Japan and built a Chinese School, Chinese Comunity Center and various other facilities in what represented the beginning of Chinatown. However, government regulations at the time meant that immigrants were not permitted to live outside of the designated foreign settlement area. In 1899 changing laws gave Chinese increased freedom of movement while reinforcing strict rules on the types of work Chinese people were allowed to carry out.

In 1923, the Kanto Area was devastated by the Great Kanto Earthquake. Around 100,000 people were killed and approximately 1.9 million people became homeless. Chinatown also suffered and with many immigrants choosing to return to China instead of rebuilding their livelihoods in Yokohama.

In 1937, War between China and Japan errupted, effectively stopping further growth of Chinatown.

After the war had finished, Chinatown once again began to grow. In 1955, a goodwill big gate was built. That is when the Chinatown was officially recognized and called Yokohama Chukagai (Yokohama Chinatown).

In 1972, Japan established diplomatic relations with China, and interest amongst Japanese people grew leading to an explosion in the number of visitors to Chinatown and it becoming a major sightseeing spot in Yokohama.

On February 2, 2004, the Minato Mirai Line railway was opened including the Motomachi-Chukagai Station station that serves Chinatown directly.

Transportation

Chinatown can be reached by train, bus, seabus and car.

Train

Minato Mirai Line, Motomachi-Chukagai Station (35min from Shibuya Station in Tokyo)
Negishi Line, Ishikawacho Station (50min from Shinagawa Station in Tokyo)

Bus

There are 6 bus routes from Yokohama Station East bus depot and from Sakuragi Cho Bus Depot, 16 bus routes that go to Yokohama Chinatown.

Seabus

Seabus (Ferry)

Highway

Shuto Expressway K1 Yokohane Route, Yokohama Koen (Yokohama Park) Exit
Shuto Expressway K3 Kariba Route. (At Tomei Expressway Intersection, go Hodogaya Bypass then exit at Shin Yamashita.)
Shuto Expressway Wangan Line (Via Tokyo Bay Aqua Line Tunnel, Exit at Shin Yamashita.)
Tomei Expressway (Via Hodogaya Bypass)

External links

[Yokohama Chinatown Official Website] (Japanese)
[City of Yokohama - Yokohama Sightseeing Spots Chinatown Area] (English, [Chinese], [Japanese], [Korean])

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