Yokohama Chukagai 横浜中華街

After a long period of isolation from 1641 to 1853,international trade slowly resumed across Japan.

Theformer small fishing port of Yokohama is one of the first places where foreignexchange reopened. The presence of foreign communities in the city thenincreasing rapidly. Chinese traders settled in mass near the port until thecreation in 1859 of what is now the largest Chinatown in Asia, ahead of itscousins, Kobe and Nagasaki.

A taste of China

Today, the descendants of these ancient Chinese tradersstill populate the streets of Yokohama Chukagai. When you reach one of the tengates to the neighbourhood, colors, smells and flavors are quick to transportyou away from the archipelago. 

Here, hundreds of restaurants allow us discover Chineseculinary specialties. Among them, the famous nikuman (steam-cooked rolls filled with meat), roastduck or tasty Chinese noodles. At Manchinro, a true Chinese-syle palace,you can discover the wonders of Cantonese cuisine.

A concentration of everything the area has to offer tovisitors, on eight floors, Yokohama Daisekai  leisure center brings togetherrestaurants, souvenir shops, a museum, fish pedicures...

A colorful neighborhood

The ten pairo gates set thetone for the surrounding atmosphere. Black, white, red, blue, gold ... Theyeach have a particular style. These richly decorated gates are arrangedaccording to the principles of feng shui.

In the heart of the district, almost blinded by such aprofusion of colors, you can discover the symbol of Yokohama Chukagai. Kantei-ByoTemple. Dedicated to Kanwu, the god of commerce, Kantei-Byo is both thereligious and cultural center of the district. Since its creation in 1862, ithas seen the Chinese community quickly develop around it.

Every year the temple comes alive during Chinese New Year.It notably welcomes the lantern festival marking the end of the New Yearcelebrations.