Amid the urban din of southern Yokohama lies a serene, picturesque sanctum. Based on an ingenious design conceptualized by Tomito Hara, this traditional, Japanese-style garden is riddled with trickling rivers and winding trails. Tomitaro Hara began by acquiring several buildings including tea houses, a farmer's house, a pagoda and various villas, and then placed them on his property amidst ponds, wooded slopes and landscaped gardens; these were later opened to the public in 1906. The picturesque, undulating landscape of the park is dotted with a troupe of iconic buildings which are as striking to look at as they are historically significant. Sankei-en also features lovely tea houses which further augment its allure. Although there are sixteen separate buildings, the Rinshukaku villa, with paintings by Kano-school masters, is particularly noteworthy. In addition, the famed pagoda, Tenzui-ji Juto, Gekka-den, Tenju-in, Choshu-kaku, Shunso-ro, Tokei-ji, the Yanohara House and the main hall of Tomyo-ji have been designated significant cultural properties, too.
Kodomo-no-Kuni, or literally "Children's Land," is a 976,000 square meter park devoted to family and the raising of children with "sound minds and sound bodies." Kodomo-no-Kuni water activities including rowing, pedal boats, and fishing with nets. Kodomo-no-Kuni has outdoor swimming pools and waterslides. Two attractions for landlubbers are Kodomo-no-Kuni's zoo and its working dairy farm. The children's zoo features lots of birds, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits and guinea pigs. that kids can hold to their heart's content. The working dairy farm let's children see where milk comes from. If you wish you can buy some of the fresh milk, as well as homemade dairy ice cream. Families with infants and toddlers can rent strollers at the park. Check website for admission fee.
Chinatown or Chukagai in Japanese, is a fun place for dining, shopping or just walking around. Chinese people started settling in Yokohama in the mid-1800s when Japan opened its doors to international trade. Since then Yokohama's Chinatown has blossomed into the country's largest Chinese community. The area comprises one major street, dozens of cross-streets and alleys, and is home to over 100 restaurants, most serving Cantonese cuisine. There are also many colorful and exotic shops overflowing with Chinese goods, books, souvenirs and even Chinese medicines.
Nestled in the recesses of Nagatachō, the iconic Hei Shrine upholds the spirit of the Shinto school. The temple enshrines Oyamakui-no-kami, its architecture comprising traditional elements like pointed roofs and scarlet, lacquered furnishings. Dating back to 1478, this revered shrine was originally built inside the Edo Castle to serve as protection from enemies. It was moved to its present site in 1659, with its role as guardian of the palace unfazed and unchanged. Although the facade is insignificant concrete, the torii gate bears inscriptions and glorious images of monkeys, which are believed to be messengers of the shrine's deity. A fine collection of Tokugawa swords and other relics are also on display in the shrine museum. An iconic sanctum in the midst of Tokyo's cosmopolitan din, the shrine does not just reverberate with an ardor which has shaped the religious course of the country, but also carries within itself legendary traces of the Kamakura eon.
Visitors to the National Noh Theater can see traditional kyogen as well as noh dramas. There are performances about 16 days out of the month, and the repertoire changes about four or five times. Because the singing of these esoteric art forms can be difficult to understand (even for those who speak Japanese fluently) theater-goers are provided with a one-page explanation of the story in English. To really appreciate Noh, it is advisable to read a little about it before going. The theater itself has a seating capacity of 591, and there is a restaurant that seats 104 and serves light refreshments at reasonable prices on-site. The theater is closed on Mondays.
Kabuki-za, the main kabuki theater in Tokyo since 1889, usually features two daily performances each consisting of three or four plays, and the repertoire is changed monthly. For 650 Yen, non-Japanese-speaking visitors can hire earphones that give an explanation in English. The visitor who does not have time for an entire performance can buy a ticket for the 4th floor to watch part of the show, but earphones are not available. Five restaurants provide a wide range of Japanese food and refreshments for visitors.