The fifth Shogun Tsunayoshi was responsible for establishing this shrine in 1706. The particular style of architecture here is known as gongenzukuri. Because the majority of the structures are original, the shrine is now an important cultural property. Buddhist influences can be seen in the motifs incorporated in the two-story main gate. The extensive grounds include a shrine stage (kagura-den), massive Cedar and Gingko trees, and a carp pond. The shrine is also noted for its wisteria and its azaleas; a great time to visit is during the Azalea Festival, which is held between April 8th and May 5th annually.
Sky Garden Observatory is located on the 69th floor of Japan's tallest skyscraper, , in futuristic Minato Mirai 21, Yokohama's showcase community of sleek high-rise buildings, ultramodern shopping malls, museums, hotels, convention centers, office buildings, and homes. There is even an amusement park with a huge Ferris Wheel that is perfect for sightseeing. From the observatory, on a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji, the skyscrapers in Nishi Shinjuku, and the far reaches of the Tokyo Bay. The world's fastest elevator takes only 40 seconds to carry you aloft the 900 feet to the observatory.
Kirin Yokohama Beer Village is a complex that includes a Kirin Beer Factory, a beer hall and a restaurant. Japanese people love museums, and it seems that almost anything can serve as an excuse to create a museum. That includes food and drink. Take for example the Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum, basically a museum honoring ramen noodles, and the McDonalds Hamburger Museum, honoring McDonalds hamburgers. Well, Kirin Yokohama Beer Village can be added to the list. Kirin Yokohama Beer Village features the Kirin beer museum, including a tour of the Kirin Beer factory at work. There is also some free sampling of the brew. And knowing that touring the Kirin Beer factory is likely to create make folks thirsty, Kirin has thoughtfully provided a beer hall and restaurant where you explore the Kirin experience in depth. The restaurant is open from 10a to 7.30p daily, closed on Mondays. Kirin Yokohama Beer Village is a ten-minute walk from Namamugi Station on the JR Keihin Kyuko Line. Admission to Kirin Yokohama Beer Village is free.
The Osanbashi Pier stands at the entrance to the Port of Yokohama from the greater Tokyo Bay. Osanbashi means "Big Wharf," and big it was. What we know today as the Osanbashi Pier was completed in 1894 and was known in its day as the Yokohama Harbor Pier. At the time it was biggest wharf in entire Japan. The Osanbashi Pier became the center of the booming port, and all the large ships were docked here. Consequently, it became the entrance to Yokohama for many visiting foreigners. Today the Pier still stands at the entrance to the Port of Yokohama and greets ships of all kinds from around the world.
Yokohama Park is located next to Yokohama Stadium, home of the Yokohama Bay Stars, Yokohama's baseball team. Yokohama Park itself was opened in 1876 and was the first public park with a Western-style garden in Japan. Yokohama Park also has a Japanese-style garden, a broad grassy play area, and a plaza with a statue of an elephant. Water gushes from the elephant's trunk and creates quite a picturesque image. Legend has it that during the catastrophic 1923 earthquake all those who made it to Yokohama Park survived. The extensive water pipe system for the gardens ruptured and turned the large grassy areas into a sea of mud and a sea of life. Every year a memorial bazaar is held here to commemorate the opening of the Port of Yokohama from the last week of May to the first week of June.
Ever wondered how Japanese houses and shops looked decades ago? Well, here is your chance to gain knowledge. Much of Tokyo's architectural heritage had been destroyed in the Great Kanto earthquake and the World War II bombings. In order to retrieve its past, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government established the Tatemono-en (open air architectural museum) as part of the Edo-Tokyo museum in 1993. The museum has 27 buildings (with plans for four more) that run along small streets and span architectural time-lines from the mid-Edo period through the mid-Showa. Do not miss the Tsunashima family's thatched-roof farmhouse, the old post box, the top of the watchtower from the Ueno Fire Station and the bricks from Ginza Brick Town. Walk through the streets and take history lessons! Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum closes every Monday (When Monday is a national holiday, closes on the following day.)