Yokohama Nights
Japan is a country of tradition, pageantry, and in the summer, fireworks festivals. You don’t have to travel far on the weekends to enjoy an evening of colorful lights, and since they put those at Disney to shame this is a good thing. These are shows you don’t want to miss.
Come back with us to Yokohama for a spell!
It all began with a train ride out of the city. Located in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama is a port city that lies on Tokyo Bay. Since it is the biggest city within the prefecture not only has it become it’s capitol, but the perfect location for the summer boat parade and sparkling twilight fireworks display. Summer festivals are a big deal in Japan, and people travel from various locations, both near and far to enjoy them. Because of this you must plan ahead-especially if this is your first venture.
My husband suggested we leave several hours in advance, not only so we could get a good place to sit in Yamashita Park for the show, but so we could explore Chinatown as well. Yes, you read correctly. Japan has it’s very own Chinatown- 3 large ones, actually, with the one in Yokohama being the largest. The other two are located in Kobe (like the beef) and Nagasaki.
Constructed not long after Yokohama opened as a port, around 1859, there have been four colorful gates constructed around the entrances, with five more inside. They’re ornate, vibrant welcome mats to all those coming to visit, but if we take moment to be honest, people aren’t coming for the kaleidoscope of colors alone: they’re coming to people watch. They’re coming for the food. The music. A taste of something new and humbling with simplistic roots almost lost beneath the extravagant wrappings.
We were fortunate to peel back the layers and experience a little bit of it all. We saw many men, women, and children in their vivid yukatas, kimonos, and happi coats. Festivals invite those to don’t wear them regularly to don them to celebrate. They even sell them to tourists hoping to immerse themselves in the cultural festivities. Don’t worry about people crying cultural appropriation here-the Japanese urge you to dip your toes into their waters, just be respectful while wading through.
We drank in the sights, took in the sounds, and while the family power walked through (I swear, my husband doesn’t know any other speed) I continued to stop and look, making note of places to come back to on another visit. This list includes, but wasn’t limited to, a temple, a store serving lavender and purple sweet potato ice cream, several dumpling spots, a Cantonese restaurant, and some shops that had fun little tchotchkes.
We stood beneath some misters after grabbing some steamed buns, kakigori, and egg custard tarts, fortifying ourselves before leaving Chinatown and making our way to Yamashita Park. Ice cream in hand it was so nice to feel the breeze coming off of Tokyo Bay, also nice? Picking up some very handy tips for our next festival outing because y’all, we were sorely unprepared.
Our timing was perfect; we had ideal spots with a perfect view of the water, the boats, and the quickly growing crowds.
However, we were missing out on some of the festival essentials that seemed to add to the experience and I’m going to list them here:
1.) Blanket/tarp for sitting on. The ground is hot and you want some protection from it. This is especially important if you have little ones.
2.) Food. Honestly we were pretty full from the bites we’d had in Chinatown, but again, it was hot and the breeze brought little relief. Multiple cold drinks from a corner market would have been ideal since we went through ours quickly.
3.) Fans. For beating the heat. Enough said.
4.) Hats and sunscreen. For skin protection.
5.) Chargers and earbuds. For phones, iPads, whatnot. You’ll be waiting here for a while, watching the sun set so the fireworks have a beautiful night sky as a backdrop.
Ah, and once that sun begins to set, you find that relief. The air does grow cooler, the winds do pick up, and since it is a universally understood practice, everyone sits when the show begins. How cool is that? Everyone can get their pictures because everyone is respectful of one another’s presence. It still blows my mind but it’s just one more thing I love about Japan.
Without question we were sweaty and worn out by the time we began our trek home, but being in the middle of the other festival goers in an air conditioned subway car made me thankful to even be in that position. It’s only the beginning of our journey in Japan, but if that evening in Yokohama showed me anything it’s that it will be a beautiful and colorful adventure. And I’m glad I get to share it with my three favorite people.
