yamaonna

  Today went to Yokohama with Chester from my training group.  Twas a fun day

Yokohama is known for two main things – being a port city, and having one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world.  We naturally headed for Chinatown.  I think this was the 3rd or 4th time I had been there, but its pretty exciting.  Heaps of little stores that sell, ahem, crappy stuff, like panda toys and mugs with hemp leaves printed on them.  But it creates a fun atmosphere.  I also managed to fill my nikku-man craving somewhat (steamed bread dumplings with sweet pork inside).

We also went to the Kan-Tei-Byo temple, which is for the ‘Holy King Guan’ – inspirational source of spirit and emotion for Chinese people.  We lit incense there, which was something I had never done at a temple in Japan before, and with that included access into the temples to look at the idols.  Well, actually to pray, but we didn’t participate in that…  looked kinda complicated….

After Chinatown we headed to the district with old western style buildings, and walked our way back to Cosmo World, which is a kinda theme park by the water.  We went on the rollercoster there and then played some games in the arcade.  In particular – the taiko drum game and dance dance revolution….  Both a good workout

From there we went to Shin Yokohama where there is a ‘Ramen Museum’.  It isn’t a Museum as such, more like this little themed, um, indoor place thing.  All decked out to look like Japan in the 1950’s or so.  There’s about 6 different styles of ramen on offer there, and other old fashioned sweets etc.  It was really good, probably the high light of my day since im also craving ramen, heh