Did you know Yokohama's known for its diversity here in Japan? I know I didn't, but there are huge cultural communities here, including Hispanics, Indians, Filipinos, Koreans, and more. One of the biggest hotspots though is Yokohama's Chinatown, Yokohama Chukagai (横浜中華街). There are other Chinatowns riddled throughout Japan, like Kobe Chinatown and Nagasaki Chinatown, but Yokohama's is arguably the most well-known.
On top of being one of the biggest Chinatowns around, it also throws some of the biggest parties. While Haru and her host family didn't get to go to Chinatown for Chinese New Years (it would have been impossible to navigate around anyway), they got to go see this particular event: The Spring Festival (春節).
Parents even had little kids sitting on their heads just get a glimpse of the show.
Of course, it's to see one of these - and to get one to "bite" your head to make you smart (頭がいい). Luckily, I was inside Haru's bag when all this was going on. I'll be honest and tell you I don't like seas made of people and scary dragons flying around the place.
Nearby the event grounds is a really famous temple, Kanteibyō (関帝廟). It's another must see here in Chukagai!
After that, it was time to tour the rest of town. Including, food, food, and more food. Here's a "mango snowball" which is shaved ice with mangoes on top. But there is something unique about the shaved ice because it melts in your mouth in such a way, that it feels more like snow than shaved ice.
Haru also bought ice cream (again) in the middle of winter. It may look like vanilla ice cream, but this is actually almond flavored. If you've never tried it, you really should. It'll turn anyone into a sweet tooth addict.
Now, some foods are made of ice. But others come in plastic or billboard.
Later when it was finally time to visit Yamashita Park, (山下公園) I wanted to get some fresh air. I was really groggy at first. But soon came to realize this place had been very different than anywhere else I had been to in Japan so far.
But even with Haru and Christina, I still felt... lonely.
Haru loves the sea though, and made sure she and Christina spent plenty of time looking around the boardwalk and taking pictures. Over where I'm pointing is Sakuragicho (桜木町). It's got a ferris wheel there, but unfortunately, we didn't get to go on it.
I garnered a lot of attention from other visitors, including a sweet, old lady, who was the only one unafraid of coming up to Haru and telling her I was adorable. She really brightened up my day! It's always nicer to hear people say that, than hear people say how creepy I look. Really now! I'm right there, and I understand everything perfectly too. I just can't say anything or look angry - the downsides of being born with a resin face.
Behind her was the Hikawa Maru (氷川丸), an old Japanese Ocean Liner. This old ship survived World War 2, and has a very long history. Now, it's a floating museum, which Haru was too much of a lazy-bum to go see. But seeing it from afar was already pretty cool. SHIP AHOY, MATEYS!
At the end of the day, I couldn't help but have a look at the nice sunset. Yamashita Park is known as a popular site for couples and friends to meet. Haru tells me Valentine's Day is next week, so it will be very crowded then. I might as well get a good look at the place while the quiet lasts.
Omake (おまけ) - extra things - including possessed, singing pandas, Hello Kitty pandas, and panda doorways. In other words, a whole lot of pandas.
Rowan
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