Drink for Charity

I think that there are many people who don’t need the extra incentive to go out for a drink but this is incentive to drink at a particular place, Benny’s Place. Benny’s Place is a lively American sports bar near Motomachi in Yokohama. On June 5th they are hosting Beers for Books event where 100 yen will be donated to create a treasured book for children in Cambodia, for every drink that is sold on that day.

Yokohama’s first Beers for Books! Please come to Benny’s Place in Motomachi. Benny’s is an American style sports bar that serves beers, wines, and cocktails along with great barbecue, nachos, chicken wings, and many other delicious dishes. It’s just a 5 minute walk from JR Ishikawacho Station. At Benny’s you can eat, drink, play darts, and meet new people in a casual, friendly atmosphere.

You can find out more about the event on the Beers for Books website.

IKEBANA

Ikebana, or the Japanese style flower arrangement, has more than 600 years of history. It began as part of the Buddhist ritual and developed into a disciplined art form independent from its religious origin. It is distinguished from decorative flower arrangement for its philosophy, different styles and methods. In short, ikebana is about creating the universe where nature and humanity coexist harmoniously. Sounds difficult? Though it is a full-fledged art, it is not esoteric. There is plenty of room for amateurs to enjoy it. If you are interested, Asahi Culture Center Yokohama is offering Ikebana class of Sogetsu school in English for two days:

Asahi Culture Center Yokohama

2-16-1, Takashima, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi 220-0011

– 8th Floor of LUMINE building adjacent to Yokohama station.

Time/Date: 6 – 8 PM, September 11th & 25th

Fee: 7,770 yen for two sessions

Bookings can be made online, by telephone or at the school registration office.

Office hours: 9:30-17:00

Telephone: 045-453-1142 (10:30 – 17:00 , Mon – Sat)

Click here for more info.

International Women’s Marathon

It has been announced that Yokohama is going to host a new international women’s marathon. Annual sports events like this one are expected to generate tourism and other commercial revenue. So, it is good news not only for the sports fans but also for the local community. The first race will take place in November 2009. It is to replace the Tokyo International Women’s Marathon scheduled to end after its 30th race in November this year due to the problem of road closure permission in the urban area. The official name of the new race and the course have yet to be decided. The race will be a selection event for nomination to the major international competitions such as the Olympic Games. They expect close to 150 elite athletes to participate. I will post further news on this when published.

Hayama Seakayak School

A day could be spent in numerous ways. The key to make it fulfilling is starting early, especially in summer time. If you get up late in the morning, the sun is already up high and your mind will just focus on where to seek refuge from the heat all day. You don’t want to go too far, not to feel exhausted at the end of the day.

Here is an idea of one day excursion from Yokohama area. Seakayak at Morito Beach in Hayama, the northwest region of Miura Peninshula, The area is famous for its beautiful coastline stretching about 5 kilometers. I have recently learned about the seakayak school there from one of my friends, who took part in one-day beginner course (more like a guided tour) early this month. I am not a water sports lover, but her story almost prompted me to make a call for booking right away. The safety and course instructions are all given in Japanese, so, this is more for people with basic understanding of Nihon-go OR some experience of kayaking. They also operate Hayama Sailing College & Yacht Club and a retail shop of yacht/kayak gears.

Hayama Seakayak School
939-13 Hayama-cho,
Miura-gun, Kanagawa-ken
TEL:0468-77-5399
Website: http://seakayakschool.com/ (Japanese)

Go to “map” from the following webpage for location.
Hayama Sailing College (English)

Fireworks in Yokohama Summer 2008

There are going to be several fireworks displays in Yokohama this summer. Here is a list of the bigger ones starting from tomorrow.

Minato Mirai Yokohama
July 20 — 19:30 to 20:40 Launched from barges off Yamashita Park, the fireworks can best be viewed from Rinko Park, Red Brick Warehouse and Yamashita Park accessible from Minatomirai, Bashamichi and Nippon-Odori stations on the Minatomirai Line or if you don’t mind walking a little, the JR Sakuragicho Station.

Number of fireworks: 6,000

Kanagawa Shimbun, Yokohama

Aug. 1 — 19:15 to 20:30 At Rinko Park near Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai Line.

Number of fireworks: 8,000

Tsurumi River, Yokohama

Aug. 23 — from 19:30 At Tsukuno Park near Tsurumi Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line.

Number of fireworks: 1,000

Kanazawa, Yokohama

Aug. 23 — 19:00-20:00 At Umi-no-Koen (Sea Park) in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, near Umi-no-Koen Shiba-Guchi, Umi-no-Koen Minami-Guchi and Nippon-Odori stations on the Seaside Line.

Number of fireworks: 3,500

Tour of Zoorasia Video

This a video of Zoorasia for those who want to know what they can expect of this zoo before they go or perhaps to remind themselves of what a good time they had when they were there. The video is not the best in the world and does drag on a bit but you do get to see and here what Zoorasia is like. When I was there though it was much quieter. I love to go to these places on weekdays. Anyway, thanks to Andrew Shuttleworth for making and sharing this video.

For more information about Yokohama’s Zoorasia be sure to check out our guide to Zoorasia.

Yokohama Nogeyama Zoo

Nogeyama Zoological gardens opened their gates to the public on April 1st, 1951. According to the website it is home to about 100 different species (about １416 creatures).

The red pandas are one of the most popular animals at the zoo and they are one of the first animals you will see upon entering. Unlike Zoorasia, Nogeyama Zoo is very compact. An advantage of this is that you can see some of the animals up close. You can really understand the power of the tigers as they stalk around their cage. On the downside you can’t help but feel sorry for the larger animals who really don’t have much room to move around.

There is also a petting zoo for children where sometimes you can have a snake draped around your shoulders. If you are brave enough don’t forget your camera.

Opening Hours: 9:30 – 16:30 (No entry after 16:00)
Closed on Mondays (Tuesday when Sunday or Monday is a public holiday).

Tickets
Admission is free.

How to get there
From Yokohama Station, take the JR Negishi Line to Sakuragicho Station and then you have to walk for about 15 minutes. Click image for for map.

Address:63-10 Oimatsu-cho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, 220-0032
Phone: 045 231 1307
Fax: 045 231 3842

It’s open all year round except on Mondays (Tuesday when Sunday or Monday is a public holiday) and some other special days including from December 29th to January 1st. Please check official site (Japanese) or call if you are unsure. Unfortunately the only English on their site is a map of the zoo which I am pretty sure you can pick up at the zoo itself.

For train timetables and prices click here.

Sotetsu Mobil Cinema Yokohama

This is definitely the most convenient cinema in Yokohama at about just 2 minutes from the Sotetsu Exit of Yokohama Station. To be honest I haven’t been to this particular movie theater in quite a long time. The last two movies I saw there were Kill Bill Part 1, and The Matrix Revolution, neither of which I enjoyed all that much. Those movies are not the reason I didn’t go there though. It was old and often crowded. I like to get a good seat so I used to go the the Toho Cinema in Ebina. I live on the Sotetsu Line so it is not all that inconvenient. But then the 109 Cinemas opened in Takashima and that was it for me. I was able to get there within 15 minutes on my bicycle. It wasn’t crowded. It was a new cinema. Why would I go anywhere else?

Later though there was talk of the Sotetsu Mobil closing down but instead of closing down it was taken over and renovated. I believe there are now 5 theaters as opposed to the 4 there were originally. As I said, I haven’t been there so I am not sure how they are though. If you have been you can tell us about it below.

How to get there.

From Yokohama Station, take the Sotetsu Line exit. Walk away from the station towards the river. When you get to the river there will be a bridge for vehicles to the right and a pedestrian bridge to the left. Use the pedestrian bridge and your instinct to find the ticket counter (Hint: Follow the movie posters and the ticket counter is on the right past Mos Burger).

Ticket prices (subject to change) *If you know of any changes please let us know in the comments.

Regular: Adult: 1800yen
High School and College: 1500 yen
Junior High and younger: 1000 yen
Child (under 2): 900yen
Senior (60+): 1000 yen

Special

Ladies day (Friday): 1000yen (for ladies only, although I’m sure if you dressed in drag there is a possibility of getting in for this price)
Service Day (1st day of the month): 1000yen
Couples Day (meaning mixed couples) (22nd of every month): 2000 yen for two people.

There may be other discounts and specials available.

Prepaid discounted tickets are also available from places such as PlayGuide and in the Diamond.

Link: Schedule.

Zoorasia

Established in 1999, Zoorasia is home to only about 60 different species. Don’t let this fact stop you visiting though for Zoorasia is more than just a zoo, it’s an experience.

The okapi is the unofficial symbol of this zoo and it was at this zoo that they were successfully bred in Japan for the first time.

Along with usual crowd-pleasers such as lions, tigers and elephants there are also some special treats such as the tapir and the giant anteater. The zoo itself would be a very pleasant place to go for a stroll even if there were no animals. It is very green and has many picnic areas so don’t forget to pack some rice balls. Zoorasia is divided into six areas: the Asian tropical forest zone, the sub arctic forest zone, the oceanic grassland zone, the Central Asian highland zone, the Japanese countryside zone and the Amazon jungle zone. The animals are contained in areas designed as much as possible to replicate their natural habitat and in some cases the animals have there own air conditioned abodes to help them cope with Japan’s increasingly hot summers. The zoo is designed very well regarding viewing the animals. There are binoculars available at the entrance but to be honest they are rarely needed. The polar bears and the Humboldt penguins can often be seen swimming through the glass wall or you can look down on them from a height.

Opening Hours: 9:30 – 16:30 (No entry after 16:00)
Closed on Tuesdays except in case of public holiday in which case it is closed on Wednesday

Tickets
Adults (Age 18 and over): 600 yen
High School Students: 300 yen
Junior High School and Elementary Students: 200 yen
Saturday is free for High School Students and below but need student ID.

Discounts available for large groups (30 or more)

Other Services (ID and deposit may be required)

Wheelchair: free
Stroller: 500 yen
Audio Guide: 500 yen
Binoculars: 200 yen
All-day parking is 1000yen

How to get there

From Yokohama Station, take the Sotetsu Line to Tsurugamine Station and then you have to take a bus to Zoorasia. It should take about 15 minutes from Yokohama to Tsurugamine and the bus jurney is about 10 minutes.
For train timetables and prices click here.

Address: 1175-1 Kamashirane-cho, Asahi-ku, Yokohama-shi, 241-0001

When to go

It’s open all year round except on Tuesdays and some other special days. Please check official site or call if you are unsure.

Phone: 045 959 1000
Group Reservations Phone: 045 959 1919

Links: Zoorasia multilingual information

*Note: We will be adding a photo gallery at some point.

109 Cinemas MM Yokohama

The 109 Cinemas in Minato Mirai is my favorite cinema in Yokohama. There are 11 screens, two of which are state of the art DLP theatres (screen 7 and 9). Access from Yokohama Station East Exit (横浜駅東口) is about 7 minutes on foot. Otherwise it is very close to the exit of ShinTakashima Station on the new Minato Mirai Line. It is housed in Gento Yokohama.

The 109 Cinemas website is mostly in Japanese but you will be able to find the schedule and some other details in English. The map unfortunately is in Japanese. But fear not, as a few years ago I recreated it in English. I hope that makes it easier.

How to get there.

From inside Yokohama Station, walk towards Sogo department store. When Sogo is in front of you and you can see Marui Department Store on the right turn right and go straight pst the dinosaur mural and up the stairs. At the top of the stairs continue to go straight and cross the road. Continue straight for about 2 or 3 minutes and you should see Gento Yokohama shopping mall on the left. It’s another 2 or 3 minutes walk from there.

Address: Takashima 1-3-2, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi

Ticket prices (subject to change) *I checked these prices a long time ago. They may have changed. If you know of any changes please let us know in the comments.

Regular: Adult: 1800yen
High School and College: 1500 yen
Junior High and younger: 1000 yen (some exemptions for 2 years and younger.
Senior (60+): 1000 yen
Executive Seat: 2500 yen
Pair Seat: 2000 yen per person

Special

Ladies day(Wednesday): 1000yen (for ladies only, although I’m sure if you dressed in drag there is a possibilty of getting in for this price)
Service Day (1st day of the month): 1000yen
Late Show (after 8PM) : 1200 yen
Couples Day (meaning mixed couples): 2000 yen for two people.
Over 50 husband and wife (only one partner needs to be over 50 and ID is required) : 2000 yen for 2 people.

Point Cards also available.

Prepaid discounted tickets are also available from places such as PlayGuide and the first floor in More’s Department Store. The prices for this cinema seem to be fixed at 1500 yen which is a bit more than the prepaid tickets for other cinemas.

Next Page »