Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/2.0
Provia/Standard film simulation
Cyclist Napping with His Dog
A bicyclist is taking a nap with his dog in the shade of trees in Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan.
In Japan at least, it’s good manners to take off your shoes or sandals when using a mat on the ground at a park or beach so as to not soil the top side of the sheet or blanket.
This is just one example of many people, including couples, office workers, tourists, young families, etc., all taking a break from the summer heat under the huge trees that stretch from one end of the park to the other.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/420 sec. at ƒ/3.2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation
Small Fleet of Boats
(Yokohama, Japan)
The Port of Yokohama welcomes ships from the world over. These pilot boats carry pilots out to larger ships to help with safely steering ships in and out of berths, through hazardous conditions, and through boat traffic.
This shot was taken from the northern end of Yamashita Park, where visitors can enjoy views small piers for the coast guard, pilot boats, and views of cruise liners docked at the international terminal.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/220 sec. at ƒ/2.5
Velvia/Vivid film simulation
93-Year-Old Osanbashi Kyodo Building
(Yokohama, Japan)
Built in April 1929, this building features eateries on the first floor with office space on the upper 2nd thru 5th floors.
This shot was taken from the Yamashita Rinko Line Promenade—an old elevated rail line converted to a pedestrian overpass.
The historic building was built right after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, being one of the first “modern” structures designed to better withstand future earthquakes. Surprisingly, the building survived the WWII incendiary raid on Yokohama by 517 B-29s dropping 2,570 tons of bombs.
The exterior of the building seems to be deteriorating, thus the need for netting to prevent the tiles from falling off and hitting pedestrians below.
It would sadden me if they eventually tear down the building. I hope the owners can somehow preserve the building for future generations.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/280 sec. at ƒ/2.5
Velvia/Vivid film simulation
Kanagawa Prefectural Office—The King
Built in 1928, the architect was influenced by the Art Deco architectural style that was popular in Europe in the early 20th century.
The other two major historical buildings in Yokohama are the Queen (Yokohama Customs Building), and the Jack (Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall). The legend varies, but sailors of old are said to have believed that if they were able to see all three towers of the King, Queen, and Jack when pulling into port, that their wish would come true.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/2.8
Monochrome film simulation
Border Collie under Elevated Tracks
The Yamashita Rinko Line Promenade is a pedestrian overpass linking Yamashita Park to the south with the Minatomirai Waterfront District to the north on the shore of the Port of Yokohama.
The overpass was originally built as an elevated freight train line (Yamashita Rinko Line) in 1965. After only 21 years, the line ceased operations as trucks became the more economical means of moving cargo freight.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/1500 sec. at ƒ/7.1
Classic Chrome film simulation
Cruise Ship and Terminal Pier
Shot of the Asuka II (max capacity: 872 passengers) docked at Osanbashi International Terminal Pier in Yokohama, Japan. The Asuka II sails out of the Port of Yokohama two or three times a week and makes port visits on the eastern coastline of Japan on three- and four-day cruises.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/340 sec. at ƒ/2.8
Classic Chrome film simulation
Historical Customs House on Waterfront in Yokohama, Japan
Just left of the center is the historical Yokohama Customs Building, which was rebuilt in 1934 after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
Among the many various design elements used for this building, the dome was inspired by Islamic mosques, and much of the interior was inspired by Western-European Romanesque styles.
The domed customs building is affectionately known as the Queen. To the left of the Queen is a red brick building with a square shaped tower (Kanagawa Prefectural Office), which is known as the King.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/640 sec. at ƒ/4.5
Classic Chrome film simulation
Security Guard on Patrol
If you have ever taken a train in Japan, you might have witnessed “shisa-kosho” (指差呼称) or “shisa-kanko” (指差喚呼)--the act of “finger pointing and calling” (FPC) by station staff and train conductors.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, sashi-kosho (FPC) has shown to reduce human errors by as much as 85% in laboratory research by the Japanese Railway Technical Research Institute.
In this shot, I captured the moment the security guard pointed his finger and called out whatever it was he was checking. If you ever find yourself often forgetting something or overlooking something important or necessary, please try sashi-kosho next time!
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/950 sec. at ƒ/4.5
Classic Chrome film simulation
Yokohama Hammerhead
Constructed in 1914, this hammerhead crane was Japan’s first quay crane. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the crane stands at the tip of Shinko Pier and was used to eliminate the timely and costly use of barges to load and discharge cargo.
Shinko Pier, built in 1859, was Japan’s first modern international trading port. The pier has undergone several upgrades over the years with the most recent work completed in 2019, which included a new international cruise ship terminal, a longer and deeper berth, a new luxury hotel, and a small public park built surrounding the hammerhead crane.
The Yokohama Hammerhead was fortunately saved from the scrapyard to become the newest addition to Yokohama’s skyline of prominent and historical landmarks that welcome visitors from around the world to Yokohama.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/640 sec. at ƒ/4.0
Classic Chrome film simulation
Blue City Skyline
This shot of the Minatomirai waterfront district features Yokohama’s most well-known high-rise towers and hotel: Landmark Tower (left), Queen’s Tower A and B (center), The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu (center-left), and the InterContinental Yokohama Grand hotel (right), which “evokes the image of a white sail against the blue sea.”
When overseas cruise ships visiting Japan arrive in the Port of Yokohama, this is the skyline passengers will see first as they disembark from the ship.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 160 for 1/180 sec. at ƒ/2
Classic Chrome film simulation
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 1000 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/11
Classic Chrome film simulation
Roomette Food Trailer
I love the retro look and Tiffany blue color of this lightweight travel trailer that has been converted into a food trailer selling beer and tacos.
The trailer was located next to the upscale InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8 hotel on Shinko Pier in the Minatomirai waterfront district.
Most travel trailers or food trailers I have seen thus far in Japan tend to be those beautiful, shiny, stainless steel Airstreams. The model in this shot is a Japanese brand of travel trailer called the Roomette Short, which has been designed to have a compact shell to help navigate narrow Japanese streets with a spacious interior that is easily customizable for traveling or for use as a concession stand.
Unfortunately, travel trailers and RVs are exorbitantly expensive and some models require a driver’s license that allows towing or operation of a large vehicle. I have seen brands listed online imported from the U.S. and Germany that were more expensive than a house or condo!!
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 2000 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/13
Classic Chrome film simulation
Classic Phone Booth
Years of battling sea spray from ocean breezes and typhoons, the lettering on this telephone booth could use a new coat of paint.
Located behind the InterContinental Yokohama Grand hotel along the waterfront promenade, it seems to be an odd location to install a pay phone.
That said, I am always grateful when I find a pay phone and try to make a mental note of its location. Soon after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, my cell phone was immediately useless! Cell phone towers and carrier systems were overwhelmed with the sudden onslaught of cell phone calls causing the whole structure to collapse.
Fortunately, pay phones, which use land lines, were unaffected by the earthquake and allowed me to contact family, friends, and colleagues soon after the quake to confirm their safety, deliver requests for emergency supplies, confirm work schedules, etc. These “outdated” pay phones were indeed a lifesaver!
Although pay phone operators are likely losing money by maintaining their systems, I hope local governments can work out an arrangement where my taxes can help subsidize continued maintenance of pay phones since they are a vital lifeline in disaster-prone Japan. Besides disasters, I can still see senior citizens and young school children regularly using pay phones at train stations since not everyone needs or wants a cell phone.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 3200 for 1/105 sec. at ƒ/13
Classic Chrome film simulation
Handpan Player in Park
While walking my dog along the waterfront, I was drawn to this lady playing a handpan near Rinko Park in the Minatomirai waterfront district of Yokohama. I have seen violinists, saxophone players, and several other musicians practicing in this park before, which is most likely because there are no residential properties next to the park.
Unlike street performers who tend to have speakers and a small donation box, individuals who are just practicing are a joy to listen to as they tend to be in the “zone” and seem to be thoroughly enjoying the instrument they’re playing.
I have no idea if this artist was playing the handpan well or not, but I can say that the melody was quite soothing and a joy to listen to, and complemented the cool ocean breeze coming ashore offering added relief to this hot summer day.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 2500 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/13
Classic Chrome film simulation
Apartment Towers & Hotel Skyline
Rinko Park offers lots of open space and shaded spaces as well making it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. From the middle of the park, we can see the beautiful architecture of The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama and Yokohama Bay Court Club Hotel & Spa Resort.
Inspiration for the exterior wave-like designs of the three structures is the famous woodblock print “Under the Wave off Kanagawa” (Kanagawa oki nami ura), also known as “The Great Wave,” from the series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) by the renowned Katsushika Hokusai ca. 1830–32.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 1250 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/13
Classic Chrome film simulation
City Park at Dusk
Looking south from the center of Rinko Park, you can see the top floors of Yokohama’s tallest high-rise apartment building, The Tower Yokohama Kitanaka. The tower is a 58-story building with 1,176 condos with upper-floor prices rising as high as 800 million yen (approx. $5.6 million USD). I am always amazed how engineers are able to build such tall structures in such an earthquake-prone country as Japan.
Closer to the park, however, is the gorgeous InterContinental Yokohama Grand. This luxury hotel is one of the more famous landmarks of Yokohama’s waterfront district with its unique exterior that resembles a yacht sail billowing in the wind.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 320 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 3200 for 1/105 sec. at ƒ/13
Velvia/Vivid film simulation
Blue Hour on the Waterfront
Two shots of The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama where guests on the upper floors have panoramic views of the Port of Yokohama. The hotel has the appearance of three structures, but is actually two hotels in one: The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama, which is for the general public, and the Yokohama Bay Court Club Hotel & Spa Resort, which is a members-only resort hotel.
The wave-like exterior compliments the yacht-sail design of the InterContinental Yokohama Grand, which is located about 600 meters south (approx. 1,969 ft.). The glass facade presents photographers with beautiful subject to shoot as light reflecting off of the building changes colors throughout the day.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 3200 for 1/80 sec. at ƒ/2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation
Folding Screens of Glass and Steel
The Fuji Xerox R&D Square is a 20-story office building with enough space for 4,500 employees. The whole structure is elliptical in shape and features a glass exterior that mimics traditional Japanese folding screens that create a wonderful mixture of varying tones of reflected light.
The jagged edges of the exterior design also helps break up the flow of air along the building’s exterior surface, which helps weaken the sudden gusts of downdrafts and vortices that hit pedestrians on the city streets below.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 500 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/2
Classic Negative film simulation
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 1600 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/2
Astia/Soft film simulation
Reflections at Dusk
The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama is one of the newest buildings to grace the Yokohama waterfront skyline. Although I have zero interest in staying at the hotel, I love the architecture of this hotel and especially love how the glass facade and sharp angles create interesting reflections of neighboring high-rise buildings.
Of course, shooting during the blue hour under a clear sky puts on a show of colors and shades covering the spectrum of blue from azure to cool black.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 800 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation
Alley of High-Rise Towers
At the end of this alley of high-rise condos sits the tallest building in Yokohama and 2nd tallest in Japan. The 73-story Yokohama Landmark Tower rises 296.3 m (972 ft) above the city skyline and is a popular subject for photographers and tourists alike.
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 3200 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/2
Astia/Soft film simulation
Hamamirai Walk is a pedestrian overpass connecting commuters from Yokohama Station to the Nissan Global Headquarters building (Yokohama, Japan). If you pixel peep, you can see all the workers leaving the office headed back to the station while looking at their smartphones!😅
Fujifilm X100V (23 mm)
ISO 3200 for 1/80 sec. at ƒ/2
Astia/Soft film simulation
Speeding Around the Curve
The train on the right is a Keikyu Line commuter train arriving at Yokohama Station from the suburbs. The outbound train on the left is a Toei-Asakusa Line train running on Keikyu Line headed for the suburbs from Tokyo via Yokohama during the evening rush hour.
Keikyu Line trains are typically red with white stripes, and run all the way from the Miura Peninsula to the heart of Tokyo at the Shinagawa Terminus covering a distance of 66.9 km (43.43 miles)
Established in 1895, the Keikyu Line is one of the major lines transporting commuters to Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Tokyo for work and school. The train carries approx. 1.12 million passengers daily and can operate at a max speed of 120 kmh (75 mph) on some stretches.
My favorite part of this line is the elevated tracks between Yokohama and Tokyo, where the train winds back and forth between high-rise buildings close to the tracks, and passes by several old Buddhist temples and their large cemeteries. I got motion sickness the first time I rode this train, but quickly got used to it during my daily commute to Tokyo many years ago.
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