Pix4Japan

2025-05-28

King Tower

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The King of Yokohama: A Glimpse into the City’s Art Deco Legacy
横浜三塔「キング」の歴史とアール・デコ建築の魅力

The Art Deco Kanagawa Prefectural Government Building is a striking symbol of Yokohama’s modern history. Seen from Port Opening Square (開港波止場) along historic Nihon-Odori Street, visitors can enjoy views of the harbor and attend open-air events in this cultural hub.

Completed in 1928, the building was designed in the image of a five-story pagoda and is designated a National Important Cultural Property. Its Japanese-style roof, known as Teikan-Yoshiki (Imperial Crown Style), blends traditional Japanese forms with symmetrical Western architecture making it one of the first examples of this hybrid design in Japan.

Geometric patterns in brown tile and marble appear throughout the building, reflecting the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and the bold lines of the Art Deco movement. The structure is illuminated each night until 10 p.m., making it a dramatic backdrop for various Japanese TV dramas.

Affectionately known as “King’s Tower,” the building is part of the famous Yokohama Three Towers (横浜三塔):

・The King – Kanagawa Prefectural Office

・The Queen – Yokohama Customs Building

・The Jack – Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall

Legend has it that foreign sailors arriving in Yokohama first spotted these towers as they entered the port in the early 20th century, when no other tall buildings dotted the skyline. Before departing, many made a wish to return safely in hopes of one day seeing the three towers again.

A more modern version of the legend promises that if you visit all three towers, or stand at one of four designated spots in Yokohama where all three are visible at once, your wish will be granted. Three of these spots are marked by circular metal plaques embedded in the sidewalks and one painted on the roof of Osanbashi Pier.

Over the past four decades, I’ve watched as Yokohama’s skyline has grown ever taller. One day, these beloved towers may disappear behind walls of glass and steel, lost in the shadow of the very progress they once stood for.

Location: Kaiko Hatoba, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/05/28・13:23
Fujifilm with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/8
Provia film simulation

Google Maps and sources for a deeper dive:

https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250528-king

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Mosaic Tiles

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A Gift of Gratitude: Yokohama’s Indian Memorial Fountain
横浜・山下公園の「インド水塔」：関東大震災に感謝を込めた記念碑

Yokohama began exchanging goods and culture with India in the 19th century, and Indian immigrants played a key role in the local silk trade. The Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923—one of the most devastating natural disasters in Japanese history—claimed over 100,000 lives across the Tokyo and Yokohama regions. Yokohama, a major port city, suffered extensive damage. Among the victims were 28 Indian merchants who had settled in the Yamashita district.

In response, the city provided relief to affected Indian residents, including the construction of emergency housing.

In 1930, Yokohama transformed a former earthquake debris dumping ground into what would become one of its most iconic tourist destinations: Yamashita Park.

To express their gratitude to the Japanese people who assisted them after the disaster—and to honor those who perished—the Indian community built the Indian Memorial Water Fountain in Yamashita Park. The memorial was donated to the city in 1939.

Constructed from reinforced concrete and topped with a copper dome, the fountain reflects architectural influences from the Mughal period (1526–1857), blending Indian, Islamic, and Japanese design elements.

A closer look at the fountain’s ceiling reveals a striking bronze lamp casing framed by a vivid mosaic of floral tiles. The intricate design exemplifies the fusion of Mughal and Japanese aesthetics, with its symmetrical patterns and vibrant colors.

In March 2023, the memorial underwent its first major renovation in 84 years. The restoration addressed typhoon-related damage and included seismic retrofitting to protect the structure against future earthquakes.

Location: Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/05/28・13:10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250528-indian

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Hikawa Maru

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Yamashita Park and the Queen of the Pacific: A Glimpse into Maritime History
山下公園と「太平洋の女王」

Yamashita Park offers one of the most picturesque views of the Port of Yokohama, which is highlighted by the presence of the Yokohama Marine Tower, Yokohama Bay Bridge, and the iconic NYK Hikawa Maru, a retired Japanese ocean liner permanently moored alongside the park.

The Hikawa Maru sailed from 1930 to 1960, primarily as a trans-Pacific liner connecting Yokohama with Vancouver and Seattle. In her prime, she was considered the most luxurious way to cross the Pacific, attracting select passengers including members of the Japanese imperial family, Charlie Chaplin, and Babe Ruth.

Designed to carry 331 passengers with 76 of them enjoying First Class accommodations, she was manned by a crew of 147. First Class travelers were treated to exquisite cuisine prepared by chefs trained in European kitchens, and surrounded by elegant Art Deco interiors. So beloved was the vessel that she earned the nickname “Queen of the Pacific.”

During World War II, the Hikawa Maru was repurposed as a hospital ship and a repatriation vessel for Japanese citizens and soldiers. Remarkably, she survived three mine strikes without sinking, thanks to her thick steel hull.

The ship also played a lesser-known but vital humanitarian role during the war, carrying Jewish refugees escaping Nazi persecution to safety in North America. After the war, from 1945 to 1947, she transported U.S. military personnel between Japan and the United States. In 1953, following a retrofit, she resumed service as a cargo-passenger liner until her retirement in 1960.

Since 1961, the Hikawa Maru has been anchored at Yamashita Park, where she has served as a floating museum, hotel, and restaurant. I first explored her beautifully preserved decks and Art Deco interiors in the mid-1980s.

Now, nearly four decades later, I hope to board her again not only to relive those memories, but to experience her timeless charm with the eye of a slightly more seasoned photographer with the companionship of nostalgia. Dogs are not allowed onboard, so I will have to visit when I’m able to leave my border collie at home.

Location: Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/05/28・12:53
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/8
Classic Chrome film simulation

Google Maps and sources for a deeper dive:

https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250528-hikawamaru

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Marine Tower

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A Waterfront Landmark Enjoyed with Spring Flowers
春の花とともに楽しむ港のランドマーク

The Port of Yokohama built this tower in 1961 to commemorate its centennial, making it the tallest lighthouse in the world at the time, standing at 106 meters (348 feet). It held this title until 2008.

I first visited the top of the tower in 1984, when it featured an aviary just below the lantern room. Exotic birds flew freely inside, creating a surprisingly serene atmosphere high above the city. In 2009, the tower underwent major renovations in celebration of the port’s 150th anniversary.

The aviary was replaced with an observation deck, now enhanced by light shows in the evenings. The first through fourth floors house restaurants, gift shops, and even a wedding hall. The tower’s iconic red-and-white stripes were repainted in a sleek silver finish, giving it a more contemporary look. It’s also fitted with LED strips and floodlights capable of illuminating the tower in a palette of 12 colors.

The upper observation deck is roughly equivalent to the 30th floor of a high-rise, offering panoramic views of Yamashita Park, the historic Hikawa Maru ocean liner, and the Minatomirai waterfront district. On clear days, you can even see Mount Fuji’s silhouette about 125 kilometers (76 miles) to the west.

In this shot, I was struck by the visual contrast between the lush flowers in full bloom against the steel and glass of modern Yokohama. Spring is an especially rewarding time to visit Yamashita Park, when the city hosts its annual “Garden Necklace Yokohama” festival. During this event, seasonal flowers bloom across small and large parks throughout the city, making it a paradise for garden lovers and photographers alike.

Location: Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/05/28・12:25
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/40 sec. at ƒ/11
Classic Chrome film simulation

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https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250528-tower

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Giant Leek

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Spring Spheres: Capturing a Giant Leek Amid Yokohama’s Garden Necklace
春のガーデンネックレス横浜：アリウム・ギガンチウムの球状の花の風景

The giant leek (Allium giganteum), a member of the onion family (Alliaceae), is native to central and southwestern Asia but has been cultivated widely around the world as a striking ornamental plant.

In the eastern section of Yokohama’s Yamashita Park, within the “Rose Garden of the Future” (未来のバラ園・Mirai-no-Baraen), these giant leeks are planted among a vast assortment of rose cultivars. Their spherical purple blooms provide a beautiful contrast to the softer, often layered textures and warmer hues of the surrounding roses, which offers variety in both color and form.

In this shot, I aimed to frame one of the leeks with the historic ocean liner Hikawa Maru, which is permanently docked nearby, in the background. However, I opened the aperture too wide, resulting in the ship becoming almost invisible in the bokeh. A smaller aperture somewhere between ƒ/4 and ƒ/8 would have provided better depth of field making the ship more recognizable while keeping the leek as the main focal point.

Every year from mid-March to mid-June, the city of Yokohama hosts Garden Necklace Yokohama, an annual event that celebrates the beauty of spring. A wide variety of flowers including tulips, roses, cherry blossoms, and more that bloom in succession across parks and flower beds throughout the city, connecting Yokohama’s 18 wards, its people, and the unfolding rhythm of spring.

Location: Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/05/28・12:17
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/240 sec. at ƒ/2
Astia/Soft film simulation

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2025-04-08

Weeping Cherry Tree

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Bridging Heaven and Earth: The Weeping Cherry Trees of Japanese Cemeteries
昔のしだれ桜を通じて、魂たちはこの世へ、美しい春の花としてそっと戻ってくる

In the stillness of a rural temple cemetery, a grand old weeping cherry tree (Cerasus itosakura) blooms with branches heavy with soft pink and white blossoms, its roots resting beneath generations of headstones. Petals drift in the breeze, like quiet echoes of lives once lived, reminding us that life, in some form, always continues.

Cherry trees are a common sight in many of the cemeteries I’ve visited across Japan, whether during road trips to remote mountain villages or on daily walks with my dog through the neighborhoods I've called home over the past 40+ years.

One commonly cited reason for this presence is the belief that the cherry tree’s brief bloom symbolizes the fleeting nature of human life. The renowned folklorist Kunio Yanagita (柳田國男, 1875–1962) traced this association between cherry blossoms (sakura) and death back to ancient times, when the deceased were often buried beneath cherry trees. It was believed their souls might briefly return to the living world through the ethereal beauty of spring blossoms.

In one of his writings, Yanagita suggests that weeping cherry trees, in particular, are inherently spiritual. He viewed them as sacred markers of the ground beneath which the dead rest thus deserving of respect and reverence. Their beauty being not merely ornamental but deeply symbolic.

Sakura blossoms are also widely regarded as symbols of rebirth. Ancient Japanese believed that cherry trees were thought to embody mountain deities who later descended to become gods of the rice fields. As such, the sakura marked the beginning of spring; a season of renewal and hope.

Today, their bloom coincides with the start of Japan’s academic and fiscal year which starts on April 1st, offering a sense of optimism as students enter new schools and workers begin new jobs. In this way, cherry blossoms have become intimately tied to some of the most memorable milestones in a person’s life.

Back to older beliefs held in some regions, weeping cherry trees serve as conduits between the worlds of the living and the dead. Yanagita linked this idea to ancient spiritual practices that saw weeping cherry trees as dwellings for spirits. These trees were planted in cemeteries because they were thought to help souls travel between heaven and earth.

As I look at this tree, I can’t help but wonder: did the family who owns this plot plant the weeping cherry to ease the journey of their departed loved ones? And perhaps more personally, I find myself drawn to the idea of forgoing a traditional headstone one day, and instead resting among the roots of a weeping cherry tree, returning each spring in a quiet flurry of petals.

Google Maps and sources for a deeper dive:

https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250408-weeping-sakura

Location: Ryufuku-ji Temple, Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan

Timestamp: 2025/04/08・13:28

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

28 mm ISO 100 for 1/800 sec. at ƒ/5.6

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Ryufuku-ji Temple

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Dragons in Japan: Sacred Symbols, Folklore, and Modern Culture
日本の龍：宗教的なシンボル、伝承、そして現代カルチャーへ

In Japan, dragons are not just mythical creatures, but are also symbols of protection, wisdom, and nature’s power. Revered throughout Japanese history, art, and folklore, dragons appear in many forms across the cultural landscape.

One of the most common places to encounter a dragon in everyday life is at a purification fountain (手水屋; chozuya or temizuya) found at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Visitors use these fountains to wash their hands before approaching the sacred grounds to offer prayers or pay their respects. While not always the case, it is often at these fountains that we find a water spout in the shape of a dragon’s upper body.

This connection between dragons and water is no coincidence. In Japanese mythology, dragons are strongly associated with watery realms such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. This symbolism is vividly demonstrated at the Nine-Headed Dragon Shrine in Hakone, where a purification fountain features nine dragon heads overlooking Lake Ashi (Ashinoko). Another example is the legend of the golden dragon of Tanuki Shrine, which gazes out over Lake Tanuki in Shizuoka Prefecture.

In Buddhist tradition as well, dragons hold deep significance. By the 9th century, Chinese Buddhism had incorporated dragons as protectors of Buddha and guardians of Buddhist law, which had an influence on Buddhism that spread to Japan. This Buddhist association is reflected in the frequent use of the character for "dragon" (龍; ryū) in the names of many Japanese Buddhist temples, including Ryūfuku-ji (龍福寺), where I took this photo.

Of course, dragons in Japan are not confined to religious contexts. In the modern era, they have also found a place in Japanese popular culture. Today, dragons appear in tattoo art adopted by a small number of contemporary young people (though still more commonly associated with the Yakuza) as well as in manga, video games, fashion, and many other forms of post-modern Japanese expression.

Personally, I had always pictured dragons as fearsome creatures of terror. That is why I find it fascinating to encounter an alternate view of these beings as revered and protective figures. In Japan, we see this perspective reflected in dragons carved into the beams of Shinto shrines, painted on temple ceilings, and gracefully adorning purification fountains. It is a beautiful reminder of the many layers of meaning that mythological creatures can hold regardless of cultural boundaries.

Location: Ryufuku-ji Temple, Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/04/08・12:43
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
63 mm ISO 100 for 1/50 sec. at ƒ/5.6

Google Maps and sources for a deeper dive:

https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250408-ryufukuji

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2025-05-28

The King of Yokohama: A Glimpse into the City’s Art Deco Legacy横浜三塔「キング」の歴史とアール・デコ建築の魅力

A Gift of Gratitude: Yokohama’s Indian Memorial Fountain横浜・山下公園の「インド水塔」：関東大震災に感謝を込めた記念碑

Yamashita Park and the Queen of the Pacific: A Glimpse into Maritime History山下公園と「太平洋の女王」

A Waterfront Landmark Enjoyed with Spring Flowers春の花とともに楽しむ港のランドマーク

Spring Spheres: Capturing a Giant Leek Amid Yokohama’s Garden Necklace春のガーデンネックレス横浜：アリウム・ギガンチウムの球状の花の風景

2025-04-08

Bridging Heaven and Earth: The Weeping Cherry Trees of Japanese Cemeteries昔のしだれ桜を通じて、魂たちはこの世へ、美しい春の花としてそっと戻ってくる

Dragons in Japan: Sacred Symbols, Folklore, and Modern Culture日本の龍：宗教的なシンボル、伝承、そして現代カルチャーへ

The King of Yokohama: A Glimpse into the City’s Art Deco Legacy
横浜三塔「キング」の歴史とアール・デコ建築の魅力

A Gift of Gratitude: Yokohama’s Indian Memorial Fountain
横浜・山下公園の「インド水塔」：関東大震災に感謝を込めた記念碑

Yamashita Park and the Queen of the Pacific: A Glimpse into Maritime History
山下公園と「太平洋の女王」

A Waterfront Landmark Enjoyed with Spring Flowers
春の花とともに楽しむ港のランドマーク

Spring Spheres: Capturing a Giant Leek Amid Yokohama’s Garden Necklace
春のガーデンネックレス横浜：アリウム・ギガンチウムの球状の花の風景

Bridging Heaven and Earth: The Weeping Cherry Trees of Japanese Cemeteries
昔のしだれ桜を通じて、魂たちはこの世へ、美しい春の花としてそっと戻ってくる

Dragons in Japan: Sacred Symbols, Folklore, and Modern Culture
日本の龍：宗教的なシンボル、伝承、そして現代カルチャーへ