Tourist attractions Yokohama

The tranquility of the Zen temple of Hokoku-ji is enhanced by its isolated location, which spares it from the hordes of tourists. A teahouse as tiny as a dollhouse provides the ideal spot from which to look at the Buddha sculptures as well as the for..

Founded in 1285, Tokei-ji temple was Japan's first nunnery and its residents enjoyed unusual privileges for several centuries. They obtained from the shogun the right to divorce at a time this was still deemed an unreasonable demand from women. The s..

The Westerners who arrived here in the 19C chose to settle on the hill of Yamate. It's a peaceful place from which you can contemplate the bay at your leisure, especially from Harbour View Park. Yamate-Hon-Dori Street runs close to the Foreigners' ..

The Sankei-en, a traditional Japanese-style garden which covers 175 000m 2 , is composed of two different parts: the outer garden, with features including a three-storey pagoda imported from Kyoto's Tomyo-ji Temple (1457) and a traditional house from..

The most famous entrance to Chinatown is the red and gold Goodwill Gate, one of the ten gates demarcating the limits of Japan's largest Chinese district. All the gates were built following feng shui principles and are adorned with brightly coloured g..

The exuberant architecture of Minato Mirai 21, a seafront area that has grown up around the docks, is dominated by the Landmark Tower. This 70-floor tower reaches a height of 296m and affords a unique viewpoint from which you can make out Mt Fuji on ..

A small flight of uneven, mossy steps leads to Sugimoto-dera, the oldest temple in Kamakura (founded in 734). The white banners displaying the names of donors stand out against the green of the abundant foliage. The site exudes charm and peace. You w..

Here you will find Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. According to legend, this 9m-tall camphor wood sculpture was made in the village of Hase then set adrift in the sea, later washing up on a Kamakura beach. Hase-dera Temple was built to house and honour..

Zeniarai-Benzaiten Shrine has both charm and atmosphere. After passing through a tunnel and torii , you emerge into an enormous space that is hewn out of the rock. At the back of a cave is a freshwater spring that the snake goddess Ugajin is said to..

Built by Hojo Tokimune (1251-1284), the eighth regent and military governor of Kamakura, the Zen Buddhist temple complex of Engaku-ji was founded to commemmorate the Japanese and Mongols who died in the dual attempted invasions instigated by the Mong..

Meigetsu-in, the "Bright Moon Hermitage", was built by Yamanouchi Tsunetoshi in 1160 in order to console the departed soul of his father, Toshimichi, who died in the battle of Heiji (1159) fought between the clans of Minamoto and Taira. The..

Kencho-ji is the first and largest Kamakura Zen temple, and was created in the 13C by a Chinese priest who came to spread Zen teachings in Japan. Of most interest is the Bonsho Bell (1255), a designated National Treasure. Opposite the Sanmon, you..

Shirakami-sanchi refers to a 130 000ha mountainous zone stretching around the border between the two prefectures of Akita and Aomori. The mountains, flanked by forests, form tiers between 100m and 1 200m altitude. Its central zone (17 000ha) has been..

The long and formal approach progresses along a promenade lined with cherry trees and punctuated by blood-red gates. Rising up on its esplanade at the top of a flight of stairs is the Shinto Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Temple, dedicated to the god of war,..

It may look a little outmoded, but this museum gives an interesting insight into the world of silk, from silkworm to making a kimono. It takes between 3 000 and 9 000 cocoons – according to the size, the width of the sleeves and the complexity of the..