Motomachi / Yamate Area in Yokohama

The Yamate district is located on a small hill to the south of Yokohama Chinatown. After the opening of the port in 1859, this area overlooking the sea became a foreign settlement, following Kannai. Many Western-style houses remain or have been relocated among lush greenery, including the Yamate Museum, a wooden house built in 1909 that blends Japanese and Western styles. Other than private residences, many of the buildings have been transformed into stores, galleries, and cafes, and their interiors are also open to the public. There are also numerous other places to visit, such as a foreigner's cemetery and a small museum.

From the "Harbor View Park," the symbol of the Yamate area, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Port of Yokohama and the Yokohama Bay Bridge below. The "English Rose Garden," one of Japan's most famous rose gardens, is also located within the park.

“Motomachi Shopping Street” stretches along the foot of the hill. Since the street connects the Yamate Foreign Settlement to the port, the number of stores serving foreign customers has grown. Many Yokohama brands originated here, and it was the birthplace of a major fashion boom known as "Hamatora" in the late 1970s.