Yokohama

 

Yokohama Station is a major interchange station located in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, in the south of Tokyo. It is the busiest station in Kanagawa and the 5 th busiest in Japan.

 

Yokohama Station is served by JR East Tokaido Main, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Shonan-Shinjuku, Keihin-Tohoku, and Negishi Lines; Keikyu Main Line; Sotetsu Sagami Railway Main Line; Tokyu Corporation's Toyoko Line; Yokohama Minatomirai Railway Company's Minatomirai Line; and the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line.

 

Yokohama Station is situated in a very busy commercial district of Yokohama. The east and west of the station have a complex underground business district spanning several floors and is connected to the buildings surrounding the station. Some major shopping centers located in this area are:

 

On the east side –

 

Porta

 

Porta is a large underground shopping mall spread over 21,000 m? of space on the second level of the basement. It has 110 specialty stores and a large variety of restaurants, cafés, and fast food joints. Two of the best known stores here are Kyukyodo (a shop, founded in 1663, that specializes in Japanese paper products called washi ) and Ceno Zoic (a shop that sells imported items for the kitchen, ranging from tableware to furniture). Porta is designed in a unique way, with the passageways looking like Italian streets lined with shops, cafés, and restaurants.

 

Just above Porta is the main Yokohama bus terminal. Adjacent to the bus terminal is a large parking lot with space for 500 cars.

 

Sogo

 

Yokohama Sogo is the world's largest department store. Located directly opposite the east exit of Yokohama Station and facing the sea, Sogo is housed in a 10-story building. It covers a total floor area of 184,940 m?, of which 75,000 m? is sales floor. Sogo stocks practically everything – from clothes to jewelry and cosmetics, and from tableware to furniture. The food market is on the two basement floors. Groceries from practically every country in the world can be found here. There are also many stalls that sell prepared meals. Restaurants are on 10 th floor. The sixth floor houses Sogo Museum of Art – Japan's first in-house museum. It exhibits various works of art of both local and international artists.

 

Bay Quarter

 

Bay Quarter is located right behind Sogo. Though relatively new, this commercial complex has become hugely popular, mainly because of its shape, which is designed like a luxury cruise liner. It is open air and has 7 floors. Bay Quarter is connected by a long bridge to Sogo, and connected by another bridge to Sea Bass ferry pier, from where ferries can be taken to sightseeing spots of Yokohama four times an hour.

 

There are a total of 75 stores in Bay Quarter, besides a high class spa, a deep sea water swimming pool, a pet hotel, and a dog café where owners and dogs can dine together. There are also some fine restaurants, a Spanish bar, and a café facing the Port of Yokohama

 

Lumine

 

Lumine is another huge shopping center in this area with over 200 shops and restaurants. Most of the shops here cater to the fashion-conscious consumer with the latest in all brands of clothes, footwear, and accessories available here. Other shops sell household goods like tableware and furniture. The large well-stocked Yurindo Book Store is on the fifth floor and in the basement is Seijo Ishii Supermarket.

 

Sky Building

 

The Yokohama Sky Building is a large 29-storied shopping complex. From basement level 1 to the 8 th floor is Marui Department Store . This is a popular place to shop as almost everything can be found in this large department store, and the goods are all high quality at a price lower than other places.

 

The upper floors of Sky Building have various specialty stores, restaurants, and cafés. On the 14 th floor is Sky Spa Yokohama (featuring saunas, Jacuzzis, and other spa facilities), and Yokohama Cruiz Cruiz (a 360-seat huge restaurant) covers the entire 28 th floor. The Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT) is on the 1 st floor. Visitors can catch buses to the airport from here.

 

 

On the west side –

 

 

The Diamond

 

Diamond is a large scale underground shopping area that covers most of the west side of Yokohama Station. Spread over 21,000 m? of space, this 35 year old shopping area is one of the oldest malls in Japan. The outlets at Diamond include fashion, shoes, and accessories shops; an excellent second hand CD and record shop; other specialty stores like the one that sells unique blends of coffee, or the excusive stocking store; and dozens of first class restaurants and cafés.

 

Takashimaya

 

Having opened its first store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, more than 300 years ago, Takashimaya is one of the oldest department stores in Japan. The Yokohama Takashimaya, located in front of the west exit of Yokohama Station, is one of the most reputed shopping centers of the city. The first floor has Takashimaya's own brand of women's and men's clothing; the second floor has international brand names like Chanel, Cartier, and Guchi; and the other floors have a large variety of different stores, some excellent restaurants and coffee shops. The Museum of American Folk Art , a place that sells Native American handicrafts, is a popular store on the sixth floor.

 

Sotetsu Joinus

 

Sotetsu Joinus is another shopping center located just outside the west exit of Yokohama Station. It consists of mainly fashion boutiques and shops selling fancy and luxury items.

 

CIAL

 

CIAL is a 7-storey shopping center with about 150 shops dealing primarily with daily necessities like clothes, cosmetics, and food.

 

More's

 

A 7-storied shopping complex, More's has about 150 shops selling clothes, cosmetics, and other necessities targeting mainly the young. There are also some good restaurants.

 

Vivre

 

Vivre is a large shopping center popular especially among the teenagers of Yokohama, because of its trendy stores selling fashionable clothes and accessories. There is also a large CD shop and a computer store, besides some good restaurants and cafés. The rooftop of Vivre features a popular flea market.