AS Japan’s second largest city with a population of more than three million, Yokohama is more than just a bedroom town to its larger metropolitan neighbour, Tokyo.
Located less than half an hour south of Tokyo by train, the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture is a city that stands out on its own merits, far beyond its most recognisable icon — the large ferris wheel of Cosmo World amusement park.
It is not difficult to like a city where people are more likely to walk than drive. It is beautiful, its wide open pedestrian streets and green spaces give the city an unique charm and excitement that can leave the spirit truly uplifted, and provide an escape from the extreme crowding of Tokyo.
As the port city that witnessed Japan opening its door to the outside world in 1859, Yokohama’s architecture is modern and classical, from the Yokohama Landmark Tower (the second tallest building and fourth tallest structure in Japan at 296m) to the historical Red Brick Warehouse, a cultural and commercial facility that utilises two historical buildings constructed more than a century ago.
In the spacious Sankeien Garden, which encompasses 175,000sq m of space, the old traditions of Japan continue to flourish, including art, literature and chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony).
One of the world’s largest Chinatowns can be found in Yokohama. It has the reputation of being one of the world’s best Chinese food havens, with culinary offerings from more than 500 restaurants and shops.
Families can create their own unique ramen by mixing and matching various soups at the Cup Noodles Museum (Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum), a fun and interactive museum. Food enthusiasts will also feel at home in Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, touted to be the world’s first “food-themed amusement park, where visitors can sample famous local ramen from all over Japan.
Sea lovers can spend time by the sea at Minato Mirai, which was the former site of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Yokohama Shipyard.
Minati Mirai is Yokohama’s futuristic port and central hub for everything from business to shopping and tourism, having been reconstructed and redeveloped with green zones,most notably Yamashita Park, the first seaside park in the country.
One can also opt to go sailing on board modern and elegant cruise ships that gather at Yokohama port every day.
On the international stage, the city boasts an illustrious track record. Yokohama Stadium hosted the 2002 football World Cup final and will also be the venue of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
In striving to be a world-class city for tourism, conventions and businesses, Yokohama is also committed to being a resource- efficient city that is both appealing to and comfortable for people — both indoors and outdoors — while being friendly to the environment.
The city learnt many lessons during its redevelopment after the end of World War 2, in particular the period of rapid population growth from the 1960s to the 1980s, due to urbanisation.
The city has policies that ensure sustainable maintenance and management in waste reduction, garbage recycling, energy and water supply, urban development, transit-oriented development, flood mitigation and disaster prevention.
By using appropriate technologies and collaborating with its citizens and businesses, Yokohama is able to establish sound fiscal management as it undertakes to be a model city of the future.
Plans are often designed for the long term, such as in January 2003 when the city initiated the Yokohama G30 plan to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in generated waste by 2010.
In another example, the Yokohama 3R Dream Plan was formulated to reduce environmental impacts and make efficient use of resources and energy from 2010 to 2025. The experience and know-how gained enabled the city to cooperate in international projects. In 2011, the city signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The aim is to carry out efficient and effective international cooperation in developing countries and develop Yokohama as an international city open to the world.
In common with all top cities in the world, Yokohama is always striving to do better.
The city is trying to encourage visitors to spend more time in the city by boosting not only the hotel sector but also the food and beverage sector, and the wider economy, said Yokohama city director-general of culture and tourism bureau Kozue Nakayama.
The city already has what it needs to draw visitors, such as world class public infrastructure, affordable and quality rooms, efficient transit system, ample public space and reputation as a top notch venue for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
“Yokohama City Council has been proactive and working with many organisations to encourage visitors to stay longer in Yokohama, including by holding more events such as the 33rd National Urban Greenery Fair Yokohama (Garden Necklace Yokohama 2017) from March 25 to June 4,” she said.
“The council recognises the huge value of arts and culture to society by making the people more creative and catalysing economic vitality,” she told reporters from various Asian countries during a recent journalist fellowship programme hosted by the city.
The programme was held in conjunction with the upcoming 50th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) board of governors in Yokohama from May 4 to 7.
ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally-sustainable growth and regional integration.
More than 3,000 participants are expected to attend, including finance and development ministers, central bank governors, private sector and civil society partners, and media.
This year, the Yokohama Triennale, an international exhibition of contemporary art representing Japan held once every three years, will be held in August.
More than merely a “visual” experience, it will provide a forum of exchange on a multitude of ideas with the goal of encouraging dialogues and discussions, and develop an environment for sharing and co-existence.
Yokohama is not Tokyo, but in building a global model of sustainable city management, it undoubtedly punches above its weightclass.
The writer is a ‘New Straits Times’ journalist who is a self-proclaimed foodie and avid traveler and photographer. Obsessed with all manner of gadgets, he seldom goes anywhere without his gizmos, and is always at the ready to go at a moment’s notice when duty calls