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The City
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Though much of Yokohama was destroyed in the 1923 earthquake and again in bombing raids during World War II, it retains a few European-style buildings from its days as a treaty port, some of which lie scattered around
Kannai
, the traditional city centre. For a more evocative atmosphere, climb up to
Yamate
(also known as "the Bluff"), a genteel residential area of clapboard houses, tennis clubs and church spires on the southern hills.
Chinatown
, back down on the levels, makes for a lively contrast, with its hoards of colourful trinket shops and bustling restaurants. From here it's a short stroll down to
the harbour front
Marine Tower and a couple of nearby museums, or a train ride north to where the aptly named
Landmark Tower
, Japan's tallest building, pinpoints the futuristic
Minato Mirai 21
(MM21) development. Among its gleaming hotels, shopping malls and conference centres, there are a couple of specific sights, notably a modern-art museum and an incongruous four-masted barque, the
Nippon-maru
. All these central sights can be covered in an easy day's outing. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Japan,
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