Almost 19 years ago (!), I lived in Yokohama. I was fresh out of intern year about to be a general practice doctor on the aircraft carrier “forward deployed” in Japan. Initially, it seemed like too much of a bother to get a place as I was only there for a year. For most of that, I would be underway.
But I decided to make the most of my experience and live in nearby Yokohama, a large city that offered a lot. I’m so glad I did that. I worked with a real estate agent named Risa (whom I worked with again in 2013!) and she found a great apartment in Yokohama, one stop away from the main station on the train line to Yokosuka.
It was a great apartment and such a fun time in my life. So on this visit, I decided to take a walk around the areas of Yokohama I used to frequent.
Yokohama BayStars Game at Kannai
I left Sendai and traveled to Yokohama station via Shinkansen and local train. I locked my suitcase up and took the subway to the Yokohama Baystar stadium stop (Kannai). I had brought my old Yokohama Baystar noisemaker bats and I was ready to be a super fan! I realized I was an old superfan when I noticed that my bats had the old logo lacking the DeNA in the name, which was added in 2014.
If you go to Japan during baseball season, I strongly recommend you go to a game. Even if you’re not much of a baseball fan, it is such a fun experience. There are cheerleaders, mascots, a special car that drives out the relief pitcher(s), and draft beer served in the stands by women who have keg backpacks. The kegs are larger than a mini-keg but much smaller than a quarter keg but still, the athleticism and dedication to a beer with a nice foam head (the way they do it!) is impressive.
However. What was not fun was the first inning. OMG. It was so painful. The opposite team went through their entire batting line-up on two outs. The Baystars could not close the inning to save their lives. Well, their lives were saved but not the six home runs they gave up. Yikes. The upside was I got to see the Tokyo Yakult Swallows’ fans sing for 40 minutes straight and with every run, see their umbrella dance.
After that inning, it got a little better. I was in the outfield fan seats, but things were a bit more muted than usual, I think.
Dinner at World Yakiniku Center
After the game, I went towards Basamichi to go to Charcoal Grill Green, a long-ago favorite. It’s still around (yay!), but were completely booked (boo!). So, I went next door to World Yakiniku Center, where I had a meal that knocked my socks off! It was so delicious. I’m pretty sure it’s run by the CGG folks and it was really exceptional. I sat at the bar, where I had my own charcoal grill underneath a powerful but silent vent. The meat I ordered was so fantastic. I usually think the idea of meat melting in one’s mouth as ridiculous but dear reader, there is no other way to describe it. It was so good! I also ordered mushrooms with a dipping sauce of a seasoned, deep golden egg yolk. And, finally, sake. I had two sakes, both of which were excellent.
After all this, I decided to head back to the hotel. There were other things I had thought about doing, like going to the Thrash Zone or checking out Motomachi but the goal wasn’t to exhaust myself. I had a great day and it was time for bed!
The next morning, after a delicious breakfast of a take-away pastry (after awkwardly standing in line for the dining room where no one talked to me and I wasn’t even sure I was doing the right thing without a reservation), I took the train to Tobe station. My old stop! The entrance/exit I used is no more, but I wasn’t disoriented. I left the station and walked down the street that I remember running down many a morning, only missing the train once!
Finding My Old Apartment Near Tobe Station
And I found it! Cue “The Old Apartment” by the Bare Naked Ladies. Although my personal drama wasn’t as intense as that featured in the song, hahah. It was fun to see. It looks the same…just like me!
Then, I walked to the waterfront. I walked through a new-to-me park, Kamon-yama. It’s amazing how Google maps enables exploration although really, I could have looked at a paper map back then.
A Walk Along the Yokohama Waterfront
The biggest change to the waterfront is that there’s a funicular called the Yokohama Air Cabin going over the harbor. Sagoy! I went into Yokohama World Porters where my standby sushi go-round was gone. I left and headed to the Red Brick Warehouse district. It was a beautiful day and there was a festival just getting underway.
At this point, I had to decide what to do. I had gotten an early start and seen what I had wanted to see. I could have hung out in Yokohama more, but I have spent a lot of time there! In addition, during my second tour, I felt like I hadn’t spent as much time as I wanted in Tokyo due to it being too far to travel to when I was on call, which was a lot. So, I decided to have a half-day in Tokyo and I’m so glad I did. More to come!
FAQs
Should I go to a Japanese baseball game even if I’m not a big baseball fan? Yes — it’s one of the most fun spectator experiences in Japan regardless of how closely you follow the sport. Expect cheerleaders, mascots, coordinated fan chants, and beer sold straight from backpack kegs in the stands. A Yokohama BayStars game at Kannai is an easy one to catch if you’re in the area.
Where’s a good place to eat yakiniku in Yokohama? World Yakiniku Center, near Bashamichi, is an excellent backup if the long-running Charcoal Grill Green next door is booked (it appears to be run by the same team). Sit at the bar for your own personal grill.
What’s near the Red Brick Warehouse in Yokohama? The Red Brick Warehouse district connects to a waterfront walk that includes Kamon Yama Park, Yokohama World Porters, and the Yokohama Air Cabin, a harbor-crossing funicular/cable car.
How do I get from Sendai to Yokohama? Take the Shinkansen followed by a local train into Yokohama Station — a straightforward same-day connection.