Yokohama

Yokohama has become a familiar sight on my journey through Japan, a port that always greets me with open skies and something new. My first visit came in August 2023 when our cruise ship rerouted here to dodge a typhoon en route to Busan. The unexpected overnight stay gave me just enough time to jump on the Shinkansen to Shizuoka, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji. I did, but not as I imagined. There was no snow on the peak, just a raw and rugged mountain basking in the summer sun. A clear reminder that what you expect isn’t always what you get.

By spring 2025, Yokohama had turned into a short but welcome stopover for me on several cruises. Rather than plan big, I leaned into light exploration. Most of my time was spent meandering through Yamashita Park. The air was warm and the park was alive with tulips, pansies, and other blooms spilled out of neat garden beds and planters. Walking along the waterfront, I passed fountains, a sundial, small monuments, and well-placed benches where I could sit and take in the skyline or just rest my feet.

One standout was the bronze statue celebrating Girl Scout friendship between Japan and the USA. It’s nestled near the Hikawa Maru, a retired ocean liner permanently docked along the waterfront. That part of the harbor had a gentle rhythm to it, schoolkids on field trips, couples holding hands, and tourists like me snapping photos of the city with the sea at our back.

I didn’t do much, but I didn’t need to. Sometimes a city’s charm is best felt in the quiet moments, a stroll through spring flowers, the sparkle of sun on the bay, and the hum of life carrying on all around you.