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When Japan finally ended the period of isolation and the Port of Yokohama opened to foreign trade in 1859, the foreigner's settlement was initially confined to a low-lying area known as Kannai. 

As commercial activity in the Kannai settlement rapidly outgrew the available space, starting in 1862 Chinese made themselves a Chinatown and Westerners took up in the hills of the Yamate area, which was also called "The Bluff".

The Yamate initially a residential area for the foreign diplomatic community retains a number of sites relating to its history. 
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Yokohama Prefectural Office

Although many of the original foreign resident's accommodation and civic buildings were destroyed in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, a number of older Meiji and Taisho Period properties have been preserved and relocated to this neighborhood. 

British diplomatic and commercial interests were protected by a troop garrison stationed at Yamate at the crest of the hill overlooking the harbor, a location that now serves as Harbor View Park.

​Yamate has a number of parks within walking distance from each other. The largest is the Harbor View Park overlooking Yokohama Port. 
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Harbor View Park

Situated in-between, with Yamate to the east, and Kannai to the west, Motomachi district became frequented by many foreigners. 


Shops and businesses were opened, catering to the needs of foreigners.

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So, below the hills of Yamate Motomachi Shopping Street was born, a five-block long stretch of boutiques and shops, well known in Japan for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, original fashion, and Western influence.


​The street runs parallel to the Nakamura River on the east of Chinatown. 


​Nowadays the street does not differ drastically from other shopping streets, but it still has a certain European feel.


On weekends and national holidays from 12:00 to 18:00, the street through is closed off to road traffic, allowing people to walk freely. 


A stroll down the street can be a good way to spend a peaceful afternoon. 


Visit Tourist Information Center and pick up a map of the area.
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Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street Entrance

Yokohama Motomachi Station Access

On the northern end of the Motomachi Shopping Street is Motomachi-Chukagai Station which is on the Minato Mirai Line "about 8 minutes from Yokohama Station". 

On the southern end of the Motomachi Shopping Street is Ishikawacho Station which is on the JR Keihin Tohoku Negishi Line. 
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Motomachi Shopping Street

Motomachi Shopping Street – Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture