Goofing around Yokohama with the Sigma 24mm f3.5 DG DN lens

 I picked up the Sigma 24mm f3.5 DG DN "Contemporary" lens in Sony E-mount and I spent a couple days in Yokohama with it on my Sony A7III camera.

Day 1: It's a wide angle lens.

How wide is it? It's this wide.

Wide enough to get the whole bus in the frame.

I'm actually have a lot of fun with this lens.

Whenever a get a new lens I check it out on the Haikawa Maru.

The inner courtyard of the Yokohama Grand Hotel.

One big advantage of a 24mm wide angle lens is that if one is in a tight little backstreet one can still fit the entire car in the frame.

A view from the Italian Garden park.

And, another view from the Italian Garden.

I sat down next to this fountain in the Garden to get a close up shot when a strong gust of wind blew water all over me.

An old church just down the road from the Italian Garden.

A lot of rich people live in this area. I'm not one of them.

China Town!

Nothing beats a wide angle lens in China Town.

The driver of this bus took the corner like he was Mario Andretti! 

Some of the bars in Isezaki-cho are open 24X7.

End of day 1: Emi reads a magazine on the train ride home.

Day 2: Back at the stadium for a different point of view.

One of the stadium gates.

A classic Corvette pared on Nihon Odori boulevard. 

Where is everyone?

Another classic car coming 'round the bend.

One and a half men.

I'm back in China Town!

The furry thing is a dog.

Taking the mask seriously - as it should be!

Not taking the mask seriously. Public smoking is not allowed here in Isezaki-cho but many ignor the rule.

Last shot of the day: Saying goodbye to the train.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

Negishi Grandstand - Yamate Italian Garden

Something old, something new, something rotting away. We visited the Negishi Grandstand.

To get to the Grandstand we took a train to Hinodecho station and then a bus from in front of the station to Negishi. From the bus stop to the park surrounding the Grandstand it's a short walk up a hill. 

The Grandstand in the distance.

The Grandstand is in terrible condition and is fenced off to the public.

Prior to WWII this was the place to be. The Negishi Horse Race Course was as popular as could be. The Grandstand was magnificent.

The front of the Grandstand faces the old U.S. Navy Negishi housing area. It's also abandoned now so there's no access for viewing the front..

Even in its deteriorating state this structure is still an impressive site.

The three towers with their round windows remind me of old-fashioned robots sadly staring at Mt. Fuji.  

The grounds on the backside of the Grandstand are well maintained and there's a small park for children to play.

As I depart the area on this dreary day I take one look back at a sad old building that was once upon a time the grandest building in Yokohama. 

After leaving Negishi we decided to walk to the Yamate Italian Garden.

Q is everywhere!

It's a pleasant walk with many interesting sights to see.

See what I mean? So many interesting things to see.

We arrived at the Italian Garden.

The grass may not be greener on this side but it is still a nice place to visit.

And, best of all, it's free!

I think this place can be reserved for weddings.

The Garden is situated high up on a bluff overlooking Yokohama City.

There are two houses on the property and both are open to tour the inside.

We went inside both and they are amazing. Very old, but amazing.

We practically had the whole place to ourselves.

From up on the bluff it is a relatively short walk down a steep hill to arrive in China Town. 

We had an excellent lunch at (no surprise) a Chinese Restaurant and then we did a little walking around.

After visiting for awhile we headed for the Yokohama Bashi Shopping street. 

This shot was taken as we passed through Yokohama Park.

We have arrived at Yokohama Bashi!

Our reason for going there was to buy some udon noodles from a specialty noodle shop that is only open 2 hours a day for 3 days a week. 

Emi concludes our business with the shop keeper.

Yokohama Bashi is a covered shopping street full of vendors selling all kinds of tasty foods and dry goods.

It's packed full of people at all times of the day.

So much for the no-smoking signs.

As we depart many others enter.

Last shot of the day: Riding the train home.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

Bonus shots!