Sunday, May 29, 2022

A Block Party in Yoshida-cho

 When Yokohama feels it's time to come out of hiding from the COVID cloud they really come out in style.

After we watched the Yokohama Parade we needed to find a place to eat lunch. We checked China Town but every restaurant had a line of people in front so we moved on.

We crossed over the road that separates Yokohama Park from China Town. 

We crossed the road that separates Bashamich from Isezaki.  

When we were close to Yoshida-cho I could hear music playing. Then I saw a security guard welcoming people to the Block Party! 

This is my kind of party!

Bars are set-up on the sidewalk. The street is blocked off on both ends and tables and chairs are set-up for one and all. 

Even dogs are welcome.

Let's party!

People, food and drink... just like the good old days.

It's been over two years since the last block party. 

It's time to make up for lost time.

Cold beer and yakitori - that's the way to do it.


This is fun.


Live music! It doesn't get better than this.


What a great day!

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

Bonus shots!


























Friday, May 20, 2022

A Triathlon, Hula Dancing and Baseball Cheerleaders!

 Sunday in Yokohama, anything goes!

First the Yokohama Triathlon . This is quite a big deal. A lot of planning, organization, facilities, volunteers, participants from all over the world, and money! It's amazing.

It's a two day event and I usually just stop by on the second day to take a few pictures.

The Yamashita Park rose garden is in the background.

The cyclists.

This is my favorite part of the triathlon.

Fans line the streets. Many of the spectators are there to cheer on family members and friends.

The leader of the pack.

Coming around the bend.

Go, go, go!

Lots of photographers here. It's time for me to move on.

Time to check out the rose garden at the Harbor View park.

The park is full of people. It's always full of people on Sunday.

The roses are beautiful.

I don't know what this flower is.

It is interesting.

I always like to take pictures of people with the Bay Bridge in the background.

This attractive young lady was posing for a photographer. I slid behind him and took her picture too.   

When I left the Harbor View Park I could hear Hawaiian music playing in the distance. 

The music was coming from America Yama Park

To my delight there was a Hula Dancing event going on in the park. 

Hula groups of all different ages were performing. Many groups were gathered waiting for their turn to perform.

America Yama Park is very small but it's perfect for this kind of event. 
Time to move on.

Where ever you are, it seems like to get where ever you want to go you need to pass through China Town.

Not a problem for me, I love China Town; it's always full of people.

She's drinking a Tsingtao beer.

Yep, a lot of people here today.

I stopped at Nihon Odori Boulevard for a coffee break, this pigeon kept me company.

If a triathlon , roses in the park and hula dancers wasn't enough...
The Hanshin Tigers baseball team from Osaka was in town to play the Yokohama BayStars. 

The baseball stadium is in Yokohama Park right next to Nihon Odori Boulevard. 

The BayStars cheerleaders were putting on a free show in the park. Loud music, dancing... this is great!

There were also plenty of food and drink venders in the park.

It would be easy to have a great time at the game without going into the stadium to watch it.  Time to move on.

To get to the train station to go home I need to walk through the Noge bar district.
The Noge district is famous for the nightlife. 

On Sunday the nightlife starts early in the afternoon. 

When the sun goes down this place will be packed with people. But, by then I'll be home thinking about going to bed!

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

Bonus shots!