Yokohama's name is derived from the wide swath of shoreline that winds along the coast, creating a beach that separates the city from the breaking waves of the ocean. Beginning as a small village of 600 inhabitants, Yokohama's shift to becoming a metropolitan city was triggered by the opening of its port to foreign trade in 1859. Since then, Yokohama has functioned as Japan's window to the world, receiving and disseminating new cultural ideas from foreign countries. In 1872, a railway was opened up between Yokohama (at present day Sakurakimachi Station) and the Shimbashi area in Tokyo. By 1889, Yokohama city proper could only be considered a total area of approximately 5km2. But in the years following, up until 1939, Yokohama began merging with neighboring areas, reaching its present day size of 435km2.
Chinatown, or Chukagai in Japanese, is a fun place for dining, shopping or just walking around. Chinese people started settling in Yokohama in the mid-1800s when Japan opened its doors to international trade. Since then Yokohama's Chinatown has blossomed into the country's largest Chinese community. The area comprises one major street, dozens of cross-streets and alleys, and is home to over 100 restaurants, most serving Cantonese cuisine. There are also many colorful and exotic shops overflowing with Chinese goods, books, souvenirs and even Chinese medicines. Most restaurants are open from 11am to 9pm. Some close Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, but Chinatown is always abuzz with shoppers and hungry diners and something is always open.
