yokohama port town

day 25

yokohama is a port town, and japan's second largest city (pop. 3.6M), although census shows population began declining in 2001. this is typical of much of japan, which faces a rapidly aging population.






land development carries on - spot the ubiquitous theme park.











toward the end of the isolation of the edo period, yokohama was one of the first ports to open to western trade and consequently the area retains an international culture, including a large chinatown.

the population is dropping here, too, but it's a much more vibrant, if less authentic, centre than in vancouver. it's very, very clean.






there are also reminants of european merchant architecture and ... culture.






finally, a remarkable cruise terminal which - naturally - is the end.