Yokohama: All the bread you could possibly knead
Day nine we decided to head out of Tokyo. But where to?
The only criteria was that we could get there by train as we had Japan Rail passes.
1. Open map.
2. Blindfold wife
3. Spin her around three times.
4. Ask her to point to map.
5. Get ice for injured knee and apologise.
6. Put lamp back on table.
7. Agree that Yokohama seems like a good option.
At this point you might think googling how to get to Yokohama would be useful. But I’d seen signs at Tokyo station for trains to Yokohama, so I didn’t need directions.
So Miss H and I set off walking to the station with Mrs H hobbling alone behind and, frankly, slowing us down.
About an hour, and what seemed like 30 stops later, we arrived in Yokohama.
Now before you all reply asking why we didn’t do the 17 minute non-stop trip on the Shinkansen, remember I didn’t need google maps for this trip.
Of course, I didn’t discover my error until days later when taking the Shinkansen to Kobe and stopping in Yokohama.
Sadly, it was the first of several navigational blunders as you’ll discover later.
On a more positive note, had we not done the trip the slow way we may never have made it to Yamashita Park where we stumbled onto the Yokohama Acoustic Festival.
We had a lovely walk along the foreshore... just the thing for Mrs H’s swollen, throbbing knee.
We didn’t board/tour the Hikawa Maru but continued along taking in the view of Yokohama Bay Bridge.
One thing you notice very quickly in Japan is a distinct lack of public rubbish bins. I found it counter to the environmentally conscious culture.
While many Japanese take their rubbish home with them, that’s not true for everyone.
We were heading for the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.
The tourist information signs said it housed market stalls. Perhaps it was lost in translation, but it turned out to be a shopping mall just like any other.
However, outside the Yokohama Bread Festival was in full swing.
The place was packed and there were more than 100 bakeries represented along with almost any type of bread, pastry or baked goods you desired.
I think the Japanese might rival the French for their love of fresh bread.
Perhaps it’s my Australian perspective, but I don’t understand leaving products on a shelf all day uncovered. By late afternoon I’m not sure how fresh some of these products really are.
I certainly wasn’t going to touch items like hot dogs, or cheese and bacon rolls that had been sitting out all day.