Yokohama Chinese New Year celebrations  in Yokohama run between January 25 – February 8, 2020. Great fun and food! Yokohama has one of the largest Chinatowns in the world with over 140 years of history.  Although this is still quite new vs. Manila’s Chinatown established in 1590 or London’s in 1700.  Yokohama Chinatown is one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan along with those in Kobe and Nagasaki. Yokohama Chinatown is a short 30 minute train ride from Shibuya. To celebrate the Spring Festival, Yokohama Chinatown will hold a variety of  Spring Festival events. You also must enjoy a great lunch or dinner at one of the more than 500 restaurants, and have fun shopping.  Here is a good article from The Culture Trip on Yokohama Chinatown Restaurants.  Note to parents – It does get very crowded so I advise against bringing your stroller. Happy New

Year!

How are you celebrating Chinese New Year in Japan?

**Info from the Yokohama Tourism Board**

You will hear the burst of fire crackers, cymbals, drums, and Chinese gongs along with Chinese lions and dragons will dance in the festive Chinatown. Songs, dances, and Chinese traditional performances will be held to celebrate this event.  Memorial Spring Festival Illumination and lanterns will light up the Chinatown even brighter. Please come and enjoy the festive Chinatown!

Main Events – Chinese New Year Celebrations in Yokohama, Japan]

◆Cǎi Qīng Lion Dance　
Lion will pray for the prosperity and good harvest and dance around and bite on envelopes containing congratulatory gifts of money hanged in front the stores.
Dates: Jan 25 (Sat), 2020, 15:00 – 20:00
Venue: All area of Yokohama China Town

◆Celebration Parade
Extravagant parade to celebrate the New Year’s with costumes of the Emperor, ethnic clothing, lion dance, and dragon dance.
Dates: Jan 26 (Sun.), 2020, 16:00 onward
Venue: All area of Yokohama China Town

◆Spring Festival Traditional Performances
Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, songs, harps, acrobatics and other Chinese culture performances. This is our favorite event to view each year.
Dates: Feb 1 & 2 (Sat/Sun), 2020, 13:00-14:00; 14:30-15:30 and 16:00-17:00
Venue: All area of Yokohama China Town

◆Lantern Festival
A solemn event in which lanterns with messages of wishes and dreams are dedicated and send peace to the heavens on the last day of the Chinese New Year.
Dates: Feb. 8 (Sat), 2020, 13:00-19:00
Venue: Yokohama Ma Zhu Miao (Shrine of Goddess of the Sea)

Yokohama Chinatown Celebration Details

Dates: January 25 (Sat) to February 8  (Sat), 2020
Address: Yokohama Chinatown, Yamashitacho, Naka-ku Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa (google map)
Website: http://www.chinatown.or.jp/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/yokohama.chinatown/
Tel: 045-662-1252
Access: Ishikawa-cho Station on the JR Negishi Line, or Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minato Mirai Line. Takes approximately 30 mins from Shibuya to Motomachi-Chukagai (google map)

 

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