Yamashita Park, Hikawa Maru, Yokohama

Picture taken on 3 January 2011

Yamashita Park is a public park that stretches about 750 meters along Yokohama's waterfront. The park is about a hundred meters wide, and consists mostly of open green space. It was constructed after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Strolling through Yamashita Park, it is hard to miss the massive ocean liner in the water beside the promenade. The ship is called the Hikawa Maru, and was first put into service in 1930 along the Yokohama-Vancouver/Seattle line. The ship had first-class cabins that attracted the likes of the imperial family and Charlie Chaplin for the transpacific journey. In 1960, after 30 years at sea, the ship was retired. It now serves as a museum, with informative displays and interiors in the style of the 1930s. Near the Hikawa Maru, and also hard to miss, is the Yokohama Marine Tower. Recently renovated, the Marine Tower is located just beside the park and extends 106 meters into the air. Although not as high as the Landmark Tower Sky Garden, the Marine Tower's observatory also has a 360 degree view, located 100 meters above ground.