Yokohama China Town is a 500-meter patch of area, which is enclosed by "Pairou" gates. It is one of the largest China Towns around the world. Kanteibyo Temple, dedicated to a Chinese hero "Guan Yu," is located at the center of Yokohama China Town. The town holds about 200 Chinese food restaurants, Chinese foodstuff shops, and Chinese goods store. The origin of Yokohama China Town dates back to 1859, when Yokohama Port was opened. Due to Japan's national isolation policy, many Japanese had few opportunities to contact with foreign people for about 200 years. Japanese people, therefore, had no knowledge about western languages and business customs. Some Chinese settlers could speak western languages and could write messages to communicate with Japanese. As trade facilitators, these Chinese settlers played an important role in trade between Japan and western countries. Under such circumstances, the number of Chinese food restaurants was increasing in Yokohama China Town. The China town continued to evolve in spite of all the troubles that the town faced (wars between Japan and China, the Great Kanto Earthquake, etc.). Yokohama China Town is always loved by people all over the world, as a base to dispatch Chinese foods and historical Chinese culture. In Yokohama China Town, there are many famous Chinese food restaurants serving Cantonese, Szechuan, Beijing, and Shanghai dishes. Why not enjoy eating authentic Chinese foods in these restaurants?
Many Chinese people living in Yokohama are from Guangdong Province (located at a coastal area in southern China), called "the home of overseas Chinese." Cantonese dishes, therefore, are the most common of Chinese foods that Yokohama China Town's restaurants serve. Guangdong Province is blessed with a temperate climate, and is a rich production center of marine/river/land products. Since ancient times, the province has prospered as a key junction of trade with Southeast Asia and Europe countries. As for the features of Cantonese dishes, they are cooked with the use of the benefits of many foreign countries' recipes and fresh ingredients (seafood, vegetables, pork, chicken, and dried foods). Cantonese dish is a representative of Chinese food.
Szechuan dishes were developed in Szechuan Province (located in a valley of upper area of Yangzi River). The moist climate of this province makes it difficult for local people to easily sweat. It is said that local people often added many spices to foods, for sweating to maintain their health. Szechuan dish features its unique seasoning that combines a lot of sweet herbs and spices. About 30-40 kinds of dressing materials and spices are sometime added to a single food. Ingredients commonly used include vegetables, chicken, butcher meat, and grain. "Mapo Tofu" and "Shrimp with chili sauce" are representatives of Szechuan dishes. It is widely recognized that Szechuan dishes have a hot flavor. However, most Yokohama China Town's restaurants cook Szechuan foods, in accordance with customers' desired hot flavor.
Beijing dishes were developed in a center of Chinese politics, economy, and culture. Many chefs from around Chinese provinces gathered in Beijing to cook dishes with their local ingredients. In the long history of China, there was also a time when the country was ruled by Mongols and Manchus as well as Han people. Beijing dishes, therefore, were influenced by the drinking and eating culture of Mongols, Manchus, and Han people. "Peking Duck" is the most famous Beijing dish: Fragrant grilled duck skin and Beijing's green onion dipped with salty-sweet soybean paste sauce, and wrapped in thin rice pancakes. Recent healthy trend causes Peking ducks to have a milder flavor then before.
Shanghai dishes were developed in Shanghai, which is located at a trade port area of Yangzi River's estuary. Wide varieties of ingredients are used in Shanghai dishes: Tea, vegetables, and grain collected from China's biggest breadbaskets, and fresh seafood. Shanghai dish features its elaborately-prepared seafood meal. Various seafood meals are available (non-fatty or sweet boiled seafood meals with rich taste). It is recommended to eat richly-flavored "Chinese Mitten Crabs," during the fall and winter months. "Shaoronpo (steamed dumplings filled with soup)" is also one of the most popular Shanghai dishes.
There are many other Chinese dishes, in which local ingredients are used. These dishes include Shandong, Fujian, Taiwan, Hunan, North Eastern Province's foods. People can enjoy these unique Chinese foods in Yokohama China Town.
Yokohama China Town holds many styles of Chinese dish restaurants: All-you-can-eat restaurants with free-flowing drinks, inexpensive shops serving lunch dishes in a buffet style, fine dining, and eating facilities offering home-style and original dishes. For detailed information about Yokohama China Town's restaurants, please visit "Yokohama China Town Information Center (open seven days a week, 10:00-22:00)." The center provides guide maps of Yokohama China Town and Internet searching services.
