Japan Trip / 28th Nov – 1st Dec (Last Day) – Museums at Yokohama

I am leaving Japan today at 4:30pm, so hope to see more things before I leave. After some consideration, I’m not going for sights seeing and decide to visit few more museums at Yokohama. The 1st museum which I go to is Yokohama Yusen (It means CRUISE in English) Museum. Yokohama Yusen Museum is located at Yokohama Yusen Building which was completed in 1936 and owned by one of the leading shipping companies in Japan. The entrance ticket is 500 yen, no photograph taking in the museum. 😦

This museum is worth to see if you are interested in ship or cruise. Plenty of historical items support this museum, the most interesting part for me is you can view the original menu, bowl, plate and what’s the food served on the cruise in 1930s.

The 2nd museum which I go to is YOKOHAMA ARCHIVES OF HISTORY. Again, not allow for taking photography. 😦

The building was owned by THE BRITISH CONSULATE in 30s.

The last museum which I go is YOKOHAMA CUSTOM MUSEUM. At first, I don’t know this is a museum, I was just attracted by the below DOG MASCOT and realised this is another museum at Yokohama.

This is a MUSEUM DOG which represent the custom museum. The reason why the museum using this mascot is because this is the type of the dogs which help Japan custom officer to find out the drugs, weapons from Japan custom. BRILLIANT CONCEPT! 🙂

The 1st and the previous CUSTOM OFFICERS of Japan.

After visiting the 3 museums, it’s about 1:15pm and I am hungry. I manage to find a tiny restaurant at Yokohama Station and find the food is really delicious. This is a restaurant which specialise in CURRY RICE, there are various kind of CURRY SAUCE for you to choose. So if any of you interests in Japanese Curry, please come and try this. (Not sure whether they have any outlet outside Yokohama)

WANT TO TRY??? 🙂

Japan Trip / 28th Nov – 1st Dec (Part 8) – ODAIBA

I continue my “JOURNEY HUNTING” and choose to visit ODAIBA after JIMBOU. Again, the journey took me another 1 and 1/2 hour to find the location but again it’s a really nice place and really a good “TOURIST ATTRACTION” 🙂 . “SHOPS STREET” is a place where the organiser designed it to become a 50s or 60s Japan. From there, you can buy any type of things which appear in 50s Japan, like toys, candy, restaurant etc. It locates at Odaiba, 1-6-1 Desks, Tokyo Beach, 4th floor.

Japan Trip / 28th Nov – 1st Dec (Part 7) – JIMBOU (Book Town)

After my lunch at Harajiku, I start to proceed to Jimbou which recommend by my friend since I like books. I arrived JIMBOU around 1:30pm, took me about 1 hour plus to locate this place. JIMBOU is a book town or book street which sells various kinds of books from “ADULTS 🙂 ” to children, from antique books to 2nd hand comic books, from Japanese books, English books to Chinese books. If you like books, here is a best choice for you to “walk walk”, “see see” when you are in Japan.

Guess what is this? GIGANTOR “28” CAN SOUP 🙂 . Limited Edition. 1500 yen per set.

1930s Japanese Children’s Book

This is a children’s books store which I like a lot. It names BOOK HOUSE and occupies 2 floors. 1st floor is selling Japanese story books and 2nd floor is selling English story books. For space wise, I guess it’s about 2 to 3 thousand sq foot per floor. In the central of the book store has a very big space for parents or children to sit down and enjoy the books. HOW NICE!!! 🙂

Japan Trip / 28th Nov – 1st Dec (Part 5) – YOKOHAMA RAMEN MUSEUM

After meeting with Mr and Mrs Kitahara, I go to visit YOKOHAMA RAMEN MUSEUM. Although it took me an hour to locate the place, I still think that it’s worth it. This is another a “MUST” visit when any of you in Japan or Yokohama in near future. How much of the entrance fee? Only 300 yen. (RAMEN is a Japanese word, it means Japanese noodle)

At the 1st floor, you will see an exhibition about the production and the different type of ramen in Japan.

After viewing the 1st floor exhibition, you can proceed to the basement, which will bring you back to the 30s Japan. The decoration, design, atmosphere will just make you really feel that you are back to ancient. Don’t know how to describe the feeling, but will be better if any of you can “FEEL” this museum if you like nostalgic. 🙂

This is the most “EXPENSIVE” ramen which I ever eat in my life. 1200 yen per bowl, but so so…only… 😦

Japan Trip / 28th Nov – 1st Dec (Part 4) – Meeting with Mr Kitahara, owner of YOKOHAMA TIN TOY MUSEUM

Mr and Mrs Kitahara

Mr Kitahara is showing his collections in pictures and see how we can work together next year 🙂

Mr Kitahara gave me 3 of his latest books as presents. He’s signing his name on his book.

Japan Trip / 28th Nov – 1st Dec (Part 3) – YOKOHAMA DOLL MUSEUM

Before meeting with Mr Kitahara, his staff bring us to visit Yokohama Doll Museum which just not far away from the tin toy museum. There’s a new exhibition – TOY CAR COLLECTION which organised by Mr Kitahara and exhibits at the doll museum until next year Feb.

This is the TOY CAR COLLECTION exhibition. Any toy car fans is a “MUST” visit if you visit Japan before next year Feb.

This huge “Die-Cast Toy Car Collection” was donated by an old man to Kitahara many many years ago when Mr Kitahara just started his museum.

Japan Trip / 28th Nov – 1st Dec (Part 2) – YOKOHAMA TIN TOY MUSEUM

After visiting the ANPANMAN CHILDREN MUSEUM, I straight away go to the YOKOHAMA TIN TOY MUSEUM. I have an appointment at 3pm with Mr Kitahara, owner of the toy museum. Since I reached the toy museum early, at about 2pm, I browsed through the toy museum once again, 6 years after my last visit. Although I only collect China made toys for nowadays, I still feel very excited to have so many nice Japanese toys surrounding me. The toys gave me many sweet memories when I first visited this toy museum back in 1993 and because of this trip, I have my own Museum of Shanghai Toys today. 🙂

Inside Yokohama Tin Toy Museum, you can view a few thousand pieces of tin toys at any one time. As early as 1920s pre war Japanese toys to 1960s Baby Boomer Toys. You name it, the toy museum has it. If you like robots, space rockets, Batman items, Ultraman toys, Popeye toys or Mickey Mouse, this museum has them, and you will definitely be astonished just by looking at them.