After a rainy start to our time in Yokohama, we welcomed the sun with extra enthusiasm on day 2. It was still quite chilly, but at least it was dry. The land of the rising sun had lived up to it’s name. Oh, how things always look better in the sunshine. 

Yokohama has a large Chinatown that was in walking distance from our hotel. So Greg suggested that we have dim sum for breakfast, which sounded like a smashing idea to me. Jet lag had us up at the crack of dawn, so we strolled around a very quiet Chinatown before the crowds descended. 

We usually sit down at a restaurant table to have dim sum, but this time we had “bao” on the go. Bao is a steamed bun filled with a tasty and often sweet and spicy filling. Greg had his usual pork filled bao while I had one filled with shrimp and veggies. They were fresh, hot and delicious, and really hit the spot.

Although there wasn’t an English speaker in sight, we were able to identify the bao’s we wanted from the plastic versions of the food that they have outside almost every eatery here in Japan. As odd as the plastic food “mock-ups” seem at first, the displays are extremely helpful to foreigners like us. We have come to rely them more and more as we seek out eateries. Of course, the gracious manner of the people here makes the ordering even easier. 

With bao and a few more tasty treats in hand, we walked through Chinatown. It was beautiful. We find the colourful atmosphere, ornate decorations, noise and all round hustle and bustle very relaxing. Having grown up in Hong Kong I feel right at home in any city that has a Chinatown area.

After savory treats in Chinatown it was time for something sweet. Off to Motomachi street we went, where we had eyed a bakery full of yummy delights the day before. Greg and I shared a sweet, fluffy sponge and what I originally thought was a jam doughnut. The jam turned out to be sweet red bean paste, which was just as yummy. We sat on a sunny bench and refueled our tummies while watching the passersby. 

You’ll probably recognize most of my outfit. I paired a navy and cream striped silk blouse with blue zippered skinnies and a cropped ink blue tailored blazer. I popped my cream trench coat over the lot as an extra layer. Virtually flat, ever so slightly wedged dove grey ankle booties were in order for another day of walking and traveling. And you’ll see the same crushed black patent doctor’s bag throughout this trip.

It was time to say goodbye to Yokohama and we headed off to Shin-Yokohama station to catch the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. In the old imperial capital of Japan we’ll be meeting Tomoko and Brian, the bride and groom to be.