Yokohama is a paradoxical city. On the one hand, it is a separate town from Tokyo with a distinct history and atmosphere of its own. On the other, it is merely an outer suburb of the larger metropolis seeping down from the north.
English-language guidebooks all but ignore Yokohama. Yet, it is one of the most popular destinations for the local Japanese tourists. Yamashita Park is crowded with young couples on any weekend. Chinatown is one of the most famous restaurant districts in Japan. The Bay Bridge remains the country's premier lover's lane. The Foreigner's Cemetery is a popular historical landmark and Motomachi is a well-known shopping centre. From a writer's point of view, Yokohama represents the perfect compromise between the two Japans - Tokyo and provincial Japan.