One of Yokohama’s most beautiful landmarks takes on a magical twist this season, with the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market 2013.
If you’ve been to Yokohama lately, you may have noticed a lot of animation and illuminations on the main plaza of the Red Brick Warehouse. For the fourth time, the annual Christmas Market is back in Yokohama, and if you haven’t had a chance to check it out, it is well worth the short trek from central Tokyo.
Not only will the illuminated trees and decorations give you an eyeful (Christmas would not be Christmas without illuminations, right?), but the actual event is where the fun is. German-style huts are set up all over the cobblestoned plaza, all selling Christmas items, such as ornaments for Christmas trees and wooden dolls from the Erzgebirge region in Germany.
The real star of this event is the food, of course: you can sample typical German fare such as schnitzels, Stollen cakes (a fruit cake with marzipan), glühwein (that would be mulled wine) and sausages, of course. Admission to the event is free, and you can browse all the different stalls and hopefully find some treasures for the holidays and stock up on goodies. If you hit the market on Dec. 13, 20 or 25, you may be lucky enough to catch the fireworks at 7pm.
Not surprisingly, the market is quite popular for families and couples, and although weekends are the busiest, this might be the closest Japan gets to an actual Christmas . . .
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market 2013
More information: www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/eng/travel/events
When: until Dec. 25
Where: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse 1st Building. Bashamichi Station: Minato Mirai Line / Sakuragicho Station: JR Line
