Yamate is the area on the hill across the Horikawa River, a canal, from Yamashita area. Yamate was called “Bluff” by foreign residents from the geographical fact that the hill stands along the cliff.
After the opening of seaport in Yokohama in 1859, many foreigners moved to the foreign settlement on Yamashita, where was the designated area foreigners could live. With increase of trades, the number of foreigners living in the settlement were increased and the settlement became small to accommodate them. In 1867, the government sold some 200 parcels of land in Yamate and allowed foreigners to live in the area.
(The troops from France and England stationed on the hill to protect their citizens from Japanese radical activists, who believed they should repel “barbarians” out of their sacred country from 1863 until 1875. The area the French troops were stationed was called “France Yama” or French mountain, that is a hillside between Harbor View Park and the canal. Now Harbor View Park stands on the land where the English troops were stationed.)
Many wealthy foreigners moved to Yamate, built their houses in western style. churches, schools and hospitals were built. The western style houses are called Yokan. Some of those buildings are preserved in a good condition and stand on the street. The Yokohama Foreign Cemetery is also in the area. Some 4,200 foreign residents or travelers are resting there. Those buildings and the cemetery give an exotic accent to the area. There are many foreign visitors as well as Japanese coming to the area to enjoy the exotic atmosphere of the area throughout the year.
On the foot of the hill, there is Motomachi shopping street and Yokohama Chinatown across the canal from Motomachi. Yamashita is very close, just 10 minutes walk from Harbor-View Hill Park. You can even walk to Minato Mirai through Yamashita or Yokohama Chinatown. That is about 60 minutes walk. Negishi Shinrin Park is some 50 minute-walk along the street. You can walk down to Sankeien Garden in Honmoku. That is also about 50 minute-walk.
Map of Yamate
Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery
The cemetery was created in the 1850s for foreigners who died while living or traveling here. The first foreigner who was buried on the yard was Mr. Robert Williams. He was a U.S. marine who came to Yokohama as a crew in a mission lead by Commodore Matthew C. Perry and died in an accident in 1854. (His remains were later moved to Shimoda, where there was the U.S. consulate then.)
Tin Toys Museum
Toys Club is a shop of toys and there is a museum of tin toys inside the shop. Speaking of toys, Video Games and other high-tech things come to our minds nowadays. But when I was a kid, toys made of tin plates were popular ones. At the museum, about 3,000pieces of tin toys made in Japan around 1870s until 1960s are displayed.
Old Western Style houses
In Yamate area of Yokohama, there are many old western style buildings that were built more than 70 years ago as a consulate of foreign country and a residence of foreign business person. On the street along Yamate Bluff, there are house #111, a house built as a residence of the U.K. consular; house #234;
Ruins of the French Consulate
When the port was opened in 1859 following the treaty signed with the United States, the samurai ruled the country, and there was disagreement among the samurai as to whether they should simply expel the “barbarians” or open the country to them, acquire the latest Western technology and maintain their independence.
Well of Spring Valley Brewery
There is a street called Bier-Sake Dori, or Beer Street on Yamate. There used to be a brewery, which was originally built and run by a Norway-born American Mr. William Copeland(1834- 1902). He had acquired technique of brewing beer in Norway. He arrived in Japan in 1864. In 1870, he started a brewery called Spring Valley Brewery at Kitagata village
