VIDEO: Enjoy Yokohama seaside attractions with ride on driverless monorail

Seaside Line (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

The Kanazawa district of Yokohama City, 10 miles north of Yokosuka Naval Base, was once known as a popular sightseeing area made up of scenic shorelines and mountains, along with majestic Buddhist temples and the library of a samurai lord.

The scenic landscapes of the district were called “Kanazawa Hakkei” (Eight Views of Kanazawa district) and drew inspiration for great ukiyo-e (traditional wood print) artists, such as Utagawa Hiroshige.

Although today many of the beautiful inlets and coastlines have unfortunately been obscured with modern construction, you can still appreciate the skyline and pieces of the coast in the area. A stroll in the district is nice, but a ride on the Kanazawa Seaside Line, an unmanned monorail which runs between Shin Sugita and Kanazawa Hakkei stations, will give you a good view of Hirakata Gulf and more.

Seaside Line (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Along the monorail line, there are stops along the way with impressive parks like the Umi no Koen (Marine Park) and Hakkeijima Sea Paradise. These parks preserve a taste of old Kanazawa Hakkei and allow you to spend some time enjoying some quality outdoors time.

At Umino-Koen-Shibaguchi Station, head to Marine Park, one of the largest public parks in Yokohama City. The park is often filled with runners and sunbathers in the warmer months.

Umi no Koen (Marine Park) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is one stop away from Marine Park at Hakkeijima Station. The seaside park sits on a man-made island and has plenty of activities for a family or group of friends. There is an amusement park with an aquarium that houses over 100,000 sea creatures, various shops, a BBQ field, a hotel and a port for yachts and boats. Admission to the park is free, and you can enjoy walking on the island while enjoying views of the Tokyo Gulf, even if you don’t buy a ticket for an attraction or ride.