Home to the world’s only museum dedicated to the humble ramen noodle, the city of Yokohama has it all – from the world’s largest Chinatown to the prestigious Yokohama Triennale. We round up our five favourite local Instagram accounts to give you a flavour of the unique urban fabric of Japan’s second largest city
Once a tiny fishing village, now one of Japan’s major cities – Yokohama sits just half an hour away from Tokyo (as the car drives, that is, though you’ll probably want to take a train, just to experience their legendary efficiency), and is the second largest city in the country. Its edgy Triennale attracts art lovers from around the world, while destinations such as idyllic Sankeien Garden provide the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, situated amongst lush nature and serene waterways. With its youthful population and endless destinations, bold design details and a spectacular skyline, no wonder its residents love to capture the zeitgeist on Instagram. We round up five local Yokohama accounts you need to follow.
Graffiti, urban scrawl, stunning sunsets or even the unexpected beauty of a symmetrical metro carriage, Lil June (@lil_045_june) is an aspiring photographer who captures the sense of wonder in Yokohama’s rich cultural scene. A great way to discover the hidden wonders of the city, his abstract and carefully constructed shots are characterized by an interest in light (his nighttime shots of the LED light bomb the city turns into are stunning), and also bring your attention to the tiny details we can so easily overlook – from the charm of a yellow autumn leaf to cloud trails in an otherwise pristine, blue sky.
Yuko (@__yuk0__) fills her feed with a plethora of colour and vibrancy, evoking a free spirited, fun loving vibe with a vivacious sense of living in the city. Inspired by the tranquility of Yokohama, her attention to beauty radiates through the photographs to brighten up your newsfeed. From sunrises to sunsets, flowers and fireworks, Yuko shares the natural beauty of traditional Japan.
Here, you really get a sense of the people, as Wely Wang’s (@welylf) account makes us feel as if we are right there with him on Yokohama’s city streets, exploring its bustling activities and discovering everyday life. He shows us an insight and feel for the city, a dip into diverse neighborhoods, capturing the city’s character through its lights, storefronts and residents. His unique aesthetic is partially due to his love (or so it seems) of dusk – capturing so many moments in the city during the magic light created in that hour.
Party on, dude! Photographer Hideyuki Sunada (@snatcchi) provides the ultimate insight into Yokohama’s night life. With an eye for the city’s sleek architecture, he captures the interiors of the city’s fantastic buildings, as well as dramatic skylines against brooding evening clouds. His use of lines and forms creates artistic shots with an architectural flair, and brings with him a sense that this is a city that never sleeps.
The Yokohama Triennale (@yokohama_triennale) is an international exhibition of contemporary art held every three years and showcasing the latest trends in the art world. The triennale celebrates diversity and internationally known figures who have taken part in the past include Ai Weiwei, Paola Pivi, Olafur Eliasson, Wael Shawky and more. What makes this feed a fun exploration, however, is its placement of its ubiquitous figure in each shot – an art viewer, in uniform black and white, appears in each photo, a sort of ‘Where’s Wally’-meets-art experience.
Images courtesy of @lil_045_june, @__yuk0__, @welylf, @snatcchi and @yokohama_triennale
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