Pokémon Go Chinatown

It  takes about 30 minutes by train to get to Yokohama from central Tokyo. Yokohama could easily be considered a Tokyo suburb if it wasn’t Japan’s second-largest city. (Though with about 3 million peeps, it’s still dwarfed by the mega-city to its north.)

Like Tokyo, Yokohama started life as a humble fishing village. Now it’s home to, among other things, Japan’s largest Chinatown. About 2,500 Chinese reside there. Many are relatively recent immigrants.

IMG_8342IMG_8353

We’ve enjoyed visiting Chinatowns all over the world, so we figured, why not in Japan? Besides, after five days in Tokyo eating raw fish and grilled beef, dim sum sounded like a nice change.

IMG_3952

At least we didn’t fly all the way to Japan, and then take a regional train to Yokohama, and then a subway to their Chinatown, just so we could eat at…McDonald’s. Yup, there’s one there. A Starbucks too. What the hell is the matter with some people? Were they born without taste buds?

But whether you indulge in Chinese food or not, the complexities of getting to Yokohama’s Chinatown are definitely worth it…even if you find yourself with a sudden craving for strawberry cheesecake Kit Kat’s. Yes, that’s a thing, apparently. I hear they go well with a Starbucks venti decaf mocha iced latte. That’s a thing too. I think.

IMG_8348

Or maybe you’re in the mood for a different kind of cake. In that case, a few hands of solitaire with this deck of cards should help whip up your, uh, appetite. (They also have a ladies’ version.)

IMG_8349

If oddly flavored Kit Kat’s and porno “playing” cards don’t turn you on, you might still enjoy a balmy afternoon walking along Yokohama’s waterfront, mingling with thousands of local Japanese families and perhaps even joining them in a ginormous Pokémon promotional celebration. The day we went, that cute little yellow guy known as Pikachu was literally everywhere – in the train station, on the sidewalks, in the malls.

IMG_3962IMG_3961

Actually, I’m not sure if Pikachu is a he or a she, or even what sort of creature he’s supposed to be. He doesn’t appear in either the male or female decks of naked cards, and who even knows if there’s any junk in that bright yellow trunk. It looks fairly “Ken doll” down there, if you ask me. Okay, you didn’t ask. I know, shame on me! It’s a children’s beloved make-believe character! Fine, but still, what the hell is it? Something in the rabbit family? Canine? Feline? All I know is, the fucking thing must reproduce like mad. I mean, its offspring were everywhere, sometimes in twos, sometimes in bunches. And everywhere they made an appearance, people reacted as if the Beatles were in town. (We do feel pretty certain that we spotted Yoko Ono in the crowd.)

IMG_3966

Meanwhile, this buff dude only wishes he could get that kind of attention.

IMG_8356

 

Instead he’s fated to stand alone in the corner of an obscure local store packing some serious genitalia while Pikachu bounces around town basking in androgynous glory. Heck, Yokohama was so crazy for Pokémon that even the POTUS wanted in on the action.

IMG_3964

 

And while you’re in Yokohama, don’t forget to pick up a few Star Wars chopstick holders. I’m pretty sure they’re the last consumer item on the planet that wasn’t officially branded by Lucasfilms/Disney.

IMG_8365

As you can see, we had a really fun day in Yokohama. And we got back to Tokyo in time for our hotel’s free happy hour. Though even several glasses of wine couldn’t erase the disturbing mental image of Pokémon Go on the Down Low.

But the dim sum was yummy.

Share this Post:

10 Comments

  1. MDA

    Must have a deck of cards and of course a life size plastic POTUS. And don’t forget the Starwars chop stick holders! Looks like a very odd blast!

    Reply
    1. Brad

      Looks like you guys are having fun and I’m enjoying following your journey. I guess the mystery will continue — where does Pokémon, go (men’s or women’s bathroom…?)

      Reply
      1. Craig David Singer (Post author)

        The poor little yellow fellow might have a serious problem in North Carolina.

        Reply
  2. Vicki

    Very Funny! Do the few glasses of wine at the end of the day explain why some of your pics always appear sideways? Keep them coming! Like Pokemon, your posts are addictive.

    Reply
    1. Craig David Singer (Post author)

      Hmm…what device are u reading the blog on? And in what browser? The blog software is supposed to orient all the photos correctly, but it may not be playing nice with your particular platform. It’s good for me to know, as there may be a way for me to work around it.

      Reply
  3. Paula

    I hope you are bringing back a few decks of cards for our upcoming bridge game!

    Reply
    1. Craig David Singer (Post author)

      LOL bridge is hard enough without being distracted by naked playing cards!

      Reply
      1. Paula

        Don’t worry… I’ll have my wine goggles on!

        Reply
      2. Christopher

        I wonder what the ‘dickhead’ would have said about those cards, Marv. Sure puts a different spin on “One. No Trump.”

        Reply
        1. Craig David Singer (Post author)

          LOL Kip! I think the dick-“head” would have exploded.

          Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.