About
Located in a corner of Kannai, the center of Yokohama, the area around Bashamichi Station has undergone changes with the passage of time, yet still retains a cityscape that evokes the spirit of the Meiji Restoration and the dawn of civilization.
This area developed as a foreign settlement with the opening of the port at the end of the Edo period, and was named “Bashamichi” (“Carriage Road”) as it became a main street where carriages came and went. Walking along the street lined with roadside trees and gas lamps reminiscent of those days, you are enveloped in an exotic atmosphere.
Bashamichi is also known as the place where Japan’s first gas lamps were lit. In 1872 (Meiji 5), gas lamps were installed on Bashamichi and Honcho-dori by the gas company of Kaemon Takashima, brightly illuminating the city at night. Even today, gas lamps restored in the style of that era adorn the streets, allowing visitors to feel the remnants of history. (hamakuma3.com)
It is also famous as the place where Japan’s first ice cream was sold. In 1869 (Meiji 2), Fusazo Machida manufactured and sold “aisukurin” (ice cream) in this area, and its flavor became popular among many people. Today, the “Mother and Child of the Sun” statue stands in Bashamichi to commemorate the birthplace of ice cream, conveying its history to visitors. (hamakuma3.com)
Furthermore, Japan’s first photo studio was also established here. Renjo Shimooka, known as the founder of Japanese photography, opened a photo studio in 1862 (Bunkyu 2) and trained many disciples. In recognition of his achievements, the “Renjo Shimooka Monument” has been erected in Bashamichi. (hamakuma3.com)
There are also many historical buildings remaining around Bashamichi Station. For example, the former main building of the Yokohama Specie Bank, built in 1904 (Meiji 37), is now used as the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History, and its imposing neo-baroque architecture fascinates visitors. (bashamichi.or.jp)
In addition, buildings representing the best of modern architecture, such as the former Fuji Bank Yokohama Branch (now Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School of Film and New Media Bashamichi Campus) and the former Kawasaki Bank Yokohama Branch (now Sompo Japan Yokohama Bashamichi Building), are scattered throughout the area, telling the story of the city’s history and culture. (bashamichi.or.jp)
Bashamichi is not just a street, but can be called a symbol of Japan’s modernization. Walking here, you can feel the breath of the Meiji Restoration and enjoy the unique charm where history and the present intersect.