Directory_and_Chronicle_1921 — Page 553

...

YOKOHAMA

Yokohama is the principal port of Japan, and was opened to foreign trade in July, 1859. It is situated on the Bay of Yokohama, a small bay on the western side of the Gulf of Yedo, in lat. 35 deg. 26 min. 11 sec. N., and long. 139 deg. 39 min. 20 sec., in the island of Honshiu, and is distant about eighteen miles from the capital, with which it is connected by a line of railway. The town, having sprung up from a poor fishing village only, since the site was selected for a treaty port, instead of the little town of Kanagawa, possesses few attractions for the visitor. The scenery around, however, is hilly and pleasing, and on clear days the snow-crowned summit and graceful outlines of Fuji-san, a volcanic mountain 12,370 feet high- celebrated in Japanese literature and depicted on innumerable native works of art is most distinctly visible, though some seventy-five miles distant. The native portion of Yokohama is compactly built of low houses with tiled roofs. The town is divided into two nearly equal parts, the western half being occupied by what was known, before the abolition of extra-territoriality, as the foreign settlement. Beyond the plain on which the town is built rises a sort of semi- circle of low hills called "The Bluff," which is thickly dotted with handsome foreign villas and dwelling-houses in various styles of architecture, all standing in pretty gardens.

From these dwellings charming prospects are obtainable. Along the water front runs a good road called the Bund, adjacent to which stand many of the principal business houses and hotels. The United Club is located here. The streets are fairly paved, curbed, and drained. The English Episcopal, the French Catholic and the Union Protestant Churches are handsome edifices, situated on the Bluff, where there are also well laid out public gardens. A fine cricket and recreation ground and a fairly good racecourse are situated about two miles from the Settlement. A good boating club also exists, which has provided facilities for deep-sea bathing. The Public Hall, containing a theatre and assembly rooms, built of brick, is situated at the top of Camp Hill, and was opened in 1885. The Municipal Offices, a fine brick structure, occupy a command- ing site near the Public Gardens. The railway station is also a creditable structure, being a well designed and commodious terminus. The town is in the enjoyment of an excellent water supply, large waterworks having been completed in 1887. A tram service from Yokohama (Sakuragi-cho) to Tokio (new station) runs every ten minutes, covering the distance in 45 minutes, express in 30 minutes. The harbour is much exposed, but two breakwaters, of an aggregate length of 12,000 feet, have been built and are so projected as practically to enclose the whole of the anchorage, leaving an entrance 650 feet wide between these extremities. An extensive scheme for improving the harbour and providing better facilities for trade has been carried out and large steamers can now go alongside the Customs piers to load or discharge. The Yokohama Dock Company has three dry docks of 515 ft., 481 ft., and 376 ft. docking length, 80 ft., 63 ft., and 50 ft., width of entrance, and 28 ft., 21.5 ft. and 26 ft. of water on the blocks respectively, and a mooring basin of 600 ft. by 100 ft by 25 ft. Yokohama is well supplied with hotels. The Japan Gazette is now the only English daily newspaper published in Yokohama; others which were formerly published in the port are now printed in Tokyo.

The Japanese population of Yokohama has grown considerably in the last ten years and is about 422,942 according to the Census returns of 1920. The importance of the foreign element in the port may be gauged by the fact that they pay nearly 40% of the entire amount of business and income taxes collected in Yokohama, though they have no voice in the control of local affairs.

The foreign trade of the port in 1919 was Imports Yen 689,430,636 and Exports Yen 1,019,309,690, compared with Imports Yen 518,679,128 and Exports Yen 816,989,994

in 1918.