Yokohama Chinatown in the heart of Yokohama City dates back to Yokohama Shinden settlement built in 1866.

In accordance with the opening of Yokohama Port to major Western powers in 1859, Yokohama Shinden settlement was built for them on the reclaimed land along the seacoast of the port.  Yokohama Port was one of the several ports that were opened based on the treaty with them and was the most important one for the Western diplomats and businessmen from Shanghai and Hongkong as it was near Edo, present time Tokyo.  The Chinese population in the settlement were the employees of Westerners or merchants making the most of the regular sea routes between Yokohama and Chinese port towns.  They established Kanteibyo Chinese temple and Chinese schools there, which was the original form of the present time Chinatown in Yokohama.  After the settlement was abolished in 1899, most Westerners got out of there but Chinese remained there.  Thus, the old settlement for the foreigners gradually changed to Chinatown.  Right after the Second World War, when Yokohama was reduced to ashes, the Chinatown was abandoned and deserted.  It once became a danger area, however thanks to the revival plan of the Chinatown carried out by public-private collaboration, it regained the hustle and bustle of the good old days.  Yokohama Chinatown is now a leading tourist spot not only in Yokohama but also in Japan.

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