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Quick and easy things to do in Yokohama #5

Yokohama Art Quick and easy things to do Entertainment Japan Food English Walk Children Culture

Koganecho

Art Book Bazaar (outside)

Art Book Bazaar (inside)

The backstreets of Koganecho are steeped in history. Once infamous for being a neighborhood that catered to drugs, prostitution, and other illegal trades, has, since 2008, experienced a revitalization of extreme proportions.

By bringing in and promoting artists, merchants, and other creators, the Koganecho Area Management Center has steadily breathed back life in the neighborhood. There are now galleries with artists in residence, cafes, bookstores, as well as fashion and accessory shops.

It's a great place to take a walk, as it runs parallel to the Ooka River. Go now until November and experience their "Koganecho Bazaar" - an art festival hosted by the Koganecho Management Center. With the city's everyday spaces as a stage, the festival has been held every autumn since 2008. Artists, curators, and architects from Japan and abroad are invited to share their art with the general public.

One of the main attractions is a second hand book store that sells art, design, architecture, handcrafted goods, fashion, photo collections, art exhibit summaries, children’s books, posters, post cards, and a whole lot more of artsy things you can think of.

Living only minutes away from the area, I have to say it's one of my favorites - and one of the best kept secrets of Yokohama. But it won't stay secret for long, as it's quickly becoming the GO TO place for up-and-coming artists, musicians, and creatives to perform.

They offer limited English support too, for those who don't speak Japanese!

Go now and say you were there when it was all getting started!