In 1853, Commodore Perry and his fleet of black ships came to Japan from the United States and encouraged Japan to open itself up to international trade. Until this time, Japan had been under a strict isolationist policy imposed by the Tokugawa Shogunate which lasted for almost 200 years during which very little information, very little exchange of anything with the outside world had been possible.
However, in 1858, not long after the appearance of Perry, Japan and the U.S. signed their first Friendship and Commercial Treaty, and Japan's 200 years of isolation was finally brought to an end.
Yokohama, then only a small seaside village of hardly more than 100 houses, came to be one of the first five ports to open itself to international trade. That was in 1859.
Yokohama played a key role in the early phase of Japan's modernization which followed the opening of the country. For many years it was through Yokohama that much of the Western culture, science and technology entered Japan.
Today Yokohama is still one of the nation's major international trading ports, a thriving commercial centre, and the home of some of Japan's most sophisticated industry.
The capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan after Tokyo, with a population of 3,270,000.
With an annual average temperature of 14.6 degrees Celsius, Yokohama's climate is mild and pleasant in spring and autumn and seldom goes to severe extremes of cold or heat in winter and summer. Like the rest of Japan, Yokohama shows a different face with sea-viewing and other events.
Yokohama is one of Japan's most enticing cities with its fresh seaside and mountain scenery, its friendly people, and some of Japan's most enjoyable shopping. It has a number of small but fine museums, well-laid-out parks and gardens and countless good restaurants.
As a port city, trading vessels and passenger liners on luxury cruises lend the city a lively international character while major new modernization projects can be seen. A first-time visitor to Yokohama will take an instant liking to the city for its sophisticated, cosmopolitan atmosphere.