Cars and Robots

Hi! Today, I'd like to share a bit about Yokohama (横浜市). Yokohama is a city southwest of Tokyo, and on a map, it seems to blend into the capital. This isn't surprising because, although Yokohama is a separate city (just like Kawasaki, nestled between them), it forms part of the Japanese megalopolis, known as Megalopolis Nippon or the Taiheiyo Belt. Currently, it's Japan's second-largest city, which is impressive considering it was merely a fishing village in 1858! The city truly took off after 1859 when an international trading port opened, allowing non-Japanese people to establish businesses there. Even today, the foreign presence is palpable, perhaps why I felt less foreign in Yokohama than in Tokyo.

In some parts of Yokohama we can still come across this type of construction, left behind by the English or Americans.

Arriving in Yokohama wasn't so straightforward for me. Although the journey itself went smoothly, I encountered challenges once there. For the first time, I struggled to find my way! It wasn't exactly getting lost; I was circling within the bounds of the train station and the connected shopping mall. No matter which direction I took, I reached a dead end or ended up back at my starting point. My predicament arose from trying to find the most direct route to my destination. Eventually, after a few fruitless minutes, I gave in and took the only sensible step: I turned on the navigation and opted for a roundabout route.

I headed towards the coast, an area I consider a genuine museum hub. In a compact space, you'll find a dozen diverse venues, from art museums to car exhibitions, and even an instant noodle museum. Add exhibition halls, concert venues, clubs, and parks to this mix, and you have an impressive cultural and entertainment district. Clearly, visiting everything at once is impossible, partly due to time constraints and partly because some places require ticket reservations. I couldn't see everything during my visit, so I definitely plan on returning to Yokohama a few more times.

Now, I've been talking about museums, but considering today's post title... where do cars fit in? Let's dive into that next! Yokohama hosts many major Japanese corporations, including Nissan! (formally known as Nissan Motor Corporation). You might not think a corporation’s headquarters would be a tourist spot, but that’s not the case here. Yokohama boasts the Nissan Gallery, showcasing both new and classic car models.

The gallery also displays several engine models, showing how they work. While the engines aren't running like in a live vehicle, the models are motorized to demonstrate their components in motion, albeit slowly for closer inspection. And naturally, this kind of gallery includes a souvenir shop, where you can pick up model cars, keychains, t-shirts, and even racing suits! Still not intrigued? What if you could step inside some exciting car models? Besides a few "ordinary" models, you’ll find the Nissan GT-R, Fairlady Z, and Skyline on display, and you’re welcome to get in and explore them. If that’s not enough, holders of international or Japanese driver's licenses can even take a test drive.

But there are a few stipulations. Registration for a test drive isn't available by phone or online; you must sign up in person at the gallery, meaning an early arrival on site is necessary. Also, to drive the GT-R model, your driver's license must be over a year old, and you need to be at least 30 years old. Why there’s an age restriction, I have no clue :) Lastly, fluency in Japanese is essential, as only those who can follow staff instructions are permitted to drive.

I enjoyed my time at the Nissan Gallery, though I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea. Still, given its proximity to the train station and free admission, I think the Nissan Gallery is worth a visit.

View from the waterfront.

When leaving the Nissan headquarters, just a few steps take you to the coast. On a clear day like it was, the view is stunning. Passing more museums and parks, I made my way to the port. Needless to say, I went to see the titular robot, or rather, a Gundam. For those unfamiliar, Gundam is a popular manga and anime series featuring giant robots. Building model kits from this series is a popular hobby in Japan, and you’ll find countless shops selling Gundam models.

Gundam models in the shop

Japan's passion for technology and robotics made it inevitable that someone would eventually build a model from the manga. Strolling along the waterfront, you can spot the robot from afar—it's a towering eighteen meters tall. To get a closer view, a ticket is required, but... due to its height, you can also see the Gundam at least partially from outside the venue. Many observe from there, but I wanted a closer view. A pleasant surprise: when you purchase an entrance ticket, you receive a small model kit to assemble as a gift (about 9 centimeters tall). As for the robot itself, it isn't completely stationary. Ticket holders attend a show—a short demonstration where the robot takes a few steps forward, kneels, stands up, and raises its hand (scenes inspired by the anime). It’s a remarkable display of technology.

Naturally, those with engineering knowledge may wonder how the Japanese got such a massive machine to move. Well... it doesn’t really move. The entire structure is supported from behind by a large arm, keeping the model off the ground. This is understandable; to move, a machine of such scale would require balance, much like a human. Although achievable for smaller machines (e.g. Boston Dynamics robots), it’s not yet possible for an eighteen-meter giant. This hasn't deterred me—it was still worth watching. Interestingly, upon exiting the show, you may encounter a board where the creators... apologize for the robot’s limited mobility. Such apologies feel very much in the Japanese spirit :)

To see such a huge machine move - is an amazing experience.

Unfortunately, this exhibition is time-limited and is scheduled to close by March 2022.

What else does Yokohama offer? As I mentioned, there are many attractions to explore... so I’ll talk about those in another post. See you next time!