[BENEFIT]TOYSRUS Membership (point) Card

There are several Toysrus in Yokohama (store list)

And Toysrus Japan has point (membership) card system. We found that they have the application form in English. The membership is free of charge and we can get 1 point per 200 yen (of purchase). They have also "bonus points" or "double ~ ten times points promotion" systems from time to time. And when the point reaches 500, we can use it as 500 yen at Toysrus.

There are also sales only for card holders (for example, a toy was ¥999 for card holders while it was ¥1,399 for non-holders the other day).

You can ask for the card at the cash desk.


This is the application form in Japanese.


This is the one in English and the card.


Once you become the member, you can check your points or change your account information online. Here is the Toysrus member page guide (opens a new window) .

[INFO]Giving Birth in Japan: Information in English

One of our members found a website on pregnancy and giving birth in Japan. We contacted the author and she kindly accepted our link request.

Here is the page:

http://www.kcc.zaq.ne.jp/babyroom/english/index.html

We added the URL to the Link page, too.
We are also preparing a kind of handbook about pregnancy and giving birth in Yokohama. We are going to collect the experiences (questionnaire). If you can help with this project, please contact us!

[BENEFIT]Yokohama Port Open Day (2nd June) Free Entrance Facilities in Yokohama

On the Yokohama Port Open Anniversary Anniversary (2nd June), there are many facilities in Yokohama which will be free to enter.


-Free under high school kids (under 16 years old)
Yokohama Zoorasia Zoological Gardens, Kanazawa Zoological Garden
Swimming Pools (Asahi, Konan, Sakae, Hodogaya, Tsuzuki, Rinetsu Kanazawa, Shimizugaoka Park)
Suports Centers in each ward (for private use only)

-Free under College students (under 19 year old)
Yokohama City Museum of History, Yokohama Museum of Art (Collection Only), Yokohama Doll Museum, Osaragi Jiro Memorial Museum, Hamagin Space Science Museum, NYK Maritime Museum, NYK Hikawamaru, Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum

-Free up to College students
-Silk Museum, Yamate Museum

-Free for every visitor
Yokohama Archives of History, Museum of Yokohama Urban History, Yokohama Museum of EurAsian Culture

[EVENT}Let's Climb Up the Jack Tower 2nd June, 2013

Yokohama City Kaikou Kinen Kaikan (Port-Open Memorial Hall), which has a tower called Jack, will have an event "Let's Climb Up the Jack Tower" on Sunday, 2nd of June. We can go up the stairs of the tower which is usually not open for public.

Date:Sunday, 2nd June, 2013
Place: Yokohama City Kaikou Kinen Kaikan (7 min from Kannai, 2 min from Nihon-Odori station)
Fee: ¥100 for insurance
The first 200 people can join the event.
Children under 7 years old need to be accompanied by an adult.
The event is provided by Jack Supporters.

[EVENT]Yokohama Kaikousai Festival 2013 横浜開港祭2013

The 2nd of June if the anniversary of the opening of the Yokohama port (154th anniversary in 2013).The 32nd Yokohama Kaikosai Festival is held on the second weekend in June.

Source:Website
Date:8the and 9th June.
Place:Mainly around Rinko Park,also around Minatomirai, Yamashita Park etc...


Events are divided into three parts: Marine Events, Land Events and Stage Events. Here we are going to pick up Marine and Land Events.

Marine Events

-Rose Yokohama Bay Cruise
¥100, first come, first served
Pukari Pier in the Rinko Park
8th June (SAT) & 9th June (SUN)
1)10:00-11:00
　 2)12:00-13:00
3)14:00-15:00
9th June (SUN)

-Japan Self Defense Ship "Yamagiri" Exhibition
10:00-16:00 on SAT, 9:00-16:00 on SUN
Schedule may be changed.
Shinko Pier, berth no.8

-Loyal Wing Tea Cruise
9th June (SUN) 14:45-16:15
Tickets available on 8th June (place unannounced yet)
for 100 people, ¥1000/person.
From Osanbashi pier.

-Marine Shuttle
150 people, once on 9th June.
11:30-12:30 from Yamashita Park.

-Rubber Boat Steering Experience for kids
¥100, elementary school and up.
8th June (SAT)
10:00-12:00
13:00-15:00
9th June (SUN)
10:00-13:00
In front of Rinko Park

-Sea Kayak Experience for kids
Kids can enjoy sea kayak after taking a lecture by the instructor.
8th June (SAT) 10:00-16:00
At Nihon-maru Memorial Park

-Aqua Marine Fukushima, a small fish pool
8th Sune (SAT)
10:00-16:00 9th June (SUN)
10:00-12:00
13:00-16:00
At Rinko Park

-HAPPY BOX Hanjin Shipping Exhibition
8th and 9th June. 10:00-16:00
At Rinko Park

-Ship Parade
Performances of the ships owned by the Immigration, Yokohama City Fire Bureau etc.
9th June (SUN)13:50-15:10
In front of Rinko Park

-Beam Spectacle in Harbor
Firework, water, light beam and sound effect show.
9th June (SUN)20:20-20:50

-Seyamaru Exhibition
Seyamaru, which will be sent to Sanriku (Tohoku) as a part of supports for Tohoku, Japan, will be presented before it leaves.
At Pukari Pier.

Land Events

-NTT EAST Stamp Rally
You can receive a stamp if you find the right answer to the questions about Yokohama.
8th & 9th June, 10:00-18:00 at around Rinko Park

-Port Opening Street
Booths about old-day Yokohama and Yokohama oriented products.
At Rinko Park, Kaiko Area. 10:00-18:00

-World Gourmet Carnival
10:00-20:00. We can enjoy world foods and desserts.
At Rinko Park, Food Area.

-Garbage separation Station
Please separate and throw away the garbage from this festival there for recycling.

-Wakuwaku Kids Land
Petting zoo, Dog Run, exercising with (professional) sports players etc.
At the Cup Noodle Museum Park 10:00-17:00.
-Kaiko Cafe
Light meal and drinks.
10:00-18:00 in front of the Main Stage.

-4th Yokohama Sweets Paradise
12 pre-chosen Yokohama sweets are sold and first 1000 visitors can taste 3 of them for 300 yen and vote on 8th June. The grand-prix will be chosen by judges on 9th among the top 4 chosen by the 1000 visitors.
8th June (SAT) 11:00-18:00 (the vote will be 11:00-13:00).
9th June (SUN) 10:00-18:00 (the grand-prix selection will be 11:00-12:00)
At Rinko Park.

-Rescue vehicles exhibition
10:00-16:30 at Rinko Park.

-Ocean Land
Workshops on the ocean and the creatures in the sea.
10:00-18:00

-Short Film Festa
On the screen next to the Main Stage 10:00-18:00.

-Rental Cart Trial
There are 2-seaters with an instructor so young kids can enjoy it.
8th June (SAT) 10:00-16:00
At Rinko Park

[HEALTH] Free Cancer Check-ups for Yokohama Inhabitants (2013)

Free cancer check-up coupon will be provided to you by the City of Yokohama.
It will be as follows in 2013 (Apr-March2014, or Heisei 25 fiscal year).

Those who turned following ages in the last fiscal year (2nd April 2012 to 1st April 2013) and who were Yokohama inhabitants on 20th April 2013 will receive free coupon(s).
Cervical cancer check-up: 20, 25, 30 and 35 years old.
Cervical, breast, and colon cancer check-up: 40 years old.
Breast and colon cancer check-up: 45, 50, 55, 60 years old.


*The free coupon(s) will be sent in the end of June. *You can take the check-up for free before receiving the coupon by showing your health insurance card at a hospital/clinic to verify your birthday. In this case, please turn in the coupon(s) to the hospital/clinic when you receive it.
*The check-up is available at assigned hospitals and clinics in Yokohama. There are many of them, so you can just ask your (local) doctor.

[Note]I don't know if the city have English or other language version coupon. From my experience, the coupon was in a rather large envelop of A4 size.
And my doctor said cervical cancer check-up is not enough and I took endometrial cancer check, too, which was not free.

There are also "Support System of Cancer Check-up" by the city which is not completely free but at lower costs. It will be explained in another post.

[EVENTS] Yokohama Hand Made Marche 25th - 26th May, 2013

Yokohama HandMade Marche

There will be more than 1000 booths of crafts, illustrations, arts, accessories, toys, foods etc.. where you can take a look or purchase.
25th&26th May, 11:00-18:00 at Pacifico Yokohama. Hall D.
Entrance: 700 yen (free for elementary school children and under)
Advance ticket (500 yen) is available online but it is all in Japanese:(

There are some workshops but many of them are already full.

Source:Official Website