Chinese Spring Festival 2013

While it's fun to visit whatever the season, Yokohama's Chinatown district is never livelier than during its New Year festival. This year's starts with a countdown to midnight at the Kanteibyo temple on February 9, kickstarting two weeks of festivities. One of the most popular spectacles is the lion dance on the afternoon of February 10, in which the performers pay impromptu visits to local shops and restaurants in order to bring them luck for the coming year. You can expect further dances and performances on February 16, 23 and 24, as well as a parade of traditional costumes on the afternoon of February 17 – and if you take any good shots, you can submit them for the annual photo contest (for which, head to Chukagai Parking from February 21-24).