Yokohama Oktoberfest

My first week of work flew by as I was getting used to my commute on the train, learning about my new job, and getting to know my project team members. So by the time my first big weekend rolled around, I was ready for some fun.

One great thing that happened during the week, is that my relocation agent set me up with the contact info for Kristyn, another young employee of my company who moved to Tokyo in April. We had been chatting on email all week and finally met up on Friday at an Irish pub for a drink and fish 'n chips. We had a great time and refer to it as our eHarmony moment.

Although Kristyn had already been to Oktoberfest twice this past week, we decided attend the festival on Sunday and to get there as early as possible since she knew it would be quite crowded. Kristyn works in Yokohama right by where Oktoberfest was taking place so it was great to ride the train with her and have her show me the way.

We ended up arriving around 12:30pm, 30 min after opening. It took was staged at the Red Brick Warehouse which was historically used as a customs house (on the Port of Yokohama) but is now a shopping mall and used for other festivals and events. You can see it in the background there.

The place was packed even when we got there. We waited for about 20 minutes in line before paying our 200 yen entrance fee. Once we got our wristbands we headed straight for the Haufbrau booth where we got a liter of their Oktoberfest beer... you dont want to know how much that was. Well ok... 3000 yen, i'll let you do the math.

All the tables were taken so we found a clearing on the ground to sit and enjoy our beer. We were right in a walk path so the people watching was great. One of our favorite sightings was this adorable little guy! How adorable. He walked by once and then we stopped his mom to ask if we could take a pic on the way back.

After awhile some middle aged Japanese guys approached us to ask if we were from Germany. Ha. We started chatting with them, one of them had been to Houston and asked us if we had ever been to Whataburger. They were very friendly and asked us if we wanted to join them at they had with their friends inside the tent where the German band was starting to play. The tent was absolutely full and the crowd was really into the music. It was so much fun and Kristyn and I really got into the spirit as well. There are several videos below of some of the different performances. Sorry for the poor/shakey camera work! This may have ben a couple liters in...

Be sure to watch til the chorus, they love this song here!

Our friends had some food for us too. Sausages, sauerkraut, mustand, and two sets of chopsticks :)

Cool beer drinking glasses.

We ended up leaving around 6:30pm or so and got to see the Yokohama Ferris Wheel all lit up at night.

Was such a fun way to spend my first weekend here. Wonder where Oktoberfest will be celebrated next year??