Residential Hills Rising Above the Factory District / Walk around the residential area near heaven, Isogo, Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture)

Isogo, facing Tokyo Bay, was once a fishing village with a vast seaweed farming landscape. The turning point came in 1964, when the Japan National Railways Negishi Line (now the JR Negishi Line) opened. The coastline was reclaimed and turned into a heavy industrial zone, while the hillsides rapidly developed into residential areas as a commuter town for Tokyo and Yokohama. The town's unique valley topography defines Isogo's architecture. The cliffs, which drop off 30-60 meters into the sea, are lined with apartment buildings on the hills, while the valleys are densely packed with detached houses. Roads following the contour lines intersect with the traffic patterns that weave through the valleys, and the topography itself defines the town's layout. Many residential areas, particularly along the cliffs, are inaccessible to cars. Only stairs connect the upper and lower levels, and people carry their belongings and daily activities by foot. While the area faces challenges in terms of disaster prevention, its scale, unencroached by cars, maintains a somewhat humane and dense living environment. A view suddenly opens up at the end of the stairs, and the sounds of daily life echo deep within the valley. The three-dimensional townscape created by the terrain truly lives up to its nickname, "Heavenly Residential Area." And between the hill and the sea remains Hama Market, which originated as a black market immediately after the end of the war. Along with the Rokkakubashi Shopping Arcade in Kanagawa Ward, this is a precious space that conveys the original landscape of postwar Yokohama. From sea to sky. From a fishing village to an industrial area, and then to cliff-top residential areas. Isogo vividly depicts a cross section of postwar urbanization in the three-dimensional topography of the valley.

Shurakumachinami Walker
http://www.shurakumachinami.natsu.gs/...