Yokohama, Japan

A pinch of romanticized Westernized architecture to this Japanese port city creates for a beautiful combination. Yokohama immediately warmed my heart. I could not figure it out the reason for this for a couple hours. It then dawned on me that it was because it had stronger Westernized influences than other Japanese cities such as Tokyo. This resulted in a unique yet strangely nostalgic feel of home while being across the world in Japan.

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Things to do Based Off Region:

Minato Mirai 21 / Sakuragi-cho

• Some of Yokohama’s most popular tourist spots

• Yokohama Landmark Tower

  • Visit the Sky Garden observation deck on the 69th floor for 360 views.

  • Hours: 10 am to 9 pm

  • Admission: 1000 yen

• Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse — shops, restaurants, seasonal events, etc.

  • Hours: 11 am to 7 pm (warehouse 1) or 8 pm (warehouse 2)

• Various amusement facilities — entertainment day and night

  • Cosmo World — some roller coaster rides, carnival attractions, Ferris wheel

    • Hours: 11 am to 8 pm (longer on weekends and in summer), CLOSED most Thursdays

    • Admission: No entrance fee, attractions cost 300 — 800 yen each

• Chinatown / Kannai / Yamashita Park

  • One of the most popular and beloved in Yokohama where you can experience the history of this harbor town.

  • One of the largest Chinatowns in the world!

  • Old architecture and classy hotels

  • Yamashita Park — a long seaside park that connects many of Yokohama’s best attractions via a pleasant walkway

• Honmoku / Motomachi / Yamate

  • Local fashion brands — Motomachi represents Yokohama as the fashion-oriented and trendsetting city.

    • A shopping street with a European feel in the old foreign district of Yokohama.

    • Pedestrian-only on weekends from 12 pm to 6 pm.

  • Classical Western style homes in Yamate and Sankeien, a Japanese garden, are a must-see!

    • Harbor View Park — great view of Yokohama Bay bridge and water especially at night. On Park grounds are some of the area’s preserved western buildings. Most are open to the public.

      • 114, Yamate-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-0862

    • Sankeien Garden — priceless historical buildings collected from all over Japan.

      • 9 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm)

      • 58-1, Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-0824

      • Admission: 700 yen

• Yokohama Station

  • Wide variety of grocery stores and boutiques of popular fashion brands.

  • 5th busiest train station in the world

  • Dining, izakaya (Japanese pubs), packinko (japanese arcade style slot machines), and karaoke

  • Shopping malls, electronic stores, and four department stores — Sogo, Lumine, Marui, and Takashimaya.

  • Yokohama Museum of Art — several galleries of modern and contemporary art with a focus on Yokohama artists and history.

    • Hours: 10 am to 6 pm. CLOSED Thursdays.

    • Admission: 500 yen

• Shin-Yokohama

  • Bullet train station. Gateway to Yokohama.

  • Home to major sports and event venues.

  • Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum — cooks up ramen specialiteis from several different regions of Japan.

    • A must see!

    • The interior is very carefully designed to replicate Japan post war streets lined with ramen stands in which the ramen culture began to blossom into the culture it is now.

    • 10 Minute walk from Shin-Yokohama station.

• Norther Yokohama

  • Industrial area

  • Kirin Yokohama Beer Village

    • Free brewery tours — glimpse into the brewing facilities and some beer tasting for the last 20 minutes of the 80 min tour. English tour guide may be available.

    • Few brewery tours every hour between 10 am to 4 pm except on Mondays when the factory is CLOSED.

    • Recommended to make reservations beforehand by phone: 045-503-8250.

  • Yokohama Zoo Zoorasia — popular zoo, should go but out of the way

    • Hours: 9 :30 am to 4:30 am (entry until 4pm); CLOSED Tuesdays

    • Admission: 800 yen

  • Kodomono-Kuni—”Children’s land”; park for families

• Southern Yokohama

  • Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise — an amusement park on a small island just off shore; one of the most visited amusement parks in Japan, houses an impressive aquarium.

    • Admission: no charged. Only entrance fee needed is for Aqua Resorts and the rides of Pleasure Land.

    • Hours: Varying hours. Typically 10 am to 6 pm. Longer hours on weekends.

    • Admission: 3,000 yen — Aqua Resorts; 3,000 yen — unlimited rides at Pleasure Land or individual rides at 300-1000 yen; 5,050 yen — Aqua Resorts and unlimted rides at Pleasure Land.

  • Mitsui Outlet Park Yokohama Bayside — outlet with beach vibes

  • Kanazawa Zoo

    • Hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (last entry 4 pm), CLOSED on Mondays

    • 5-15-1, Kamariyahigashi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0042

    • Admission: 500 yen

  • Shomyoji — temple just down the road from the popular temples of Kamakura

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Group Together:

Remember, these items grouped together are only recommended together based on distance apart. Use this compilation to your advantage by picking and choosing which sets (if you want to go with only one or multiple) go best with your schedule.

• Yokohama Zoo Zoorasia → (46 min) Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum → (17 min) Yokohama station → (10 min) Yokohama Landmark tower → (9 min walk) Cosmo World → (9 min walk) Red Brick Warehouse → (53 min) Home 

• Minato Mirai → (20 min) Yamashita Park → (7 min walk) Chinatown 

  2. (6 min walk) Motomachi → (4 min walk) Harbor view park → (23 walk/12 min Ishikawacho station on Negishi line) Yamate →(30 min) Sankeien Garden → (1 hr) Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea 

Chinatown

Cosmo World

Chinatown

From the Yokohama Landmark Tower

From the Yokohama Landmark Tower