Yokohama

Yokohama is a city full of seaside romance and retro charm. It is very close to Tokyo, making it ideal for a day trip or a short weekend getaway. Here you’ll find both the modern Minato Mirai district and nostalgic spots such as Chinatown and the Red Brick Warehouse, with a pace that feels more relaxed than Tokyo.

Must-Visit Attractions

Yokohama’s attractions are very concentrated, with most located around Minato Mirai and the waterfront area, making them easy to connect on foot or by short-distance transport.

• ​​Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse​​: A cultural and commercial complex converted from old factory buildings, with many creative shops and restaurants inside. Outside is a spacious waterfront park, perfect for enjoying the sea breeze and taking photos.

• ​​Cup Noodles Museum​​: A must-visit for instant noodle fans! You can DIY your very own cup noodles, from drawing on the cup to choosing the noodles and seasonings yourself. It’s highly interactive.

• ​​Cosmo Clock Ferris Wheel​​: One of Yokohama’s landmarks, with a huge clock design that is especially eye-catching. Riding it at dusk is recommended, as you can overlook Yokohama’s stunning sunset and night views.

• ​​Yokohama Chinatown​​: Japan’s largest Chinatown, bringing together all kinds of Chinese snacks and specialty desserts. It’s very convenient to stop here for a meal when you’re tired from walking around.

• ​​Yamashita Park​​: A seaside promenade park where you can stroll and enjoy ocean views. The historic ocean liner Hikawa Maru can also be visited inside the park, making it perfect for relaxing.

Must-Try Food and Restaurants

Yokohama has a very rich range of food options, from affordable seafood to high-quality wagyu.

• ​​KANESEI（Funamori Set Meal）​​: A long-established diner inside the Yokohama Central Wholesale Market. Its signature funamori set meal comes in huge portions, with fresh sashimi and extremely good value, at around 1,000–2,000 yen per person.

• ​​Honkaku Yakiniku Kangen​​: A wagyu yakiniku restaurant located on B1F of Queen’s Square Yokohama in Minato Mirai. It offers Ashigara beef set meals, attentive service, and free rice refills, making it excellent value for money.
• ​​Wako Tonkatsu Rice​​: A classic Japanese tonkatsu set meal chain. The pork cutlet is crispy on the outside and tender inside, with unlimited shredded cabbage and rice refills. It’s also very popular with locals.

• ​​AFURI​​: A well-known ramen shop near Yokohama Station. Its signature tsukemen features springy noodles and a refreshing, layered dipping sauce that doesn’t feel greasy at all.

Classic One-Day Itinerary

This route is compact and can basically be completed entirely on foot, covering Yokohama’s core highlights.

• ​​Morning​​: Start from ​​Motomachi-Chukagai Station​​, first explore ​​Yokohama Chinatown​​ and have brunch, then walk 5 minutes to ​​Yamashita Park​​ for a stroll and visit the historic ocean liner ​​Hikawa Maru​​ on the water.
• ​​Noon​​: Continue walking to ​​Zou-no-hana Park​​, one of the best spots for photographing a panoramic view of the Red Brick Warehouse. Then arrive at the ​​Red Brick Warehouse​​, have lunch at one of its creative restaurants, and browse the creative shops.
• ​​Afternoon​​: Walk about 10 minutes to the ​​Cup Noodles Museum​​ to experience DIY cup noodles. After that, head to the ​​Cosmo Clock Ferris Wheel​​. If you’ve bought a combo ticket, you can also ride the ​​aerial cable car​​ for views over Yokohama Bay.
• ​​Evening​​: Enjoy dinner in the ​​Minato Mirai 21​​ area. After dinner, stroll along the waterfront to admire the glittering night view, or go to ​​Noge Alley​​ to experience the local izakaya culture.

Transportation and Accommodation Tips

• ​​Transportation​​: Yokohama’s attractions are mainly concentrated around the Minato Mirai Line (green line) and the Blue Line. From Tokyo, you can reach Yokohama Station in about 30–40 minutes by JR or Keikyu train. Within the city, buying a Yokohama one-day pass is recommended for more convenient subway and bus travel.
• ​​Where to Stay​​: If you plan to explore in depth or travel back and forth to Tokyo multiple times, staying near ​​Yokohama Station​​ or ​​Sakuragicho Station​​ is recommended, as transportation is convenient and there are plenty of shopping malls and supermarkets nearby. If you care more about sea views and a resort feel, you can choose a hotel in the ​​Yokohama Bay​​ area.