The Essential Guide To Yokohama Japan

Most people think of neon and futuristic cityscapes when they imagine Japan. The country is also bursting with natural beauty. From azure beaches lined with rose gardens, to cherry blossoms The sun is setting behind Mount Fuji and the petals of the flowers are releasing their velvety blooms.

Yokohama is a Japanese city about 20 miles south from Tokyo. It offers a great balance of culture and food, as well as plenty of outdoor activities. Makoto, a native of the city who has lived there for over 40 year and founded Ramen OohashiYokohama’s fish market is home to a popular spot for handmade noodles.”

Yokohama’s history is unique, he says. “It is a port with many wonderful places to walk in the evening.”  

Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city, is full of local delights. The fish market offers customers the chance to sample the freshest cuts from the day’s catch. And the historic waterfront is home to a seasonal skating rink. Brian Hutto is the founder of a local sake bar Craft Sake ShotenYokohama is recommended by, because “hotels and eating out are cheaper. Tokyo is only a 25 minute train ride away.”

I encourage my friends and family, who visit Japan often, to prioritize Yokohama. It has everything from exclusive sushi bars to maritime museum and some of Japan’s best coffee.

What you should know about Yokohama before you visit.

Best Hotels & Resorts

Keikyu Ex Hotel Minatomirai-Yokohama

You can also find out more about the following: Keikyu Ex Hotel Minatomirai-Yokohama The hotel is located on the waterfront and has a sleek, modern design. The 27th-floor guest rooms have panoramic views of the bay and the open air bath frames Mount Fuji at sunrise and sunset. The 26th floor is where breakfast is served, with grilled salmon and croissants. Hutto says, “You can get beautiful hotels at reasonable prices along the coast.” Hutto suggests staying near the sea when visiting Yokohama. 

Hotel New Grand

Hotel New Grand This is one of Yokohama’s oldest hotels, and allows guests to experience a trip back to 1927. The original charm of the hotel is still evident, with its rich carpeted stairs and vintage chandeliers. It overlooks iconic Yamashita Park, known for its rose gardens and antique wooden benches—it’s a romantic setting and is often featured in Japanese films. Over the years the hotel has been home to legendary guests like General MacArthur. Charlie Chaplin and Babe Ruth. 

Manyo Club

Japan’s OnsenNatural hot springs baths are famous for the therapeutic benefits they provide. Manyo Club Pipes pure onsen water The spring water is pumped into five pools, both indoors and out. It is rare to find a place in the world that allows you to soak in a hot spring overlooking the ocean while in the center of a large city. The Manyo Club has three floors with saunas, steam baths, and multiple restaurants. It offers both Japanese-style and Western rooms for overnight stay.

The Best Things to do

Ascend to the top of Landmark Tower. 

A trip to Yokohama would not be complete without a trip to the top. Landmark Tower. The tower is located in the heart of Minato Mirai’s shopping district. Japan’s fastest elevatorThe climb is 69 stories high in just 40 seconds. The Kanto Plain is visible in 360-degrees from the top. Makoto recommends visiting during sunset. He calls it the “best view in the city” when the sky casts Mount Fuji in an orange glow. The “Yokohama Sunset Cocktail” is a mixture of guava juice, orange, pomegranate and sparkling wine.

Cup Noodles Museum lets you create your own instant ramen.

Yokohama’s Cup Noodles Museum Discover the intriguing story behind this iconic food which was created in 1958. Visit the reconstructed workshop where Momofuku, the inventor of instant noodles, created it, or design your own cup noodle. The “Noodle Bazaar”, where you can sample the different noodles that Ando inspired, is also available. You will be satisfied both in your mind and on your stomach after visiting this museum. 

Sankeien Garden: stroll through it. 

Sankeien Garden was once the private estate of a silk merchant. On its 175,000 square metres, the landscape is filled with historical buildings relocated from Japan. This includes a 15th century Kyoto pagoda. Check their website for the calendar of seasonal blooms, and treat yourself to traditional matcha in the restored teahouse in the garden’s center. 

Explore the history of Yokohama with its historic ships. 

Yokohama’s rich maritime heritage has been preserved admirably. It was a port of choice after Japan opened its doors to foreign trade, in 1854. The Nippon MaruA majestic four-masted sail ship has sailed around the globe 45 times. Built to train naval cadets, it opens for tours and hosts “sail unfurling” drills, where 80 volunteers manually raise all 29 sails—a dramatic sight worth seeing. The official webpage of the ship is available. calendar of events here. 

Craft Sake Shoten offers a wide variety of sake.

A standing bar on the second-floor of Yokohama Station serves sake curated from all over Japan. Hutto describes sake as having  “aromas of melon, banana, and even cotton candy,” and “flavors that can be floral, fruity, or a clean crispness.” Craft Sake Shoten It’s a great place to learn about sake and meet friendly locals.

Best Restaurants

Nakame No Teppen

You can book a table at if you want to enjoy dinner and a performance. Nakame No Teppen. They are specialized in robatayakiFireside grilling is a popular option where chefs can prepare their dishes right in front of you. The menu includes a wide variety of dishes, from grilled shiitakes with butter to grilled pieces of chicken. The location is equally memorable—it’s housed inside the oldest stone-built commercial ship dock still standing in Japan. 

Ohtanawanoren

“I bring all my guests to OhtanawanorenMakoto describes a 157-year-old classic restaurant. Famous for gyu-nabeYokohama was the first port of Japan to open its doors to Western visitors in the 1800s. Makoto says that Gyu-nabe uses miso and is cooked on charcoal. The recipe of this particular restaurant dates from 1868. This restaurant is a historical, peaceful, and delicious choice, with its own courtyard and koi-pond. 

Gooz

Gooz The perfect way to start your morning. Each morning, they roast more than 10 different varieties of coffee. The bakery counter is equally tempting—my favorites are the yuzu cinnamon rolls and the donut holes made with mochi flour. Take a seat under the shade at one of their outdoor tables. Nihon OdoriThe historical boulevard that divided Japanese and Western settlements. 

Ramen Oohashi 

The Yokohama Fish Market is a great place to spend a morning. You can browse the catch of the day displayed on blocks of ice while vendors give out samples. Ramen Oohashi is located in the restaurant alley of the market. Makoto says, “I recommend oyster ramen as it’s in the fish market so you can be sure that it is fresh.” “The Hiroshima oysters that we use for the broth and the Miyagi oysters on the top are the ones used in this dish.” 

Noge no onikai

You can also find out more about a premier sushi experienceYou can reserve a place at Noge No Onikai. The intimacy of the restaurant is felt as the chef shapes perfectly textured, marbled tuna slices around the rice. The menu is changed daily according to the morning markets. Hutto orders “almost everything” and whatever’s available. Noge no Onikai offers a great place to try omakaseThe Chef’s Choice style of dining.

Shop for Best Deals

Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama’s Chinatown It is the largest temple in Japan, and it is surrounded by ten ornately-decorated gates. You can easily get lost among the dim sum vendors and fortune-tellers, with red paper lanterns swaying in tiny alleyways. Makoto loves the casual atmosphere. “Chinatown still feels like it did 30 years ago.”  

Motomachi Shopping Street

The neighborhood is upscale Motomachi The cobblestone streets of is known for their bespoke boutiques and fashion. Find the perfect handbag for you at Kitamura, a Yokohama based brand of leather goods founded in 1882. Or, you can shop for stationery on ItoyaThe three-story building is filled with pens, cards and other elegant paper goods. Look out for dressed-up dogs in designer strollers—Yokohama has the highest number of registered dogs In all of Japan 

Yokohamabashi shotengai  

This lively market is full of giant wasabi roots and persimmon pyramids. Yokohamabashi Shotengai The perfect street for foodies. You will never be short of tasty treats. Makoto explains that the neighborhood is 80 years old. “All the bombs that fell on this area during World War II missed it, so its historic and traditional.” The roofed promenade provides a great spot to enjoy a wet day. 

Red Brick Warehouse 

You can also find out more about the following: Red Brick WarehouseYokohama’s port was the first to open its doors to Western influences in the 1800s. They are now filled with restaurants and artisanal shops. It is a popular place for people to buy Yokohama’s souvenirs such as silk scarves, or hand creams scented with the delicate fragrance of yokohama. kinmokusei, or osmanthus.

The Best Time to Visit

The autumn months of October and November are my personal favorites, as the leaves’ colors are at their peak. When the humidity drops and a crisp wind picks up, places like Sankeien Garden turn into a sea red, yellow, and orange.

The summer months of June to September are filled with festivals, but also heat and humidity. Enjoy a baseball game in Yokohama Stadium. Shaved ice desserts are also available. matsuri (summer festival), Where locals dance yukata A lightweight kimono, worn in summer. 

Winter (December through February) is chilly but calm—it’s an ideal time for travelers who prefer clear skies, thinner crowds, and panoramic views of Mount Fuji. It’s also Winter Illumination seasonYokohama, for example, is awash with twinkling light. My favorite winter event is the Christmas Market at Red Brick WarehouseWhere you can buy handcrafted ornaments, mulled wines and German-styled cabins. 

The most popular time to visit is springtime, from March to May—specifically, during cherry blossom season. The pink blossoms, which look like cotton candy, cover the sidewalks with soft, blushing colors. The weather is mild, and it is so pretty that it feels almost too good to be true—but be prepared for crowds who also feel the same way.

How to get there

Yokohama Station is served by multiple train lines, including the Toyoko line that departs from Tokyo Shibuya Station as well as a number of JR lines. If you’re leaving from Tokyo Station, it’ll take you about 40 minutes to get to Yokohama on the Keihin-Tōhoku Line.

Keikyu Airport Line is a direct route from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Yokohama Station. Express trains, such as the Keikyu, can make the trip in just 24 minutes. 

There are Shinkansen (bullet train), stops in Shinagawa, to the north. Or Shin-Yokohama, to the west. You can get from Tokyo Station to Yokohama Station by taking the Tokaido line in 30 minutes. The trains leave up to seven times per hour, so day trips and multi city itineraries are easy to plan.

What is another surprising option? The bus. The bus. the bus How do they prefer to travel from Yokohama? Tokyo DisneyThe YCAT (aka the Yokohama City Air Terminal) is located about 28 miles from the airport. The Yokohama City Air Terminal, or YCAT for short, has a capacity of 5,000 passengers. convenient bus service From Yokohama Station you can get to Haneda Airport or Narita International Airport.

How to Get Around

Yokohama has a variety of gardens, ocean paths and boulevards to explore. Here is an overview of the Yokohama area. great walking map Start here. 

Yokohama offers a community e-bike that is easy to use for those who prefer to pedal. Yokohama Bay Bikes. You can download the app and link your credit card. 

Then there is also the option of a fun game. Akai Kutsu City Loop Bus. The streetcars are designed to look like the early 1900’s. They offer a charming experience of hop-on, hop-off. I personally prefer the tram to other modes of transportation. Yokohama Sea Bass water taxi. This transit boat is a casual way to travel between coastal destinations. It offers stunning views of the waterfront. 

Uber, a ride-hailing app and local taxis can be found in the city. However, they are more expensive than other public transportation options. There are very few places that you can’t reach by public transport and walking.