Uncover the perfect of this vibrant metropolis with our Yokohama journey information! Discover the bustling Minato Mirai waterfront, take pleasure in panoramic views from the Landmark Tower, wander by the colourful streets of Chinatown, and take pleasure in scrumptious road meals.
Yokohama, a dynamic port metropolis in Japan, seamlessly blends trendy sights with wealthy historic allure. Only a 30-minute journey south of Tokyo, it affords a charming maritime heritage, gorgeous waterfront vistas, and a cosmopolitan ambiance. From the futuristic Minato Mirai district to the culinary delights of Japan’s largest Chinatown, Yokohama has one thing for everybody. Come alongside as we uncover town’s high must-see locations!
First up on our tour is Yokohama Station. It’s only a a 26-minute practice experience from Tokyo Station on the Ueno-Tokyo Line, with trains operating each 10 minutes! Yokohama Station isn’t simply the gateway to town; it’s additionally a implausible place to buy and eat.
To the southwest is Takashimaya Division Retailer, the place you will discover a mixture of high-end and informal clothes and items. To the northeast is Yodobashi Digital camera, the place you’ll discover each digital merchandise possible. The East facet opens straight into the Porta underground shopping center. Scattered all through the station are quite a few eating places, together with in style chain shops and distinctive eateries, the place you will discover scrumptious native Yokohama meals.
Yokohama Station is nice for buying and eating, however to see and find out about Yokohama’s historical past, take the Miratomirai Line to Motomachi-Chūkagai Station (10 min) and take a look at Yamate District.
Yamate District (Yamatecho)
When Japan opened its doorways to the world within the mid-1800s, Yokohama, then a small fishing port, turned the primary port to conduct international commerce. Town grew and finally turned Japan’s second largest.
Yokohama attracted each Western and Chinese language merchants. The previous settled on the hilltop within the Yamate District, whereas the latter established Japan’s largest Chinatown.
The Yamate space is full of distinctive Western structure, making it really feel like a world away from Japan. With its large streets and palm bushes, together with charming church buildings and Victorian-style properties, it’s a beautiful place for a stroll.
Sadly, most buildings have been destroyed throughout the nice Kano Earthquake in 1923. Right this moment, solely eight residences stay, which have been preserved and reopened as museums. Every constructing is free to enter and depicts the lives of their former homeowners.
Tucked between the vigorous Chinatown and the elegant Yamate District lies the traditionally vital Motomachi space. As soon as a bustling route for employees touring from Yamate to the Kannai district, the outlets alongside Motomachi Avenue catered to their wants by offering a various array of Western items and meals.
Now, the well-known buying road has over 200 shops. With a mixture of native outlets and worldwide manufacturers, you will discover something from clothes and antiques to kitchenware, jewellery, and extra!
One in every of Yokohama’s traditional bakeries, Pompadour‘s unique store, is situated on Motomachi, and we extremely suggest their breads!
Yokohama Chinatown (Yokohama Chūkagai)
As talked about above, the Chinese language merchants established a Chinatown that is still Japan’s largest to this present day.
With roughly 500 outlets and eating places, you will discover something and the whole lot associated to China. From the crackle of crispy Beijing-style Peking duck to the sizzle of dumplings and the hiss of Shanghai-style juicy steamed pork buns, Yokohama’s Chinatown is a meals lover’s paradise.
Take your time strolling across the space to admire all of the sights, smells, and sounds whereas indulging in some scrumptious Chinese language meals. For those who take pleasure in dim sum, that is the proper place to deal with your self.
Other than meals, it’s also possible to discover Chinese language items and souvenirs, fortune tellers, and therapeutic massage outlets for leisure after all of the strolling (and consuming)! Though a few of these footage have been taken throughout a vacation, it will probably get very busy, particularly on weekends!
Whereas within the space, make sure you take a look at Chinatown’s religious landmark, Yokohama Kuan Ti Miao. Adorned with gorgeous, intricate particulars, splashes of gold, and fierce dragon statues, the temple encompasses a statue of Guan Yu, a well-known army normal turned deity immortalized within the historic Chinese language novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Many individuals go to the temple to hunt enterprise and monetary prosperity.
Yokohama Marine Tower
After sampling scrumptious meals in Chinatown, head over to Yokohama Marine Tower. Town is blessed with unimaginable bayside views, making it a soothing spot to look at the boats come out and in of the harbor. Overlooking the bay is the Yokohama Marine Tower, in-built 1961 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Yokohama’s port opening. It stands at 106 meters tall, with an statement deck on the thirtieth degree at 94 meters.
The doorway price is between 1,000 and 1,200 yen for adults and 500 to 800 yen for youngsters, relying on the time and day of entry. You should buy tickets on the door or on-line for a reduced value of 100 yen off on their official web site.
On the high, you’ll be able to take pleasure in panoramic views over Yokohama’s skyline, the Minato Mirai seafront, and the Yokohama Bay Bridge. For those who’re fortunate, on a transparent day, you’ll be capable of see Mt. Fuji!
The views come alive throughout sundown and night as town lights dazzle within the night time sky. On the thirtieth ground, the media artwork gallery opens at 6:00 pm, combining digital artwork shows with stunning metropolis views. On the 2nd ground, you’ll be able to decide up souvenirs from the Marine Tower Store or dine at “The Terrace” on the 4th ground.
Yamashita Park
Just under the Marine Tower is Yamashita Park, a public park that stretches roughly 750 meters throughout Yokohama’s waterfront. The inexperienced oasis is full of seasonal flowers, fountains, and monuments. It’s normally busy with locals having fun with the bay’s surroundings and the ships passing by.
When passing by the park, you’ll discover the docked Hikawa Maru, which had its maiden voyage in 1930 from Kobe to Seattle. Over the following 30 years, it crossed the Pacific 254 instances. Now a museum ship, it means that you can expertise what the passenger quarters, decor, and lounge areas have been like. You can even study concerning the ship’s historical past from the assorted shows on board.
The Hikawa Maru Ship is the one surviving cargo-passenger liner in-built Japan earlier than World Battle II and is now a nationally designated Vital Cultural Property.
Yokohama Crimson Brick Warehouse (Aka Renga Sōko)
From Yamashita Park, head over to considered one of Yokohama’s most iconic spots: the crimson brick warehouses alongside the shore of Yokohama Port. Within the early Twenties, these warehouses served because the Customs Inspection Home for Yokohama Bay’s transport actions, however they now operate as an leisure space.
The out of doors occasion area hosts seasonal festivities, akin to summer season concert events and a winter ice skating rink. You can even stroll to the sting of the port for implausible views of the bay and elements of the Yokohama skyline.
The primary warehouse, the smaller of the 2, is principally used for occasions. The third ground has a 300-seat corridor for theater performances and concert events. The second ground homes gallery areas, whereas the primary ground affords a number of outlets promoting Yokohama glass and brick items.
The second warehouse affords a superb mixture of cafés, eating places, and outlets promoting jewellery, inside decor, and miscellaneous items.
Whether or not you’re trying to eat, store, or just take pleasure in Yokohama’s environment and surroundings, the crimson brick warehouses are price a go to.
Cup Noodles Museum
Who doesn’t love a cup of noodles at times? What higher place to find out about their historical past and founder, Momofuku Ando, than on the Cup Noodles Museum? It’s the second Cup Noodles Museum to open in Japan, with the primary situated in Ikeda, north of Osaka. Admission is 500 yen for adults, whereas entry for youngsters is free.
You’ll be able to study concerning the humble cup noodles and their rise to fame by numerous interactive displays. First, there’s a brief introductory movie and a duplicate of the shed the place prompt noodles have been invented, adopted by many show boards displaying the evolution of cup noodles, together with area ramen for astronauts!
On the My Cupnoodles Manufacturing unit workshop, for 500 yen, you’ll be able to customise your individual cup noodle packaging and select from 5,640 broth and topping combos. This workshop is the preferred spot within the museum and sometimes sells out, so make sure you arrive early!
Subsequent, the Rooster Ramen Manufacturing unit teaches you methods to make prompt ramen by kneading, spreading, and steaming wheat flour, then drying it utilizing the flash-frying technique. You’ll be able to even take your noodles dwelling! The workshop lasts 90 minutes and prices 600 yen for youngsters and 1,000 yen for adults.
There’s additionally Cupnoodles Park, which prices an extra 500 yen. Kids can have enjoyable whereas studying concerning the noodle-making and transport course of.
Lastly, there may be Noodle Bazaar, an Asian Night time Market-style meals court docket that options eight types of noodles that Momofuku Ando encountered throughout his travels looking for their origins.
Yokohama Cosmo World
Proper throughout from the Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama, within the coronary heart of town and the Minato Mirai district, is Yokohama Cosmo World. This amusement park is free to enter however you should purchase tickets for the rides you want to go on. For those who’re a curler coaster fanatic, discounted costs can be found once you purchase a number of tickets without delay.
The park is split into three areas:
- Children Carnival Zone – With small rides and sport machines, this space is ideal for youngsters.
- Burano Avenue Zone – This colourful space options bigger rides, together with the Household Banana Coaster and the spinning Tremendous Planet. Different sights embody the Corridor of Mirrors and sport machines the place you’ll be able to win prizes.
- Marvel Amuse Zone – The primary space is dwelling to the biggest curler coaster, ‘Diving Coaster – Vanish!’, which plunges by and beneath a pool of water, creating a large splash. Along with different bigger rides, this space affords a digital actuality experience, a 360° 3D theater, an arcade, fairground stalls, and a meals court docket.
Looming over the amusement park is a huge Ferris wheel referred to as Cosmo Clock 21, the world’s largest Ferris wheel with a clock. Standing 112.5 meters excessive and 100 meters large, it options 60 gondolas, every carrying as much as eight passengers. The 15-minute experience permits you to absorb views of Yokohama’s skyline, with touchscreen shows that will help you determine town’s well-known landmarks.
Nippon Maru Memorial Park
The enjoyable doesn’t finish at Cosmo World. The Nippon Maru Memorial Park was the primary park developed within the Minato Mirai space. Positioned proper by the bay, this inexperienced area is commonly used for occasions and festivals. It additionally homes the Yokohama Port Museum, which brings the port’s historical past and broader marine subjects to life with interactive displays, partaking guests in a hands-on studying expertise.
Nonetheless, the park’s essential attraction, usually thought-about the image of Yokohama, is the Nippon Maru. In-built 1930, this famed ship served as a coaching vessel for cadets, accommodating 11,500 cadets over 54 years till its retirement in 1984. Throughout its tenure, it sailed a formidable 45.4 instances across the Earth, protecting 1,830,000 kilometers. Right this moment, guests can stroll alongside the decks, examine its historical past intimately, and expertise what life on a ship was like.
The Nippon Maru is really spectacular. Its polished picket decks and complex development will let you respect its magnificence. Now completely docked at Yokohama Port, it’s magically illuminated within the night, changing into much more spectacular.
Yokohama Landmark Tower
Only a one-minute stroll away, on the other facet of the highway, is Yokohama Landmark Tower, which homes a five-star lodge, restaurant, outlets, places of work, and town’s highest statement deck, referred to as the Sky Backyard Observatory. The elevator takes solely 40 seconds to achieve the 69th ground, the place you’ll see the perfect view over town.
The views from the crimson brick warehouses and Cosmo Clock 21 are completely spectacular, showcasing the bay actions and stretching all the way in which to Tokyo and, on clear days, even Mt. Fuji!
To sum up, Yokohama is simple to like. This metropolis, steeped in wealthy historical past and brimming with sights, can also be Nami’s hometown! When you have the time, we suggest spending two days to completely take pleasure in all that it has to supply.
When you’re within the space, why not take a look at the close by coastal city of Kamakura with our journey information?
