Yokohama is a port city with a population of 3.7 million people and is a part of Tokyo agglomeration. This city is located in the center of the country, on Honshu island, southwest of the capital.
Most of the attractions are concentrated in the coastal area of Minato Mirai, around the seaport built on the site of a seaside village in the 19th century, when foreign ships were allowed to bring goods here.
Keep reading our visitor’s guide to the most popular tourist attractions in Yokohama. This information will be helpful for first time travelers looking for the best things to do and see in the Japanese city.
Best Time to Visit
Like other parts of Japan, there are two high seasons in Yokohama City – spring and autumn. Cherry blossoms and autumn leaf fall attract many tourists here. In spring, from late March – early April it’s a perfect time to see how the city transforms when the cherry blossoms bloom.
In May, Yokohama hosts an international costume parade. This event has been celebrated every year for about fifty years.
If you’re planning to visit Yokohama in August, then you simply must visit the Kanagawa Shimbun fireworks festival. This is one of the biggest festivals in Japan, and it’s also a great opportunity to see many locals in traditional attire.
In October, Chinatown in Yokohama hosts two festivals at once, which are accompanied by colorful dances. If your goal is to explore the city itself, then come during the low season, when hotel prices are more affordable and there are not so many people.
Yamashita Park
At the pier in Yamashita Park, the Hikawa Maru steamer is moored, which plied the expanses of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic in the 30-50s of the last century. The restored cruise ship has been turned into a museum and entertainment center.
The entrance fee is 600 ¥. There are chic retro restaurants and a hotel on board. From the upper deck of the ship you can enjoy the views of Yokohama Bay, crossed by a 700-meter cable-stayed bridge.
Yokohama Port Museum
Yokohama Port has another floating maritime museum, the Yokohama Port Museum. Its exposition is located on the four-masted Nippon Maru sailboat, which served as a training ship for Japanese midshipmen for many years. The entrance ticket will cost 600 ¥. Exciting sea games await you in the ship’s premises.
Those wishing to explore the city from the sea go to the berths of pleasure ships. A two-hour mini-cruise around the bay will cost ¥6,000 (approximately $55). There is a bar and a buffet with light Japanese and Chinese snacks on board. Flights are not operated during stormy weather.
Visit Chinatown
Another must-visit place is Yokohama is Chinatown. This area is the same age as the city, it was founded 160 years ago by Chinese merchants who sail here with goods. You’ll know that you’ve arrived to the place by gates facing the cardinal points that lead to the colorful quarter.
There are hundreds of shops and small restaurants in this district. In the center, there is a gilded pagoda of the temple of a Chinese deity patronizing trade.
Cosmo Clock 21
A huge 100-meter ferris wheel Cosmo Clock 21 is one of the popular tourists attraction. It was built in 1989 and held the title of the highest in the world for ten years.
There are 60 multi-colored booths that make a complete revolution in a quarter of an hour. Entrance fee is ¥700 per person. At the foot of the wheel there are water slides and other attractions.
Visit One of the Observation Decks
On the upper floors of the city’s skyscrapers, there are many viewing platforms from where you can enjoy the sights of the historic center of Yokohama with all its sights.
Take a look at the metropolis, for example, from the 300-meter height of the Yokohama Landmark Tower, a recognizable symbol of the city. It houses shops, offices, restaurants and a five-star hotel. The highest observation deck in Japan is located on the 69th floor. Mount Fuji can be seen from there on clear days.
Visit Yokohama’s Museums and Art Galleries
Opposite the famous building is the Museum of Art. There are about a hundred interesting museums and art galleries in Yokohama – from a collection of antique dolls to exhibitions of technical achievements and demonstrations of future technologies.
There is one interesting museum of instant noodles or ramen in the city of Yokohama. Here you can not only see how the cooking process is going, but also cook the noodles yourself by choosing your preferred ingredients. If you book your tour of the museum in advance, you can make ramen right from the start. The museum is open from 10.00 to 18.00, closed on Tuesdays and public holidays.
Sankeien Garden
Don’t forget to stroll through the traditional Japanese Sankeien Garden, which first opened its doors to the public in 1906. On the territory of this council there are 17 ancient buildings that are definitely worth seeing with your own eyes.
Zoorasia
If you love zoos, you can visit one of the largest in all of Japan. Zoorasia is divided into 7 zones, here you will find a variety of animals, including red pandas and Indian elephants. The zoo is quite large and is an hour’s drive from downtown Yokohama.
