Yokohama Guide: Chinatown, Harbor & Day Trip Plan
Updated October 30, 2026 · Prices checked October 20, 2026
Minato Mirai at sunset, with Mt. Fuji behind Photo: 名古屋太郎・CC BY-SA 3.0
Tours and tickets
Guided walks, day trips and attraction tickets, with reviews from other travelers.
Yokohama sights on a map
17 sights · checked on official sites (2026-10-24)
- 1Yokohama Landmark TowerAround Sakuragicho Station and Minato Mirai・3 min walk from Minato Mirai StationA 296 m skyscraper and the symbol of Minato Mirai. The 69th-floor observation deck (Sky Garden) is closed for building works, so for now you enjoy it from outside, plus the shopping mall and the old dock.
- 2Nippon Maru Memorial ParkAround Sakuragicho Station and Minato Mirai・5 min walk from Sakuragicho StationA waterfront park where the sailing ship Nippon Maru is moored. You can tour the ship, and there is a museum about Yokohama port.
- 3Kishamichi PromenadeAround Sakuragicho Station and Minato Mirai・3 min walk from Sakuragicho StationA seaside walkway on an old freight railway line, leading from Sakuragicho Station to the Shinko area.
- 4YOKOHAMA AIR CABINAround Sakuragicho Station and Minato Mirai・1 min walk from Sakuragicho StationA ropeway linking Sakuragicho Station and Unga Park in the Shinko area in about 5 minutes, with views over Minato Mirai.
- 5Cup Noodles Museum YokohamaAround Sakuragicho Station and Minato Mirai・8 min walk from Minato Mirai StationA hands-on museum about the invention of instant noodles, where you can make your own Cup Noodles.
- 6Yokohama Red Brick WarehouseBashamichi, Nihon-odori and the harbor・6 min walk from Bashamichi StationTwo red-brick warehouses built over a century ago, now shops, cafes and an event space. Entry is free.
- 7Zou-no-Hana ParkBashamichi, Nihon-odori and the harbor・3 min walk from Nihon-odori StationA waterfront green space where Yokohama port began. The curved breakwater looks like an elephant's trunk.
- 8Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger TerminalBashamichi, Nihon-odori and the harbor・7 min walk from Nihon-odori StationA cruise-ship terminal whose rooftop is a free plaza open 24 hours, with views of the harbor and Minato Mirai.
- 9Yokohama's Three Towers (Kanagawa Prefectural Office, Customs, Port Opening Hall)Bashamichi, Nihon-odori and the harbor・Right by Nihon-odori StationThree historic towers, nicknamed after playing cards: King (Prefectural Office), Queen (Customs) and Jack (Port Opening Memorial Hall).
- 10Yamashita ParkAround Yamashita Park and Chinatown・3 min walk from Motomachi-Chukagai StationYokohama's best-known park, a long walk along the harbor with a rose garden and monuments.
- 11NYK Hikawa MaruAround Yamashita Park and Chinatown・3 min walk from Motomachi-Chukagai StationA passenger-cargo liner from 1930 moored in front of Yamashita Park. You can tour its original cabins and engine room.
- 12Yokohama Marine TowerAround Yamashita Park and Chinatown・Nearest station: Motomachi-ChukagaiAn observation tower beside Yamashita Park, with decks at 91 m and 94 m giving 360-degree views.
- 13Yokohama ChinatownAround Yamashita Park and Chinatown・From Motomachi-Chukagai Station to Choyomon gateA Chinatown about 500 m across, packed with restaurants and shops. Its ten gates and the Kantei-byo temple are sights in themselves.
- 14Harbor View ParkMotomachi and Yamate・5 min walk from Motomachi-Chukagai StationA hilltop park overlooking the port and the Yokohama Bay Bridge, with rose gardens and Western-style houses close by.
- 15Yamate Western-style Houses (Ex-Diplomat's House, Berrick Hall and more)Motomachi and Yamate・5 min walk from Ishikawacho StationYamate has seven Western-style houses from the foreign settlement era, free to enter. The Ex-Diplomat's House is an Important Cultural Property.
- 16Yokohama Foreign General CemeteryMotomachi and Yamate・Motomachi-Chukagai or JR IshikawachoA cemetery in Yamate that began with the burial of a sailor from Perry's fleet. It is normally closed and opens to visitors only on set days.
- 17Sankeien GardenSankeien Garden (Honmoku)・About 10 min by bus from Negishi Station (about 30 min on foot)A Japanese garden made by businessman Hara Sankei, with old buildings moved from Kyoto and Kamakura set around ponds. It is a national Place of Scenic Beauty.
Yokohama is Japan’s second-largest city, and it’s barely half an hour from Tokyo Station. That makes it the easiest day trip on this site: no reservations, no special trains, just a regular commuter line to a harbor city with the country’s biggest Chinatown, a waterfront skyline and a very different feel from Tokyo. This guide covers how to get there, which day pass to pick, how to get around the bay, and what’s worth your time.
Prices and times were checked in October 2026. Fares and opening hours change, so confirm on the official pages before you go.
Why visit Yokohama
Yokohama was one of the first ports opened to foreign trade in the 1850s, and it still shows. Brick warehouses, Western-style houses on the Bluff, and a Chinatown with hundreds of restaurants grew out of that history. Today the bay is lined with parks, piers and the Minato Mirai skyline, which lights up at night.
It’s also compact. Chinatown, Yamashita Park, the Red Brick Warehouse and Minato Mirai sit along one stretch of waterfront, so you can see most of it on foot in a day and still be back in Tokyo for dinner — or stay for the night view.
How to get to Yokohama from Tokyo
You don’t need a reservation or a special ticket; a Suica or PASMO card works on every route below.
- From Tokyo Station: the JR Tokaido Line (Ueno-Tokyo Line) reaches Yokohama Station in about 26–30 minutes. The fastest scheduled run is 26 minutes.
- From Shinjuku or Shibuya: the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line runs direct to Yokohama Station; from Shibuya it takes about 27 minutes.
- From Shibuya (best for the waterfront): the Tokyu Toyoko Line runs to Yokohama, and many trains continue straight onto the Minatomirai Line to Minatomirai, Nihon-odori and Motomachi-Chukagai (for Chinatown) without a change.
Which 1-day pass to buy
Official prices (adult):
| Pass | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Minatomirai Line One-Day Ticket | ¥460 | Unlimited rides on the Minatomirai Line (Yokohama–Motomachi-Chukagai) |
| Yokohama-Minatomirai Pass (JR) | ¥530 | JR Negishi Line Yokohama–Shin-Sugita, plus the whole Minatomirai Line |
| Yokohama City 1-day bus pass | ¥600 | City buses, including the “Akai Kutsu” (red shoe) sightseeing loop bus |
| Bus & subway 1-day pass | ¥830 | City buses plus the Yokohama municipal subway |
The Minatomirai Line One-Day Ticket is sold at station ticket machines and is valid on the day you buy it. The JR pass is sold at JR Negishi Line stations, including the View Plaza at Yokohama Station.
Which one? If you’ll hop between Minato Mirai and Chinatown more than twice, the ¥460 Minatomirai Line ticket pays off. If you mostly walk, just tap your IC card.
Getting around the bay
Walking is the best way to see the waterfront. Two rides make it more fun:
- Yokohama Air Cabin — an urban ropeway from Sakuragicho Station across the water to the Unga Park area. ¥1,000 one way / ¥1,800 round trip for adults. It runs from 10:00 into the evening, stops in bad weather and closes some days for inspections.
- Sea Bass water bus — boats linking Yokohama Station East Exit, Hammerhead, Pier Akarenga (Red Brick Warehouse) and Yamashita Park. Adult fares run from ¥1,000 to ¥1,500 depending on the stops. Not every sailing calls at every pier, so check the timetable.
Top things to see in Yokohama
Yokohama Chinatown
Food & culture- Area
- 📍 Motomachi-Chukagai Station (Minatomirai Line)
Japan’s largest Chinatown, packed with restaurants, street-food stands and the colorful Kanteibyo temple. Come hungry and graze: steamed buns and dumplings from street windows are part of the fun.
Red Brick Warehouse
Shopping & events- Area
- 📍 Bashamichi / Minatomirai stations
Two restored brick customs warehouses now filled with shops and restaurants, with seasonal events in the plaza between them. Free to enter.
CupNoodles Museum Yokohama
Museum- Price
- 💴 ¥500 (high school and under free)
- Area
- 📍 8 min walk from Minatomirai or Bashamichi
A playful museum about instant ramen, where you can design and fill your own cup (a separate paid, numbered ticket). Open 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00). Closed Tuesdays (the next day if Tuesday is a holiday) and over New Year.
Yamashita Park & Hikawa Maru
Waterfront- Price
- 💴 Ship ¥300
- Area
- 📍 Motomachi-Chukagai Station
A seaside park facing the bay, with the 1930 ocean liner Hikawa Maru moored alongside. The ship is open 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed Mondays; cash only.
Osanbashi Pier
Viewpoint- Area
- 📍 Nihon-odori Station
The cruise terminal’s wooden, wave-shaped rooftop is open around the clock and free — one of the best spots to see the Minato Mirai skyline at night.
Sankeien Garden
Japanese garden- Price
- 💴 ¥900
- Area
- 📍 Honmoku (bus from Yokohama or Sakuragicho)
A large traditional garden with historic buildings moved here from Kyoto and elsewhere, including a three-story pagoda. Open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed at the very end of December.
Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
Food museum- Price
- 💴 ¥450
- Area
- 📍 5 min walk from Shin-Yokohama Station
A recreated 1958 Tokyo street with ramen shops from around Japan, serving smaller tasting bowls so you can try several. Handy if you’re passing through Shin-Yokohama on the shinkansen.
A one-day Yokohama plan
- Late morning: train to Minatomirai. Walk the waterfront to the CupNoodles Museum (not on Tuesdays).
- Lunch: walk on to the Red Brick Warehouse, then along the bay to Yamashita Park.
- Afternoon: Chinatown for a long, snacking stroll.
- Sunset: Osanbashi Pier for the skyline lighting up, or a ride on the Air Cabin.
- Evening: back to Tokyo in 30–40 minutes.
Where to stay in Yokohama
- Minato Mirai — modern hotels with bay views, close to the waterfront sights.
- Kannai / Chinatown — older streets, lots of places to eat, and an easy walk to the harbor.
- Yokohama Station — the best train links, including to Kamakura and Hakone for the next day.
When to visit Yokohama
Yokohama is a year-round city trip. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking the waterfront. Winter brings illuminations and a Christmas market at the Red Brick Warehouse. Weekends are busy in Chinatown and Minato Mirai, so come on a weekday if you can.
Yokohama FAQ
How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Yokohama?
About 26–30 minutes from Tokyo Station on the JR Tokaido Line, and about 27–30 minutes from Shibuya on the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line or the Tokyu Toyoko Line. No reservation is needed.
Is Yokohama worth visiting from Tokyo?
Yes, especially for food and the waterfront. It feels more relaxed than Tokyo, and its Chinatown and harbor have no real equivalent in the capital.
Can I see Yokohama in half a day?
A half day covers Minato Mirai and Chinatown on foot. A full day lets you add the CupNoodles Museum, Sankeien Garden, and the skyline at night.
Is the Landmark Tower observation deck open?
No. The Sky Garden closed at the end of 2025 for renovation and is not expected to reopen before 2028. Osanbashi Pier's rooftop is a free alternative for skyline views.