Just 30 minutes from Tokyo, Yokohama offers a perfect day trip filled with waterfront views, historic neighborhoods, and delicious food. This vibrant port city combines modern attractions with rich cultural heritage, making it an ideal escape from the busy streets of Tokyo.
The fastest route is taking the JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo Station to Yokohama Station, which takes about 25 minutes and costs around 470 yen. If you have a JR Pass, this ride is covered.
Another popular option is the Minatomirai Line, which takes you directly to the waterfront area. From Shibuya, you can take the Tokyu Toyoko Line, which connects seamlessly to the Minatomirai Line.
Many visitors also enjoy taking organized Yokohama day tours from Tokyo that include transportation and a guide. These tours eliminate any navigation stress and often include multiple attractions in one package, making them a great value for first-time visitors.
Start your day at Yokohama Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Japan. Arrive around 9:30 AM when shops and restaurants begin opening. The neighborhood features colorful gates, traditional Chinese temples, and over 500 shops and restaurants.
Visit Kanteibyo Temple, a beautiful Taoist temple dedicated to the Chinese god Guan Yu. Entry is free, and the ornate decorations and peaceful atmosphere make it worth a stop. Nearby, you'll find the Yokohama Mazu Temple, another stunning religious site.
For breakfast or an early lunch, try nikuman (steamed pork buns) from street vendors, or sit down for dim sum at one of the many restaurants. Hungry Tiger and Manchinrou are popular choices with English menus available.
Exploring Chinatown typically takes about 2 hours. The narrow streets are perfect for wandering, shopping for souvenirs, and sampling different Chinese-Japanese fusion foods.
After Chinatown, take a 5-minute walk to Yamashita Park, a beautiful waterfront park stretching along Yokohama Bay. This park offers stunning views of the harbor, the Bay Bridge, and ships coming in and out of port.
Walk along the promenade and look for the Hikawa Maru, a retired ocean liner permanently docked at the park. You can board the ship and explore its interior for 300 yen. The ship operated from 1930 to 1960 and gives you a glimpse into luxury ocean travel.
The park also features beautiful gardens, sculptures, and plenty of benches where you can rest and enjoy the sea breeze. Street performers often entertain visitors on weekends.
From Yamashita Park, it's a pleasant 15-minute walk along the waterfront to the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. These two historic buildings date back to the early 1900s and have been converted into a shopping and entertainment complex.
Inside, you'll find boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, and event spaces. The warehouse hosts seasonal events throughout the year, including beer gardens in summer and Christmas markets in winter. Even if you don't shop, the historic architecture and waterfront location make it worth visiting.
Grab lunch at one of the restaurants here. Bills Yokohama offers excellent pancakes and Australian-style brunch, while Marine & Walk Yokohama nearby has many dining options with ocean views.
Head to the Minato Mirai 21 district, Yokohama's modern business and entertainment center. The name means "Harbor of the Future," and the area lives up to it with futuristic skyscrapers and attractions.
Visit the Landmark Tower, once Japan's tallest building. Take the Sky Garden elevator to the 69th floor for panoramic views of Yokohama, Tokyo, and on clear days, even Mount Fuji. The observation deck costs 1,000 yen, and the elevator reaches the top in just 40 seconds.
If you're interested in art, stop by the Yokohama Museum of Art. The museum features both Japanese and Western art from the modern period. Entry is around 500 yen for the permanent collection.
Many visitors combine their Yokohama experience with a Tokyo city tour that includes multiple destinations in one day, making it easy to see more without the stress of planning.
For something fun and unique, visit the Cup Noodles Museum. This interactive museum celebrates instant ramen and its inventor, Momofuku Ando. Entry costs 500 yen.
The highlight is creating your own custom cup noodles. You design the cup, choose your soup flavor, and select from various toppings. This activity costs an additional 400 yen but makes a great souvenir and is incredibly popular with visitors of all ages.
The museum also has a tasting room where you can try noodles from around the world, and exhibits showing the history of instant ramen. Plan to spend about 90 minutes here.
As the sun sets, head to Cosmo World, a small amusement park in the heart of Minato Mirai. Entry to the park is free, and you pay per ride. The main attraction is the Cosmo Clock 21, a giant Ferris wheel that lights up beautifully at night.
A ride on the Ferris wheel costs 900 yen and offers stunning nighttime views of Yokohama's illuminated skyline. The wheel reaches 112 meters high, and one rotation takes about 15 minutes.
For dinner, you have countless options in the Minato Mirai area. Queen's Square Yokohama has multiple floors of restaurants serving everything from Japanese cuisine to international dishes. The nearby World Porters shopping mall also has a floor dedicated to restaurants with ocean views.
If you want to end the day experiencing local nightlife, the Noge district offers traditional izakayas and bars popular with locals. Many Tokyo night tours include stops at similar atmospheric neighborhoods.
Yokohama works well as part of a multi-destination day trip. Many travelers visit Kamakura in the morning to see the Great Buddha and temples, then head to Yokohama for the afternoon and evening.
Another popular combination is visiting Yokohama before or after a Hakone trip, especially if you're staying overnight in Hakone. The travel route connects well with Hakone tours that depart from Tokyo.
Some visitors also combine Yokohama with a Tokyo Bay cruise or a trip to Enoshima Island, creating a full day of coastal experiences.
