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Sky Duck - See The Best Of Yokohama On Land And Sea!

There are many sightseeing spots in Yokohama's Minato Mirai area. If you ride the Sky Duck, you'll be able to see the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse and Landmark Tower from both land and sea. This article introduces what you can see on this amphibious bus tour, and where and how to buy tickets.

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Sky Duck: A Bus that Navigates on Land and Water

Sky Duck is an amphibious sightseeing bus that operates in Tokyo's Odaiba and Yokohama's Minato Mirai area. This unique vehicle gives visitors a one-of-a-kind tour around the water and land.

Because you can embark on a drive and cruise in one tour, it is highly popular among travelers who want to cover all the sightseeing areas on a single trip.

On this occasion, our writer hopped onboard the Sky Duck Yokohama , which services the coastal Minato Mirai area of Yokohama. Read for more on what to expect on the Sky Duck's and recommendations to enjoy the tour even more.

1. Enjoy the Best of Yokohama's Land and Sea

Photo by Pixta

Sky Duck Yokohama conducts tours around Minato Mirai, Bashamichi, and other sightseeing spots in the Yokohama area.

The Minato High Collar Course operates in this area during the afternoon while the Twilight Cruise follows the same route and allows passengers to enjoy the cityscape at night. Prices for both courses are 3,500 yen for adults and 1,700 yen for children (tax included).

This writer selected the Minato High Collar Course, which departs from a spot near Nippon Maru Memorial Park . This embarkation point is directly beside the Yokohama Landmark Tower .

Picture courtesy of Hinomaru Limousine Co. Ltd.

After hopping aboard, the Sky Duck travels as a bus for the first ten minutes or so. The passenger seats are located 3.8 meters above the ground.

Compared to a car, passengers sit up high in the bus and can take in magnificent views of the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, Yokohama Cosmo World, and other famous sightseeing spots from here.

When the drive is complete, the bus will dive into the sea and convert into a sightseeing boat.

While floating on the water, you'll be able to travel around a handful of beloved sightseeing spots such as the Red Brick Warehouse, Osanbashi Pier, and Yokohama Landmark Tower.

As you can see buildings and parts structures that aren't easily visible from land, tour-goers can enjoy close-up views of uncommon scenery, like the back of bridges. The sightseeing cruise lasts about 50 minutes .

There are numerous tour buses and pleasure boats in Yokohama. If you're wondering which one to choose, we recommend the Sky Duck because it allows tourists to embark on both types of sightseeing on a single trip!

2. Splash into the Water

Passengers on the sightseeing tour become overwhelmed with excitement when the Sky Duck splashes into the ocean .

After a short drive on land, the tour guide will let out a shout before the Sky Duck dives into the water! As a result, the sea spray from the waves will splash almost as far up to the windows. Both children and adults alike will break into cheers and shouts of joy!

The water spray only lasts for an instant, so we suggest capturing the moment on video instead of a photo.

Sky Duck's windows remain open and uncovered so that the outside wind can flow through the boat. While water rarely comes inside, please be aware that passengers sitting in the front row might get wet depending on the wind's direction.

3. Yokohama Tour Guides - Listen to Stories Even Locals Have Never Heard

Introducing sightseeing information on Yokohama, Sky Duck's well-informed tour guides share stories unfamiliar even to some locals. The guides give their presentations in Japanese, so international visitors without language skills should come with a Japanese friend to make it more enjoyable.

On the day our writer joined the tour, the guides told an interesting story concerning three historic Yokohama buildings: the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office , Yokohama Customs , and Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall .

The Port Opening Memorial Hall, one of the Yokohama Santo (Yokohama Three Towers) Photo by Pixta

These buildings are referred to as the Yokohama Santo , or Yokohama Three Towers.

As the story goes, sailors departing from the harbor would often look back at the three towers and pray for everyone's safe return back to Yokohama. It is said that if you look at the three towers simultaneously, your wishes will be granted!

Sky Duck currently has a team of 15 tour guides (as of August 2019) who each do their own unique and original sightseeing presentation. They often present their information in conjunction with the four seasons and ongoing local events. The tour is guaranteed to be both informative and enjoyable no matter how many times you ride.

Ride the 10:00 Sky Duck and Enjoy Yokohama Sightseeing

The Minato High Collar Course operates three or four tours from 10:00–16:00 every day, and the Twilight Cruise is offered once daily starting at 17:00.

Tour times can sometimes change depending on the day, so we recommend checking the official homepage (Japanese) for the latest information and updates.

As far as time schedules go, we recommend taking the tour that departs at 10:00 . Even during the summer, the sun's rays won't be too intense in the morning, allowing you to enjoy your sightseeing pleasantly.

Also, if you discover a spot that particularly interests you, it's easy to return after disembarking and do some additional exploring on your own. For visitors who wish to make the best use of their time, the 10:00 course is highly recommended.

How to Make Sky Duck Reservations and Buy Tickets

Lastly, we'll explain how to purchase a Sky Duck ticket. You can either buy a same-day ticket or make a reservation ahead of time on the official homepage.

Purchasing Same-Day Tickets at the Counter

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter located near Sky Duck's departure point.

The closest station to the ticket counter is JR Sakuragicho Station .

From Sakuragicho Station's south ticket gate, leave the station from the east exit and go in the direction of the giant Ferris wheel and the Landmark Tower building. You'll see a building decorated with the design of a whale's tail. This is the ticket counter for Sky Duck.

Inside the building, there's a ticket counter adjoining a waiting area. Here you can purchase your ticket. International staff also work here, so depending on the day you can also have service provided in English.

For those interested, you can pick up an English map showing the sightseeing routes on this tour! The starting point for the bus tour is directly in front of the ticket counter. After purchasing your ticket, please wait nearby for the trip to begin.

Reserving Tickets Ahead of Time on the Official Homepage

Sky Duck can sometimes be fully booked on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and when events are being held in Minato Mirai. When buying same-day tickets, it might be difficult to get your preferred boarding time.

If you've decided on your desired day and time, it's best to make reservations ahead of time on the official homepage.

The reservations page is in Japanese, so we suggest asking a Japanese friend to either assist you or use Google translation.

Ten minutes before departure, you'll need to check-in at the ticket counter mentioned above. This check-in is a required procedure for all passengers, so please make sure not to miss this.

Take in Yokohama From Aboard the Sky Duck

Being able to enjoy the sights from both a bus and boat is unique to the Sky Duck. Please board the Sky Duck and enjoy an exciting day of Yokohama sightseeing!

Skyduck Yokohama ticket office / boarding area

Main image by Pixta

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Yokohama Tours

Book a private yokohama tour with a local tour guide.

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Yokohama Highlights Tours

Best Memories of Yokohama

In this tour, you will visit the most impressive places in yokohama including sky garden of landmark tower, sankei-en japanese garden where you can experience the tea ceremony, and having a delicious lunch at my favorite restaurant. you can choose one place from the options in the itinerary during 15:00 to 16:00. i was born and grew up in yokohama and i am sure this tour will become a good memory of your travel in japan..

Yokohama, Now & Then

Only a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo, you can reach the unique cosmopolitan city of Yokohama. Yokohama has two faces: modern and classical. In this tour you can enjoy a modern life at Minato Mirai 21 and a classical one at Yamate Heights and China town. MM21 is a national project, starting in 1984, to create a new city at its waterfront, suitable for the 21st century. Yamate Heights, an old European settlement on a hill, preserves beautiful European style houses.

Highlights of Yokohama & The Great Buddha of Kamakura

We will visit the great buddha of kamakura and the highlights of your choice in yokohama. it's possible to visit shinyokohama ramen museum to try some ramens from all over japan..

Scenic Yokohama Walking Tour - 4 hours

Yokohama is a beautiful harbor city with mix of historical and modern buildings, and chinatown with its genuine chinese flavors .excellent views and plenty of photo opps. it's just only 30 minutes away from tokyo by train. tour a is a walking tour with some options. tour b (sankeien garden) is highly recommended if you're not going to either kamakura or kyoto. additional options d, e , f, g & h are very unique, too. combination of a & b (7 hours tour) is available. see you in yokohama.

Yokohama Day Trip Tours

The Real Yokohama - Memories of Beautiful Harbor City -

Yokohama is a beautiful harbor city, having a distinguished and exotic atmosphere as an international port. just a half hour train ride away from tokyo, you can reach japan’s 2nd largest city where multi cultures coexist. we go around the bay area of yokohama, viewing the cityscapes retaining historical buildings, visiting various sites, malls and japan’s largest chinatown, in the sea breeze..

Yokohama Highlight ７hour tour with Government Licensed Guide

Highlight 7 hour tour of yokohama, a beautiful harbor city, including harbor view park, china town (the biggest china town in the world), yamashita park (ocean front park) , and observatory of land mark tower (2nd highest building-300m) the itinerary can be customized depending on your preference. - harbor view park: located on the top of hill, can see magnificent harbor view - china town: the biggest china town in the world, over 30 restaurants. - yamashita park: excellent seaside park.

Kamakura, Yokohama one day tour

Are you interested in kamakura, an old town with a lot of buddhist temples and maybe you would like to visit an old port yokohama. you do not need to choose one you can make tours in kamakura and yokohama one day. a yokohama native guide will show you around both cities efficiently..

Yokohama Highlight one day trip with Government Licensed Guide

Highlight one day tour of yokohama, a beautiful harbor city, including sankeien garden (beautiful landscaped garden with plenty of nature and historical architecture), china town (the biggest china town in the world), harbor view park, and observatory of land mark tower (2nd highest building-300m) the itinerary can be customized depending on your preference. - sankeien garden: beautiful landscape garden with a lot of plants & traditional old houses - harborview park: can see a magnificent view, yokohama shore excursion tours.

Tours for those who take a cruise tour to/from Yokohama

This tour is those who take a cruise tour from yokohama including pick up from your hotel and check-in at your cruising pier in yokohama.you can choose from three routes; tokyo, yokohama, and kamakura.you can keep your luggage either at your hotel or at a cloak counter in yokohama..

Yokohama Shore Excursion

This is a one-day shore excursion for those who visit yokohama port during your cruise overseas. during the limited time see the must-see sites and experience some attractions of your interest. yokohama is the second largest city in japan with a population of about 3.8 million. it is the first port which opened to the world after a long seclusion policy by the last samurai government (tokugawa shogunate). enjoy both historical sites and newly developed seafront center..

Tokyo Highlights Tour from Yokohama

This tour is perfect for those coming to yokohama. tokyo is one hour away from yokohama by train. there are a lot of attractive places and things to do. we'll go around the city by the world's most reliable public transportation, visiting bustling areas and cool sites, seeking traces of feudal ages and getting in touch with cultural aspects. this tour can be customized according to your requests. please let me know your ideas in advance. i will offer you a tailor-made itinerary., yokohama nature & outdoor tours.

Yokohama's nice photo taking place

Many people visit yokohama to enjoy nice view of port ,bridge, historical buildings and parks. but not many people know good place to take pictures. i will show you nice places to take pictures while enjoying sightseeing , food and talking . please join me, to make your travel more memorable one..

This Is Your Exotic Tour In Yokohama

I will guide you scrolling around the japanese landscape garden, where you can experience the tea ceremony and taste powdered green tea, within three hours. you will feel relaxed in very greenery atmosphere and the beauty of japanese cultures. after the sightseeing of the garden, i would recommend to visit at china town. you will find the aspects of the international town of yokohama..

Yokohama Food & Drink Tours

Yokohama Ramen Tour

Ramen noodle is now a world famous japanese cuisine. yokohama is one of the most popular city for ramen. ramen museum and cup noodle museum are well-known spots in yokohama. near yokohama station stands yoshimura-ya ramen house, whose owner,mr.yoshimura, is the founder of e.a.k.ramen of yokohama. let’s enjoy ramen noodles along with popular tourist spots in yokohama..

Yokohama Bar Hopping

This tour is a evening time tour to enjoy the food & drinks in [noge area] in yokohama. the area has good izakaya pubs and bars lined up in the small town. this area is the yokohama version of the bar area in shinjuku and yokohama is also known as one of the first port to start trading with european companies so there is a lot of influence from over seas from 1800’s..

Yokohama Art, Culture, & Historical Tours

Yokohama trip "how this Harbor City was created "

I would like you to enjoy the real yokohama, it's not just shopping, shrine and temple but yokohama is a unique hot place where you can feel very energetic and relaxed simultaneously. as a yokohama native, i will be able to meet any of your requirements as best as i possibly can. yokohama is a historic place, a unique culturally hot place, an entertainment place (for experience, visit ramen museum in shin-yokohama to experience how to make ramen etc.). let's enjoy together.

Yokohama Unique Experience Tours

Tea ceremony, Origami and Furoshiki Experience

Are you interested in experiencing authentic japanese arts and culture enjoy three traditional japanese arts such as, the tea ceremony, origami (traditional art of folding papers) and furoshiki (wrapping square cloths) in a traditional japanese room. you will not only enjoy watching the works of the master, but will enjoy creating arts of holding papers and wrapping things with furoshiki yourself. total experience time is 2.5 hours..

Day Trips from Yokohama

Yokohama Tour Reviews

Yokohama Port: Tokyo private customize tour for 4 hours

“ Drive To Selected Places un Yokohama ”

Driver was prompt and met us at cruise terminal as promised. He spoke a good English so we were able to communicate with no problems. He dropped us off at the airport in time for our flight and was very helpful in getting us a luggage cart. Job well done!!

Fuji limousine service J.

Thank you for your review, we are very glad that you had a really good time. we will forward your comments to the driver. And we are looking forward to meeting you next time.

“ Yokohama was better than I expected because of Kaneo ”

Kaneo-San was very professional, resourceful and knowledgeable about the history of the places we visited. He helped us select some of the most interesting and beautiful places to see in Yokohama, one of them was the Sankeien Garden. It is a must see garden with beautiful ponds, different species of cherry blossom trees, historical houses representing different periods in Japan brought from different parts of Japan such as old farm houses, tea ceremonial house and the oldest temple constructed in 1400s brought in from Kyoto.. it is an open air museum ! Last but not least, Kaneo-San went out of his way to help my sister to pick up a purchase she has made from the Red Brick Warehouse! He was so flexible with the itinerary and adjusted it based on the weather. We had such a good time with Kaneo-San and grateful for his guiding. We definitely will recommend him to anyone who wants a competent, kind and reliable guide to show them Yokohama.

Thank you for sending a really good review. I hope the leather case your sister bought will be a good reminder of this tour.

Customized Tour in Yokohama for Mr. Norman H. - 9 Hours

“ This man does his homework ”

My wife and I booked with Ken at Yokohama pre-cruise and he came prepared with notebook in hand. Despite our impulsive changes on the fly he knew how to compensate venues and was very patient every step of the way. His English was totally understandable as well.

Thank you very much for your wonderful remarks. I hope you found Yokohama is an attractive city where tells you the history of Japan's modernization from the Edo period to the current, and toward the future. Because the city was one of the ports that started trading with other countries from the end of the Edo period, it retains multi-cultural features, Japanese, Western and Chinese as you eye witnessed. Although it was a full-day tour, it was not enough for me to introduce the charms of the city. I am looking forward to having you here again!

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Cruising the Waters of Yokohama

A short boat ride that will last forever in one's heart

Not many of us would include Yokohama by default or voluntarily on the must-visit list while traveling in Japan. As a result, not many of us would be aware that Tokyo's closest neighbor has many views that can make people stand in awe just seeing them. One of those is the panoramic scenery that you can enjoy in the area of Yokohama Port, which can be even more special if you relish it on a boat ride.

Minato Mirai is one of Yokohama's best deals. The area can be considered as the champion of the city's attraction list because while it's totally free of charge and is strategically located in the heart of Yokohama, the atmosphere coming out of this place is different compared to the ones you can find in Tokyo. I have experienced it myself, and not only on foot (because of course, it's a good method to make the most of the waterfront), but also literally in the middle of its waters, using one of the city's methods of public transport known as the " Sea Bass ".

Despite the short ride from Minato Mirai to the pier in Yamashita Park (located not so far from Yokohama Chinatown ), I was treated to a spectacular view of the waterfront, complete with Yokohama's iconic skyscrapers lining up gallantly in the background. As if it wasn't enough, Yokohama turned its sky to some dramatic dusk hues. There were striking shades of purple, decorated with glittering lights from the buildings and Ferris wheel off in the distance. With the breeze coming from the port, the 10-minute long boat ride across Yokohama Harbor that evening eventually became one of the most amazing boat rides I had ever experienced.

Getting there

From Yokohama Station, the Minato Mirai area is just 15 to 20 minutes away on foot. If you are planning to catch the "Sea Bass" straight away, the first pier is located just at the east exit of Yokohama Station.

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Yokohama, Japan – 33 Things To Do Guide + Photos 2024

This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Say yes to Yokohama, Japan’s second biggest city which has transformed its historic port area into a huge array of attractions. From Japan’s largest Chinatown to the gorgeous Red Brick Warehouse, there are so many things to do in Yokohama.

So what is Yokohama famous for? From cable cars to craft beer bars, Ferris wheels to fine food (plus a sky deck offering incredible views of Mount Fuji), there is something to suit all tastes and budgets in Yokohama.

Given all the theme-parks and fun waterfront attractions, Yokohama is suitable for all ages and you can shop ‘til you drop in Yokohama with many malls and seaside shopping centres.

A short train ride from Tokyo , this is our ultimate guide to visiting the coastal city of Yokohama in Japan in 2024:

SKIP TO THINGS TO DO IN YOKOHAMA LIST >

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Yokohama things to do map

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How to get to Yokohama from Tokyo

The best way to reach Yokohama from Tokyo is to take the Tokaido Shinkansen high-speed rail from Tokyo Station to Shin-Yokohama Station . The journey takes just 18 minutes and the trains leave every 15-30 minutes.

A one-way ticket for a reserved seat is 3,210 yen; and 1,380 yen for an unreserved seat. If you have a Japan Rail Pass then this route is included.

To transfer to downtown Yokohama, take the Yokohama Subway blue line to Yokohama Station.

Alternatively you can take a regular express train from Tokyo direct to downtown Yokohama:

From Tokyo station (27-45 mins, 470 yen) – Take the JR Tokaido line (orange) , Yokosuka line (blue) or Keihin-Tohoku line (light blue) to Yokohama Station.

From Shinjuku station (30 mins, 560 yen) – Take the Shonan-Shinjuku Line (red) to Yokohama Station.

From Akihabara station (45 mins, 560 yen) – Take the Keihintohoku Line (light blue) to Yokohama Station.

From Shibuya station (27 mins, 270-390 yen) – Take the Tokyu-Toyoko Line (pink) or Shonan-Shinjuku Line (red) to Yokohama Station.

BRAND NEW FOR MAY 2024 Join our Facebook Japan Travel Tips Group! Need help with your Japan itinerary or have any questions? Head on over to our Facebook group and ask the experts! Click here to join our group >

Where to stay in Yokohama

Hotel Plumm Contemporary hotel with stylish rooms close to Yokohama Station. Facilities include two on-site restaurants, cafe/bar and hot tub. Check out prices and availability for Hotel Plumm

Hotel Edit Yokohama Stylish boutique hotel located in the centre of Minato Mirai. Facilities include an on-site restaurant, shops, bar and 24-hour library space.  Check out prices and availability for Hotel Edit Yokohama

APA Hotel & Resort Yokohama Bay Tower Popular chain hotel with amazing views from the higher floor rooms. Facilities include a spa with 10 open-air baths, indoor and outdoor pool and a fitness center.  Check rates and availability for APA Hotel & Resort Yokohama Bay Tower

Yokohama Royal Park Hotel Sleek hotel located above the 52nd floor of Yokohama Landmark Tower. All rooms have views of the city or the Bay Bridge. Facilities include an indoor pool, fitness centre, beauty shop, six restaurants and two bars. Check out prices and availability for Yokohama Royal Park Hotel

Intercontinental Yokohama Grand Hotel set in a modern sail-shaped building offering views of Yokohama Harbour. Facilities include a 31st-floor Chinese restaurant, indoor pool, on-site shops and a spa. Check out prices and availability for Intercontinental Yokohama Grand

The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu Located in the heart of the Minato-Mirai area, this spacious and luxurious hotel has beautiful bay views. Facilities include four restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, spa and gym. Check out prices and availability for The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu

Hotel New Grand This ornate hotel was built in 1927 and has panoramic views of the port. Rooms have large windows offering ocean or city views, and facilities include a hot tub, spa, grand banquet hall, cafe, two bars and four restaurants. Check out prices and availability for Hotel New Grand

Hyatt Regency Chic hotel located in Chinatown near the Yokohama Marine Tower. Facilities include a grill restaurant, buffet eatery, bar and fitness centre. Check out prices and availability for Hyatt Regency Yokohama

Japan checklist We love using booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels. For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide , Viator or Klook .

Things to do in Yokohama

1. yokohama chinatown (横浜中華街).

The largest Chinatown in Japan, Yokohama’s vibrant and colourful Chinese neighbourhood was developed after Yokohama’s port opened to foreign trade in 1859 which attracted many Chinese people to settle in the city.

Today you’ll find a large number of food stands lining the narrow streets, plus around 500 restaurants – many of which offer all-you-can-eat deals.

Visiting Chinatown is a real culinary treat and popular food items you must try include panda-man (panda-shaped steamed buns), koshou mochi (Taiwanese black pepper buns), Peking duck wraps , xaio long bao (soup dumplings) and milk tea.

There are some examples of amazing traditional Chinese architecture located throughout the neighbourhood such as Kanteibyo Temple , plus four main gates on the edge of Chinatown marking the various entrances (each of which stands for the four different directions).

Although there is a lively atmosphere during the day, we also recommend exploring Chinatown at night when all the lanterns and neon lights are lit up.

We were fortunate enough to visit Yokohama’s Chinatown during Chinese New Year and it was one of our most joyful Japanese experiences, with thousands of lanterns adorning the streets, colourful dancing dragon performances and special ceremonies in the temples.

You might like – 30+ Things to do in Ginza, Tokyo >

2. Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama

Oodles of instant noodles! No trip to Yokohama in Japan is complete without a trip to the famous Nissin Cup Noodles Museum in the port area.

An interactive experience inspired by Japan’s iconic original instant noodles, the Cup Noodles Museum is a must visit for any cup noodle converts.

From the design your own instant cup noodle to one of Japan’s most quirky gift-shops and themed food-courts (World Noodles Road), there are many fun things to do (and eat!) in the museum.

From admission prices to the epic exhibits (and tips on booking in advance), read our ultimate floor-by-floor guide to visiting the Cup Noodles Museum here >

Opening Hours : 10am – 6pm (Last admission is at 5pm). The museum is closed every Tuesday. Admission fee: Adults (500 yen); children (free)

Try this – Top Japanese Experiences by city with Klook >

3. Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

If you love your noodles (who doesn’t eh?), also make time to visit Yokohama’s other famous noodle museum – the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum.

Like the Cup Noodles Museum, the Shin-Yokohama Ramen also offers delicious tasting menus and immersive sets.

The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum celebrates various ramen types and noodles from all over Japan and has a small museum.

However the best bit is the vintage food court recreation (complete with skyline) and historic street sets where you’ll find several ramen shops each selling different ramen from various Japanese prefectures and districts.

The streets are incredible with so much detail including retro shops you can visit plus a vintage ice-cream parlour.

The World’s first Ramen Museum, Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum costs 450 Yen admission per adult and 100 Yen for children (6 to 18 years) and seniors. The ramen dishes in the food court cost extra.

Opening Hours : 11am to 10pm (from 10:30am on Sunday/holidays) Admission fee: Adults (450 yen); Children 6-12 / senior (100 yen); children under 6 (free)

4. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

Two former storage warehouses built in the 19th century to store and process goods from all over the world, this prime port location has now become one of Yokohama’s top shopping spots and cultural hubs.

Yokohama’s historic red brick warehouses have now been lovingly restored into row upon row of restaurants and cute shops, selling everything from kawaii gifts to gachapons (otaku heaven).

As we based ourselves at the APA Yokohama Tower Resort , we had aerial views of the warehouses from our window and headed there most days.

As well as trendy shops like B-Side Label  or make your own terrarium boutiques(!), we found lots of restaurants to enjoy as well as a huge street food tent outside.

There are lots of events and pop-ups at the Red Brick Warehouse. We visited in January and it had a huge seasonal ice-skating rink that had popped up for Christmas time in Yokohama, Japan.

Opening Hours : 11am to 8pm

Try this – Yokohama One Day Tour with a Local >

5. Yokohama Landmark Tower viewing deck

One of our top 10 places to visit in Yokohama has to be the Yokohama Landmark Tower viewing deck located on the 69th floor and the tallest observation deck in Yokohama (once Japan’s tallest building, until it was overtaken in 2014).

We visited the Yokohama Landmark viewing tour (cost 1000 Yen per person) at dusk and were treated to sunset views of the harbour and the Cosmo 21 Wheel all lit up at night.

Better yet, we were lucky enough to see a clear sunset view of Mount Fuji in the distance; one of our most memorable nights in Japan.

The Yokohama Landmark Tower viewing deck is laid out in a circular route which also includes a small lounge area and bar / cafe.

We were lucky enough to grab one of the chairs in the window looking out directly towards Mount Fuji – this really is a million dollar view for just 1000 Yen.

Skip the line – book your Yokohama Marine Tower Observation Floor Ticket here >

Opening Hours : 10am – 9pm Admission fee: Adults (1,000 yen); High school student / senior (800 yen); elementary school student / junior high school student (500 yen); children under 4 (200 yen)

Try this – Yokohama Tours with Viator >

6. MEGA Don Quijote

Regular readers of Plan My Japan will know we are HUGE Don Quijote fans. If you are also a Don Quijote addict or occasional shopper, you’ll be glad to hear there is a massive MEGA Don Quijote in Yokohama.

Open from 9am to 4am daily, the MEGA Don Qujote Yokohama branch is one of the biggest discount stores in Japan and this particular Don Quijote has an underwater sea theme (very appropriate for Yokohama, given it is famous port city).

It even has an elevator designed to look like a submarine plus a huge aquarium featuring their main mascot, Donpen the penguin.

If you haven’t heard of this chain before, Don Quijote is Japan’s most famous discount store, and sells thousands of items generally at low prices, from sneakers to stationary, Hello Kitty to Kit Kats (plus more interesting ‘adult sections’).

You might like our guide to Don Quijote, Japan’s famous discount chain >

Opening Hours : 8am – 3am

Do you love all things Don Quijote and Don Don Donki? Join our Don Quijote and Don Don Donki Fans Facebook group!

7. Minato Mirai Manyo Club Hot Spring

Ready to splash out on a spa or jump into an onsen? The Minato Mirai Manyo Club Hot Spring is one of Yokohama’s premier spas.

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Sit back in the stone sauna room or enjoy a massage whilst listening to soothing sounds – there is also an onsite restaurant to grab some healthy snacks.

One of the most unique features at Minato Mirai Manyo Club Hot Spring is the roof deck where you can relax taking in views of the ocean and nearby Cosmo Clock 21 and Yokohama Cosmo World.

Book your discounted Yokohama Minatomirai Manyo Club Onsen Experience with Klook >

Opening Hours : 24 hours a day Admission fee: Adults: 2,950 yen, Children (Elementary School Students): 1,540 yen, Children (3 to under school age): 1,040 yen, Children under 3: Free

8. Yokohama Air Cabin Cable Cars

Up, up and away with the iconic Yokohama Air Cabin (pictures of it feature in so many tourist brochures and Yokohama souvenirs).

Billed as the world’s first urban gondola, this classy cable-car offers incredible panoramic views of Yokohama and traverses the port and coastal areas – so you’ll see a cityscape and also the sea!

Opened in 2021, the Yokohama Air Cabin is open both by day and in the evening so it is an excellent thing to do in Yokohama at night.

The 600 metre route is quite short as cable cars and air cabins go, running from JR Sakuragicho Station to Unga Park.

However, if you want to arrive at the Cup Noodles Museum or the renowned red brick warehouse in style, jump aboard the Yokohama Air Cabins.

Opening Hours : 10am-9pm Admission fee: One-way Ticket Adults (1,000 yen); children (500 yen); Round-trip Ticket Adults (1,800 yen); children (900 yen)

9. Yokohama Cosmo World

A cute and chintzy waterfront theme park, Cosmo World is a fun thing to do with kids in Yokohama (although it seems to be mainly aimed at the very little ones).

We wandered around Yokohama Cosmo World a couple of times as part of our harbour walks and it was fun to see all the rides, including remote control cars that kids can get it (including a huge Doraemon driving machine).

It isn’t no Ghibli Park but entry to Cosmo World is free with charges for rides (or park passes) – it is quite quiet in the daytime but becomes busy at night with students, teenagers and young romantic couples.

The two more adult attractions here are the roller coaster plus the ferris wheel (more on this in a moment…)

Opening Hours : Monday-Tuesday and Thursday to Friday: 11am-9pm; Saturday and Sunday: 11am-10pm Admission fee: Varies by attraction

You might like – Our review of Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse at Ghibli Park >

10. Cosmo Clock 21

Once the largest ferris wheel in the world, the Cosmo Clock 21 has been around since the late 1980s, built for a previous Yokohama Expo.

A bit like the London Eye in the UK, it was meant to be a temporary observation wheel but so loved by locals that it still lives on to this day.

Spanning 100 metres diameter and with 60 passenger cars, Cosmo Clock also lights up at all hours of the day with some incredible LED light shows.

Opening Hours : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 11am – 8pm (closed Thursday); Saturday and Sunday: 11am – 10pm Admission fee: 900 Yen

Try this – Top 10 Tokyo Mario style go-kart experiences >

11. Yokohama World Porters Mall

A stupendous shopping mall just across the road between the Cup Noodles Museum and Cosmo World, Yokohama World Porters Mall has around 200 stores and restaurants including some novelty items like a rooftop golf course and eating pods.

There are seven floors of shopping, including themed zones like Unique Casual World on level 3  (stores like Village Vanguard and HMV) and Family Paradise zone on level 2 featuring top toy shops and gachapon machines .

Level 5 is the Gourmet Zone which includes such Japanese restaurant chains as Seizeriya Italian (so cheap!) and Tonkatsu Katsuraky.

One of the interesting features of Yokohama World Porters Mall is Hawaii Town, which is decked in tiki huts, palm trees plus a Hawaiian food-court. We even saw a Haiwaan hula performance one weekend we visited (not something we expected to see in Yokohama!).

Opening Hours : 10.30am – 9pm

12. Yokohama Bandai Namco Cross Store

Love gachapon ? Then the Yokohama branch of Bandi Namco Cross store is for you, with thousands of gachapons under one roof – Yokohama Bandai Namco Cross store is one of the largest gachapon shops in Japan and will tickle your inner ‘otaku’.

Located on level 2 of World Porters Mall, this is the best place to get trading cards like One Piece. Most capsule toys cost around the 300 to 400 Yen mark.

Gachapon are vending machines that dispense capsule toys in a small round plastic case. From scaled down sauna animals to small sushi conveyor belts, here is our guide to the gachapon stores in Japan and our favourite and most unusual gashapon capsule toys >

13. Yokohama Museum of Art

The Yokohama Museum of Art is closed until mid March 2024 for a huge refurbishment programme.

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, the Yokohama Museum of Art celebrates his legacy with a huge collection of photography and modern art.

The museum focuses on local and Japanese artists with links to the city including Chizuko Yoshida, Kanzan Shimomura and Imamura Shiko.

Opening Hours : 10am – 6pm (Last admission 30 minutes before closing) Admission fee: Varies depending on the exhibition

Try this – Kimono rental in Yokohama >

14. Yokohama Stadium

If you want to see a baseball game in Japan, Yokohama has one of Japan’s biggest baseball arenas, the Yokohama Stadium which is home to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.

Baseball is a big hitter in Japan and one of their biggest sports to watch in person or on the television (you’ll see it on the TV in bars and pubs too). The NPB baseball season in Japan typically runs from late March through to October.

Yokohama Stadium was opened in 1978 and seats around 34,000 baseball fans when at capacity.

In the past, it has also hosted international music stars for sell out concerts like Tina Turner, Prince, Michael Jackson and more recently, Japanese idol bands like AKB48.

Try this – Top Japan Sporting Events with Viator >

15. Disney Harvest Market Cafe

On the subject of Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, inside you’ll also see the Yokohama branch of the rather dazzling Disney Harvest Market Cafe (there is another branch in Shibuya, Tokyo).

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A healthy living concept diner with a dash of Disney, the House of Mouse is packed full of your favourites characters with a huge gift shop too.

The Disney Harvest Market Cafe often has seasonal specials (plus an awesome afternoon tea) and is a great place to dine with children or Disney devotees.

Opening Hours : Monday-Tuesday: 11am-9pm; Wednesday-Friday: 10am-9pm; Saturday: 10am-10pm; Sunday: 10am-9pm

16. Nippon Maru Ship / Yokohama Port Museum

Located in Yokohama’s port area, the Nippon Maru is a vintage vessel and sailing ship that was built in the 1930s as a training ship for Japanese cadets.

Popular with school groups and maritime enthusiasts, the Nippon Maru Ship is part of the Yokohama Port Museum which details the rich history of the area, one of Japan’s most important port and trading areas in years gone by.

Although the ship no longer sails on a regular basis, you can go aboard the Nippon Maru Ship for 400 Yen or combine it with the museum for a fee of 600 Yen.

Opening Hours : 10am – 5pm (closed on Mondays) Admission fee: Ship Only: 400 Yen; Museum Only: 400 Yen; Ship & Museum: 600 Yen

You might like – Guide to Uji, Kyoto’s most beautiful riverside town >

Brewery Tours and Craft Beer Bars

Yokohama is the perfect place to visit for Japanese craft beer connoisseurs  – it is also home to one of the cheapest brewery tours in Japan costing just 500 Yen including lots of beer.

Often referred to as Japan’s ‘City of Beer’, raise a glass to Yokohama and check out these craft beer bars and late night pubs:

17. Kirin Brewery Tour and Factory

‘Kanpai’ to the Kirin Brewery Tour in Yokohama, Japan – a fun and cheap way to try lots of Japanese beers and walk around an actual brewery, learning about the brewing process.

Many Asian breweries offer brewery tours but the Yokohama Kirin Brewery Tour is one of the best beer and tasting tours in Japan.

The tour lasts 90 minutes (plus ample beer drinking time) and costs only 500 Yen (as of early 2024).

Kirin Brewery Village in Yokohama is home to the Kirin Brewery tour plus a tasting bar and boozy gift shop.

Read our guide to the Kirin Brewery Village and Kirin Brewery Tour in Yokohama here >

Opening Hours : Tuesday – Sunday; 10am – 4pm (tour), 11am – 10pm (restaurant) Admission fee: Adults (500 yen); children under 19 (free)

18 Revo Brewing

A ‘review’ of Revo Brewing in Yokohama. Located in the basement area of our hotel ( APA Hotel and Resort Tower Yokohama ), the Revo Brewing taproom serves up a huge range of own-brewed craft beers plus has an industrial interior.

The Revo Brewing Yokohama bar offers a nice lookout of the cable cars and the Cosmic Clock 21 ferris wheel – we are talking serious brews with views!

The bar has lots of nice flourishes and features like the heart-shaped beer can holder on the wall plus has a huge food menu with beer pairing.

Opening Hours : 11.30am to 9pm

Try this – Yokohama Private Food Tours with a Local >

19. Yokohama Brewery

The original Yokohama Brewery was high on our Yokahama craft beer hit-list and we had such a fun night working outr way through the taps.

Located across two floors, Yokohama brewery has a cute and compact brewery bar on the ground floor plus a much bigger restaurant (‘Umayano-Shokutaku’ and seating area on the upper levels).

The original Yokohama Brewery was established in 1999 and such is the following, it even has a gift-shop and beery merchandise you can take home.

There are around a dozen or so beers on tap at Yokohama Brewery, costing 800 Yen for medium pours or 1100 Yen for large beers (for their core / standard range).

We liked the old-school chalkboard menu behind the bar so we could choose which craft beers to go for  plus the vasy menu with tasting notes.

The bar staff at Yokohama Brewery were also very warm and welcoming. If you only go to one craft beer brewery in  Japan’s city of beer, make it the original Yokohama Brewery.

Opening Hours : Monday-Thursday 4pm – 10pm; Friday 4pm-11pm; Saturday 11.30am-10pm; Sunday 11.30am-9pm

Try this – Sweat out the beer with a session at Hot Spring RAKU SPA Tsurumi >

20. Baird’s Bashamichi Taproom

We had some ‘Baird Company’ whilst at this Yokohama Craft Beer Brewery (but in a good way).

We recently sat down at the Baird Brewery Yokohama branch in Basamichi to enjoy some Kofune Porter and Suraga Bay Fireworks IPA – at 8% ABV, it was very strong and goes off like a ‘rocket’.

Originally hailing from Numazu, Baird Brewery has around 12 core lines plus BBQ food galore – there are around 9 Baird Brewery taprooms in Japan to work your way through.

Opening Hours : Monday-Friday 5pm-11pm; Saturday 12pm-11pm; Sunday 12pm-10pm

You might like – Guide to visiting the oldest beer hall in Japan, Ginza Lion in Tokyo >

21. Yokohama British Hub Pubs

Walk around Yokohama at night and it won’t be long before you see the gleaming lights and hanging pub sign of a HUB Bar or 82 Ale House (there are four Hub Pubs in Yokohama and 2 x 82 Ale Houses).

One of Japan’s biggest bar chains with over 100 pubs, the 82 Ale House and HUB pubs are British themed pubs that have (VERY) happy hours, pub grub style food like fish and chips plus bar interiors just like British pubs.

You might like our guide to the Japanese Hub Pub chain of British style bars and Ale 82 pubs >

22. 7-Eleven Yokohama Hammerheads Craft beer store

We round up our Yokohama craft beer section with something slightly unusual.

Did you know there is a famous Japanese 7-Eleven craft beer store in Yokohama Port at the front of the Yokohama Hammerhead mall which specialises in international and Japanese craft beer?

This Yokohama 7-Eleven beer store has since gone viral featuring in numerous TikToks and online videos

We’ve visited this viral craft beer 7-Eleven and it is amazing! There are over 500 different craft beers from all over the world plus lots of beer merchandise – Yokohama is a Japan craft beer lover’s dream!

Read more in our guide to 7-Eleven’s craft beer store in Yokohama Hammerhead >

You might also like our guide to 7-Eleven stores in Japan or a guide to using 7-Eleven ATMs .

Opening Hours : 24 hours a day

Try this – Tokyo beer tasting & brewery tours with GetYourGuide >

23. Streets of Noge in Yokohama at Night

A curious curve of late night bars, secret izakayas and hidden restaurants, walk along Noge’s streets in the daytime and you’ll wonder what all the fuss is about.

However, return at night and Yokohama’s Noge district is a hotbed of hedonstic hang-outs and super cool pubs, many of which overlook the river.

A retro riverside district with vintage drinking places and dimly lit lanterns, half the fun of exploring Noge is just going from bar to bar, drinking beers and savoring yakitori skewers or noshing noodles with the occasional sake.

You might like – Things to do in Nagoya, Japan >

24. Hikawa Maru

Moored in Yokohama harbour by Yamashita Park, Hikawa Maru is a majestic cruise ship that was originally built in the 1930s which spent much of its time as a hospital ship during World War II.

It is said it carried more than 25,000 passengers when in service and Hikawa is now a permanent museum ship and floating attraction (quite close to the huge Gundam robot / mech so a rather jolly juxtaposiiton).

Opening Hours : Tuesday – Sunday; 10am-4.30pm Admission fee: Cash payment only – Adults 300 Yen; Seniors 200 Yen; Children 100 Yen

You might like – Private Helicopter Tour to see Mt Fuji or Tokyo Tower >

25. Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street

Located between Chinatown and traditional Yamate neighborhood, we discovered the Motomachi Shopping Street after a trip to the Mega Donki store nearby – the difference in shopping experiences was quite extreme!

Motomachi Shopping Street is a peaceful boulevard style shopping street full of cute cafes, stylish fashion shops and restaurant retreats.

Famous brands along Motomachi street include Fukuzo, Star Jewellery and the Tudor style Poppy Menswear (the latter could almost be a British style Japanese Hub Pub , what with its black and white wooden facade!)

26. Yamate Italian Garden / Yokohama Yamate Seiyoukan

A little bit of Italy in Yokohama, the Yamate Italian Garden has gorgeous views of the port and is just a short (but steep) walk uphill from nearby Motomachi Street.

A residential area built in the 1900s for western traders and foreign diplomats, It has lots of colourful flower beds and beautifully manicured lawns along with some wonderful water features.

Yamate Italian Garden is free to visit with several vintage villas and western style wooden houses plus various miniature recreations of huge homes and landmarks.

When we popped along, there was a huge group of elderly Japanese ladies doing watercolour paintings of the rose garden and old houses; a lovely scene and great lookout point in Yokohama.

Opening Hours : 9.30am-5pm

27. Harbor View Park Observatory

Yokohama is blessed with many viewpoints and panoramic vistas – one of the best is Harbor View Park Observatory, with a lookout facing towards Yokohama Bay Bridge and the port.

A former British Army barracks, many of the original structures and gardens have been retained including a rose garden plus an English style lawn and outhouses.

Free to visit, the Harbor View Park Observatory is a nice place to unwind after a day of sightseeing, with multiple benches to sit down on looking out over the water.

28. Yokohama Museum of Tin Toys

Home to thousands of toys from all over Japan, the Yokohama Museum of Tin Toys is easy to spot – the exterior has vintage memorabilia and signs posted all over plus a retro garage and gasoline pumping station complete with classic cars.

Founded by Teruhisa Kitahara, the Museum of Tin Toys opened in 1986. This ‘Toys Club’ is known for its gorgeous gift-shop and has everything from Godzilla to toy robots. A small admission fee applies.

Opening Hours : 9.30am-5pm Admission fee: Adults 200 Yen; children 100 Yen

29. Nogeyama Park & Nogeyama Zoo

Amazingly, the Nogeyama Zoo is free to visit and is resplendent with animals and creatures such as giraffes, lions and monkeys plus has one of the largest bird avaries we’ve seen.

Our favourite animal at the Nogeyama Zoo was the red panda who just seemed to enjoy the sunshine and wander about in his enclosure all day, striding back and forth.

You can also buy lots of furry creatures of the fluffy kind (teddies and plushies) in the zoo gift-shop.

Given the hillside setting, the views from the top are stunning and we even caught a glimpse of Mount Fuji from a nearby footbridge on our way into the zoo.

As well as the animal park, there are several lawns and gardens to explore around Nogeyama Park plus some free lookout / observation towers.

Opening Hours : 9.30am-4.30pm (closed Tuesdays) Admission fee: Free

30. Yokohama Temples and Shrines

There is a multitude of temples and shrines to explore in Yokohama, but perhaps two of Yokohama’s finest (Taoist) temples can be found downtown, in Chinatown.

The two main Chinese temples in Chinatown are the Mazu Miao temple and the Kuan Ti Miao temple.

We were lucky enough to visit both during Chinese New Year and they were a flurry of activity, festooned with red lanterns and colourful banners – both temples were free to visit and packed with workshippers.

Other renowned Buddhist temples include Shomyo Temple , Myokoji Temple  and the three storey pagoda Tomyoji temple .

31. Yokohama Marine Rouge / Sea Bass Cruise (Kanagawa)

As Yokohama is on the coast, you may want to get out on the water and see the city from the sea.

Yokohama’s Sea Bass cruise is a wining and dining experience that offers both lunchtime and night-time cruise options.

The latter evening cruise allows you to see all the main landmarks all lit up like the Marine Tower and huge Cosmo World Ferris wheel.

There are two different night cruises to choose one with the Sea Bass cruise including an epic line up of entertainment and singing every evening.

Find out more about Yokohama dinner cruises by day or night here >

32. Go on a food tour

There are lots of incredible places to eat in Yokohama, from oodles of good noodles and delicious dumplings in Chinatown to waterfront eateries or trendy diners in the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouses.

However, if you want to eat like a local or cook up your cuisine (or even make wine!), seek out of these local dining experiences and food tours:

Japanese cuisine Making tour with Wine experience by Yokohama Winery >

A Delicious Journey Through Ramen Museum with a former chef >

Yokohama Private Food Tours with a Local >

33. Gundam Factory Yokohama – closes 31 March 2024 (Unless Extended)

You used to be able to get up close to a huge Gundam robot (18 metres high!) which would also spring into life with moving parts, lights and smoke but it would appear it is set to close on March 31st 2024.

So if you’re going to Yokohama before the end of March 2024, you still have time to see Gundam Factory Yokohama. Book your tickets with Klook >

32. Other things to do in Yokohama, Japan

Save your legs and see Yokohama via a segway >

Private Room Mini Pig Cafe with Feeding Experience >

See Yokohama at night with this evening view private tour >

Private Calligraphy Salon in Yokohama >

Yokohama: Walking tour focus on 5 Architecture and history >

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You might also like

Don Quijote – Japan’s famous discount store

Odaiba, Tokyo – Things To Do + Photos 

Things to do in Nakano, Tokyo

Super Potato – Retro Game Store in Japan

Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Ghibli Park Review

Gachapons in Japan – the Coolest Gachapon Capsule Toys

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• Destinations

18 Best Things to Do in Yokohama

Things to Do in Yokohama: Chinatown, Minato Mirai 21 and more!

Yokohama is the third largest economic city in Japan after Osaka, and one of the biggest port towns in the country. The city located about 30km south of Tokyo and can be accessed within 1 hour from the city center, which makes Yokohama one of the most popular day trip destinations from the capital city. Yokohama is filled with tourist attractions and entertainments, and increasing its popularity among tourists every year.

In this article, I would like to introduce the best things to do in Yokohama including the famous waterfront view to tasty local delicacies. Let’s check them out!

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

1. The View of Waterfront Skyline

The view of Yokohama Minato Mirai district is simply breathtaking. The waterfront skyscrapers and attractions such as Landmark Tower and Cosmo Clock 21 creates astonishing scenery that changes its taste in day and night. You can stroll down through the urban district, enjoy the different view from the top of the buildings or appreciate the panoramic view of the area from the distance.

2. Red Brick Warehouse

The Red Brick Warehouse (Akarenga in Japanese)  is a popular landmark building in Yokohama Minato Mirai area. The historic building made with red bricks used to be an actual warehouse in past, and it’s been converted to one of the most popular spots in the city, serving as a complex for shipping, dining and a venue for special events such as Oktoberfest and Christmas Market. The atmospheric building is also a popular spot for photography.

Map:  http://bit.ly/30Mfqfb

3. Yokohama Landmark Tower

Yokohama Landmark Tower is a symbolic high-rise building in Minato Mirai area, Yokohama. This 296.3 m tall tower used to be the tallest building in Japan when it was built in 1993 until Abeno Harkas in Osaka was made in 2012. Landmark Tower Sky Garden Observatory is one of the highest observation decks in Japan which is situated on the top floor of the building at 273 m above the sea, and the visitors can reach there by the world’s second fastest elevator that runs 45.0 km/h (28.0 mph). The impressive view of the surrounding area can be gazed as well as the sight of Mt Fuji when visibility is good.

▶ Book Yokohama Landmark Tower Sky Garden Observatory Ticket

Map:  http://bit.ly/2XZGXYz

4. Queen’s Square Yokohama

Queen’s Square Yokohama is large shopping, dining and entertaining complex buildings standing next to the Landmark Tower in Minato Mirai area, Yokohama. It consists of hundreds of shops, restaurants, cafes, office buildings, a concert halls, a hotel, etc, and Minato Mirai Station is located at the basement of the building.

Map:  http://bit.ly/2GgQ8y0

5. Cosmo World

Cosmo World (コスモワールド) is an amusement park located in Minato Mirai 21 area. The park has various fun rides and entertainment facilities for both kids and adults such as roller coaster, haunted house, merry-go-round, etc. The most popular attraction at the park is the Cosmo Clock 21, the 112 m tall and one of the biggest ferris wheels in the world which can hold 450 passengers at once.

Map:  http://bit.ly/30HS8ak

6. Osanbashi Pier

Osanbashi Pier (大桟橋) is an international passenger ship terminal  at Yokohama Port where international cruise ships stop by such as Queen Elizabeth 2. The pier is approx 400m long and has a specious space with a walkway and lawn. It’s also a popular spot to observe the night view of skyscrapers of the Minato Mirai 21 urban area which is right opposite the pier across the ocean.

Map:  http://bit.ly/2Lun3Dc

7. Yamashita Park

Yamashita Park (山下公園) is a popular public park situated along Yokohama’s waterfront, stretching almost 700 m from Osanbashi Pier to Yamashita Pier. The park consists of green space, flower beds, memorials, fountains  and several landmarks and attractions such Hikawa Maru (the old ship now serves as a museum) and Yokohama Marine Tower (the tower with an observatory offering a 360 degrees panoramic view of the city).

Map:  http://bit.ly/2JDNVi0

8. Manyo Club

If you seek a quick Onsen getaway from the city, Manyo Club could be a perfect spot to visit. Manyo Club (万葉俱楽部) is a huge spa/relaxation complex located in Minato Mirai area. The place offers bathing facilities with real hot spring water that is brought from Izu Peninsula by a tank lorry daily. At the open-air terrace, there is a long foot bath that can be enjoyed with the stunning view of the Minato Mirai urban area. Besides hot spring baths, many kinds of relaxation services are offered such as various kinds of massage and reflexology salons, private rooms, a lounge, restaurants, overnight accommodation, etc.

▶ Admission for Manyo Club Onsen Experience in Yokohama

Map:  http://bit.ly/2SplgQM

9. Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama is a large port city developed by foreign trades and the city has a lot of influences from multiple countries. Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街)   is one of the significant places to present Yokohama’s unique mixed culture and it’s a popular place for eat out. It’s Japan’s largest Chinatown and there are hundreds of Chinese restaurants, food stalls and shops within the district. There are also some Chinese landmarks such as temples and colourful gates.

Map:  http://bit.ly/30FZTNI

Related article: Yokohama Chinatown: Largest Chinatown in Japan

10. Ramen Museum

Shin Yokohama Raumen Museum (新横浜ラーメン博物館) a.k.a The Ramen Museum is the world’s first food museum dedicated to Ramen, the popular noodle dish in Japan. At Ramen Museum, visitors can learn the history and the facts about Ramen as well as be indulged by various Ramen dishes. There are nine selected Ramen stores across Japan inside the museum serving their signature regional Ramen dishes. If you are a Ramen lover and wish to try famous regional Ramen dishes, Ramen Museum is a perfect place to do so without travelling far!

Map:  http://bit.ly/2Ltxc2Z

Related article: Yokohama Ramen Museum: Best Place to Eat Ramen in Japan

11. CUP NOODLES MUSEUM

The relation shop between Yokohama and Ramen is pretty tight with the long history of trading with China which the dish originally came from. CUP NOODLES MUSEUM (カップラーメンミュージアム) is an unique museum dedicated to instant cup noodles owned by NISSHIN, the world famous food company who first invented the instant noodles back in 1958. The museum exhibits the history of instant Ramen as well as hands-on activities to create your own instant noodles.

Map:  http://bit.ly/2JQkcS0

Related article: Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama

12. Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise (横浜八景島シーパラダイス) is a large amusement park on Hakkeijima Island in Yokohama, which consists of multiple entertainment facilities such as an aquarium and pleasure park with a variety of attractions. It’s a great spot to spend an entire day and be entertained even on a rainy day.

▶ Buy Tickets for Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise!

Related article: Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise: Play Hard by the Ocean

13. Sankeien Garden

Map:  http://bit.ly/2UE63en

Access: Bus from Yokohama Station, Negishi Station, Sakuragicho Station or Motomachi Chukagai Station to “Sankeien Iriguchi Stop”

Fee: 700 yen

Hours: 9:00～17:00 (Light-up: Sunset~21:00)

14. Gundam Factory Yokohama

One of the most trending spots in Japan today, GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA opened in Yamashita Pier in Yokohama in December 2020 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gundam franchise. The Gundam theme amusement facility features a life-size statue of 18m tall moving Gundam as a main attraction. Besides, there are also a hands-on learning facility ACADEMY, Gundam Cafe and a merchandise shop Gundam Base. The facility was originally planned to close in 2023, however, the closure date is now extended to the end of March 2024 due to its popularity.

▶ Book Tickets for Gundam Factory Yokohama

15. Yokohama Bay Cruising

One of the best ways to enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Yokohama waterfront area is by cruising. Cruise in Yokohama is available with different length and time, and some of them lunch and dinner on board. You can enjoy the panoramic view around Yokohama port area and capture some landmarks such as Cosmo Clock 21 and the Bay Bridge while cruising.

Marine Rouge offers the luxury cruise with lunch and dinner with chef’s selection of delicacies and drinks. Sea Bass, the sightseeing cruise takes you to famous landmarks of the city including skyscrapers of Minato Mirai district. Both cruises are pretty affordable but give you an unforgettable experience!

Book tour ▶ Yokohama Marine Rouge / Sea Bass Cruise

16. Noge Area

Yokohama is best known for the modern urban cityscape, but there are a few places that still remain nostalgic and rustic atmosphere.  Noge (野毛) is one of the best kept secrets of Yokohama City, which is a low-key riverside district filled with small rustic and Izakaya and pubs. It’s a popular area for night-out among locals, and becoming a hot attraction among foreign visitors as you can experience the authentic nightlife by sipping on drinks and delicious snacks.

17. Yokohama International Stadium

▶Yokohama F. Marinos Football Match Ticket at Nissan Stadium (Kanagawa)

18. Watch Yokohama DeNA Baystars Baseball Games

The Yokohama DeNA Baystars is a professional baseball team based in Yokohama City, and its home stadium Yokohama Stadium is located in Naka Ward, Yokohama. Baseball is very popular in Japan, and numbers of exciting games are held at Yokohama Stadium during the league season. It’s a great way to learn the modern Japanese culture with passionate local fans!

Official Website: https://www.baystars.co.jp/english/

Thanks for reading! Yokohama is arguably the most attractive cities in Japan that offers plenty of diverse attraction for any types of travellers! Moreover, there are several tourist spots in Kanagawa Prefecture  which can be accessed from Yokohama within 30 mins such as Kamakura, Enoshima and the beach area of Shonan! It would be an ideal if you spend a couple of days in Yokohama and the surrounding areas to explore Kanagawa Prefecture in depth!

If you are wondering what to do in Kanagawa, check this article below! ▶︎ Top Things to Do in Kanagawa

Are you also looking for the things to do in the areas near Yokohama? ▶︎ Best Things to Do in Kamakura ▶︎ Best Things to Do in Hakone ▶︎ Best Things to Do in Shonan

For more information about Yokohama and other cities in Kanagawa Prefecture, here are some more articles for you to check out 🙂

▽Related Articles▽

▼Editor’s Picks▼

"The world is my oyster" A globetrotter 🌎 and hammock lover 🌞 who loves taking adventures to fuel wanderlust. Born and raised in Japan, I have lived and explored countries around the world. As a resident of Japan and based on my travel experience, I'd love to share my knowledge and tips for travelling Japan with my readers. I hope my story will help you plan your trip and have a great time in Japan 🌈

• Things to Do

International Disney parks target U.S. customers with American influencers and bloggers

Disney World has become a repeat vacation spot and second home for a group of adults who love Disney. Now the company appears to be trying to replicate that magic at its international properties, using American influencers and bloggers to draw U.S. fans to Disney theme parks in China and Japan.

The professional content creators are some of Disney’s most valuable fans — making a living by sharing travel tips, updates and slices of life in the parks with their large online followings.

On June 6, Tokyo Disney Resort will open a massive expansion that includes new lands and attractions modeled after its hit films “Frozen,” “Tangled” and the animated classic “Peter Pan.” For a media preview event in May, the resort invited several high-profile U.S.-based Disney content creators to see the expansion, the first time some of them experienced Tokyo Disney and shared it with their followers. In 2023, some of the same creators were invited to media previews for the “Frozen” and “Zootopia” attractions in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The invitations to U.S. fan media indicate an evolution in who Disney appears to be trying to attract to its international parks. As they were originally conceived, Disney’s international parks were meant to “bring the unforgettable Disney magic to an international audience,” according to the company . But international park numbers have never quite caught up to the attendance figures at California’s Disneyland and Florida’s Disney World. While the international parks themselves have always taken steps to accommodate diverse audiences — providing shows and attractions in multiple languages — Disney appears to be marketing the international parks to American audiences in more direct ways.

In addition to the content creator efforts, Disney has begun to include its international parks in its own content consumed by Americans. In the Disney+ show “Behind the Attraction,” which premiered in 2021, numerous variations on American rides at international parks were discussed and digested for American audiences.

While Tokyo Disney Resort has been consistently popular with locals, Disney and other U.S.-based entertainment groups have recently found that Americans are willing to partake in familiar culture while traveling abroad, boosting numbers in both foreign and domestic markets, and creating a new target demographic for international projects.

Social media content showing the new expansions has resonated widely with Western audiences online. Some YouTube vlogs featuring the new Tokyo attractions were viewed upward of 100,000 times each on the first day they were posted by English-speaking creators. The official Disney Parks Instagram account, which posts content from all of the locations, has been repeatedly flooded with Americans commenting how eager they are to experience what the international parks offer.

“Disney gives us the opportunity to cover it and get coverage to our audience, because we do have such an important audience to Disney,” Quincy Stanford, who works for the Disney parks fan media operation AllEars and was invited to the Tokyo media preview, told NBC News.“People who are seeking out AllEars are seeking out Disney planning information, and that means that they’re seeking out spending money at Disney,” Stanford added. “We have an opportunity outside of a broader media outlet to reach their target audience.”

Disney has been inviting both fan-run and traditional media outlets to cover its new attractions in the U.S. parks for years, but Stanford said the Tokyo invitation came as a “surprise” to the AllEars staff, which has been publishing content online since the late 1990s.

“It’s a very rare experience to see American media invited over to Tokyo,” Stanford said.

Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, and in more recent years, social media has shown American fans just what they’re missing on the other side of the world.

While many aspects of Tokyo Disneyland are the same as at Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida, it has some unique rides. The other Tokyo Disney Resort park, Tokyo DisneySea, is largely unique and is considered by many fans to be the best Disney theme park in the world.

“With Covid and the pandemic, social media went further than we even thought possible, and it exposed people to a part of Disney they had never seen,” said Emma Kenner, another AllEars staffer who traveled alongside Stanford to Tokyo. Disney parks social media content experienced a big uptick in attention following the reopening of the U.S. parks in late 2020, with people eager to visit after the only extended closure in Disney history. Disney creators around the world grew their followings, and demand for content from international Disney parks rose alongside them.“It makes people want to go and experience it for themselves,” Kenner said.

Apart from the invitations to the exclusive previews, Stanford and Kenner said, Disney has always remained “hands off” with fan coverage. They don’t get paid by Disney and the company doesn’t tell them what to cover or how to cover it. Disney fan media is known for frank and sometimes even harsh coverage of what Disney is doing, but the overall tone remains passionately positive. The Walt Disney Co. didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Disney isn’t the only American entertainment operation pulling homegrown fans into other countries, either. More than a quarter of Taylor Swift tickets in Paris were bought by Americans, Paris La Défense Arena told Rolling Stone, and social media content has celebrated the cheaper prices for tickets and merchandise for both Swift and Disney internationally.

The American influx into other countries hasn’t been without controversy. Overtourism is a serious concern in Japan, with the country taking steps to limit crowds at some popular tourist attractions. But post-lockdown international travel continues to blossom years after places like the Disney parks reopened.

“I think people find a sense of comfort in finding those American entertainers and opportunities when they’re traveling,” Kenner said. “Having that one thing that feels familiar makes a little bit of the trip more comfortable or less stressful.”

Kat Tenbarge is a tech and culture reporter for NBC News Digital. She can be reached at [email protected]

More From Forbes

A guide to norway’s ålesund for cruise ship visitors.

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Ålesund's picturesque central waterway is just a few minutes' walk from the main cruise terminal.

Ålesund is a picturesque Norwegian city renowned for its striking art nouveau architecture—unique in Norway—and its stunning natural setting. Situated on Norway's west coast, the city serves as a prime port, one that welcomes ever-increasing numbers of people on cruise ships touring the fjords and the Norwegian coastline.

In 2023, Ålesund welcomed more than 650,000 visits from cruise ship passengers, topping the list ahead of other popular ports like Bergen, Stavanger and Geiranger.

The city's harbor facilities are well-equipped to accommodate some of the largest cruise ships in the world from the likes of Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises. On some summer days, more than one large cruise ship can be accommodated.

Cruise visitors to Ålesund will be offered excursions to the surrounding region. Most cruise ships calling at Ålesund are on a Norwegian fjords itinerary , but if your itinerary doesn't include the fjords, take advantage of the sightseeing boat tour to the stunning Hjørundfjord, a favorite of European royalty through the ages.

That being said, you don't need to take a pricey excursion to enjoy the best of Ålesund itself. The compact city is an excellent place to explore the beauty of Norway independently, without straying too far from the cruise port, which is in the heart of the city.

The 10 Best Body Oils To Nourish And Soften Skin According To Experts

Top ceo bets on a shock biden crypto flip as congress hurtles toward a crucial vote that could blow up the price of bitcoin ethereum and xrp, iphone 16 pro max all-new design upgrade promised, insider claims, discover the architecture of ålesund.

A simple walk around both sides of the central waterway is the best way to experience the city’s distinctive architecture .

A simple walk around the downtown area is the best way to appreciate the architecture of Ålesund.

This style flourished after the great fire of 1904, which led to the reconstruction of the city influenced by young local and European architects who preferred the ornate stone buildings, turrets, and whimsical facades inspired by natural motifs that were popular across Europe at the time.

Many of Ålesund’s central streets are lined with pastel-colored buildings adorned with intricate floral patterns, curved lines, and detailed reliefs that make it a visual feast regardless of your knowledge of architecture.

From the cruise terminal, walk along both sides of the central waterway towards the lighthouse Molja fyr and then to the Quality Hotel. This route showcases the finest examples of Ålesund’s distinctive architecture.

If you want to understand the story behind the architecture, visit the Art Nouveau Museum ( Jugendstilsenteret ) to learn more about the devastating fire and take a deeper dive into the artistic movements that influenced the city's renaissance.

The museum is housed in a former pharmacy, itself a prime example of art nouveau design. Visitors can join guided walking tours offered by local experts that focus on notable buildings, but these are quickly snapped up on cruise days, so arrive early for these, or seek independent options using websites such as Viator or GetYourGuide.

Your ticket also grants you access to KUBE, the art museum located in the former bank building next door.

Enjoy The View

For photography enthusiasts, nature lovers, or those simply seeking a spectacular cityscape, a visit to the city park is a must.

This well-known view of Ålesund in its spectacular natural surroundings is the reward for climbing ... [+] the Aksla steps.

Here, you'll find the base of the 400+ steps leading up to the Aksla viewpoint—a favored spot for capturing Ålesund’s most iconic images.

The breathtaking panoramic views of the city, Sunnmøre Alps and maze of waterways are hard to beat.

When you reach the summit, treat yourself to a well-earned reward at the café, where you can enjoy ice cream and snacks while soaking in the stunning surroundings.

Just bear in mind that the steps are steep, and there is quite an uphill walk before you even get to the first step. Benches and smaller viewpoints are dotted along the stairway, offering enjoyable views even if you don’t make it all the way to the top.

There is no actual railroad service in Ålesund, but a sightseeing road train operates on cruise days.

Starting from the cruise port, the tour includes parts of the downtown area and a 15-minute stop at the Aksla viewpoint, for those who don’t want to or can't make the walk.

The 'city train' is a sightseeing road train in Ålesund.

Tickets ($30) can be bought from the sales booth at the cruise port departure point.

Atlantic Sea Park

There’s lots to see in northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquarium, both inside and out. A small penguin colony gifted from Chile is the star attraction.

At more than $20, entrance isn’t cheap but it’s a worthy use of time if you have children. To make the most of your visit, check the website in advance of your visit for feeding times in the various sections.

From the cruise port, take the short walk to the bus stop Dronning Sonjas Plass to pick up bus line 1. From the stop Tuenesvegen , it’s a further 10-15 minute walk to the aquarium. Alternatively, a combined ticket including a shuttle bus is available from the sales booth at the cruise port.

Ålesund By Kayak

Explore Ålesund by kayak to see the city's striking architecture from the peaceful waters that surround it.

This vantage point provides views of quaint islands and active harbors, combining urban discovery with the calm of sea kayaking for a unique experience.

Kayak More Tomorrow provides comprehensive kayak and hiking tours throughout Norway, including a shorter 2-3 hour kayak tour around Ålesund’s waterways.

Kayak tours are a wonderful option to appreciate Ålesund's architecture from a different ... [+] perspective.

This tour offers numerous opportunities for photography and is led by a guide with extensive local expertise.

Sightseeing Bus

Regular cruisers will be familiar with the concept of a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. Passengers can use the bus as a 70-minute sightseeing tour of the city, or as transport between the major sites. The $40 day ticket is valid whichever method you choose.

The route calls at the Aksla viewpoint but also takes in many more of the city’s sights than the road train, including the Atlantic Sea Park and the Sunnmøre open-air museum.

However, departures run only every 45 minutes, so you will need to plan carefully to avoid lengthy waits. Tickets can be bought from the sales booth at the cruise port departure point.

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