Exploring Yokohama: Day Trip Near Tokyo Packed with Sightseeing Delights
This post is all about the city of Yokohama, an easy day trip near Tokyo, and its top sightseeing spots and things to do including the Red Brick Warehouse, Chinatown, and Yamashita Park. You’ll fall in love with this port city just as much as I did. There’s countless things to do and views to the ocean.
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Introduction
Planning a day trip near Tokyo? Check out the City of Yokohama, the 2nd largest city in Japan and the largest city in Kanagawa Prefecture. The city is vibrant, packed with lots of sightseeing, shops, restaurants and places to drink. It’s just a short train ride away from Tokyo and located in the Tokyo Bay and offers a serene atmosphere just looking out to the water.
Yokohama was in my bucket list of places to visit because of the Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal designed by Foreign Office Architects (FOA). I learned about this building during my time in architecture school and was impressed by the design. More on this below. So while I was living in Tokyo for my 3-month sabbatical, I planned a trip to see this terminal and was blown away by the rest of Yokohama sightseeing. If I could name a sister city, it’d definitely be San Diego, CA, the laid-back coastal vibe is so similar and both places have amazing beers!
Getting To Yokohama
Getting to Yokohama from Tokyo is a breeze, making it an ideal day trip destination and sightseeing. There’s several trains you can take from many of the major stations across Tokyo, such as Shibuya and Shinjuku station. Take the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, the Ueno-Tokyo line, or the Yokosuka Line, and in about 30 minutes, you’ll find yourself in the heart of Yokohama. All these lines lead to Yokohama Station, and from there, you can reach several parts of Yokohama using the subway trains such as the Minatomirai and the Keihin-Tohoku line.
Places to Stay in Yokohama
I recommend staying at hotels close to the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, a top shopping and dining destination, and a central location to reach other major sightseeing within walking distance. You’d want to consider staying around Sakuragicho Station or Nihon-Odori Station. These are my top recommendations for each budget level.
Luxury Accommodation: Yokohama Royal Park Hotel – nice hotel near the bay
Mid-Range Hotel Near Chinatown: Citadines Harbour Front Yokohama – this hotel looks recently remodeled with really nice interior decor and a fitness center (almost unheard of in Japan)
Budget Hotel (and where I stayed): Sakuragicho Washington Hotel – nice enough hotel steps from the subway station and several malls. I found this hotel super convenient and close to everything. I suggest you upgrade your room for a few extra dollars for a Bay View.
Top Sightseeing in Yokohama
Now I’m going to share with you my top sightseeing recommendations of places to visit and sightsee in Yokohama. You can easily spend more than a day, I’d recommend at least two. For those only coming for a day trip, be sure to check out the following:
Yokohama Chinatown
Yokohama has the largest Chinatown in Japan, and it’s a great place for food lovers. The vibrant streets are filled with red lanterns, street vendors selling delicious smelling snacks and sweets, and restaurants with tasty dim sum, savory bao, and mouthwatering Peking duck. You can find all types of Chinese cuisine in Yokohama Chinatown, from Cantonese to Sichuan to name a few.
I love starting my day with some dim sum and ending my day with a dinner set meal to try a little bit of everything (get the mapo tofu, you’ll thank me later). Don’t forget to explore the unique shops and markets offering traditional Chinese goods, candies, and snacks. My last trip to Yokohama Chinatown I visited several breweries and bars and it was an amazing experience!
Red Brick Warehouse
This is an amazing destination for shopping and culture combined. It is a historical landmark (literally two red brick warehouses with a large open space in the middle) turned into a shopping and entertainment complex containing boutiques, artisanal shops, cafes, and restaurants. Inside each warehouse, there’s many shops and boutiques in this large, open space area. This is a fantastic place for unique souvenir shopping. The warehouse often hosts cultural events, performances and contains an art gallery.
Several times a year, the courtyard between the warehouses is set up for events such as a Christmas Market in December and the Strawberry Festival in February to name a few. It’s one of my favorite destinations in Yokohama because I love browsing the shops and strolling around the grounds looking out to the bay.
Yamashita Park
I love strolling through the serene Yamashita Park, a picturesque waterfront park with stunning views of the Yokohama Bay Bridge. It’s a popular sightseeing spot during the weekend for friends and family for gatherings and picnics. Relax on the grass, take in the sea breeze, and savor the moment as the sun sets over the horizon, casting a warm glow on the city.
This park also boasts magic and acrobatic performers during the weekend, attracting large crowds to these performances. It’s a great spot for looking out to the bay and people watching. During the weekdays it is more quiet and serene.
Yamashita Park stretches between the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal and the Gundam Factory, a complex dedicated to the Gundam anime franchise and houses a life-size Gundam robot. If you’re interested in the Gundam robot, I recommend purchasing a ticket and exploring the complex. At the time, I wasn’t interested so I didn’t visit.
Another attraction easily accessible from the park is the NYK Hikawa Maru, an ocean liner turned maritime museum. Entrance fee is about $5.00 and you have access to several levels on the ocean liner: from the underdeck to the captain’s room. The views from the deck are stunning and well worth the visit. I easily walked the entire museum in 1 hour, learning about the way people used to travel through the ocean and seeing firsthand how each space in the boat looked like. I romanticized what it was like traveling in first class and enjoying all the lounges and dining areas.
Yokohama CupNoodles Museum
This place is such a unique culinary experience! I didn’t get a chance to come here during my first visit, but I sure made it a point to visit the second time around. This is a museum dedicated to instant cup noodles and it was so nostalgic! It brought me back to my days of eating Chicken Cup Noodles as a kid, usually a snack when I got home from school. Sometimes my mom let me have it as breakfast during the weekends. Such good memories.
In this museum, you’ll discover the history of the convenience food that you can find in every combini store in Japan, and even create your personalized cup of noodles (tickets sell out fast for this experience so book ahead of time). It’s a fun and interactive experience for people of all ages.
Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal
This is a ferry terminal for ferries and cruise ships and the main reason why I wanted to visit Yokohama in the first place. It’s designed by FOA (Foreign Office Architects), a young UK practice who won the design competition in 1995 put on by the city of Yokohama. It was completed in 2002 and looks like a futuristic landscape with radical and curving form, not traditional to pier designs.
It’s not only a port, but also a public promenade with views. The roof is completely walkable, a pedestrian promenade for the public. This made the design revolutionary for its time because it embodied the architect’s belief in the responsibility of large-scale projects to enrich urban spaces. I think they did an excellent job.
The terminal also has shops and restaurants with views to the water. I enjoyed a beer and snacks at the on-site cafe while enjoying the ocean views.
Breweries in Yokohama
Yokohama has a thriving and abundant craft beer and breweries scene. They’re centrally located and they’re all great! Daniel, my husband and beer enthusiast, was ecstatic. We had beers, snacked and dined at a few of them and these are our top recommendations:
- Yokohama Brewery: one of the best breweries in Yokohama, they have a great selection of IPA and lagers as well as good food options and merch to buy
- REVO Brewing: Excellent location, right on the waterfront inside the nicest APA Hotel I’ve seen. It has a good selection of beer and a full menu at the restaurant if you want a dine-in experience. They have live music during the weekend and the musicians put on a good show.
- Baird’s Bashamichi Taproom: not exactly a brewery, but they offer their own beer selection and other taps. This taproom has a lot of locations in Tokyo, each featuring different food options. The one in Yokohama has American style food, most notably their smoked BBQ. Check out their website for other locations and the different cuisine each taproom offers, they also have a great About Us section as well as a History of Baird Beer.
- Bruntons Craft Beer Bar: located in Chinatown, it’s a great little craft beer place that offers a homey environment. They serve a variety of liquors and food. The owner is Canadian and very friendly.
Shopping Malls in Yokohama
A trip to Japan wouldn’t be complete without some shopping, and there’s plenty here! Some in a large mall complex and others in a beautiful open building. A few landmark shopping centers in Yokohama are:
- Marine & Walk Yokohama: A stylist open air mall with many high end clothing stores and restaurants. The architecture is beautiful and coastal, and it’s a very nice walk along the bay
- Hammerhead Shopping Complex and Park: This is a two-story building with restaurants and gift shops right next to a park. It’s attached to an InterContinental Hotel and has one of the best 7-Eleven I’ve ever been to. This 7-Eleven has the best and largest selection of canned craft beers I’ve ever seen.
- Yokohama World Porters: is a large shopping mall, you won’t miss it. It has an arcade, movie theater and tons of stores. I visit it for the Bandai Namco Cross Store to buy souvenirs and cards for my anime and gaming friends (Pokemon and OnePiece)
Other Places Worth Visiting in Yokohama for Sightseeing
Yokohama is an amazing place for sightseeing. I couldn’t fit all these top spots in a day or two so here goes a list of places when you have more time to spare:
Yokohama Landmark Tower
Visit the iconic Yokohama Landmark Tower near the Minatorai station is a great spot for sightseeing. It offers panoramic views of the city and beyond and its observation tower is a must visit spot. Grab a cup of coffee at the Sky Garden and look out to the Bay. If you have time, board the Yokohama Air Cabin, a ropeway connecting Sakuragicho Station with Unga Park (and the nearby World Porters Mall).
Sankeien Garden
I’ve never personally visited this garden but have heard great things about it. This traditional Japanese garden showcases seasonal beauty with cherry blossoms in spring and warm foliage in autumn. Stroll along meandering paths, cross charming bridges, and discover historic tea houses nestled among lush greenery.
Yokohama Cosmo World: Fun for All Ages
For a dose of excitement, head to Yokohama Cosmo World, an amusement park in the heart of the city. Challenge your friends to thrilling rides, including the iconic Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel, offering breathtaking views of Yokohama. The vibrant atmosphere makes it a perfect stop for families and thrill-seekers alike. And if you’re in town for New Years Eve, they have a great countdown timer featuring a clock in the ferris wheel and welcoming the New Year with fireworks.
Conclusion
Yokohama, is a blend of modern attractions and historical charm. It offers a perfect day trip escape from Tokyo and has something for everyone. It’s an easy 30 minute train ride away to visit top attractions such as the Red Brick Warehouse, Yokohama Chinatown, and to sample various craft beers. This day trip near Tokyo will be filled with unforgettable moments and a newfound appreciation for Yokohama’s unique allure. Pro tip: wear comfortable shoes, as you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
Have you ever been to Yokohama? Share your favorite experiences in the comments below!
