The Perfect Day Trip from Tokyo! Your Yokohama Travel Guide

The Yokohama-Minatomirai Pass offers unlimited rides on the JR Negishi Line from Yokohama Station to Shin-Sugita Station, as well as on the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway, known as the Minato Mirai Line.
You can ride not only local trains but also rapid trains.
It is the ideal free pass for visiting famous sightseeing spots in the Yokohama area, including Yokohama Chinatown, Yamashita Park, and the Minato Mirai district.
You can buy the pass from reserved-seat ticket machines and some ticket vending machines. A digital ticket is also available, and it can be purchased on a smartphone.
It is a great-value ticket priced at 530 yen for adults and 260 yen for children.

This free pass offers unlimited rides between Yokohama Station and Kami-Ooka Station on the Keikyu Line and Yokohama Municipal Subway, on the entire Minato Mirai Line, and on designated routes of Yokohama Municipal Bus and Kanachu Bus.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that if you are traveling between the main spots in Yokohama, this one pass can cover almost everything.
The price varies depending on your departure station, but if you purchase a ticket starting from Yokohama Station, it costs 1,070 yen for adults and 530 yen for children.
There are also tickets from Shinagawa Station and from neighboring cities such as Yokosuka and Kanazawa-Bunko, which makes it useful for a variety of travel plans.
You can also receive benefits such as discounts at partner restaurants, shops, and sightseeing spots.

Minato Mirai 21 is a relatively new district that was systematically developed on reclaimed land.
It is located on the eastern edge of Yokohama City and refers to the area just south of the Yokohama Station area.
With its well-organized city blocks and rows of large buildings, it has a futuristic atmosphere.
At the same time, being by the sea gives it a refreshing sense of openness, and with cherry tree-lined streets, parks, and event plazas, it is a place where everyone from children to seniors can relax.
This area is enjoyable just to stroll around, but you can also shop at the retro-looking Red Brick Warehouse, look out over the seaside cityscape from Sky Garden on the 69th floor of Landmark Tower, or relax and reflect on the universe at Konica Minolta Planetaria YOKOHAMA, among many other experiences.
It is one of the areas in Yokohama with especially many popular sightseeing spots.
It is also known for its beautiful night views, and many couples visit for dates.

The Kannai-Bashamichi area is where you can enjoy a retro atmosphere.
It is centered around Kannai Station, just south of the Minato Mirai 21 area.
Many buildings constructed from the 19th to the 20th century still remain, including the Yokohama Three Towers, Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office (King), Yokohama Customs (Queen), and Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall (Jack), along with many other brick buildings that convey the atmosphere of the time with their stately appearance.
It was also the place where Japan first saw gas lamps, photo studios, ice cream, newspapers, and telephones, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that Western civilization spread throughout Japan from here.
At dusk, the gas lamps along the street are lit, making you feel as though you have slipped back in time to 19th-century Japan.
Nihon Odori, lined with beautiful ginkgo trees that turn color in autumn, and Yokohama Park, Japan’s first Western-style park, are also popular sightseeing spots.

The Sakuragicho-Noge area lies west of Sakuragicho Station.
While the opposite side of the station is the waterfront Minato Mirai 21 area, the Sakuragicho-Noge area has a completely different atmosphere.
It is home to Nogeyama, which you can even climb on foot from Sakuragicho Station, and at the top of the hill is Nogeyama Zoo.
You can see many animals such as lions, giraffes, and red pandas, and admission is free.
With its relaxed atmosphere, the zoo is lively with families on weekends and holidays.
From Sakuragicho Station to Nogeyama, there are many deep local izakaya pubs and restaurants rooted in the community.
If you enjoy drinking, definitely try bar hopping around the local izakayas in the area.
Noge is also known as a “street performance town,” and it gets lively when the street performance festival is held regularly.
If the festival is taking place during your trip, be sure to stop by and experience the performances up close.

The Chinatown-Yamashita Park area spreads just south of the Kannai-Bashamichi area, centered around Ishikawacho (Motomachi-Chukagai) Station.
Yokohama Chinatown is Japan’s largest historic Chinatown.
With more than 600 shops packed together, you can enjoy not only Chinese cuisine but also the latest Asian sweets while walking around, as well as shopping at variety stores.
Walk a little closer to the waterfront and you’ll find Yamashita Park, where you can enjoy a stroll surrounded by flowers, greenery, and views of the sea.

This area is centered around Motomachi Station, south of Yokohama Chinatown.
Yamate was developed as a foreign settlement when Yokohama Port opened in the 19th century.
It is recommended for those who want to see beautiful architecture blending Japanese and Western culture, or who like a retro-modern atmosphere.
In Yamate, the international streetscape remains, including seven Western-style houses once lived in by foreign residents and the Foreign General Cemetery, and from Harbor View Park you can look out over the beautiful townscape and the sea.
When you go down the hill, you will find Motomachi Shopping Street, a shopping street with a refined Western-style atmosphere, where you can enjoy shopping and street food.
There are also many stylish cafes and variety stores, including long-established shops such as Uchiki Pan, Japan’s first bakery.

Yokohama Station is the largest terminal station in Yokohama and a major transportation hub, served by four JR lines alone, in addition to several private railway lines and the municipal subway.
The Yokohama Station area that spreads around it has different cityscapes on the west and east sides of the station.
The east side has large shopping centers, high-rise buildings, and a terminal for direct buses from the airport, creating an urban and stylish atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the west side has large mixed-use commercial facilities and amusement venues, along with narrow alleys lined with long-established everyday shops, giving it the lively feel of an entertainment district.
There are many department stores here, and if you want to check out high-end brands and the latest trends at places like Yokohama Takashimaya, Sogo Yokohama, and Yokohama MORE’S, this is the area to visit.
But that’s not all, as the area also offers the Sogo Museum of Art, which exhibits a wide range of artworks from Japan and abroad, including Western paintings, Japanese paintings, crafts, and sculptures, as well as ASOBUILD, an experiential entertainment complex directly connected to the station, making it a place you can enjoy in many ways.

The Honmoku-Negishi-Isogo area stretches south of the Motomachi area, from around Negishi Station to Isogo Station.
On the former site of Negishi Racecourse, Japan’s first full-scale horse racing track, a spacious park has been created, making it ideal for families with children to enjoy freely. You can even see real horses and learn more at the horse museum.
At Honmoku Pier, there is a facility where you can casually enjoy sea fishing.
Fishing gear is also available to rent, so beginners can feel at ease even if they come empty-handed.
There is also Sankeien Garden, a vast Japanese garden where you can see seasonal flowers and historically valuable buildings relocated from around Japan.
It is a great area for families who want to relax away from the bustle of the city.

The Southern Area stretches even farther south from the Honmoku-Negishi-Isogo area to around Kanazawa-Bunko and Hakkeijima.
One of the most popular sightseeing spots in this area is Hakkeijima. It is home to Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, a leisure complex that uses an entire island floating in the sea, making it popular with families and couples.
The aquarium lets you see the dynamic 모습을 of whale sharks and dolphins, along with fantastical jellyfish displays.
There is also Aqua Stadium, where dolphin and sea lion shows are held, and attractions for both indoor and outdoor fun, so you can easily spend a full day here.
Since there are also restaurants and hotels, it is a good place to consider for an overnight stay.
Shomyoji Temple, built in the 13th century and designated a National Historic Site, is another popular spot.
With many National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, its beautiful garden has an otherworldly atmosphere reminiscent of the Pure Land paradise. There are also many other historic sites dating back to the Kamakura period.

This passenger terminal receives cruise ships from all over the world.
The first floor is a parking area, the second floor contains the immigration lobby and hall, and the rooftop has an open plaza and observation deck for seeing people off and welcoming them.
The rooftop is designed to evoke rolling waves, while the interior has an open feel with no pillars.
From the rooftop, you can enjoy the beautiful night view of Minato Mirai 21 across the water, including Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse shining in the distance.

This park sits on a small hill overlooking Yokohama Port.
At the time of the port’s opening, this was the site where British forces were stationed on the hill and French forces below it as part of the foreign settlement area, and today it includes places such as France Yama and Yokohama British House.
As the name Harbor View Park suggests, you can enjoy a sweeping view all the way to the sea from the observation area.
At night, you can take in a glittering view centered on the Yokohama Bay Bridge.

Approx. 5 minutes on foot from Minato Mirai Station toward the sea.
Rinko Park is the green space in the outdoor area of Pacifico Yokohama, one of Yokohama’s representative large-scale event venues.
As the largest green space in the Minato Mirai district, one of its main attractions is its excellent location overlooking Yokohama Port.
As you stroll through the park, you can enjoy a variety of night views, including the illuminated Landmark Tower, Marine Tower, and Bay Bridge.
The illuminated Pukari Pier, floating on the sea, is especially beautiful and not to be missed.

Kishamichi is a seaside promenade that crosses the water, created using Approx. 500 meters of a section of the harbor railway that was used from 1911 to 1986.
The rails and bridge structures still preserve the feel of the time, and if you walk along the tracks, you can make your way to Sakuragicho Station while looking out at the Minato Mirai skyline and the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel.
The city lights reflected on the water seen from the promenade are also beautiful, making for a romantic walk in Yokohama.

The Red Brick Warehouse once served as one of Japan’s most advanced warehouses from the Meiji to the Taisho era. Today, the two warehouse buildings preserve the atmosphere of that time and house a culture and shopping complex with shops, restaurants, and a multipurpose hall.
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse also has spots where you can enjoy beautiful night views.
Take a stroll through Red Brick Park, which adjoins the warehouses and faces the sea, and enjoy views of the beautiful Yokohama Bay Bridge and Osanbashi Pier floating in Yokohama Port.

Sanma-men is a local ramen dish from Kanagawa Prefecture.
The name combines the Cantonese word “san,” meaning bean sprouts, and “ma,” meaning to put on top.
As the name suggests, it is a noodle dish topped with a thick stir-fried mixture of bean sprouts, garlic chives, napa cabbage, carrots, onions, wood ear mushrooms, and meat over ramen soup.
Because it is covered in a thick sauce, the soup does not cool easily, which is part of its appeal, making it perfect for cold weather.
Seasoning and ingredients vary by restaurant, but the soup is often soy sauce-based.
Trying it at nostalgic Chinese restaurants with lots of atmosphere, such as the famous Manchinro Honten in Yokohama Chinatown or the long-established Gyokusentei in Isezakichojamachi, is also one of the pleasures of traveling.

As the name suggests, gyunabe is a hot pot dish made with beef.
It originated in Yokohama and consists of beef simmered together with vegetables in a sweet and savory sauce made with miso or soy sauce.
Until the late 19th century, Japan did not have a culture of eating beef, but when Yokohama Port opened, Western food culture flowed in.
At the time, many Japanese people were reluctant to eat beef, so gyunabe was created by preparing it with flavors suited to Japanese tastes.
It is similar to sukiyaki, but unlike sukiyaki, where the meat is grilled first and then simmered, gyunabe simmers all the ingredients in the sauce from the beginning.
The flavor soaks into the meat well, and it pairs perfectly with rice.

Iekei ramen generally refers to a hearty style of ramen known for its rich pork bone and soy sauce broth and thick noodles.
It originated at Yoshimuraya, which first opened in Yokohama, and then spread throughout Japan as the owner’s apprentices and their own apprentices opened independent shops around the country.
The pork bone and soy sauce broth is topped with chicken oil, called chiyu, which gives it a savory finish.
The standard toppings are chashu pork, green onions, spinach, and nori seaweed.
Try Iekei ramen in its birthplace and experience the rich flavor and satisfying punch that keeps people coming back after just one bowl.