Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city and 30 minutes from central Tokyo by train, offers a distinctive character shaped by its history as Japan’s first major international port, opened to foreign trade in 1859. Its waterfront (Minato Mirai 21), historic Chinatown, and multicultural neighborhoods provide a compelling day trip that feels genuinely different from Tokyo.
Getting There
Multiple train options from central Tokyo: Tokyu Toyoko Line from Shibuya to Yokohama (25 minutes, ¥270 — cheapest option, arrives at JR Yokohama Station); JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku (30 minutes, ¥570); JR Keihin-Tohoku Line from Tokyo Station (30 minutes, ¥480); Keikyu Line from Shinagawa (18 minutes, ¥300). All arrive at or near Yokohama Station, the main hub.
Minato Mirai 21
Minato Mirai (Harbor of the Future) is Yokohama’s showcase waterfront development on reclaimed land, anchored by the 296-metre Landmark Tower (observation deck ¥1,000), the Yokohama Cosmo World amusement park with its landmark ferris wheel, and the Red Brick Warehouse (Akarenga Soko) — two converted 1911 customs warehouses now housing shops, restaurants, and event spaces. The harbor promenade is excellent for walking and photography, with views of the bay bridge and arriving cruise ships.
Yokohama Chinatown
Yokohama Chinatown (Chukagai) is Japan’s largest and one of the world’s largest Chinese neighborhoods — 500+ restaurants and shops packed into a few blocks between the harbor and Yamashita Park. It developed from the 1860s as merchants and workers arrived with the port’s opening. Specialties: dim sum (yum cha), Shanghainese soup dumplings (xiaolongbao), roast meats, and elaborate Cantonese banquet cuisine. The four ornate gates (north/south/east/west) are photo landmarks.
Yamashita Park & Beyond
Yamashita Park along the harbor front is a pleasant walking area with views of the permanently moored hospital ship Hikawa Maru (museum, ¥300). Yamate (Bluff) district above Chinatown preserves Western-style mansions from the Meiji and Taisho eras when foreign traders lived there. Yokohama Museum of Art (near Minato Mirai) has a strong collection of modern and contemporary works.
- Combine Chinatown lunch with Minato Mirai walking and Landmark Tower views in a half-day loop.
- The Minatomirai Line subway connects Yokohama Station to the key sights efficiently (day pass ¥460).
- Yokohama is also the gateway to Kamakura — the two can be combined in a single long day.