Things to do in Yokohama
There is plenty to see and do in Japan’s second largest city. Yokohama should not be thought of as simply a stopover on the way to or from Tokyo, but as a tourism destination in its own right. Everything from galleries and museums, shopping, great eats and more, is right at your fingertips! We are really just scratching the surface here, but this is just a few of the many can’t -miss activities in Yokohama.
One thing you might notice right away are the cable cars going all over the city center, known as “Minato Mirai.” This is the “Yokohama Air Cabin,” a 600 meter loop that connects Sakuragicho station with Unga Park. The cable cars provide not only a great view from 40 meters in the air, but a novel way to access many of the sights of Yokohama, which we will talk more about below.
See the Yokohama Pier and Museum Ships!
As a port city, the Yokohama port is an interesting place both to travel to and also to learn about the city’s history. Some ships of historical importance, like the Nippon Maru, are now permanently docked at the pier, and act as floating museums. The Nippon Maru was a training ship made in 1930 and was used in the Japanese merchant marines before being decommissioned in the 80s. Speaking of the Nippon Maru, why is it that so many Japanese ships contain “maru” in their names? Since maru in Japanese denotes something circular, it was thought to be good luck, and ensure a “round” trip would be completed successfully.
Yokohama has a long history as a shipping center in Japan. The city’s trademark red brick warehouses were built at the turn of the century, and these sturdy warehouses managed to survive the damage from the Great Kanto Earthquake. Beginning in the 1990s, the warehouses and customs offices have since been completely renovated: One of the buildings has been repurposed into a museum and event space, while the others have been turned into a shopping district.
The handsome grounds have been used for festivals, including an annual Christmas market and Oktoberfest.
Yokohama’s Famous Chinatown
In Yokohama, getting a bite to eat is an event in and of itself! Japan has a surprisingly large Chinese population, but the biggest Chinatown by far is located in downtown Yokohama. It is frequented both by tourists and locals for fantastic Chinese food! Enjoy delicious dumplings, ramen, and more!
The Birthplace of Cup Noodles
Have you enjoyed some instant ramen recently? Learn all about the invention of cup noodles at this museum and theme park. Sample noodles from all over the world, and make your own! This museum is great for all ages. At nearby Shin-Yokohama Station you can see another ramen museum, the aptly named “Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum.” It offers the full history of ramen noodles, and explains popular regional styles, and how to make ramen noodles. Try some noodles yourself in a mini-replica of 1950s Tokyo!
How to access:
Many of these sites can be accessed by cable car, located right near the East Exit of JR Sakuragichō Station.
