Yokohama Travelers Recommend

Two days in Yokohama allow you time to thoroughly explore its port area—with its sparkling skyscrapers and cosmopolitan vibe—and the rest of the city center, as well as visit some museums and get a taste of its food scene. Here’s how to spend two days in Japan’s second-biggest city.

Day 1: Explore the City

**Morning:**Check off Yokohama’s major sights, as well as hidden gems missed by many visitors, with a private walking tour led by a local guide. These tours typically can be customized to suit your own interests and pace. Alternatively, spend the day touring the city by chartered vehicle.

**Afternoon:**Having worked up an appetite, indulge in one or two of the country’s best bowls of ramen at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. Nine renowned ramen restaurants, hand-picked from all around Japan, serve up steaming bowls of ramen in this retro-themed replica of a 1958 downtown district, called “shitamachi.”

**Night:**See the city from a different perspective. Enjoy the spectacular sight of Yokohama’s skyscrapers lit up at night by taking a helicopter tour, departing from Minato Mirai Heliport. Or, see the futuristic cityscape by boat on a tour of the port area and Kawasaki factory zone.

Day 2: Delve Deeper into Local Culture

**Morning:**Fill up your belly with good food for the day ahead at Yokohama’s Chinatown, home to some of the best eating in the city. It’s the largest Chinatown in Japan, so join a morning food tour of the area to make the most of your visit.

**Afternoon:**Spend your afternoon exploring some of Yokohama’s many museums. The Yokohama Museum of Art hosts an array of exhibitions, from modern Western art to contemporary Japanese. If you’d rather continue the foodie theme, head for the quirky Cup Noodle Museum, dedicated to instant ramen.

**Night:**Conclude your visit to Yokohama with an evening tour that takes you to the best viewpoints in the city via a water bus. After soaking up Yokohama's nighttime views, these tours typically continue to an izakaya, or traditional-style pub, to enjoy local cuisine.

Yokohama, Japan’s second biggest city, is filled with enough history, unique architecture, and great food to keep you busy for three days. You can learn about the historical importance of Yokohama’s port, visit Japan’s biggest Chinatown, and even explore the ancient capital of Kamakura. Here’s how to spend three days in Yokohama.

Day 1: Explore the City

Kick off your visit to Yokohama by seeing the city through the eyes of a local. Join a private walking tour led by a passionate resident who can take you to see not only the most important attractions, such as Minato Mirai and the Red Brick Warehouse, but also to some off-the-beaten-path places that most visitors miss. Customize a tour to your own interests, and get insider tips on the best places to eat and shop.

Alternatively, cover more ground by taking a full-day tour of the city by chartered vehicle. These tours typically also can be customized to your interests. In the evening, see the city from another perspective—and the lights of the skyscrapers shimmering in the night sky—on a helicopter tour departing from Minato Mirai Heliport.

Day Two: Have a Foodie Adventure

Yokohama is known as a food town, so make this the day you dive into the local food scene. Yokohama Chinatown, in the center of the city, is the biggest in Japan so you can easily spend part of your day strolling the streets, dipping in and out of eateries, and grabbing bites to eat from vendors selling their wares. For an insider’s perspective on the best spots, join a food tour of Chinatown. Later, head for the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum where nine renowned ramen restaurants from all around Japan sell their wares in a retro-style replica of a 1958 downtown district, called “shitamachi.” Another quirky food-themed attraction is the Cup Noodle Museum, dedicated to instant ramen.

Round out your day with an evening tour that takes you to the best viewpoints in the city via a water bus. These tours typically then head for an izakaya, or traditional-style pub, to enjoy local cuisine.

Day 3: Take a Day Trip

Kamakura, Japan’s first feudal capital (from 1185 to 1333), is just 30 minutes away by train and a popular day trip from Yokohama. Kamakura is filled with Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, including the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and Kencho-ji, which was established in 1253 and is Japan's oldest Zen monastery. However, the Big Buddha (Daibutsu), a 37-foot (11.4-meter) bronze statue of the Amida Buddha, claims the title of main attraction.

Guided tours leaving from Yokohama in the morning typically include the main sights, as well as time to soak up the area’s laid-back vibe, before arriving back to Yokohama with time for further exploration. Some options for your final evening in Yokohama include checking out the bars and nightlife around Minato Mirai, or heading to the Red Brick Warehouse for dinner in the restaurant arcade.

Japan’s second-largest city, and one of the country’s most important ports, Yokohama makes an easy day trip from Tokyo—just 30 minutes away by train. With a breezy bayfront, rich history, and delicious food scene, you’ll find plenty to appeal. Here’s how to make the most of one day in Yokohama.

Morning: See the Sights

Often, the best way of getting to know a new city is through the eyes of a local. Kick off your day in Yokohama by embarking on a private walking tour led by a passionate resident who can customize a tour just for you. Discover hidden gems you might otherwise miss, and get local tips for the best places to eat and for further exploration. Alternatively, focus your tour on a specific interest, such as architecture. Such tours typically visit the Minato Mirai development, the Three Towers, and the Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall.

Afternoon: Dive into the Food Scene

Yokohama is known as a food town, so come hungry. Yokohama Chinatown, in the center of the city, claims the title as the biggest in Japan so you can easily spend an afternoon strolling the streets, dipping in and out of eateries and grabbing bites to eat from vendors selling their wares. Another treat for foodies is the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. Nine renowned ramen restaurants from all around Japan were hand-picked to set up shop in this retro-style replica of a 1958 downtown district (shitamachi), so you can be sure that you are eating some of the country’s best ramen here.

Night: See the City Lit Up at Night

See the city from land, from the sea, or from the air. Visit Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district at night, when the skyscrapers light up and shimmer in the dark. Get a bird’s eye view of the urban landscape by embarking on a helicopter tour after dark, typically departing from the Minato Mirai Heliport. Or, see this futuristic cityscape by boat on a tour of the port area and Kawasaki factory zone. If you’d rather keep your feet on solid ground, end your day with a stroll around Minato Mirai, taking in the glittering lights, restaurants, and bars.