Things to see and do
Chinatown; Landmark Tower (Japan’s highest structure); Art Museum, adjacent to Landmark Tower; Cosmo Clock 21 -the World’s biggest ferris wheel; Yokohama International Stadium - venue of the 2002 World Cup Final - more stadium info
Transportation
Minatomirai Line
Yokohama's most famous attractions—the Motomachi shopping area, Chinatown, and Yamashita Park—are now easily accessible from Tokyo's Shibuya Station thanks to the opening on February 1st 2004 of the Minatomirai Line, which connects directly with the Tokyu Toyoko Line. From Shibuya, it is now possible to ride directly to Chinatown (Motomachi-Chugakai Station), which is the final stop. The ride takes 35 minutes on the Toyoko’s Limited Express, costs 460 yen for adults, and it is not necessary to change trains. Below is a short guide to attractions along the line.
Minatomirai Station
Yokohama Museum of Art, Pan Pacific Hotel, Hard Rock Café, Landmark Tower, and Tourist Information Center.
 Landmark Tower at 296 m is one of Japan's largest buildings and the centerpiece of the Minato Minai 21 (MM21) development. Landmark Tower was completed in the early 1990s. There is a viewing gallery on the 69th floor - the Sky Garden, accessed with the world's fastest elevator, with excellent views on a clear day.
Pacifico Yokohama is a huge, curving conference center, somewhat reminiscent of a sail, and contains the Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel.
The Yohohama Maritime Museum nearby contains the pristine 1930s sailing ship, the Nippon Maru. A short walk away is the Cosmo Clock Ferris Wheel - one of the largest in the world and located on a small island - Shinko-cho - along with two restored historic brick warehouses, which form the centerpiece of the Akarenga (red-brick) shopping & entertainment center. World Porters is another shopping district on the island.
Bashamachi & Kannai Stations
Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History, and the Yokohama Curry Museum.
The area around Kannai is the historic heart of old Yokohama and a few grand Western-style edifices and facades still stand. Of interest in this area are: the Yokohama Archives of History, the historic Customs House and the red-brick Port Opening Memorial Hall which dates from 1918.
The rather quirky Yokohama Curry Museum is a recreation of 19th century Yokohama with several curry restaurants built in. Curry was first introduced into Japan by Indian sailors in the 1870s and quickly became popular. The museum is a short walk from Kannai Station, on the 7th/8th floors of Isezaki Mall. For another example of museum-cum-restaurant visit the Ramen museum in Shin-Yokohama, within easy walking distance of Shin-Yokohama Station (closed Tuesday). Local varieties of ramen noodles are available in a 1950s-esque setting in the museum's basement.
The Kanagawa Prefectural Museum is housed in the former head office of the Yokohama Specie Bank, which dates from 1904. The museum charts the history of the area which makes up present-day Kanagawa Prefecture, including nearby Kamakura and the history of Yokohama as a Western treaty port.
Nihon-Odori Station
Port Opening Memorial Hall, Yokohama Stadium (for Yokohama Bay Stars baseball games), Silk Museum, Tourist Information Center, Yokohama Customs Museum, and Chinatown.
Motomachi-Chugakai Station
Chinatown, Yamashita Park, Yokohoma Doll Museum, Yokohama Foreigners' Cemetery, and Harbor View Park.
 Yokohama's Chinatown, which was founded in 1863, is the largest in Japan. Chinatown, as you would expect, has an amazing selection of Chinese restaurants and shops. Look out for the Kantei-byo shrine with its attractive ornamental gateways. The shrine is dedicated to Guan Yu, a former warlord and the spititual guardian of Yokohama's estimated 2000 ethnic Chinese inhabitants.
Yokohama Foreigners' Cemetery, on the hill south west of Harbor View Park contains the graves of over 4500 Westerners from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. Graves of historic interest include those of Charles Richardson - who was hacked to death in 1862 by samurai from Satsuma, in nearby Namamugi, on a visit to Japan from Shanghai and Edward Morel, the chief engineer on Japan's first railway, from Tokyo to Yokohama.
The Doll Museum at the south eastern end of Yamashita-koen, across from Harbor View Park, exhibits 1000s of dolls from around the world including an excellent collection of Japanese hina dolls.
Gay Yokohama
Gay bars and clubs in Yokohama.
Trains
From Tokyo Station.
25 minutes by JR Tokaido Line.
29 minutes by JR Yokosuka Line.
From Shibuya Station.
Tourist Information
Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tel: 045 441 7300
Yokohama JR Station
Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tel: 045 641 4759
Yamashita Park
Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tel: 045 211 0111
Sakuragicho JR Station
Pacifico Yokohama
Pacifico Yokohama, located in Minato Mirai 21, nicknamed Yokohama's "Port of the Future."
Hotels, Conference & Exhibition Center, Restaurants and Shops.
Pacifico Yokohama - 10 minutes by taxi or bus from Shin-Yokohama Station. |
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Rent A Mobile Phone in Yokohama
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Yokohama Entertainment: bars, restaurants, clubs
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Japan City Guides: Yokohama
Japan’s relaxed and cosmopolitan second city, the captial of Kanagawa prefecture, close to Tokyo.
