A Fun-Filled Yokohama Day Trip Guide
While we were on a three-month road trip in Japan we spent a few weeks in Tokyo and decided we had to do a Yokohama day trip after hearing so many recommendations! We ended up loving our time in Yokohama so much that we decided to go back a second day to visit more attractions.
All of these activities included in this Yokohama day trip guide can be visited in one day however you’ll have to get up early and keep on a schedule. If you have extra time, I’d recommend visiting for two days but if not, you can also pick and choose between the activities below that you’re most interested in.
Where is Yokohama?
Yokohama is a large city located south of Tokyo. It is well known for being one of the first ports open to foreign trade in Japan starting in 1859. It is also known for the Cup Noodles Museum, the seaside Minato Mirai entertainment district, and the large Chinatown area which has many Chinese restaurants and shops.
How to Get to Yokohama
How to Get to Yokohama From Tokyo
From Tokyo Station take the Keihin-Tohoku Line to Yokohama Station which is about 40 minutes and ¥480 one-way.
How to Get to Yokohama From Kyoto
From Kyoto Station take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Shin-Yokohama Station (2 stops, 1 hour 50 minutes) then take the Yokohama Line from Shin-Yokohama Station to Yokohama Station (4 stops, 15 minutes). This journey costs ¥13,700 or is covered by the JR Pass.
How to Get to Yokohama From Osaka
From Shin-Osaka Station take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Shin-Yokohama Station (3 stops, 2 hours 5 minutes) then take the Yokohama Line from Shin-Yokohama Station to Yokohama Station (4 stops, 15 minutes). The journey costs ¥14,590 or is covered by the JR Pass.
Where to Stay in Yokohama
Although this itinerary is for a Yokohama day trip it would be difficult to do ALL of the activities below with only one day in Yokohama. When we visited, we actually took a couple of day trips to Yokohama from Tokyo making it easier to see and do more. However, if you’d like to stay the night so you have more time here are a few options!
Hotel Associa Shin-Yokohama: This hotel is budget-friendly and in a great location for travelers since it is located above Shin-Yokohama Station. All of the rooms have high-speed internet access, in-room massage services, and a breakfast buffet with Western and Japanese cuisine.
Yokohama Royal Park Hotel: Inside the Yokohama Landmark Tower is the Yokohama Royal Park Hotel which you can find on the 52nd-67th floor making the views from your room exceptional! There are also eight different restaurants to choose from and many other added comforts.
Things to Do in Yokohama
Cup Noodles Museum (カップヌードルミュージアム 横浜)
One of the top things to do in Yokohama is to visit the Cup Noodles Museum (be sure to make your reservation in advance!). At the Cup Noodles Museum, you’ll learn about the history of the Cup Noodle and create your very own ramen cup to take home. It’s a fun, interactive experience for adults and kids alike!
When we first arrived we exchanged our tickets and explored the museum. Depending on your Cup Noodles Factory time slot you may have to explore more after your factory experience. In the museum, there are a lot of interactive exhibits as well as historical displays that are honestly fascinating!
One of the exhibits within the Cup Noodles Museum is the Instant Noodles History Cube. It shows the history of the Cup Noodles packaging – including the original Chicken Ramen and how it grew into a worldwide eating phenomenon.
In the Momofuku Theater there is a short film that discusses the life of Momofuku Ando and how, overcoming adversity, he created many new inventions. There is also a gallery that has images, illustrations, and artifacts from his life and a recreation of the workshed where he created the world’s first instant ramen.
Of course, the most popular exhibit at the Cup Noodles Museum is the My Cup Noodles Factory where you can create your own Cup Noodles from start to finish!
When you first arrive you’ll scan your ticket to receive a cup from a vending machine. You’ll then take that cup to one of the decorating stations full of colorful markers where you can design the cup however you’d like. Logan and I spent a ridiculous amount of time decorating our cups – seriously what is our problem? LOL. But the rest of the process moved pretty quickly. 🙂
After coloring, you’ll go to a conveyor belt line where you’ll get to choose from the four broth flavors and four of the 12 toppings that you want in your cup noodles. Then it is sealed and placed inside an inflatable package for safekeeping while traveling.
Location: 2 Chome-3-4 Shinko, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0001, Japan // MAP
Hours: 10am-6pm daily (reservation required)
Cost: Admission – 500 yen (adults), CupNoodles Factory – 400 yen
Yokohama Cosmoworld (よこはまコスモワールド)
If you like amusement parks, then definitely pop over to Yokohama Cosmoworld. This world of fun is just a short walk from the Cup Noodles Museum. You can enter the park for free and only purchase tickets for rides and games you are interested in!
While we were at Yokohama Cosmoworld we played a few games and rode the Vanish roller coaster which spins and dives below a manmade pond into darkness!
Another ride that is popular at Yokohama Cosmoworld is the giant Ferris wheel “Cosmo Clock 21.” This Ferris wheel stands at a total height of 112.5 meters and holds up to 480 people at a time. There is also an airwalk where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view.
Location: Japan, 〒231-0001 Kanagawa, Yokohama, 中区Shinko, 2 Chome−８−1 // MAP
Hours: Monday-Friday: 11am-9pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am-10pm, Closed Thursdays
Cost: Each ride is priced individually anywhere from 300-1,000 yen
Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum (新横浜ラーメン博物館)
Another place to visit that is just outside the city center of Yokohama is the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, which is a must for any ramen lovers. It was founded in 1994 as the world’s first food-themed amusement park. Yes, we know it might sound similar to the Cup Noodles Museum but just hang with us, you’ll see why it’s different.
Inside the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, you can learn about the history of ramen in the main gallery including its Chinese roots as well as the varieties of ramen that are found in Japan. After you can try nine different types of ramen from popular restaurants in the food court. It’s perfect for lunch and they have vegan ramen options too!
Before leaving the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum be sure to stop by Sunset Shopping Street which features many dagashi-ya, old-fashioned Japanese sweet shops. These sweet shops are where many come for over 300 kinds of nostalgic snacks, candies, and toys.
Location: 2 Chome-14-21 Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0033, Japan // MAP
Hours: 11am-9pm daily
Cost: 300 yen (entrance fee)
Kirin Brewery Yokohama Factory (キリンビール 横浜工場)
For those who are beer aficionados, the Kirin Beer Factory offers free 80-minute tours to showcase their brewing facilities and of course, beer tastings! Tours are typically in Japanese, but English guides are occasionally available. Regardless, learning about the significance of Kirin’s impact on beer in Japan plus getting to attend a free tasting was enough to say, sign us up!
The tour takes you around different parts of the factory with areas to observe the manufacturing process and read about the history of Kirin. One thing I found astounding is that every minute 2,000 cans of beer are filled and packed! At the end of the tour, you’ll exchange your tickets for three glasses of beer to try.
Location: 1 Chome-17-1 Namamugi, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-8628, Japan // MAP
Hours: 10am-4pm daily, closed Mondays
Cost: Free
Landmark Tower at Minato Mirai (みなとみらい)
Once you’re full of delicious ramen and tasty Kirin beer, head back into the Minato Mirai area of Yokohama which has tons of places to shop. If you’re into killer views, Landmark Tower is a must. Buy a ticket and go up to the 69th floor for a sweeping panoramic view of the city – on a clear day, you might even be able to see Mount Fuji!
Money-saving tip: If you want to visit the Landmark Tower buy your tickets online in advance to save 100-200 yen per ticket!
Location: 2 Chome-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0012, Japan // MAP
Hours: 10am-9pm
Cost: 1,000 yen (adults), 800 yen (high school students and seniors), 500 yen (elementary students)
Yokohama Museum of Art (横浜美術館)
Another great place to visit in the Minato Mirai area is the Yokohama Museum of Art. It opened to the public in 1989 and is one of the largest art institutions in Japan. Inside the Yokohama Museum of Art, you’ll find seven galleries of contemporary and modern art from around the world along with rotating exhibits.
Most of the art installations have been created since the late 19th century which is when the port of Yokohama opened. Another feature of this museum is the Art Information and Media Center which has over 110,000 art-related books and hosts workshops for adults and children.
Location: 3 Chome-4-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0012, Japan // MAP
Hours: 10am-6pm daily, closed Thursdays
Cost: 500 yen (adults), 300 yen (high school and university students), 100 yen (junior high students), free to anyone younger
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouses (横浜赤レンガ倉庫)
If you’re interested in browsing some cute specialty stores and restaurants then head over to the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouses. These two red-brick warehouses were once used for storage for items shipped and delivered from the Yokohama port. They have since been changed into a unique shopping and dining area in Yokohama.
We found some amazing stores inside including Sugi Bee Garden, which is a popular organic honey producer in Japan. They have a large variety of honey goods some with infused flavors. We bought some yuzu honey that is delicious for making lemonade!
There were also a few other Japanese clothing boutiques or fashion accessory stores that we enjoyed shopping and browsing as well. Before leaving we got a yummy waffle from Hawaiian Waffle Merengue which was on the first floor of building two. Why did I randomly buy a waffle? Because I couldn’t stop staring at the display. 🙂
Location: 1 Chome-1 Shinko, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0001, Japan // MAP
Hours: 11am-8pm daily
Sankeien Garden (三溪園)
If you’re all shopped out, take the short, 15-minute bus ride to Sankeien Garden. Sankeien Garden is a traditional Japanese-style garden that boasts beauty in all seasons. It’s such a peaceful place to visit and it would be a shame to miss on a Yokohama day trip.
The history of this garden dates back as far as 1859 when the port of Yokohama first opened to foreign trade. Can you guess what the largest export from Japan was at the time? It was silk!
Sankeien Garden was built by Hara Sankei, one of Japan’s most famous producers and traders of silk who lived in Yokohama. He wanted to create a Japanese garden in Yokohama and thus began a 20-year journey to make this possible.
The garden spans over 175,000 square meters with an outer garden that is open to the public and an inner garden that was originally kept for Sankei’s personal and private use until his death in 1939.
In the garden, you can view stunning seasonal foliage and flowers as well as seventeen different historical buildings and structures that were transported from other cities in Japan. There is also a small tea house that was built in 1918.
Location: 58-1 Honmokusannotani, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0824, Japan // MAP
Hours: 9am-5pm daily
Cost: 700 yen (adults) 200 yen (children)
Yamashita Park (山下公園)
When heading back to the city center stop by Yamashita Park for another tranquil place to visit in Yokohama. Yamashita Park is the best-known park in Yokohama. It has sweeping ocean views, a beautiful rose garden, and the history of its creation is pretty unique.
This park came into fruition due to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Rubble in the city was reclaimed and the upper part of the park was covered with high-quality soil to create the shape of the park.
Location: 279 Yamashitacho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0023, Japan // MAP
Hours: Open 24/7
Zou no Hana Cafe (象の鼻テラス)
One thing we love to do when traveling is to find cute cafes! Zou no Hana Cafe is located in Zou no Hana Terrace and Park. It has a number of small bites to eat like pizza, apple pies, curry dishes, and sandwiches. But the real seller is the adorable elephant ice cream cone which is made with waffle cone ears and chocolate chip eyes. As an added bonus the vanilla soft serve ice cream is made with Hokkaido milk. If you want to grab a quick treat, Zou no Hana is a great place to do so!
Location: 1-1 Kaigandori, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0002, Japan // MAP
Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 10am-6pm, Friday & Saturday 10am-7pm
Osanbashi Pier (大さん橋ふ頭ビル)
As the sun begins to set, go over to the Osanbashi Pier. Technically Osanbashi Pier is a ship and boat terminal that has local tours of the bay. But if you aren’t interested in a boat tour, that’s okay! This is also a popular hangout spot. The views of Minato Mirai from the pier are quite incredible. We honestly felt like we were on another island watching the city lights turn on from a distance.
While you’re there pay special attention to the architecture of the pier as well. While it was originally like many other passenger piers it was reconstructed between 1988 and 2002 to create a more modern design with curved wood features and a terminal that has shops and cafes in the lobby.
Location: 1 Chome-1 Kaigandori, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0002, Japan // MAP
Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街)
After looking at the lights of Minato Mirai from the Osanbashi Pier, head over to Yokohama’s Chinatown, which is one of the largest Chinatowns on the globe!
We loved wandering the narrow alleyways of Chinatown and taking in the differing architecture, illuminated lanterns, and delicious smells of the street food and Chinese restaurants.
Since we had been snacking most of the day we decided to keep that trend going and grabbed some quick street food snacks like soup dumplings and steamed buns. The first steamed buns we tried were shrimp and barbecue pork from Edosei which was recommended to us by a friend. The bun was perfectly cooked and the filling was also absolutely delicious!
Then we tried sesame balls and more steamed buns from the infamous Kocho Tensinpo while admiring all the intricate details and lanterns hung from the shop fronts before heading back to Tokyo.
Overall there are plenty of things to do on a Yokohama day trip that would justify visiting from Tokyo or another nearby location in Japan! We loved our time so much there that we can’t wait to visit and see even more.
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