Yokohama, just south of Tokyo, is a breezy bayside city with Japan’s biggest Chinatown, a romantic waterfront, and great museums. It’s one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from the capital. Here’s the guide.
What to see & do
- Minato Mirai — the futuristic harbor district with the Landmark Tower, a Ferris wheel, and Cup Noodles Museum.
- Yokohama Chinatown — Japan’s largest, packed with street food and restaurants.
- Red Brick Warehouse & Osanbashi Pier — waterfront shopping, events, and skyline views.
- Sankeien Garden — a beautiful traditional garden with historic buildings.
- Ramen Museum — regional ramen in a retro-themed hall.
Why it’s a great day trip
Only about 30 minutes from central Tokyo, Yokohama makes an easy half- or full-day escape with a completely different, seaside feel. See more day trips from Tokyo.
Getting there
- ~30 min from Tokyo/Shibuya by train; grab an IC card.
- The waterfront is walkable; the Minato Mirai area is compact.
Tips
- Come hungry — Chinatown is best for grazing on street snacks.
- The harbor is gorgeous at night when Minato Mirai lights up.
- Pair with the rest of our Tokyo guide.
What things cost
- The train from Shibuya to Yokohama runs about JPY 280-540 depending on the line and express type, taking 25-40 minutes.
- Minato Mirai’s Cup Noodles Museum costs JPY 500 for the exhibits, with a separate JPY 500 fee if you want to make your own custom cup noodle — a fun, hands-on stop for families.
- Chinatown meals run the full range, from JPY 500 steamed buns bought street-side to JPY 3,000-5,000 sit-down banquets — grazing on street food is both cheaper and arguably more fun than one big meal.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating Yokohama as only an evening trip — Sankeien Garden and the Ramen Museum are better suited to daytime visits, so a well-planned day trip should start earlier than the harbor’s evening light show.
- Arriving at Chinatown hungry with no plan — with over 500 restaurants and stalls packed into a small area, deciding on 2-3 must-try dishes in advance saves a lot of aimless wandering.
- Missing the last direct train back to central Tokyo late at night — Yokohama’s late-night connections are good but not infinite; check return times if you’re staying for the night skyline view.
A simple day-trip structure
Start at Sankeien Garden in the morning when it’s quiet, move to Minato Mirai for lunch and the Cup Noodles Museum in the early afternoon, then finish in Chinatown for dinner and a stroll along the Red Brick Warehouse waterfront as the harbor lights come on at dusk.
Combining with a wider Kanto trip
Yokohama’s proximity to Tokyo makes it easy to fold into an existing itinerary without dedicating a full separate hotel night — many visitors base in Tokyo and treat Yokohama purely as a day trip, saving the hassle of packing and moving hotels for a destination that’s only 30 minutes away.