Planning to take a day trip to Yokohama from Tokyo? Our one-day itinerary helps you plan the perfect day in this lovely harbour town.
Only a short 30-minute train ride from Tokyo, Yokohama is one of the best day trips to take from Japan’s capital city.
In the spring of 1854, the future of the quiet fishing village of Yokohama was decided. Commodore Matthew Perry arrived with eight warships and forced the Tokugawa Shogunate to sign the US–Japan Treaty of Peace and Amity, forcibly bringing Japan’s 220-year-old policy of seclusion to an end.
Three months later, the port of Yokohama was officially opened and the city of Yokohama’s nearly 170-year-long history began. Nowadays, Yokohama is the second-largest city in Japan and home to one of the largest Chinatowns in the country.
If you’re planning to take a day trip to Yokohama, this one-day itinerary can help you make the most of it. Let’s take a look!
Yokohama Itinerary Map Overview
To get the best out of your day in Yokohama, we recommend checking out the following sights:
Being an island, Japan isn’t short of port cities. However, Yokohama is one of the best ones I’ve visited. The well-preserved Western-style historic buildings show so much history. Yokohama is also one of three cities in Japan that has a large Chinatown – the other ones are also port cities: Nagasaki and Kobe.
Many of Yokohama’s newest and most popular attractions are within a 10 – 15 minute walk of each other, so wear comfortable shoes!
Yokohama Day Trip From Tokyo Itinerary
Here is our itinerary for spending one day in Yokohama:
1. Travel to Yokohama From Tokyo
Since you’ll only have one day in Yokohama, it’s best to travel from Tokyo early. This will give you enough time to explore all that Yokohama has to offer without having to rush. Luckily, Yokohama is only a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo – so you won’t have to wake up too early to get here in time.
There are multiple ways to get to Yokohama from Tokyo. The easiest way to find the best route for you, depending on where you’re staying in Tokyo, would be to use Google Maps. It will show you accurate train times, prices and what platform your train will arrive at.
2. Ride the Yokohama Air Cabin
After hopping on the train from Kannai Station to Sakuragicho Station and exiting on the sea-facing side, you will see across the plaza an elevator. This will take you to the clearly marked Yokohama Air Cabin.
For one adult, a one-way ride costs ¥1,000. For more information about ticket prices, you can check out their official website.
From the cabin, you can see the Yokohama Landmark Tower (Japan’s second-tallest building), Cosmo World, and the entrance to World Porters Mall from a panoramic view. If you have enough time at the end of the day trip, Cosmo World is a great spot to return to.
3. Shop Around World Porters Mall
World Porters Mall is very similar to other Aeon Malls found in Japan. The mall is home to six floors plus a rooftop garden. Every floor has a different theme – something that really stood out to me when visiting.
On the ground floor, the food court is located in Hawaiian Town. Make sure to get some Blue Seal ice cream (10/10 would recommend it if you’re visiting in summer!) and admire the lights hanging around the large fake tree.
On the 5th floor, the shops are designed to have a Broadway theme. The entrance to the Aeon Cinema looks like a city tram and there are many shop windows that are painted to make you feel as if you’re walking down a residential street.
On the rooftop garden, the Yokohama Barn Golf Club is a great place to hang out if you have some extra time. There are different mini-golf courses you can try. The owners of Barn Golf Club were extremely friendly, which is a plus!
4. Get Creative at the Cup Ramen Museum
The Cup Ramen Museum tells the incredible story of how Momofuku Ando, founder of Nissin Food Products, developed his recipe for chicken ramen after experimenting for one year in a wooden shed behind his house.
This formula later became the inspiration behind the world’s first-ever CUPNOODLES. His magnum opus was his invention of the first instant noodles that could be eaten in space, also known as Space Ram.
The Cup Ramen Museum is designed to inspire imagination and creativity in children and is a great place to visit with family. There’s the CUPNOODLES Factory, where you can create your own original recipe and design your very own cup.
The Chicken Ramen Factory has a similar concept, except you can hand-make your own chicken ramen. There’s also a large play area called the CUPNOODLES Park, and the Noodles Bazaar where you can try different noodle-based dishes from around the world.
Although most of the signs are written in Japanese, the information guide shares the same exact information in English. Walking around and seeing the avant-garde art installations is a must.
Regardless of age, visiting the Cup Ramen Museum is definitely worth it. For more information concerning admissions prices and hours, you can look at the Cup Ramen Museum’s website.
5. Visit the Red Brick Warehouse
You can find the Red Brick Warehouse near the Cup Ramen Museum, on the shores of Yokohama Port. You can admire the interior design of the historic brick building that was constructed in 1913. While it was used for inspecting boats back in the day, it now houses shops, restaurants and more.
The Red Brick Warehouse also hosts many events and festivals, so it’s worth checking if there’s anything on the calendar during your visit!
6. Meet a Lifesized Gundam at the Gundam Factory
This exhibition will end on March 31st 2024.
The Gundam Factory Yokohama is one of the most easily recognizable and popular attractions for anime lovers to visit in Japan. It took six years of painstaking planning and construction before it was finally completed in 2020.
This towering robot stands atop Yamashita Pier, overlooking the Hikawa Maru and hundreds of admirers from all around the world. The moving mecha giant is 18 meters tall (59 feet) – quite impressive.
The Gundam performs a show every 30 minutes, and once you’ve entered with your ticket, you can stay as long as you like. There is also a Gundam store (with Yokohama exclusive merch) and an exhibition that explains how they’ve built this impressive robot – you can enter both for free with your entree ticket.
Since it’s quite a popular sight, it’s best to pre-book tickets to avoid disappointment. Please note that cosplay attire is allowed within the Gundam Factory as long as your face is clearly visible to attendants and you do not disrupt other guests’ photos.
Even though this exhibition will end in March 2024, Japan wouldn’t be Japan without some alternative life-sized Gundam to enjoy. In 2022, the Life-Size RX-93ff was completed in the LaLaPort Fukuoka Mall (check out our one day Fukuoka itinerary to see what else there is to enjoy in this beautiful city). And don’t forget the Gundam outside of the Gundam Base in Tokyo!
7. Have Dinner in Chinatown
For the last stop on this one-day Yokohama itinerary, there’s no better place to visit than the city’s Chinatown. Chinatown, also known as “chukagai,” is considered Japan’s largest Chinatown. With its bright, colourful lanterns and lively atmosphere, it’s an amazing spot to explore and grab some dinner.
With over 250 Chinese-owned shops, Chinatown offers many unique clothing stores, food stalls, restaurants, and souvenir shops. One to check out in particular is Rouishin, which sells panda-themed items as well as “Panda-man,” (a Panda-shaped steamed bun, also known as “manju”).
On the same street as Rouishin, you can find Kanteibyo Temple. Established in 1873, Kanteibyo Temple (also called the Yokohama Kuan Ti Miao) is a breathtaking Buddhist temple that stands out like a jewel in the heart of Chinatown. Its ornate details and grand appearance make it one of the most popular attractions in Chinatown.
How to get to Yokohama from Tokyo
The easiest way to get to Yokohama from Tokyo is by train. There are multiple train lines you can use, and it takes around 30 minutes to get to Yokohama. The easier way to find the best route depending on where you are staying in Tokyo is by using Google Maps. This will show you the quicker route, along with information on what platform your train will arrive at.
To maximize your day trip to Yokohama from Tokyo, it’s best to arrive at Kannai Station in Yokohama no later than 9 or 10 AM.
To reach Yokohama Station, simply take the train from any major station in Tokyo, such as the Ueno-Tokyo Line or the Shonan-Shinjuku Line. You can get to Yokohama Station in less than one hour from most major stations along the Tokyo Loop. You can then access Kannai Station by transferring to the Negishi Line (JK) from Yokohama Station.
If you’re coming from Haneda Airport, you can take the Keikyu Airport Line (KK) directly to Yokohama Station. This takes around 25 – 30 minutes.
Yokohama Tourist Passes
One pass that can come in handy during your day trip to Yokohama is the Minato Burari Ticket. The bus will take you to Yokohama’s most popular sightseeing spots, including Chinatown and the World Porters Mall.
It’s important to note that when using the buses in Yokohama, you must get on in the front and pay first before finding your seat. Once your stop arrives, simply exit through the doors on the side.
Is One Day Enough for Yokohama?
Yokohama’s close proximity to Tokyo makes it a perfect place to take a day trip. One day is enough to visit some of Yokohama’s most popular sights – if you’re visiting Japan for the first time, that’s more than enough. However, there’s definitely more to see if you want to return to Yokohama in the future!
If you are spending multiple days in Tokyo, Yokohama is definitely worth considering as a day trip. But don’t forget about some other day trip options, such as Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura and Kawagoe.
Is Yokohama Worth Visiting?
Yokohama is definitely worth visiting if you have enough time in Tokyo. Since it’s only a 30-minute ride from Tokyo, it makes for a great day trip from the capital city. There is so much to see and do, and with the delicious food to try in Yokohama Chinatown, you definitely won’t regret visiting.
Conclusion – One Day in Yokohama
Whether you’re coming to check out the World Porter shopping mall, walk along the shores of Future Town to see the Gundam Factory, or stroll under the cherry blossoms of Sankeien Garden, we hope this guide will help you plan the perfect one day in Yokohama itinerary!