Located just 29km south of Tokyo, Yokohama is Japan’s second largest city and makes a great day trip destination. Here, we’ll introduce the main sightseeing districts in Yokohama.
A view of the skyline in the Minato Mirai district in Yokohama: okimo / Shutterstock.com
Yokohama Districts Summary
- Chinatown district (Chukagai): Japan’s largest Chinatown as well as its largest Chinese community. Find restaurants and food stalls galore here.
- Kannai: A historic waterfront district. Home to the gorgeous Sankeien Garden.
- Minato Mirai District 21: A seaside urban area with many attractions from theme parks to museums to shopping malls. Popular with business travellers for the convention facilities.
- Sakuragi-cho/Yokohama Station area: One of Yokohama’s oldest areas. Has some great down-to-earth restaurants and bars for late-night drinks.
- Yamate: A tranquil hillside district with some lovely green spaces, home to Western-style churches and buildings.
- Motomachi (Hommoku): Mainly known for brand name shops and hip cafes.
- Shin-Yokohama: Primarily a stopover on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train.
The Details
Most of the main attractions in Yokohama are located in the central part of the city. A number of them are within walking distance, but you may have to hop on a train or bus to visit some of the others. For details on how to get around Yokohama, see the Getting Around Yokohama page.
Chinatown district in Yokohama.: Richie Chan / Shutterstock.com
Chinatown district (Chukagai)
This is where you’ll find Japan’s largest Chinatown, as well as its largest Chinese community. You’ll find a fantastic selection of restaurants and food stalls. Lunar New Year is a great time to visit for all the festivities, firecrackers, and traditional music concerts.
Kannai
‘Kannai’ translates as ‘barrier to the inside,’ and historically referred to the ‘barrier’ area between Western settlements and Japanese residential areas. Today, this district encompasses an entire swathe of areas in Naka Ward – Bashamichi, Chinatown, and Yamashita Park. It’s a fairly broad classification that includes attractions as far south as Sankeien Garden.
Minato Mirai District 21
This is Yokohama’s most modern-looking district – a seaside urban area with many attractions from theme parks to museums to shopping malls. Hotels in this area are popular with business travellers for proximity to the convention facilities and numerous restaurants.
Sakuragi-cho/Yokohama Station area
This is one of Yokohama’s oldest areas, and it’s a real contrast to the glitzy Minato Mirai area just a hop and a skip away. The Noge neighbourhood in particular has some fantastic izakaya, tiny local bars, and best of all, coffee shops doubling up as cafe bars. Visit for a taste of old-world Yokohama.
The former house of a diplomat in the Yamate area.: Reuben Teo / Shutterstock.com
Yamate
Often lumped together with neighbouring Motomachi district, this hillside area is well-known for being part of the historical foreign settlement. Even today, it’s home to many expatriates, and the area has many Western-style buildings. The quiet Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery is worth a quick stroll, but the main highlights in the Yamate district are the Harbour View Park and the Yamate Italian Garden. As the name suggests, you get gorgeous views of the city and the bay.
Motomachi (Hommoku)
Located below the hills of Yamate, the Motomachi district is primarily known for its main 500 metre-long shopping street. There are many brand-name fashion shops in the area, and a number of hip cafes to while away an afternoon in.
Shin-Yokohama
There’s not very much to see in this area – it’s primarily a stopover on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train. However, it does have the fantastic Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum.
Yokohama Travel Guide:
- Yokohama Travel Guide Overview
- Things To Do In Yokohama
- Places To Eat In Yokohama
- Yokohama Itineraries
- Yokohama With Kids
- Yokohama Cherry Blossoms
- Yokohama Fall Foliage
- Yokohama Districts
- Yokohama Ryokan
- Yokohama Hotels
- Yokohama Map
- How To Get To Yokohama
- Getting Around Yokohama
- Best Time To Go To Yokohama
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
