I am naturally opposed to “listed” articles as they seem to be click baits for the better part of the internet and does not really appeal to many who has visited Japan numerous times and have often left out the things that leaves a memorable impression on the traveler.
Yokohama, is many things to a lot of people and like all places to visit (in any part of the world), a travel story is never about one place alone but the memories you take with you after, which stands out, what blurs in with the other times you’ve visited, and which are easily dismissed.
Keep in mind, Japan has 4 seasons, Summer being the warmest of all, it is best to be prepared and selective. That photo you see with a park lined with Cherry Blossom is going to be unequivocally nonexistent. There will be a lot of 30 something degrees heat for a majority of your day, so indoor activities are the top choices and if you do decide to visit parks and outdoor museums, it is best to be there early or around 4pm.
Things to remember:
Plan ahead:
Know your routes or better yet, understand how to get to your destination, do you need a cab, train or bus, know the schedules of the places you visit, some places accept walk-ins while some need months of early reservation. Another note for this, is to know when to visit as some places are close on the weekdays since the are open on weekends.
Don’t be cheap: get a guide
I am not saying splurge but when going to a non-English country (or whatever language you speak) it is best to hire a guide to understand the traditions and history of the places you visit. Plus it helps when someone can speak to vendors for you, you don’t have to hire one if the places itself provide guides.
http://volunteerguide-ksgg.jp/
https://www.facebook.com/ksgg.jp/
http://www.ohsgg.com/
For the Summer:
Keep in mind, sunrise is at 4:30 am on average, sleep with the curtains closed, unless you are a morning person)
Wear waterproof makeup (for sweat and rain)
Bring also a foldable umbrella, handkerchief (and/or wet tissue), hats and sunglasses and an extra set of clothes
most of these falls under common sense: drink lots of water, rest frequently, eat summer food a lot (ice cream, cold soba, watermelon).
All year round:
Bring cash, International ATM’s work in most convenient stores
Rent a pocket wifi (or run your phone bill up),
Bring name cards, a lot of them (it is their culture and it prevents you or them asking about names over and over)
Buy a rail pass (believe me, it is a necessity)
Finally, be prepared to be sad when you leave (I have never been happy about leaving Japan and I have been there quite often)
These places are to be visited in the morning before 11 am or at 4 pm (but you might encounter crowds later in the day)
Retail Therapy
Downtown Yokohama
Sure, sure, it is not the most recommended place in any websites or travel advisory, but this would only depend if you arrive in the morning or in the evening.
If the former, then you would most likely finish at 2:30 pm after getting to the hotel, checking in, leave your baggage at the front desk (because you are too early), get lunch and then return to the hotel to freshen up and rest a bit then your day is decided on whether you want to take it easy or hit the shopping bug early on either which case, you’d want a bustling cosmopolitan area.
If you stay in areas like Minato Mirai, downtown is a few train stops away. For a geek like me, I get my retail high just going around Bic Camera or Donki (Don Quijote), and there are quite a few fashion stores that will suit your fancy.
Best of all, the shops you go to are mainly indoors, away from the heat at least until you leave the shops.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 3/5 stars
As an activity: ? (undecided, depends on preference but (4/5 stars personally))
Recommended time to go: 3pm – night time
Red Brick Warehouse
The façade itself is fascinating, one can easily tell that this was a building with a lot of history. Who builds with red bricks these days, especially a building of this magnitude? What started as a Customs building in the early 1900’s (1911 to be exact), stands to this day as an iconic establishment that reminds everyone that Yokohama paved the way for the modernization of trade in Japan.
Today, it has a gamut of shops that showcases mainly Japanese brands and artists. The prices are not as high as one would expect, though it would be wrong to say that items they are selling are affordable. The food on the other hand are worth trying, though it would be easy to be filling.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 4/5 stars
As an activity: 4/5 stars
Recommended time to go: 4pm – night time
Food Tripping
Chinatown
I have been to several Chinatowns around the world, but I must say that Yokohama is one of cleaner versions and if I heard it correctly, the biggest of all its counterparts. It is so colorful, and so vibrant you can’t help but to look around for hours on end.
It has so many places to eat and snacks to try, you would wish that your hotel was close by here. In a world of digital influencers there is a gamut of stories to tell here and photos to be taken, it would take a minimum of 2 hours to fully enjoy this place.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 4/5 stars
As an activity: 4/5 stars (c’mon who does not like food)
Recommended time to go: 3pm – night time
Nissin’s Cup Noodle Museum
As the name suggests, this is dedicated to the world phenomenon that we know as the cup noodle.
It is an interactive museum that is inspired by the life of Momofoku Ando, the father of the cup noodle. Even as a middle aged man, I enjoyed my visit here, one can even take inspiration at the fact that Momofoku Ando acted on his passion during the later part of his years. Kids will surely enjoy even making their own design and taste of their cup noodle. Kids can sign up to also learn how to make noodles from scratch.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 4/5 stars
As an activity: 4/5 stars
Recommended time to go: 10am – 12nn or 3pm – 5pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Shinyokohama Raumen Museum
If the former is an interactive museum for families to enjoy, this museum takes on another perspective on the Ramen culture of Japan. Unlike most of the museums I have gone to, this will do more than showing dioramas and installation arts of what used to be, instead it almost feels like you are transported to another era. Though the establishments are now served with Vending machine waiters (unlike the days of old), many of them claim that these recipes were passed down from generations. The variations of broths, ramen and meats will make you want to visit this place more than once, that is why a lot of locals come to this museum to enjoy the food rather than getting educated about the culture (which I am sure they already know).
Verdict
As an area to visit: 4/5 stars
As an activity: 4/5 stars
Recommended time to go: 12nn – 1pm or longer depending on how fast you get your food
Out in the city
Cosmo world
This is either a family destination or a date place. The attractions are pay per ride and on average it is about 500 Y to 1000 Y, there is an option to get coupons but that would only be an advantage if you plan to visit more than once.
It is a social establishment so going in there as a solo traveler may not be as fun, actually that statement goes for any amusement park in the world.
The downside of summer is that it maybe too hot to visit during the day, so late afternoon to nighttime might be better for you, rain maybe a factor but it will hardly last for more than half an hour at most. It is divided into zones which is divided for kids, adults and a zone where there are games for all ages.
Cosmo world is situated in the middle of the city, so it actually becomes a last destination for a lot tourists after they have visited and done the other things within Kanagawa, more like a ‘free and easy’ part of your program.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 3/5 stars
As an activity: 2/5 stars (I am too old for this)
Recommended time to go: Night time
Piece of advice: Go with kids or friends that enjoy being kids again.
Landmark Tower
This is the 2nd tallest building in Yokohama and it stands at 273 m tall. The biggest attraction it has is the Sky Garden at the 69th floor which treats you to a 360-degree view of the city. The Sky Garden has many eating establishments along giftshops and caricature artists to commemorate your visit there.
It will cost 1000 Y per adult at the entrance but arm yourself with a camera and tripod if you arrive here before sunset as it gives you a dramatic view of the city. If all you will be doing is selfies or forget to bring a tripod then you might not spend that long here (45 minutes at most), but with the right equipment and an annoying perfectionist attitude then you will stay for about an hour and a half to two hours.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 5/5 stars
As an activity: 3/5 stars
Recommended time to go: Before Sunset
Piece of advice: Bring the right equipment or the right girl to make this moment last
Different sides of History
Nippon Maru
If you are not fascinated by ships, this may change your whole outlook.
I say this from experience.
To say that this one stands out like a sore thumb is an understatement. Walking by the Yokohama bay, and seeing this humungous structure just floating there makes you stare at it in awe. It makes me ask the question “How in the world di they get that in the tiny space?’
Before you embark on the tour inside the ship, take a stroll inside the Port museum which treats you into the various aspects of different dioramas and maritime artifacts. Though the museum forbids the use of cameras for tourists, I think it helps to keep you engaged and fascinated with the different facts it holds.
Once you get inside the ship, do not merely look around but feel and imagine what it would be like to be in this vessel with a crew of close to a thousand people running round and all having a role to play. It takes a whole hour from entering one end of the boat to exiting on the other side.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 5/5 stars
As an activity: 4/5 stars
Recommended time to go: 10 am
Piece of advice: Taking a video might be more fun than just taking photos
For Prices and schedules go to
http://www.nippon-maru.or.jp/foreign/
HARA Model Railway Museum
From ships to trains.
If you are wondering why I would recommend these many museums, one word…Summer.
As much as I enjoy going around shopping areas (not really) and buying tons of stuff with my unlimited budget (in my dreams), I find going to museums to be a therapeutic activity. I try to act all nonchalant and bored in front of my friends, but inside, I am as giddy as a kid in a candy store.
The museum is on the 2nd floor of the Yokohama Mitsui Building and it was opened in 2012, the musuem holds in high regards the fact that the railway industry really started in Yokohama. I must admit, it starts off quite boring amidst all the shelved model trains, but taking closer looks at these model trains, and it is a “hats off” moment to whoever spent this much time on the details.
But the succedding rooms where there are dioramas of the trains that once passed the city and little set complete with a train station and a misplaced Batman action figure (the quaint Japanese humor).
I like to make believe that I am Richzilla and instead of destroying the small town I am taking pictures (not a script worthy of Hollywood, but screw you, it is MY imagination.)
Verdict
As an area to visit: 3/5 stars
As an activity: 3/5 stars
Recommended time to go: 10 am – 5 pm Closed on Turesdays
Piece of advice: Take a tele lens and a macro lens if you can’t get too close.
read http://www.hara-mrm.com/ for more details
Sankei-en Garden
From indoor museums to outdoor.
When I first heard it, I thought it was “Sunken Garden” which didn’t really perplex me so much as I was imagining a park that got depressed because of a natural phenomenon like a sinkhole due to the numerous earthquakes that happen in this part of the world.
I digress.
Some would consider this a really nice park to have photos taken (a lot of Pre-wedding photo ops happening around ) photos are done in this area. This is a 175,000 sq m garden that was built in 1906. So the sheer date alone puts it as a museum in my books. The fact that they have kept and groomed this for more than a century is amazing (I don’t use that word lightly).
Built by Sankei Hara, a wealthy businessman who made his wealth in the silk trade. This park/outdoor museum is home to some reconstructed traditional homes from the Kyoto and Kamakura area.
The sad part is, going here during the Summer is not as vibrant as compared to the Spring which is lined with Cherry blossoms (Sakura) or Autumn where the leaves of the trees turn into bright orange and hues of red, at the most, Summer showcases some hydrangeas and lotuses (“loti?”) and the weather gets to be quite hot in the afternoon.
If you want to make it more interesting, take part in tea ceremonies where you will be thought by experts about how to mix the tea, its importance and their cultures.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 3/5 stars (because it is summer)
As an activity: 3/5 stars (because it is summer)
Recommended time to go: 10 am – 12 nn
Piece of advice: It will be hot or it will be raining so best to bring a foldable umbrella. but you will enough shade under some trees. For more info go to http://www.sankeien.or.jp/.
Yamate District
You will probably learn more about this area as you google it and the sites will uninamously date this area to almost a century old. The area is an elevated area and lined with big shady trees, making the weather quite cool despite the Summer sun.
There are old houses here that is akin more to western architcture, primarily since it housed a lot of foreigners during the early part of the early trades, some of them were even restored to its original state after the great Kanto earthquake which devastated the area.
As most tours, walking through here the first time with a bunch of people from the travel industry (which took one look at the place and wondered how they can make this attractive to people so they can turn it into a business, nothing wrong with that, but it take more than a glance to truly appreciate the stories the walls would tell if they could). The second time I went to this neighbourhood, I was with journalists, influencers and photographers, who took a keen interest at the stories each house tells. We took our time to appreciate the artwork, the furniture and more especially the detail it took to restore and care for these houses.
Think of it a Downton Abbey reduced to its modest sizes.
Verdict
As an area to visit: 4/5 stars
As an activity: 4/5 stars
Recommended time to go: 10 am
Piece of advice: Take your time, if you get there a bit earlier get some breakfast or if you time to go in the afternoon take some high tea in one of the houses.
Take some time to read this:
https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-city-guides/yamate
There you have it, 10 things to do around Yokohama during the summer. Before I move on to the next feature, I would like to make some honorable mentions:
The ORBI – Great learning place for the kids but might come across as a bit too expensive for some.
The Yokohama Marine Tower – It is 100 m lattice tower, if you like towers this maybe a good place to visit, but once you’ve been at the Landmark it seems a moot point.