- Yokohama was the first Japanese port to open to foreign trade in 1859, quickly evolving from a small fishing village into a major metropolitan center.
- The city is home to one of the world's largest Chinatowns, which developed organically due to early Chinese merchant communities settling near the port.
- Yokohama pioneered many Western-style innovations in Japan, including the first daily newspaper, the first gas lamps, and the country's first brewery.
- The city's street layout in the central district remains heavily influenced by the grid patterns established by foreign settlers during the Meiji era.
- Yokohama is a rare major Japanese city that celebrates its multicultural heritage through a dense concentration of preserved colonial-era buildings.
- Despite its massive industrial footprint, the city maintains significant green spaces like Sankeien, a sprawling garden built by a silk merchant using relocated historical structures.
About Yokohama
Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city and its primary gateway for international trade since the mid-19th century. Located on Tokyo Bay, the city blends historical port architecture with modern skyscrapers like The Sky Garden, Yokohama Landmark Tower. Visitors can explore the extensive culinary offerings in Yokohama Chinatown or relax in the tranquil landscapes of Sankeien Garden. The waterfront district serves as a hub for both commerce and leisure, featuring landmarks like the Cup Noodles Museum and the iconic ferris wheel at Yokohama Cosmo World.
Highlights of Yokohama
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Places of interest
Explore one of the largest Chinatowns in the world with hundreds of shops and traditional restaurants.
Parks
Enjoy panoramic views of the port and the Bay Bridge from this linear waterfront park.
Museums
Design your own custom flavor of instant noodles in an interactive workshop environment.
Amusement parks
Ride the Cosmo Clock 21, a giant ferris wheel that serves as a landmark for the harbor district.
Parks
Walk through a vast garden featuring historical buildings relocated from Kyoto and Kamakura.
Places of interest
Visit this historic lattice tower for a bird's-eye perspective of the surrounding harbor activities.
Places of interest
Ascend to one of Japan's tallest observation decks for unobstructed views of the Kanto Plain.
Zoos
Visit a hilltop zoo featuring a diverse collection of animals and expansive views of the city.
Top things to do in Yokohama
The 1,001 highest-rated places in Yokohama, ranked by travellers.
1
Places of interest
Yokohama Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Japan and one of the largest in the world, featuring over 600 shops and r...
2
Parks
Yamashita Park is a 700-meter-long waterfront park in Yokohama built on reclaimed land using debris from the 1923 Great...
3
Museums
The Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama is an interactive facility dedicated to the history of instant noodles and the life o...
4
Venues
Yokohama Stadium, known locally as Hamasta, serves as the home field for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars professional basebal...
5
Museums
The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is a unique, indoor food-themed park designed to resemble a 1958 Japanese neighborhood. I...
6
Parks
Yokohama Park is the second oldest Western-style park in Japan, established in 1876. It serves as the home ground for th...
7
Amusement parks
Yokohama Cosmo World is an urban amusement park located in the Minato Mirai 21 district. Its most prominent feature is t...
8
Venues
Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall is one of the largest convention complexes in Japan, designed by architect Ki...
9
Parks
Sankeien Garden is a 17.5-hectare traditional Japanese garden in Yokohama featuring a collection of historic buildings r...
10
Zoos
Nogeyama Zoological Gardens is a free-admission municipal zoo located in Yokohama's Nishi Ward, specializing in the cons...
11
Venues
Nissan Stadium, also known as the International Stadium Yokohama, is the largest capacity stadium in Japan, seating over...
12
Parks
Rinko Park is the largest green space in the Minatomirai district of Yokohama, situated directly on the waterfront behin...
13
Places of interest
Yokohama Marine Tower is a 106-meter tall lattice tower located near the waterfront in the Yamashita Park district. Orig...
14
Parks
Negishi Forest Park occupies the site of the former Negishi Racecourse, established in 1866 as Japan's first Western-sty...
15
Places of interest
The Sky Garden is an observation deck situated on the 69th floor of the Yokohama Landmark Tower, rising 273 meters above...
16
Parks
Shin-Yokohama Park is the largest multipurpose park in Yokohama, featuring the 72,000-capacity Nissan Stadium at its cen...
17
Parks
Zou-no-hana Park occupies the site of Yokohama's original port opening in 1859, featuring a distinct, curved breakwater...
18
Places of interest
Harbor View Park Observatory, known locally as Minato-no-Mieru-Oka Koen, is situated on a hill in the Yamate district pr...
19
Historical places
Nippon Maru Memorial Park is a waterfront park centered on the 1930 training ship Nippon Maru, permanently moored in the...
20
Museums
The NYK Hikawa Maru is a preserved 1930s ocean liner permanently moored at Yamashita Park in Yokohama. Constructed in 19...
21
Museums
The Yokohama Museum of Art is a prominent contemporary art institution located in the Minato Mirai 21 district. Designed...
22
Venues
The Kanagawa Arts Theatre, commonly referred to as KAAT, is a modern multi-purpose performing arts facility designed by...
23
Parks
Mitsuzawa Park is a large multi-purpose municipal park in Yokohama, characterized by its combination of professional spo...
24
Venues
NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium is a dedicated rectangular-pitch arena located within Mitsuzawa Park in Yokohama....
25
Parks
Kishine Park is a large municipal green space in Yokohama featuring a diverse landscape of athletic facilities, recreati...
26
Venues
The Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall is a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan that has served as a symbol...
27
Parks
Grand Mall Park is a linear urban park serving as a major pedestrian promenade in the Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokoha...
28
Venues
Osanbashi Hall is a versatile venue integrated into the Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal, designed by...
29
Museums
The Hara Model Railway Museum houses one of the world's most extensive collections of model trains, personally curated b...
30
Museums
The Nippon Maru is a four-masted barque permanently moored in the Minatomirai district of Yokohama, serving as a floatin...
Explore by category
Jump straight to what you're into.
Yokohama on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Yokohama
Late spring (April to May) or autumn (October to November) provide the most comfortable temperatures for walking the waterfront districts and exploring outdoor parks.
2-3 days, allowing enough time to explore the Minato Mirai waterfront, historical districts, and a major garden.
The city is highly accessible via an extensive network of subway lines, JR rail lines, and the Minatomirai Line, complemented by the well-connected Portside area walkways.
Stay in the Minato Mirai district for proximity to major attractions and skyline views, or near Yokohama Station for superior transit connectivity.
Mid-range; while luxury accommodations exist, the city offers a wide variety of moderately priced dining and lodging options compared to central Tokyo.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 1,001 curated attractions in and around Yokohama, ranked by traveller ratings.
Yokohama Chinatown is the highest-rated place to visit in Yokohama right now.
The largest category is parks, with 386 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toshima, Osaka, Kyoto.
Explore more of Japan
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
