Is Yokohama worth a day trip from Tokyo? Yes. In one day we walked through Chinatown, along the harbour at Yamashita Park, past the Red Brick Warehouse Christmas market, saw the life-size moving Gundam, and finished on the Ferris wheel above Minato Mirai at night. It's calmer than Tokyo, it's an easy train ride away, and on a clear winter day the sky and the sea are a deep blue.
We went on Sunday 3 December 2023. Every photo below is my own. The giant Gundam has since gone (it closed in March 2024), so I'm glad we caught it.
I talk through the whole day in Cantonese on my podcast, in my own voice this time, with English subtitles on screen.
How do you get to Yokohama from Tokyo?
By train. We were staying in Ginza, got up early and changed trains a few times on the way. Yokohama is close enough that you can leave after breakfast and be back in Tokyo that night.
One thing to know: the Tokyo Subway 72-hour ticket I wrote about in my Tokyo subway ticket review does not cover the trip to Yokohama. It only covers Tokyo's two subway companies, so buy a separate ticket or use a transit card.
When we arrived, the first thing we saw was this canal: new buildings on both sides, still water, and a very blue sky. Yokohama isn't as busy as Tokyo, and that's part of why it felt so relaxing.
What is Yokohama Chinatown like?
Big, colourful and full of food. Yokohama Chinatown is often called the largest Chinatown in Japan. This is Chōyōmon, one of its gates, in red, blue and gold.
Inside there are Chinese bakeries, hot Chinese pastries, and even candied hawthorn on sticks. One shop had mooncakes piled up like a small mountain. I've lived in Brisbane for years, so finding these in Japan felt oddly familiar.
What can you see at Yamashita Park?
The harbour. From Chinatown it's a short walk to Yamashita Park, a long waterfront promenade with red brick paving, the sea in front of you and the Minato Mirai towers across the water. The sun was strong that day, but the sea wind in December was cold.
Moored beside the park is a big white-and-black ship, the Hikawa Maru. She first sailed in 1930 as an ocean liner, was retired in 1960, and has been moored here as a museum ship since 1961. In my podcast I said she retired in 1930; that was wrong, and the video has a fact-check card for it.
Why does Yokohama have a Marine Tower?
To mark 100 years of the port. Yokohama Marine Tower, about 106 metres tall, was built in 1961 for the port's centenary. When I took this photo the sun was right behind the top, so the tower looks like it's glowing.
The port's story goes back to the black ships. In 1853 the American Commodore Perry sailed in to push Japan to open up, a treaty followed in 1854, and Yokohama opened as a trading port in 1859. It was one of the first ports in Japan to open to foreign trade.
What are the King and Queen towers?
Walking back into town, you pass two of Yokohama's old landmark buildings. Locals call the Kanagawa Prefectural Office "King".
The green-domed Yokohama Customs building is "Queen". The third, the Port Opening Memorial Hall, is "Jack". The story goes that a wish comes true if you find the one spot where you can see all three.
Is the Red Brick Warehouse worth seeing in December?
Yes. The two red brick buildings were warehouses once. With red brick against a blue sky, it felt a little like Europe.
In December there's a Christmas market out the front, with rows of little wooden huts and a real festive feel. In 2023 it ran from 24 November to 25 December.
Can you still see the giant Gundam in Yokohama?
No. Gundam Factory Yokohama opened in December 2020 and closed on 31 March 2024. The life-size Gundam stood 18 metres tall, and it could move.
It was one of the happiest stops of the day for us. We went in December 2023, only a few months before it closed. Some places you really do have to see while they're still there.
What is Minato Mirai like at night?
Bright and romantic. At night we rode the big Ferris wheel in Minato Mirai. From the top, the towers were all lit up and the lights below were reflected in the water. Yokohama by day is comfortable; Yokohama at night is romantic.
We also took the cable car, the Yokohama Air Cabin, which opened in 2021 and runs over the water between Sakuragichō Station and Unga Park. Then we headed back towards the station. I can't remember how late it got. My phone ran out of battery, and luckily the restaurant where we ate let us charge it.
Was 2023 a good time to visit Japan?
For us, yes. Japan had reopened to independent tourists only the year before, it wasn't crowded, prices felt reasonable, the hotels were lovely and people were very friendly. It was really comfortable.
We've been back to Japan often in the years since, and each time it's busier. Some people now even say locals are getting a bit tired of tourists. Looking back, late 2023 was a really good time to go.
Tips for a Yokohama day trip
- Pick a sunny day. The harbour looks its best under a clear sky.
- Wear good walking shoes. Chinatown, Yamashita Park and the Red Brick Warehouse are all walkable, but it adds up.
- Stay for the night view. Minato Mirai lit up from the Ferris wheel is worth waiting for.
- Buy a separate train ticket or use a transit card; Tokyo's subway pass doesn't cover the trip.
Two years on, what I remember most is the blue sky, the sea wind, and the moment we saw the Gundam.
This is part of my Japan travel series. Planning meals for the same trip? Read 12 days of Tokyo food. For more Japan at night, see my Shinjuku Gyoen at night photo gallery. Have you been to Yokohama? Which part did you like best? I'd love to hear.
All photos are my own, taken in Yokohama on 3 December 2023, and edited for the web (cropped to leave out people, levelled, two signs pixelated). Facts checked 6 November 2026: Hikawa Maru dates from NYK's Hikawa Maru history page; Marine Tower from Wikipedia; the King, Queen and Jack towers from Kanagawa's tourism site; Gundam Factory Yokohama dates from Wikipedia; Yokohama Air Cabin from Wikipedia. AI helped me edit the English.
