🇯🇵 Japan
Yokohama travel guide
Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city and primary port, just 30 minutes from Tokyo. Its vibrant Chinatown (the largest in Japan), glamorous waterfront Minato Mirai district, and cosmopolitan atmosphere deliver an experience distinctly different from the capital.
Language
Japanese (English available in tourist areas)
Currency
Japanese Yen (JPY)
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Best time
March–May, October–November
Budget/day
¥8,000-20,000/day ($55-140)
When to visit
Jan
3 to 11°C
Feb
4 to 12°C
Mar
7 to 15°C
Apr
12 to 20°C
May
17 to 24°C
Jun
20 to 27°C
Jul
24 to 30°C
Aug
26 to 32°C
Sep
22 to 28°C
Oct
16 to 23°C
Nov
10 to 18°C
Dec
5 to 13°C
Safety
9Yokohama is exceptionally safe. The main concern is Japan's unique train harassment (chikan) — women-only carriages are available at peak hours. Keep wallets secure in Chinatown crowds.
Women travellers
Very safe city. Standard Japanese urban precautions on late-night trains.
Culture & etiquette
- + Queue correctly at train platforms — Japanese queuing culture is strict
- + Try Yokohama's distinctive Chinese-Japanese fusion cuisine — different from mainland China and mainland Japan
- + Explore Yamashita Park early morning — views of the harbour before crowds arrive
- - Don't eat or drink while walking — considered rude in Japan
- - Don't tip — tipping is culturally offensive in Japan
- - Don't speak loudly on phones in trains — silent carriages are standard
Food to try
Yokohama Ie-kei ramen
A distinct ramen style born in Yokohama in 1974 — thick wavy noodles in a hybrid tonkotsu–soy sauce broth, topped with pork belly chashu, nori sheets, spinach and soft-boiled egg; richer and saltier than Tokyo ramen; the founder Yoshimura Minoru created a style that spread across Japan
Yokohama Chinatown dim sum
Japan's largest and oldest Chinatown serves Cantonese dim sum of surprisingly high quality — har gow, siu mai, char siu bao and turnip cake from weekend trolley service; Chinese-Japanese fusion has been refining these recipes since the Meiji era
Shumai (steamed dumplings)
Yokohama's most iconic street food and train station snack — pork and prawn steamed dumplings inside a thin skin; Kiyoken brand shumai is sold from street carts at Yokohama station platform and represents the city's Chinese-Japanese heritage in a single bite
Napolitan spaghetti
Yokohama's contribution to Japanese cuisine — spaghetti cooked with ketchup, sausage, onion and bell peppers, a dish created in Yokohama's Grand Hotel in the post-war American occupation; now a nostalgic comfort food and Yokohama's soft cultural claim on Italian-American cuisine
Hidden gems
Details are indicative and may change. Verify visa, safety, and entry requirements before travel.