Things to do in Yokohama, Japan

Step ashore in Yokohama, where the smells and skyline draw you in. In Chinatown, steam curls from bamboo baskets as the aroma of freshly cooked dumplings fills the streets. Along the waterfront, historic port buildings give way to the gleaming towers of Minato Mirai. For guests arriving on cruises to Tokyo, many of the best things to do in Yokohama are right here in the port city, with distinctive food, culture and waterfront landmarks all within easy reach.

Yokohama’s maritime past gets a modern counterpart in Minato Mirai 21, a waterfront district of high-rises, promenades and entertainment venues. Rising 296 meters above the district, Yokohama Landmark Tower is one of the defining features of the skyline. Its 69th-floor Sky Garden observation deck is temporarily closed for renovations, but the tower remains an unmistakable point on the waterfront.

Among the most family-friendly things to do in Yokohama is Yokohama Cosmo World, a compact amusement park centered around the 112-meter-tall Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel. Around 30 attractions are spread across three zones, ranging from roller coasters and a log flume to rides designed for younger children.

You also don’t have to board a ride to appreciate the setting. The Ferris wheel, Landmark Tower and surrounding high-rises form the skyline that has become synonymous with modern Yokohama, so Minato Mirai is worth exploring simply on foot.

Yokohama Chinatown, the largest in Japan

Follow the aromas of sizzling dumplings to Yokohama Chinatown, Japan’s largest Chinatown and one of the city’s most flavorful neighborhoods. The district developed after Yokohama opened its port to international trade in 1859, which drew Chinese merchants who shaped the community that thrives here today.

Food is a major reason to visit. Hundreds of restaurants and shops fill the colorful streets, with menus ranging from dim sum and noodle dishes to Peking duck and mapo tofu. For something easy to enjoy while exploring, look for nikuman — fluffy steamed buns with savory fillings — along with xiaolongbao, sesame balls and other street-food favorites. Sweet options are easy to find, too, including egg tarts and panda-shaped buns that are almost too cute to eat.

Look beyond the storefronts and you’ll find another side of the neighborhood. The elaborately decorated Kanteibyo Temple, dedicated to the Chinese hero Guan Yu, has stood at the heart of the community in various forms since the 19th century. Nearby Maso-byō Temple honors Mazu, a guardian deity associated with seafarers.

Interactive food museums

In Yokohama, you can do more than taste some of Japan’s best-known foods — you can explore the stories behind them. At the CupNoodles Museum Yokohama in Minato Mirai, exhibits trace the creative thinking of instant-ramen inventor Momofuku Ando. At the popular My CUPNOODLES Factory, guests can design their own cup, select a soup flavor and choose toppings to create a personalized combination.

For another noodle-focused experience, head to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. Its centerpiece recreates a Japanese streetscape from 1958, the year instant ramen was invented, with ramen shops serving regional styles from across Japan. Guests can sample different bowls while learning how the dish varies from one part of the country to another.

The Red Brick Warehouse

A century-old warehouse may not initially sound like a shopping destination, but Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, or Akarenga Soko, has made the transition remarkably well. Built in the early 20th century to store goods moving through Yokohama Port, the two red-brick buildings now house shops, cafés, restaurants and spaces for cultural events.

Browse for Yokohama-made souvenirs and specialty goods, stop for a coffee or check the calendar for seasonal events held in the outdoor plaza. The waterfront setting is part of the appeal, with the harbor on one side and Minato Mirai’s modern skyline nearby.

Best of all for cruise guests, the Red Brick Warehouse fits naturally into a day of Yokohama sightseeing around the central waterfront. Pair it with Minato Mirai, the CupNoodles Museum or a walk toward Yamashita Park and Chinatown — no separate trip required.

Sankeien Garden reveals a traditional side of Yokohama

Trade the towers of Minato Mirai for tiled roofs, ponds and wooded paths at Sankeien Garden. Opened to the public in 1906, this traditional Japanese landscape garden spans roughly 175,000 square meters and incorporates historic buildings relocated from places including Kyoto and Kamakura. Among them are tea houses, traditional residences and a three-story pagoda originally built in Kyoto in the 15th century.

The scenery will noticeably change with the calendar. Plum blossoms typically signal the approach of spring, followed by cherry blossoms, while lotus flowers appear in summer and Japanese maples bring rich color later in the year.

Sankeien sits away from Yokohama’s central waterfront, so plan on using transportation rather than adding it to a walking route around the pier. Once there, you can slow the pace with a stroll among historic architecture, seasonal gardens and quiet ponds.

Yokohama's port city heritage

Yokohama’s identity has been tied to the sea since its port opened to international trade in 1859. Today, you can see that connection firsthand at Osanbashi Pier. More than a place for ships to dock, the distinctive terminal has a rooftop plaza with sweeping perspectives across the harbor toward Minato Mirai and the Yokohama Bay Bridge.

Then head uphill to Yamate, where Western-style houses call back to the international community that developed after Yokohama opened to foreign trade. Several preserved residences are open to visitors to give you a glimpse of the architecture and lifestyles introduced to the city during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Nearby, the tree-lined paths of Harbor View Park overlook the port below.

Venturing beyond Yokohama with Princess

Yokohama can easily fill a day, but it also puts two very different destinations within reach. Princess Tokyo and Yokohama excursions make it possible to venture farther without piecing together transportation on your own. Both excursions turn a Yokohama port call into an opportunity to see another side of the region, with the day’s transportation already arranged.

Head into the capital on Highlights of Tokyo, which visits Meiji Shrine, surrounded by grounds filled with some 120,000 trees, and Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple. At Sensoji, pass through the lantern-adorned Kaminarimon Gate and browse Nakamise Shopping Street, where stalls sell Japanese snacks, crafts and souvenirs.

Or trade Tokyo for centuries of samurai history on Kamakura: Image of the Great Buddha & Shrine. After traveling along cherry-tree-lined Wakamiya-Oji, you'll visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura, a more than 770-year-old bronze statue standing 38 feet tall. The excursion continues to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, dedicated to the patron god of the samurai, before free time among the shops and eateries of Komachi-Dori Street.

Whether you choose to step off the ship and stay close to port or use the city as a starting point to discover more regions, Yokohama is an immersive and cultural experience when you cruise with Princess. Explore upcoming cruises to Tokyo and find the itinerary that puts Yokohama on your map.

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