Yokohama is located south of Tokyo, and is considered to be the second largest city within Japan. It lies in the Kanagawa prefecture and is home to more than 3 million people.
Generally, Yokohama is 17 miles away from Tokyo if you were going in a straight line. If you were to drive by car, then you would need to add on another six miles to make it 23 miles. This is due to the windy roads and so forth.
With all this in mind, let’s take a look at Yokohama in more detail and why it is a great place to visit during your trip to Japan.
How To Get From Tokyo To Yokohama Using The Train?
One of the best ways to get from Tokyo to Yokohama is by using the train. You could attempt bus routes or take a cab, but you are likely to spend more money or end up lost – so we highly recommend the train!
Yokohama is only 17 miles away from Tokyo, meaning that it is a really easy place to travel to. In fact, you could just get on the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) and be in Yokohama in less than twenty minutes.
However, it is the most expensive way to get there at ¥2,600. Though, with a Japan Rail Pass you will find traveling on the bullet train a breeze.
There are many trains that are bound for Yokohama from Tokyo too. Some of these lines include the JR Yokosuka Line, JR Tokaido Line, or the JR Keihin Tohoku Line. The JR Shonan Shinjuku Line takes 30 minutes from Shinjuku Station.
If you are looking for the least expensive route, then taking the Tokyu Toyoko Line from Shibuya Station will get you to Yokohama Chinatown in around half an hour.
What Things Are There To Do In Yokohama?
Despite Yokohama being so close to Tokyo, there are so many things still to do. Here are some suggestions:
Minato Mirai 21
Otherwise known as ‘harbor of the future’, this area has many attractions. It also includes impressive views of the water, as well as Landmark Tower, the Sky Garden Observatory, and a ferris wheel to see the area and beyond.
This place looks beautiful at night when the sky high buildings are lit up. You may also want to check out the Red Brick Warehouse which has food stalls outside, and lots of boutique style stores to visit.
If you are a fan of Pokemon, then you will want to visit the Pokemon Center in Landmark Tower, as well as the Shonen Jump store for all of your manga needs.
Cupnoodles Museum
You can’t visit Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district and not go to the Cupnoodles Museum. In the year of 1958, a man named Momofuku Ando created instant ramen noodles. Here you can find out all about it.
Not only that, you can make your own packaging to take home with you. And if you want to sample some ramen, then it will cost you ¥300 to do so.
Negishi Forest Park
This park is open 24 hours a day and is huge. Not only is it one of the best places to see cherry blossoms during spring, but you may even spot some koi in the ponds that are close to the entrance of the park.
This park gets quite busy, especially in warmer weather. Despite this, it is a wonderful place to take your snacks and relax with friends.
It also has a plum grove and forests to explore.
Yokohama Chinatown
Who doesn’t love Chinatown? This one in Yokohama is no exception. It has narrow streets, bright colors and wonderful smells of delicious food.
While you will find a number of restaurants here, you will also see stores (often selling Kpop merchandise) and arcade places.
You may want to visit here during Lunar New Year too when there are lots of festivities taking place.
An Pan Man Museum
Whether you have children or not, you will want to visit the An Pan Man museum. Here you can take in the delicacies of Uncle Jam’s bakery, or seek out cool and unique merchandise.
Adults dressed up as the characters also entertain the children. This includes having a man dressed in a cape with a shokupan (milk bread loaf) as a head.
This is also a great place to go if you want to do something completely different to other tourists. It is likely you will only see Japanese natives here.
Can You See Cherry Blossoms In Yokohama?
Yes, there are many places to see cherry blossoms while in Yokohama. In fact, it makes a great alternative to places like Tokyo. However, that does not mean it will be less busy – far from it.
Cherry blossoms normally bloom at the end of March and the beginning of April. However, it can be unpredictable. This means you will want to make sure you are in Japan for a long enough time to see them bloom.
An easy place to see the cherry blossoms is along a 500 meter length street through Minato Mirai. There is also a sakura festival held here every year too.
Another place is Yamashita Park, where many people spend hanami (cherry blossom viewing). You can also go to Negishi Park too. There are hundreds of cherry blossom trees to see.
The traditional Japanese garden, Sankeien, is a great place to see cherry blossoms in bloom.
Final Thoughts
Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan and is only 17 miles away from Tokyo. There are many ways to get to Yokohama from Tokyo by train, no matter your budget or how much free time you have.
The next time you take a trip to Japan, remember to stop by Yokohama. You will find that it is a place that you keep on returning back to. There are so many things to see and do that make it a unique place to visit.
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
