Quality Of Life Within The City Of Yokohama, Japan

Thinking about moving to Japan? Whether it’s for a short time or for good, Yokohama is one of Japan’s most popular cities for more reasons than one.

Yokohama, Japan is located south of Tokyo, known for its sightseeing landmarks, vibrant food, and non-stop activity. It’s a popular tourist destination, as a result, visited by tens of millions of foreign travelers every year.

If you are thinking about living in Yokohama, though, there is much more to consider than the city’s famous tourist destinations and food culture. 

So, in this guide, we specifically look at the quality of life within Yokohama. If you are on the fence about moving to Yokohama, this guide will give you a better idea about life in Yokohama and whether or not you should live there!

Population Of Yokohama

Yokohama’s current population is close to 4-million people. It’s the second most populated city in Japan, behind Tokyo, followed by Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo.

Yokohama is considered densely populated, due to this, but by no means overpopulated.

Yokohama can be busy, especially near the center of Yokohama where most of the tourist attractions are located.

But this is not a downside if you like vibrancy and excitement! Yokohama’s central business district, Minato Mirai, is a popular living spot for this reason.

Despite that, it’s more than possible to escape the hustle and bustle of central Yokohama. There are quieter, less populated areas of Yokohama to live in, one of which includes Honmoku, situated near Yokohama Bay.

Culture In Yokohama

Thanks to being one of Japan’s largest and most populous cities, you’ll experience a diverse culture in Yokohama.

It’s a city that has Western and Chinese influences thanks to its maritime history, so you won’t feel alienated if you are a foreigner.

Art and history is also a big part of the culture in Yokohama, which can be experienced in its many museums and art galleries. The main religions of Japan are Buddhim and Shinto, which may also interest you if you consider yourself spiritual.

Things To Do In Yokohama

There are lots of landmarks and food hotspots to visit in Yokohama. It’s also famous for its museums and live entertainment!

In other words, there is always something exciting to see and do in Yokohama, which makes it great if you like new experiences.

Some of the most popular things to do in Yokohama include exploring Minato Mirai, visiting the Sankeien Gardens, and dining at Chinatown.

Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is another famous tourist attraction, located by the water of Tokyo Bay.

As for live venues and bars in Yokohama, most of these can be found in Kanagawa Ward (Kanagawa-Ku) and Naka Ward (Naka-ku). If you prefer museums, however, the most popular museum in Yokohama is the Cup Noodles Museum.

Food In Yokohama

Whether you like to eat out or eat in, Yokohama is a city where you will find most things to satisfy your appetite or general diet.

Chinatown Yokohama is one of the city’s most visited dining hotspots, but there are still plenty of restaurants to find no matter where you stay.

Needless to say, the closer you are to Yokohama’s city center, the more malls and grocery stores you will find – ideal if you are looking for western food brands.

In addition, western-style restaurants and famous food chains can be found all over Yokohama.

Cleanliness Of Yokohama

In general, Yokohama is known for being relatively clean in terms of street litter and air quality. The same applies to Tokyo, overall, which has a moderate amount of pollution when compared to other cities around the world.

The majority of streets in Yokohama are clean and the air is fresh and clear – which is helped by its close proximity to the coast. It’s a clean city for the most part, with citizens that take pride in sweeping the streets free of litter. 

Yokohama is not perfect by any means, but it’s easily one of the cleanest cities in Tokyo. It also has clean and pristine parks, which provide a nice escape from Yokohama’s urban and densely populated areas.

Crime In Yokohama

Yokohama is well-known as a safe destination for tourists and foreigners to travel. Violence and mugging is low, however it’s important to stay vigilant (like in most foreign cities) due to a risk of pickpocketing and scams.

Overall, Yokohama has very low crime rates. Most citizens consider Yokohama a safe place to walk at night, with low concerns of getting mugged, attacked, or even insulted. 

In fact, Yokohama is one of the safest places to live in Japan – despite being the second-largest city. So, even if you’re a tourist or foreigner, Yokohama is a city where you can feel safe.

Transportation In Yokohama

Getting around Yokohama is easy enough thanks to its railway and bus network. The railway is the main way to travel around Yokohama (and Tokyo), so you don’t need to rent a car to get around.

What’s also good about Yokohama is that once you reach central Yokohama, much of the city center can be explored on foot. 

Overall, the buses and trains in Yokohama are the best way to get around and explore. Taxis are also available, however these are typically more expensive than using the railways and buses. 

Weather In Yokohama

Yokohama has a mostly subtropical climate – like most of Tokyo and wider Japan. The summers are hot and the winters are generally cold.

Despite that, the winter season is known for being clearer than the summer season, which is when Yokohama is cloudiest.

In addition, winter is also the driest season of the year in Yokohama. Yokohama gets a lot of rainfall throughout the year, with most of it occurring during the fall.

But if you prefer the heat, the hottest months of the year in Yokohama are from June to August!

Accommodation In Yokohama

It should go without saying that living in Yokohama is not as expensive as central Tokyo. But, ultimately, the price of accommodation in Yokohama is based on the age, size, and proximity to local transport and popular destinations.

Due to this, the cost of rent in Yokohama will depend on your living requirements and how willing you are to travel. And while Yokohama is not the cheapest place to live in Japan, it’s still quite affordable.

Still, if you are planning to commute to Tokyo regularly, Yokohama is just 30 minutes away. This makes Yokohama ideal if you are going to work in Tokyo but want to live somewhere that’s much cheaper and not as busy.

Final Word

Overall, Yokohama is one of the best cities to live in Japan.

It’s well-known for its vibrant culture, cleanliness, ease of transportation, low crime, and affordable accommodation (when compared with Tokyo), making it ideal for expats and travelers looking to experience Japan.

Despite that, Yokohama can be busy and the weather can be unpredictable. However, if you like city life and don’t mind experiencing different seasons, Yokohama—and wider Tokyo—are great places to live with not many downsides.

So, whether you plan on staying in Tokyo for a few months or a few years, Yokohama is one of Japan’s best cities when it comes to quality of life – especially if you want to be close to Tokyo City!