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Yokohama travel guide

Yokohama, Japan's second-largest city, lies on the western shore of Tokyo Bay about half an hour by train from central Tokyo. Most visitors stay along the harbour strip that runs from Yokohama station through Minato Mirai and Kannai to Chinatown, or inland at Shin-Yokohama, where the shinkansen stops. Pick between harbour evenings and fast exits to the rest of Japan.

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Getting there and choosing your base

  • Haneda Airport: Keikyu trains reach Yokohama station directly, but some services head into Tokyo instead and need a change at Keikyu-Kamata, so read the train's destination board. A hotel near Yokohama station or on the Minato Mirai Line keeps the onward trip simple.
  • Narita Airport: Much further out. Some Narita Express trains run through to Yokohama, and limousine buses go to the Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT); Keisei and Keikyu through-trains are the cheaper option.
  • Shin-Yokohama station: The Tokaido shinkansen calls here, a few stops from the main Yokohama station. For the harbour or Chinatown, an ordinary train from Tokyo is often quicker than the shinkansen.

Areas to consider

Yokohama station

Suits short stays and onward trips, with JR, Keikyu, Tokyu, Sotetsu and subway lines all meeting here. The east and west sides of the station are separated by the tracks, so check which side the hotel is on before you arrive with bags.

Minato Mirai

Suits harbour views and the waterfront promenade, with the Minato Mirai Line running beneath it to Chinatown. Bay-facing rooms are sold as a separate category; confirm you are paying for a harbour view and not a view of the next tower.

Kannai, Chinatown and Motomachi

Suits evenings out on foot, with Chinatown, Yamashita Park, Yamate and the baseball stadium close together. Motomachi-Chūkagai is on the Minato Mirai Line while Ishikawachō and Kannai are JR stations; check which is nearest if you are travelling on a JR pass.

Shin-Yokohama

Suits early shinkansen departures and events at Yokohama Arena or Nissan Stadium. Rooms here can sell out on concert and match nights, so look at the arena and stadium calendars before fixing dates.

When to go

The rainy season usually runs from June into July, and July and August are hot and very humid. Golden Week (29 April to 5 May), the summer Obon period and the New Year holiday push up rates across the Tokyo area, and Yokohama hotels fill with domestic visitors at the same time.

Before choosing a room

  • Some Japanese business-hotel chains price per person rather than per room; compare the total for two guests before choosing.
  • For day trips to Kamakura or Hakone, a hotel close to the JR lines at Yokohama station saves a transfer each morning.
  • Check-out in business hotels is often early. If you fly from Haneda in the evening, confirm the hotel will hold luggage after check-out.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

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