City guide · 横浜 Yokohama
Yokohama
An international port opened in 1859, where Japanese, Chinese and Western styles meet
Yokohama is one of the first Japanese ports opened to foreign trade, where Japanese, Chinese, and Western styles meet. The skyscrapers of Minato Mirai 21, the eateries of Chinatown, and the Western-style houses of the Yamate area make a port city that is both modern and nostalgic. Also worth a visit in the city is Minato Mirai 21, Yokohama's new city center, whose Landmark Tower and Ferris wheel are symbols of the waterfront; and Yamashita Park, stretching along the waterfront, offers views of the Hikawa Maru and the bay.
History
How the city came to be
Yokohama grew from a small fishing village into an international trading port: the port opened in 1859, the city was established in 1889, it was rebuilt after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, it became a designated city in 1956, the Yokohama Exposition was held in the Minato Mirai 21 district in 1989, and 2009 marked the 150th anniversary of the port opening.
- 1859The port opens, and the small fishing village rapidly grows into an international trading port
- 1889The city is established
- 1923The Great Kanto Earthquake destroys much of the city, which is then rebuilt
- 1956The city becomes a government-designated city
- 1989The Yokohama Exposition is held in the Minato Mirai 21 district
- 2002The World Cup final is held at International Stadium Yokohama
- 2009The 150th anniversary of the port opening
Stories
Stories of the city
A Chinatown born when the port opened
History · Yokohama Chinatown
After Yokohama opened as a port in 1859, large numbers of Chinese came to settle here, many working as compradors for foreign trading houses, handling trade in raw silk, tea and other goods with Japanese merchants. The Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923 devastated Chinatown, and through repeated rebuilding it grew into one of Japan's largest Chinatowns today.
The Old Buildings Hara Sankei Brought Here
History · Sankeien Garden
Rinshunkaku originally stood in Iwade, Wakayama Prefecture, as a summer residence of Tokugawa Yorinobu, lord of the Kii domain; Hara Sankei acquired it in 1906 and rebuilt it in the garden between 1915 and 1917. Gekkaden is recorded as having been built by Tokugawa Ieyasu at Fushimi Castle in 1603, and the paintings on its sliding partitions are attributed to the Momoyama-period artist Kaiho Yusho.
A Pagoda from Kyoto
History · Sankeien Garden
The former Tomyoji three-storey pagoda was built in Kyoto in 1457 and moved to Sankeien in 1914. Today it stands on the hill beside the Main Pond and is the garden's most striking sight.
Must see
Places you shouldn’t miss
Yokohama Chinatown
With more than 160 years of history, the largest Chinatown in Japan and Asia, where ten gates hold up a 'little China'. Chinese compradors who c…
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Bonded warehouses from the end of the Meiji era reborn as Minato Mirai's most romantic cultural and shopping landmark. Two red-brick buildings s…
Sankeien Garden
A traditional Japanese garden opened in 1906, about 175,000 square metres in area, dotted with historic buildings moved here from around Japan, …
Local life
Food and local daily life
Yokohama Chinatown
Must-try
- Xiaolongbao / siu mai
- Mapo tofu
- Peking duck
Xiaolongbao / shūmai (dim sum), mapo tofu (lots of Sichuan restaurants), Peking duck, almond jelly / mango pudding, pork buns (big buns from old shops)
| Where to eat | Long-established restaurants on Chūkagai Ōdōri (such as Chongqing Hanten), cafés on the Motomachi shopping street |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | For tabearuki (eating as you walk), finish in front of the shop before moving on; don't bring outside food into restaurants |
| Typical price per person | JPY 2,000–3,500 ≈ CNY 90–158 |
| Tips | Tabehōdai (all-you-can-eat) quality varies, so ordering à la carte at dim-sum specialists is safer; at weekends the main street is crowded — choose old places in the side lanes. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
hirotomo · CC BY-SA 2.0
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse · Yokohama yōshoku (Western-style dishes) · Napolitan spaghetti · Navy curry
Must-try
- Yokohama yōshoku (Western-style dishes)
- Napolitan spaghetti
- Navy curry
Yokohama yōshoku (omurice / hamburg steak), Napolitan spaghetti (Yokohama is one of the birthplaces of Japanese yōshoku), navy curry (in the style of nearby Yokosuka), Kiyōken shūmai bentō (a Yokohama speciality), café desserts
| Where to eat | Restaurants and the food court in the Red Brick Warehouses, the Minato Mirai restaurant area, the Kiyōken main store (around Yokohama Station) |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | On warehouse event days, follow staff directions in food queues |
| Typical price per person | JPY 2,000–3,800 ≈ CNY 90–171 |
| Tips | View restaurants charge a premium — a shūmai bentō picnic by the harbour is the local way. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
OiMax from Tokyo · CC BY 2.0
Before you go
Rules to know in Yokohama
There is no tipping in Japan
Do
- Say thank you with 'arigatō gozaimashita'
Don’t
- Pressing loose change on staff
Japan is a no-tipping country and bills usually include service; if you press a tip on staff, some will politely refuse.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese table manners
Take off your shoes when you see a genkan (entrance step)
Do
- Take off your shoes at the entrance of homes, some restaurants, temples and hot-spring facilities
- If unsure, look for a shoe rack or slippers at the entrance
Don’t
- Stepping onto tatami or indoor wooden floors in shoes
It is seen as very rude.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette
No phone calls on trains and the shinkansen; queue to board
Do
- Put your phone on silent; on the shinkansen, take calls in the area between carriages
- Queue at the marked spots on either side of the train door, and let people off before you get on
- Give priority seats to older people, pregnant women and passengers with limited mobility
Don’t
- Talking on the phone or playing sound aloud in the train
Not illegal, but you will get looks and a reminder from the conductor.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette