Yokohama Things to Do

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The Red Brick Warehouses are some remains of Yokohama's past and various goods had been stored there before or after they had been transported by ship. Some years ago these old buildings had been restored and partly rebuilt in order to make a shopping-centre out of them including restaurants and cafes.
It is really great to walk through these buildings and do your shopping !

The Marine tower of Yokohama is considdered to be the highest lighttower on earth, that is at least what they tell us in the Guinness Book of records. The observation-deck is 100meters above the ground. This tower is quite close to the cruiseport and it is a pity that I did not have enough time to take a closer look.They also have a museum of beer-mugs inside the tower-building and it is open daily between 10.00am and 09.00pm. Entrancefee is 700 YEN.

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Minato Mirai 21 is the most modern part of the city-skyline of Yokohama and it is the area between the Landmarktower, that is the tallest building in Japan (see my next tip!) and Cosmoworld with the Giant Ferris Wheel. The 21 in the name of this citydistrict stands for the 21st century and you will find a lot of interesting, modern architecture there.
I was there around 09.00pm when all of a sudden thousands of employees ended their work obviously all at the same time and all of them headed for the train-station that is closeby. There seems to be even some sort of a working-uniform for people working in the Landmark-tower.

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The landmark tower is a giant skyscraper in the modern part of Yokohama and you will see it from almost all parts of the city. There is a great restaurant with an excellent view there or you can go to Japan's highest observation deck (273m above the ground) by one of the many elevators. They also have the fastest elevator on earth, taking you up within 40 seconds. When the weatherconditions are perfect you can see from there the Mt.Fuji, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Metropolitan Government building
The Landmarktower is open for visitors :
daily 10.00am-10.00pm (Jul.-Sept.) Oct.-Jul.: only untill 09.00pm
entrancefee is 1000 YEN for adults
admission ends 30 min before closingtime

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Cosmoworld is the name of a large theme-park and recreation-area around of the giant ferris Wheel. Unfortunately its gates were locked at night and while the giant wheel might still be turning around it will be impossible to take a ride then unfortunately. Maybe next time !

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Yokohama's Chinatown
takes you into a completly different world. Maybe you enter through one of the chinese gates or maybe you enter through a sidestreet like I did and by the thousands of red lamions you will realize that you enter a different world there. I had been there at around 10.00pm, the steets were almost empty and i also sis not dare to enter any of the houses or restaurants and so I just did take some photos.

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Nippon-Maru Memorial Park
a traditional sailingship & museum
is one of the attractions in the port of Yokohama. You will be able to enter the ship, see some of the cabins and learn about the ship's history dating back to 1930. Untill 1984 11500 cadettes were educated there and the ship sailed 45 times around the earth. Read more about this ship and see some great photos in my link below.Unfortunately I had no time to get inside, I will do that the next time !

I found the museum to be particularly interesting, detailing the role Yokohama's port has played in the economic and political development of not only Yokohama, but Japan. The displays detail the history from when the Americans forced Japan open in the 1850's, through emigration, war, rapid economic development to the present day. There are also quite a few interesting displays in regards to the evolution of shipbuilding.

It's also well worth having a look around the Nihonmaru, moored right next to the museum.