Written by Chiara Mischke
Yokohama - 10 Free Things To Do
Yokohama is a popular destination when visiting Tokyo. Minato Mirai, Chinatown, and the surrounding coastal area, in particular, are great places to explore day and night for free. This article introduces ten great places to visit and activities that don't cost any yen.
Yokohama - A Popular Short Trip Destination with Free Activities
Yokohama is Tokyo's famous neighbor. The popular city is often chosen by visitors to capital as a day trip destination. It is especially beautiful at night when the harbor and downtown areas light up as the sun sets.
Yokohama belongs to the Tokyo Bay area. Minato Mirai and the coastal parts of Yokohama are great places to cool off in summer, and are home to many unique places. Some of these spots are even free and enjoyable by everyone.
Free Things in Yokohama:
1. Yokohama's Chinatown
2. The Pikachu Outbreak at Minato Mirai
3. The View from the Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal
4. The Historical Yokohama Port Opening Hall
5. The Iconic Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
6. The Modern Elephant Trunk Park
7. The Japanese Overseas Migration Museum
8. The Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama
9. Kirin Brewery Company Yokohama Factory Tours
10. The Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery
1. Yokohama's Chinatown
Picture from Yokohama Chinatown - 6 Things Not To Miss Out While Visiting!
Yokohama's Chinatown is one of the most famous places in Yokohama. It offers a huge variety of authentic Chinese restaurants and shops. Even Chinese people living in the Tokyo area go there to buy essentials or enjoy some authentic food to remind them of home.
Visiting Chinatown doesn't mean you have to spend money. Chinatown's atmosphere is colorful and unique, and just strolling around to soak in the surrounding is a popular pastime.
Yokohama's Chinatown also holds Chinese festivals throughout the year that are free to watch. It's most famous festivity is the Chinese New Year celebration every February.
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2. The Pikachu Outbreak at Minato Mirai
Picture from Yokohama - Make The Most Of A Day Spent In Minato Mirai!
Minato Mirai means the "port of the future". It is located directly along the water and offers amusement parks, shopping malls, and museums.
There are many parks located around the area perfect for a walk with the family or even a picnic. The night view over the water is stunning as well making it a very popular dating spot in the evenings.
Picture courtesy of Pokémon Japan
If you visit in summer you might be able to enjoy the Pikachu Outbreak. In recent years, everyone's favorite Pokémon has been parading and dancing in the Minato Mirai area for a couple of days every August. The event can be enjoyed for free but it is recommended to come early as it gets very crowded.
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3. The View from the Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal
Picture from A Grand Cruise from the Yokohama Osanbashi Terminal
The Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal is a major port for foreign cruise ships to dock during international cruises. It features one of Yokohama's best views of the Minato Mirai skyline, which is why it made it on our list.
The pier is architecturally unique, featuring of strips of wood with large sections of grass in between, ideal for a picnic.
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4. The Historical Yokohama Port Opening Hall
The Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall, also named Jack's Tower was opened to the public in 1917, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the harbor. During the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, only the clock tower and part of the building stayed intact, but the rest of the building was later completely restored. Jack's Tower is designated as a historical heritage building.
Clock towers aren't a common sight in Japan, so the building itself truly stands out against its modern surroundings. Photos and some documents about the hall are displayed inside the building.
The tip of the clock tower is illuminated, and its lights pass over the intersection in front of the building. At night, the red bricks reflecting in the light may make you feel like you traveled back in time.
Jack's Tower is located close to Minatomirai Station. It is the perfect place to start a night stroll along the illuminated bay area.
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5. The Iconic Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Picture from Yokohama - Make The Most Of A Day Spent In Minato Mirai!
In the early 1920s, the Red Brick Warehouse was used as the Customs Inspection House for Yokohama Bay's shipping activities. Nowadays the red buildings have been converted into a popular place to meet, eat, shop or simply spend time. It houses many shops and restaurants, but it is also worth a visit just for a stroll around and window shopping.
The Red Brick Warehouse is one of the landmarks of Yokohama and a popular backdrop for events throughout the year. Many of these events are free of charge to visit and enjoy.
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6. The Modern Elephant Trunk Park
Picture from Sea Breeze, Elephants, And Ice Cream! Yokohama's Zo No Hana Terrace
The Zonohana Park was opened in 2009 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Yokohama Port. Zonohana means elephant trunk in Japanese. It gets its name from one of its ports, which had an extended curve that looks like an elephant trunk.
Zonohana is located within close proximity to Minato Mirai, between Akarenga Park and Yamashita Park. The park is illuminated at night, giving it a romantic flair. It is a great place to stroll along the bay and enjoy the sea breeze day or night.
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7. The Japanese Overseas Migration Museum
The Japanese Overseas Migration Museum features more than 100 years of Japanese emigration and migration history. It shows the history through exhibitions and lectures and mainly focuses on the migrant experience in Central and South America.
Many museums in Japan make an effort to provide at least some English explanations, but the Japanese Overseas Migration Museum goes above and beyond. Reading material in English is available all through the museum.
The entrance to the museum is free. Make sure to bring some extra time to explore this unique museum.
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8. The Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama
Picture from Make Your Own Instant Ramen At The Cup Noodle Museum In Yokohama!
The Cupnoodles Museum in Japan can be found in Yokohama and Osaka. Cup noodles are a form of instant ramen that are very popular in Japan and come in many flavors.
If you want to learn about its history, which started in the 1970s, feel free to do so in the Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama. The museum introduces you to the history of the easy-to-make instant noodles as well as its different varieties. The entrance to the museum is free.
Picture from Make Your Own Instant Ramen At The Cup Noodle Museum In Yokohama!
The museum also offers a corner where you can make your own cup noodles, including decorating the container to your liking. Making your own instant ramen will costs 400 yen per cup.
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9. Kirin Brewery Company Yokohama Factory Tours
Picture from What's In That Can? A Guide To The Taste of Japanese Beers
Kirin is a popular beer brand in Japan alongside companies such as Asahi and Sapporo. The Kirin Yokohama Factory is one of nine factories of the Kirin Brewery Company. It offers free tours lasting around eighty minutes.
The tours offer views from above through observation windows of various parts of the manufacturing process. There is also a series of panels of Kirin's history on display.
The end of the tour includes a tasting bar. Visitors receive tickets that they can exchange for free tasting glasses of Kirin beer of their choice.
It is a fun tour for everyone wanting to learn more about Japanese beer or beer in general. The tours are held in Japanese only, but there is a lot to see so language shouldn't be a problem.
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10. The Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery
If you like cars, make sure to visit the Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery. Yokohama is where Nissan started, and the gallery transmits the history, vision and message of the company.
The gallery consists of a product zone displaying the latest models of vehicles for the Japanese market as well as a global product zone displaying the cars for the overseas market. The activities of the company throughout the year are introduced at the corporate communication zone and the heritage corridor teaches Nissan's history.
The gallery is a great place for every car lover, and entrance is free.
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Enjoy Yokohama for Free
With the options above, one could spend a whole weekend in Yokohama without spending any money. The bay area is especially enjoyable in summer as the sea breeze offers some relief from the heat in the city.
When visiting Tokyo, why not drop by Yokohama and spend the yen you saved doing things for free on some delicious food and refreshing ice cream?
