12 Best Tours and Activities in Yokohama

Best Yokohama Tours and Things to Do

Yokohama is a capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, and one of the most attractive cities in Japan with a wide variety of unique attractions which visitors definitely worth exploring. Yokohama can be visited from central Tokyo within 30–60 mins and it’s one of the top side trip destinations from Tokyo. It’s also recommended to choose accommodation in Yokohama rather than in Tokyo if you are planning to extend your trip to west such as Kamakura, Hakone, Mt Fuji or taking Shinkansen to Kyoto or Osaka. Accommodations in Yokohama could also be slightly cheaper and less busy than Tokyo, which is also a great benefit.

Yokohama is home to a numbers of tourist attractions and landmarks in the central area as well as outside of the city which you can take a day trip. Yokohama is a transportation hub connecting numbers of destinations so you can extend your trip within or outside of the city easily!

In this article, I’d like to share the recommended day-trip tours and unique activities in Yokohama which can maximise your trip. From onsen spa to food tour, here are the best Yokohama tours and activities!

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.


1. Yokohama Private Tour

If you want to see the best bits of Yokohama in one day,  joining a private tour is probably the best idea. The “Yokohama City, Customized Private One Day Tour with a Local” is highly recommended tour with a knowledgeable English-speaking local guide. With the 8-hour full day tour, you can enjoy diverse attractions of Yokohama such as exploring the urban area of Minato Mirai, visiting Japan’s biggest Chinatown, eating out in local eatery. The tour can be fully personalized as the operator will design an itinerary for you based on your interests and preferences!

▶ Yokohama City, Customized Private One Day Tour with a Local

2. Yokohama Bay Cruising

One of the best ways to explore Yokohama is from the ocean as you can feel the ocean breeze and capture the breathtaking view of the city while cruising on Yokohama Bay. There are two recommended cruising operators in Yokohama, one is Marine Rouge, the luxury cruise offering lunch and dinner with chef’s selection of delicacies and drinks, and the other is Sea Bass, the sightseeing cruise which you can see some of famous landmarks of the city including skyscrapers of Minato Mirai district. Both cruises are pretty affordable but give you an unforgettable experience!

Book tour ▶ Yokohama Marine Rouge / Sea Bass Cruise

3. Onsen Experience in Yokohama

You can have a relaxing onsen experience while being in the heart of the city! Manyo Club is a perfect getaway where you can enjoy various hot spring baths and other relaxation facilities. Surprisingly, the hot spring water used for the facility is real as they are brought from famous onsen towns: Yugawara and Atami by tank lorries everyday. It’s located in Minato Mirai area and the stunning urban city view of the district can be enjoyed while soaking up in a foot bath located at the open-air terrace. Besides onsen baths, there are massage and reflexology salons, private rooms, a lounge, restaurants, overnight accommodation, etc.

▶ Admission for Manyo Club Onsen Experience in Yokohama

4. Yokohama Night from the Sky

The urban area of Yokohama Minato Mirai district offers one of the most attractive night views in Japan with modern high-rise buildings by the ocean illuminated at night. There are several great viewing spots within the district, but the most popular one is the observation deck on Yokohama Landmark Tower, the tallest building in Yokohama. The Sky Garden observatory is situated at 273m above the sea level and can be accessed by Japan’s fastest elevator that runs 45.0 km/h (28.0 mph). Enjoy looking down the illuminated night view of Yokohama! It’s also recommended to visit during day as you can see the surrounding area and some landmarks such as Tokyo Skytree and Mt Fuji if the weather is good.

▶ Book Yokohama Landmark Tower Sky Garden Observatory Ticket

5. Play by the Water All Day: Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is a popular amusement park located on Hakkeijima Island, Yokohama which can be accessed by Kanazawa Seaside Line. The park consists of multiple amusement facilities including an aquarium, shopping mall, hotel, marina and amusement rides. From couples to families with small kids, visitors can easily spend a whole day or two with a variety of attractions at the park. There are two main areas at the park: the Aqua Resort, one of Japan’s biggest aquariums and the Pleasure Land with over 15 kids-friendly and thrilling rides and attractions.

▶ Book Tickets for Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise!

6. Join a Cooking Class

Cooking Classes are highly popular activity among tourists today as they can enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine and also learn Japanese food culture through the process of making the dishes. Numbers of cooking classes are held in Yokohama today with a choice of various Japanese dishes including Sushi, Tempura, Japanese home-cooking dishes, Vegan dishes and more. Take a look at the list of cooking classes available today via the attached link below!

7. Gundam Factory Yokohama

Gundam Factory Yokohama is an entertainment facility located in Yamashita Pier in Yokohama, featuring a statue of a life-size 18m tall moving Gundam as a main attraction. It was launched in December 2020 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gundam franchise and scheduled to close in 2023, however its closing date is now delayed to the end of March 2024 due to its popularity. Beside the statue, the sites features the hands-on learning facility ACADEMY, Gundam Cafe and the merchandise store Gundam Base.

▶ Book Tickets for Gundam Factory Yokohama

8. Be a Ramen Mania

If you love Ramen, Yokohama is the right place to be. The city is known as a big Ramen battleground in Japan as it’s home to over 500 Ramen restaurants and there is a type of Ramen called “Iekei Ramen” originated in Yokohama. As the city has a lot of love for Ramen, there are also Ramen-related facilities such as Cup Noodle Museum and Yokohama Ramen Museum.

Ramen Museum is a food museum dedicated to Ramen where visitors can learn the history and the facts about Ramen as well as being indulged by various regional Ramen dishes from across Japan.  Cup Noodle Museum is an unique museum of instant cup noodles run by NISSHIN, the world famous food company who first invented the instant noodles back in 1958. The museum exhibits the history of instant Ramen as well as hands-on activities to create your own instant noodles.

More info
Yokohama Cup Noodle Museum
Yokohama Ramen Museum

9. Support Local Teams: Yokohama F. Marinos and Yokohama DeNa Baystars

Yokohama International Stadium a.k.a Nissan Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in Japan, which hosted several big international sports event including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It’s also the home stadium of Yokohama F. Marinos from Japan Professional and football matches are held at the venue during the league season. You can have an unique experience by watching football match in a very lively and exciting atmosphere with enthusiastic supporters!

Baseball is the most popular sports here in Japan, and exciting professional baseball games can be watched at several stadiums in Japan during the league season. Yokohama DeNa Baystars is a professional baseball team in the Japan Central League, and its home ground is Yokohama Stadium in Naka Ward, Yokohama. The team is extremely popular among local fans and on every games, the stadium is filled with passionate fans and an energetic atmosphere. Let’s support Baystars with passionate fans while staying in Yokohama!

More info ▶ https://www.baystars.co.jp/english/

10. Doraemon Museum

Doraemon is one of the most beloved Japanese anime characters created by Fujiko F Fujio, the legendary manga artist. Over 100 million copies of Doraemon’s manga series have been sold worldwide, and its anime series has been broadcasted in over 30 countries. A lot of people in the world have grown up watching Doraemon, and until today many kids enjoy watching its anime and movie series.

The Fujiko F Fujio Museum a.k.a. Doraemon Museum opened in 2011, featuring Doraemon as the main highlight of the museum. The museum is located in in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, which is the neighbouring city of Yokohama which can be accessed within 15 mins by train. If you are a Doraemon fan, or into Japanese manga culture, you should definitely extend your trip to Doraemon Museum to meet Doraemon and other famous manga characters!

Book ticket ▶ Fujiko F Fujio Museum Ticket Tokyo

11. Bar Hopping Tour

Bar hopping tours are now one of the top attractions among foreign visitors as they could explore the real Japanese food culture and local nightlife by hopping hidden bars and trying authentic Japanese dishes and drinks with a local guide. One of the best bar hopping tours could be found at Yokohama’s Noge are, the district with atmospheric old-fashioned streets filled with many retro Izakaya (Japanese style pubs) and bars. It’s a great hidden gem for foodie travellers to try delicious food and explore the local nightlife in Yokohama!

12. Day Trip to the Historic Capital of the East

Kamakura is a top tourist destination in Kanto Region. It’s a seaside town of Kanagawa Prefecture, and can be accessed from Yokohama within 30 mins. Kamakura is often called the Kyoto of the East as numbers of well-preserved historical monuments and the charming streetscape can be enjoyed. There are dozens of beautiful temples and shrines surrounded by pleasant nature, and an attractive shopping street filled with souvenir shops and street food vendors. The historical town of Kamakura is the perfect destination to explore after visiting the modern city of Yokohama!


Wanna check out the best things to do and places to visit Yokohama City?? Then check out the article below!

Thank you very much for reading! If you are staying in Yokohama and looking for fun activities and amazing places to visit for a day trip, these tours and activities may be the perfect option for you! For more travel information in and around Yokohama, here are some more articles for you to check out!

▽Related Articles▽

▼Editor’s Picks▼

Written by

"The world is my oyster" A globetrotter 🌎 and hammock lover 🌞 who loves taking adventures to fuel wanderlust. Born and raised in Japan, I have lived and explored countries around the world. As a resident of Japan and based on my travel experience, I'd love to share my knowledge and tips for travelling Japan with my readers. I hope my story will help you plan your trip and have a great time in Japan 🌈