Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan

Cruises to/from Yokohama (Tokyo)

Yokohama - Tokyo's main gateway to the sea and Japan's largest cruise port. The country's second-largest city stretches along the western shore of Tokyo Bay, about 30 km (19 miles) south of the Japanese capital, connected by a mere half-hour ride on a high-speed train. Some 170 years ago, this was a fishing village of just 600 people; today it is a metropolis of skyscrapers in the Minato Mirai district, home to Japan's largest Chinatown, and a port that welcomes dozens of cruise ships from around the world every year.
For cruise travelers, Yokohama serves as both an embarkation port (the home port of Japan's flagship liner “Asuka II”) and a popular port of call for international ships bound for Tokyo. From here, itineraries head through the Seto Inland Sea, to South Korea, Taiwan, and China, as well as on transoceanic and world cruises. In April 2023, the Port of Yokohama set a Japanese record by berthing five cruise ships simultaneously for the first time, and the number of calls keeps growing each year as leading cruise lines expand their Asian programs. 🚢

📋 Before setting sail from Yokohama (Tokyo) or stepping ashore for a few hours in port, here's what you need to know:
🇯🇵 Country: Japan
📍 Region: Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu Island
👥 Population: about 3.77 million residents (Japan's second-largest city after Tokyo)
📐 Area: 437.4 km² (168.9 sq mi)
🗣️ Languages: Japanese; English is spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and on public transport
💴 Currency: Japanese yen (JPY)
🕐 Time zone: JST (UTC+9) — 6 hours ahead of Kyiv in winter and 7 hours ahead in summer (Japan does not observe daylight saving time)
☀️ Climate: humid subtropical, with mild winters (+5…+10 °C / 41…50 °F) and hot, humid summers (+27…+32 °C / 81…90 °F); typhoon season runs August–September
✈️ Nearest airport: Haneda (HND) — 25–30 km (16–19 miles) from the cruise port; Narita Airport (NRT) — 80–90 km (50–56 miles)
⚓ Official name of the cruise port: Port of Yokohama (横浜港, Yokohama-kô)
🗺️ Port structure: three passenger terminals — Osanbashi, Shinko, and Daikoku, spread across different piers around Tokyo Bay

🏛️ History of Yokohama — from fishing village to Japan's gateway to the world
⏳ 170 years from a closed country to an international metropolis
The history of Yokohama began on June 2, 1859, when, under the terms of the Ansei Treaties signed after Commodore Matthew Perry's fleet arrived, the port was officially opened to trade with Western nations. The shogunate authorities found it more convenient to keep the foreign settlement away from the historic Tôkaidô road, so instead of the neighboring town of Kanagawa-juku, they chose a quiet fishing village on the opposite shore of the bay. At the time, Yokohama had a population of only about 600.
The decision proved historic: within a few decades, Yokohama had become Japan's main gateway to the world. The country's first daily newspaper (1870), its first gas street lamps (1872), its first bakery, its first ice cream, and its first brewery all appeared here — the city amassed a record number of “Japanese firsts.” In 1859, Japan's first Chinatown also sprang up next to the port; today it is the country's largest Chinese quarter.
⚔️ Weathering disaster and rebuilding
Yokohama has nearly vanished from the map twice — and been reborn twice. The Great Kantô Earthquake of 1923 leveled much of the city and claimed tens of thousands of lives, yet by 1929 Yokohama had been largely rebuilt. A second blow came during World War II, when bombing raids destroyed much of the city's buildings and port infrastructure. Postwar reconstruction turned Yokohama into one of Japan's major industrial and trading centers, and starting in the 1980s a large-scale redevelopment of the waterfront gave the city the modern look of the Minato Mirai district it has today.

⚓ Port of Yokohama — the maritime heart of Tokyo Bay
📊 Scale and structure of the port
The modern Port of Yokohama is a multifunctional complex with ten major piers handling container, cargo, and passenger traffic. For cruise travelers, three passenger terminals matter most. Osanbashi Pier is the port's oldest and best-known terminal, first built between 1889 and 1896; the current terminal building, reopened after renovation in 2002, is famous for its undulating wooden rooftop promenade, which doubles as a public park with panoramic views of the bay. It can accommodate up to four 30,000-gross-ton-class ships, or two ships exceeding 30,000 gross tons, at the same time. Daikoku Pier is a modern terminal over 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) long with berths 10–12 meters (33–39 ft) deep, able to receive today's largest liners of over 120,000 gross tons. Shinko Pier is an additional terminal in the central waterfront area, used for smaller and mid-sized ships.

🚢 How many liners the port can host
Thanks to its three terminals, the Port of Yokohama can host up to seven cruise ships at the same time. In April 2023, it became the first port in Japanese history to berth five cruise ships simultaneously — a milestone that underscored the port's growing role as the country's leading cruise hub. On peak days of the season (May–October), two or three large liners can be docked at Osanbashi and Daikoku at once.

🏢 Which cruise lines call at Yokohama
Yokohama is the home port for the flagship liners of Japan's own Asuka Cruise line (“Asuka II” and the new “Asuka III”), and it also regularly welcomes ships from leading international brands: Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. That makes Yokohama one of the key stops for any cruise around Japan and Northeast Asia. 🌏

💡 Interesting facts about Yokohama and its port
A visit to the city is more rewarding when you know a few lesser-known details:
🏙️ Yokohama is a city of “Japanese firsts.” The country's first newspaper, first gas lamps, first ice cream, first bakery, and first beer all appeared here, thanks to the city's status as an open international port.
🥡 Yokohama's Chinatown is Japan's largest Chinese quarter. It sprang up alongside the opening of the port in 1859 and today counts more than 500 restaurants and shops.
🎡 The Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel in Minato Mirai is one of the world's largest clock-face Ferris wheels: it doesn't just carry riders — its giant dial also tells the exact time, visible from across the city.
🏗️ Landmark Tower was once Japan's tallest building, at 296 m (971 ft). On a clear day, the observation deck on the 69th floor offers views all the way to Mount Fuji.
🚢 The museum ship Hikawa Maru, permanently docked at Yamashita Park, is a 1930s Art Deco ocean liner that once carried passengers across the Pacific to Seattle.
🍜 Yokohama is home to the Cup Noodles Museum, dedicated to Momofuku Ando's invention of instant noodles, with interactive workshops for visitors.
🌊 The Port of Yokohama has survived two catastrophes — the 1923 earthquake and World War II bombing raids — and rebuilt from near-total destruction both times.
⚓ Osanbashi Pier is older than the Tokyo subway. Its original structure was completed back in 1896, long before the Japanese capital's modern public transport system existed.

📍 Top landmarks in Yokohama — must-sees for cruise travelers
A cruise ship's call in Yokohama usually lasts 8 to 12 hours, so it's worth setting priorities in advance. You'll find a detailed list with photos, addresses, and opening hours in the “Landmarks and Attractions” section; below is a brief overview of the iconic spots that define the city.
🏙️ Minato Mirai 21 — a futuristic waterfront business district with the Landmark Tower skyscraper, the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel, and the Queen's Square and MARK IS shopping malls.
🌳 Yamashita Park and the Hikawa Maru — the city's most popular waterfront promenade, with views of ships entering the port and a legendary museum liner permanently moored nearby.
🥟 Yokohama Chinatown — Japan's largest Chinese quarter, with vibrant gates, hundreds of restaurants, and street food.
🧱 Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse — historic early-20th-century port warehouses converted into a space of shops, cafés, and open-air events.
🍜 Cup Noodles Museum — an interactive museum on the history of instant noodles, where visitors can design their own noodle package.
⛵ Nippon Maru and the Dock Museum — a 1930s sail training ship permanently berthed in Japan's oldest dry dock.
🌸 Sankeien Garden — a traditional early-20th-century Japanese garden with historic buildings relocated from across the country, set among ponds, cherry, and maple trees.
🏯 Yamate (The Bluff) — a former foreign residents' quarter on a hilltop, lined with European-style villas from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and offering panoramic bay views.

✨ Why choose a cruise from Yokohama
Yokohama — offers a rare combination of convenient logistics, authentic Japanese atmosphere, and its status as the country's true gateway to the sea.
First, there's its ideal proximity to Tokyo: the heart of the Japanese capital is just 25–30 minutes away by high-speed train from the cruise terminal. 🚄
Second, there's a wide choice of itineraries: cruises departing Yokohama sail through the Seto Inland Sea, to South Korea and Taiwan, on world cruises aboard “Asuka II,” and as calls within the Asian programs of international lines. 🌊
Third, the city itself is already part of the experience: even a few hours ashore are enough to stroll the Minato Mirai waterfront, sample authentic Chinese cuisine in Chinatown, and take in a blend of traditional Japan and Western influence found nowhere else in the country. 🍵

Cruise specialists at Four Gates Group can help you choose the right ship, itinerary, and cabin, take care of flight details to Japan and visa arrangements, and offer exclusive rates from MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and other leading brands we work with as a priority partner in Ukraine. 🤝

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is provided for general reference and was accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. For up-to-date details, please check with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or the official websites of the relevant venues.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals

Getting to the Cruise Terminal in Yokohama (Tokyo)

Yokohama is the main gateway to the greater Tokyo region and one of the largest cruise ports in Asia, so getting here is usually straightforward and predictable. That said, travelers have a choice of two international airports, three cruise terminals, and several forms of public transport, so it's worth working out in advance which route suits your particular sailing. The main and most popular terminal — Osanbashi (大さん橋) — sits almost in the heart of Yokohama, a short walk from Chinatown and Yamashita Park, and has no metro station directly at its entrance. Below is a verified, step-by-step guide to every transfer option, current prices, and tips from the Four Gates Group cruise specialists. 🎯

📍 Exactly where the Yokohama cruise port is located
The Port of Yokohama receives liners at three separate piers, and it's always worth confirming your ship's terminal in advance:

⚓ Osanbashi Terminal (大さん橋国際客船ターミナル) — the main terminal and the most convenient for tourists, located in the very heart of the city:
• Can simultaneously berth up to 4 mid-size ships (up to 30,000 GT) or 2 large ships (from 70,000 GT)
• Home port of the Japanese liner Asuka II; the terminal's roof hosts a free, 24-hour observation deck nicknamed “Kujira no Senaka” (“Whale's Back”)
• 📌 GPS address: 1-1-4 Kaigan-dori, Naka-ku, Yokohama
• 🚶 Distance to downtown: a 5–7-minute walk to Yamashita Park and Chinatown

⚓ Shinko Terminal (新港ふ頭客船ターミナル) — a neighboring pier by the historic Yokohama Hammerhead warehouse:
• Receives mid-size and large ships
• Adjacent to the Yokohama Hammerhead retail and leisure complex, with a hotel, restaurants, and cafés
• 📌 GPS address: 2-14-1 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama

⚓ Daikoku Terminal (大黒ふ頭客船ターミナル) — a dedicated pier for megaships beyond the Yokohama Bay Bridge:
• Built in 2019 specifically for vessels too large to pass under the Yokohama Bay Bridge (for example, Queen Elizabeth, Spectrum of the Seas)
• Located in an industrial zone, considerably farther from the tourist districts — transfers here are mostly arranged by the cruise line itself
• 📌 GPS address: 17 Daikoku Futo, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama

❗ Important: your ship's exact pier is always listed on your cruise voucher. Check it 48–72 hours before boarding — the terminal can occasionally change due to the port schedule or weather conditions.

✈️ From the airport to the cruise terminal
The greater Tokyo area is served by two international airports, and the best route depends on which one your flight lands at.

🛫 Haneda Airport (HND) — the closer, more convenient option
Tokyo International Airport Haneda is located 25–30 km (16–19 miles) from Yokohama and handles most domestic flights along with a share of international routes, including flights from Europe via Asian hubs.

🚕 Taxi
• Travel time: 40–50 minutes depending on traffic
• Estimated fare to the Osanbashi Terminal: approximately 12,000–16,000 JPY (meter fare plus toll roads)
• Payment: cash, card, contactless payment (not all taxis accept Suica/PASMO IC cards)
• Apps: GO, S.RIDE, Uber (operates through partner taxi fleets)
💡 Tip from Four Gates: some taxi companies offer a fixed “airport-to-destination” rate when booked in advance — a good way to avoid surprises from traffic delays.

🚐 Private transfer
• Cost: from 13,000 JPY for a sedan (1–3 people), from 20,000 JPY for a minivan (4–6 people)
• Travel time: 35–45 minutes
• Benefits: a meet-and-greet with a name sign in the arrivals hall, a fixed price, flight monitoring, and no waiting in line
🤝 Four Gates Group arranges private transfers for our clients — simply share your flight number when booking your cruise.

🚌 Airport limousine bus (リムジンバス)
Comfortable coaches with dedicated luggage space run from both airport terminals to Yokohama's central stations.
• Route: stop at the airport terminal exit → Yokohama Station (about 30–40 minutes)
• Cost: approximately 900–1,300 JPY one way
• Onward journey: from Yokohama Station — taxi (15–20 min, roughly 2,000–3,000 JPY) or bus to the Osanbashi Terminal

🚆 Train (Keikyu Line) — the fastest and cheapest option if you're traveling light
• Route: Keikyu Line direct service from “Haneda Airport Terminal 1·2” or “Haneda Airport Terminal 3” Station to Yokohama Station (about 25–30 minutes)
• Cost: approximately 400–600 JPY
• Onward to the port: from Yokohama Station's East Exit — bus (route 26 or Bayside Blue, 15 min, 220 JPY) or taxi (15–20 min, roughly 2,000–3,000 JPY) to the Osanbashi Terminal

🛫 Narita Airport (NRT) — the main international hub, but farther from the port
Narita Airport is located 90–100 km (56–62 miles) from Yokohama and handles most long-haul international flights, including direct routes from Europe.

🚆 Narita Express (N'EX) — the recommended option
• Route: a direct, no-transfer train from Narita Airport to Yokohama Station
• Travel time: 85–95 minutes
• Cost: approximately 4,300–4,700 JPY (standard class; seat reservation required)
• Frequency: roughly once an hour
• Onward to the port: bus or taxi from Yokohama Station, as described above

🚌 Limousine bus from Narita
• Travel time: 100–120 minutes depending on traffic
• Cost: approximately 3,600–4,000 JPY
• Advantage: no transfers, and luggage compartments are included

🚕 Taxi from Narita
• Travel time: 90–120 minutes
• Cost: from 30,000 JPY — considerably more than the train, so recommended mainly for groups or heavy luggage
💡 Tip from Four Gates: if your flight lands in Narita late at night with boarding the next morning, consider an overnight stay near Yokohama Station — it will save time and energy before your cruise.

🚄 From Tokyo Station and Shin-Yokohama Station to the cruise terminal
If your journey begins in central Tokyo (for example, after a few days in the capital) or you arrive by Shinkansen bullet train, there are two convenient routes.

🚅 From Tokyo Station
• JR Tokaido Line or Yokosuka Line direct service to Yokohama Station — 25–30 minutes, approximately 480–580 JPY
• From there — bus or taxi to the required terminal
• Total time: about 50 minutes; cost: 700–3,500 JPY depending on the last-mile option you choose

🚄 From Shin-Yokohama Station (the Shinkansen stop)
• Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line to Kannai Station — 15–20 minutes, approximately 270 JPY
• From there, a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride to the Osanbashi Terminal
• Total time: about 35–40 minutes

🏙️ From central Yokohama or Tokyo to the cruise terminal
If you spent a night or a few days at a hotel in Yokohama or Tokyo, reaching the port is easy:

🚇 Subway/rail (the most convenient option from Yokohama)
• Minato Mirai Line to Nihon-odori Station — exit 3 or 4, then a 7-minute walk to the Osanbashi Terminal
• Blue Line (municipal subway) to Kannai Station — then a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride
• Cost: 210–270 JPY depending on your departure station

🚌 Municipal bus
• From Yokohama Station (East Exit, stop 1) — route 26 to the “Osanbashi Iriguchi” stop, then a 3-minute walk
• From Yokohama Station (stop 4) — the Bayside Blue route, same stop
• From Sakuragicho Station (stop 3) — the sightseeing Akai Kutsu (“Red Shoes”) route to the “Osanbashi Cruise Terminal” stop, right at the entrance
• Cost: a flat 220 JPY regardless of distance

🚕 Taxi from your hotel
• From the Minato Mirai area: 10–15 minutes, 1,200–1,800 JPY
• From central Tokyo: 40–60 minutes, 8,000–12,000 JPY (the train is a better option for this distance)

🚶 On foot
If your hotel is in Minato Mirai, Kannai, or near Yamashita Park, walking to the Osanbashi Terminal is entirely feasible — about 15–25 minutes along a scenic waterfront promenade with harbor views.

🚗 By private car — parking near the port (and car rental)
If you're arriving at the port by your own or a rented car, there are official parking facilities near the cruise terminals:

🅿️ Osanbashi Terminal parking — the closest option, directly beneath the terminal building:
• Capacity: approximately 400 spaces
• Cost: around 500 JPY for the first hour, then hourly rates apply; the daily maximum is approximately 1,500 JPY on weekdays and 2,000 JPY on weekends and public holidays
• Hours: open 24 hours, every day

🅿️ Parking near the Shinko Terminal
• Several commercial car parks within a 5–10-minute walk near Yokohama Hammerhead, starting from 300 JPY per 30 minutes

🅿️ Daikoku parking
• A special “drive & cruise” service for passengers leaving a car for the duration of their cruise is available only when officially offered for a specific ship — check directly with your cruise line

🚙 Car rental: branches of major Japanese rental companies (Toyota Rent a Car, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Times Car) can be found at Yokohama Station and at both Haneda and Narita airports. To drive in Japan, Ukrainian citizens need an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
💡 Tip: book long-term parking in advance through services such as akippa or Times — this guarantees a space and often a better rate.

🛣️ GPS route: regardless of your direction of approach, the most convenient road is the Shuto Expressway (Bayshore Route), which runs directly past all three of Yokohama's cruise terminals.

♿ Accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility
Yokohama's cruise terminals are well adapted for travelers with reduced mobility:
✅ All terminals are equipped with elevators, ramps, and accessible restrooms
✅ Municipal buses have low floors and wheelchair spaces
✅ Subway and train stations have elevators on nearly all lines
✅ Japanese taxi companies offer specialized vehicles (UD taxis) for wheelchair users on request — book in advance via the GO app or your hotel's concierge
✅ Every terminal has staff available to assist with boarding — notify your cruise line of any needs in advance

⏰ When to arrive at the cruise terminal
Your arrival time depends on whether Yokohama is a port of call for you, or your port of embarkation or disembarkation.

🔵 Scenario 1. Yokohama as a port of call (a stop of a few hours)
If your ship is only calling at Yokohama for the day, you must be back on board 60–90 minutes before departure, as stated in your ship's posted “all aboard” time. No check-in is required — simply present your Ship Card when returning to the gangway.

🟢 Scenario 2. Yokohama as your port of embarkation or disembarkation (the start or end of your cruise)
If your cruise begins or ends in Yokohama, different rules apply:
🕐 Embarkation: check-in desks typically open 3–4 hours before the ship's departure; it's best to arrive 2.5–3 hours ahead to avoid queues
🕐 Boarding deadline: usually 60–90 minutes before departure — arriving late means you'll watch your ship leave from the shore
🕐 Disembarkation: typically begins early in the morning, from 8:00–9:00 a.m., proceeding in waves by luggage-tag group number; customs and immigration are processed directly at the terminal
❗ Every Four Gates Group voucher includes the exact embarkation and disembarkation times for your specific cruise.

💡 Tips from Four Gates Group experts
Over years of working with Japanese ports, our cruise specialists have compiled a set of tips that will save you time, money, and stress:

🌅 Fly in a day before your cruise, especially if arriving at Narita. The long distance from the airport to the port, combined with the risk of flight delays, is the main threat to missing your ship's departure.

💴 Carry cash in yen. Although Japan is rapidly moving toward cashless payments, smaller taxi companies, street vending machines, and some shops near the port still primarily accept cash.

🎫 Get an IC card (Suica or PASMO) as soon as you land. It works on subways, commuter trains, buses, and even at convenience stores nationwide — far more convenient than buying individual tickets each time.

📱 Download apps in advance: Google Maps (works flawlessly in Japan, including train schedules), GO (taxi hailing), and Google Translate with an offline Japanese pack and camera-translation feature — useful even in tourist areas.

🧳 Store your luggage at a coin locker. Yokohama and Sakuragicho stations have automated coin lockers in various sizes — handy if you land in the morning but only board your ship in the afternoon.

🚉 Plan your route via Yokohama Station rather than Tokyo Station. Yokohama Station is significantly closer to all three cruise terminals and has direct trains from both airports.

🏨 Choose a hotel in the Minato Mirai or Kannai area. From there, the Osanbashi Terminal is either within walking distance or a few minutes away by public transport, making it easy to plan activities before and after your cruise.

📞 Yokohama cruise terminal contacts
Osanbashi Terminal (general information):+81 45 211 2304
Shinko Terminal:+81 45 211 8080
Port of Yokohama Cruise Business Division (ship arrival schedule):+81 45 671 7272
Japan Police (emergency services): 110
Ambulance / Fire Department: 119
Four Gates Group cruise specialists (24/7 for clients):+38 097 653 05 53

The logistics of a cruise from Yokohama may seem more complex because of the two airports and three terminals, but the city actually runs on a well-organized, predictable transport system — you just need to know the right route for your situation. The cruise experts at Four Gates Group support our clients at every step: from choosing the best flight into Tokyo or Yokohama to arranging a private transfer with a name sign in the arrivals hall. Reach out to your manager — and your cruise from Yokohama will begin without any stress at all. 🛳️✨

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is provided for general reference and is accurate as of the date of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please confirm current details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant venues.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals

Landmarks and Attractions of Yokohama (Tokyo): A Complete Guide for Cruise Travelers

Yokohama — a city where a single stroll along the waterfront reveals 170 years of Japanese history: from the pier that opened the country to the world in 1859, to the skyscrapers of the Minato Mirai district. The port's greatest advantage is its compactness: most top attractions are within walking distance of one another and literally minutes from the Osanbashi pier. For a cruise passenger with an 8–12 hour port call, that is a genuine gift — a full day's program can be built without ever needing a taxi or subway. Below is a verified guide to the key landmarks, with up-to-date 2026 prices, opening hours and precise directions from the cruise port to each site. 🎯
❗ Important: the routes below are calculated from the Osanbashi pier, the one closest to the city centre. If your ship docks at the more distant Daikoku pier, add 20–30 minutes for a shuttle or taxi transfer to the Minato Mirai district or Yamashita Park first — from there, all distances below apply as stated.

⚓ 1. Osanbashi Pier and Zou-no-hana Park
💡 Interesting facts and background:
The Osanbashi cruise terminal itself is already an attraction. The roof of the building, completed in 2002, was turned into a public promenade park with an undulating wooden deck the Japanese affectionately call the “whale's back” (“Kujira no Senaka”) for its distinctive shape. From here you get one of the best panoramic views of the bay, the Yokohama Bay Bridge and your own ship at the pier. 🐋
🔹 The Osanbashi roof terrace is open 24 hours a day and free of charge — a rare case where the cruise terminal itself doubles as a viewpoint.
🔹 A 5-minute walk away sits Zou-no-hana Park (“Elephant's Trunk”) — a curved breakwater that gave the park its name because of its distinctive trunk-like shape.
🔹 It was on the site of today's Zou-no-hana that the very first pier of the newly opened port of Yokohama was built in 1859 — the starting point of the city's modern history.

📜 History:
The first wooden pier on this site dates back to 1894–1896, and it earned the name “Osanbashi” (“great pier”) for its scale, unusual for Japan at the time. The 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and Second World War bombing raids forced several rebuilds. The current terminal building, opened in 2002 and designed by the Spanish–British architecture firm Foreign Office Architects, became a landmark example of contemporary Japanese port architecture and won several international awards.

🚢 Getting there from the port:
• If your ship is docked here, you're already there — the terminal exit leads straight onto the roof terrace
• On foot to Zou-no-hana Park: 5 minutes
• On foot to Yamashita Park: 7–10 minutes along the waterfront

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Walking the terminal roof and Zou-no-hana Park: free, open 24 hours

🌊 2. Yamashita Park and the “Hikawa Maru” museum ship
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Yamashita Park, Japan's first waterfront park, was laid out in 1930 quite literally on the rubble of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake: to clear the ruined city, construction debris was dumped into the bay and used to create a new stretch of shoreline. Today it is the main promenade for cruise visitors — the park runs for roughly 700 metres (0.4 miles) along the water.
🔹 The park features a statue of “The Girl in Red Shoes,” the heroine of a well-known Japanese children's song from the early 20th century.
🔹 The “Guardian of Water” fountain was a gift from Yokohama's sister city, San Diego, in 1960.
🔹 Permanently moored just offshore is the ocean liner “Hikawa Maru,” built in 1930 — the only pre-war Japanese passenger ship to survive to the present day, and a designated Important Cultural Property since 2016. Through the 1930s the liner spent more than 30 years on the Yokohama–Seattle transpacific route, and Charlie Chaplin himself once travelled aboard her. 🎬
🔹 Inside, the original Art Deco interiors survive intact — first-class cabins, the dining saloon, the bridge and the engine room.

📜 History:
Before the park was built, the shoreline was occupied by port warehouses destroyed in the 1923 earthquake. City authorities proposed clearing the ruins while simultaneously creating a new public space — the project became one of Japan's first major examples of post-disaster urban renewal. “Hikawa Maru” was retired from service in 1960 and permanently moored beside the park in 1961 as a symbol of Yokohama's pre-war maritime glory.

🚢 Getting there from the port:
• On foot from Osanbashi: 7–10 minutes along the waterfront
• Taxi: 5 minutes, JPY 700–1,000

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Walking the park: free, open 24 hours
• “Hikawa Maru” museum ship: adults — JPY 300, seniors 65+ — JPY 200, schoolchildren — JPY 100
• Opening hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.), closed Mondays

🥡 3. Yokohama Chinatown
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Japan's largest Chinatown, and one of the largest in the world, sprang up alongside the opening of the port of Yokohama in 1859, when the first Chinese merchants and interpreters arrived. Today more than 500 restaurants and shops operate here in an area of just over 0.2 km² (0.08 sq mi).
🔹 The district is ringed by ten traditional gates (paifang), each aligned to a compass direction according to feng shui principles; the main one is the Eastern Gate, Choyomon (“Gate of the Morning Sun”).
🔹 Japan's largest Chinese temple, Kanteibyo, dedicated to the guardian deity Guan Yu, stands here.
🔹 Yokohama Chinatown is considered the birthplace of ramen in Japan — it was here, in the late 19th century, that Chinese cooks first adapted traditional noodles to Japanese tastes.
🔹 When sampling street food, look out for “tenshin han” (steamed baozi dumplings) and “goma dandan men” — sesame-sauce noodles that are something of a local trademark.

📜 History:
Following the 1858 Ansei Treaties and the opening of the port of Yokohama in 1859, the area became home to the first foreign settlers, among them numerous merchants from Guangdong and Shanghai who worked as intermediaries in trade with the West. The settlement was devastated by the 1923 earthquake and Second World War bombing, but was rebuilt each time by the local Chinese community. In the latter half of the 20th century the district shifted from being primarily commercial to predominantly a dining destination, a role it retains today.

🚢 Getting there from the port:
• On foot from Osanbashi via Yamashita Park: 15–18 minutes
• Taxi: 5–7 minutes, JPY 900–1,200

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Entering the district is free — it's simply a city neighbourhood; most shops and eateries operate roughly 10:00 a.m. to 9:00–10:00 p.m.
• Kanteibyo Temple: free entry, daily 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

🧱 4. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (Akarenga Soko)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Two brick customs warehouse buildings — among Japan's earliest reinforced-concrete-framed structures — have been converted into a popular complex of shops, cafés and event space. In winter it hosts the region's largest Christmas market and an outdoor ice rink right by the water. ❄️
🔹 Building No. 1 was half-destroyed in the 1923 earthquake — today it houses a cultural centre with galleries and a concert hall.
🔹 Building No. 2, twice the size, serves as the main shopping pavilion.
🔹 A waterfront promenade links the warehouses to Osanbashi via Zou-no-hana Park — one of Yokohama's most photogenic walks, offering views of a docked liner, the Bay Bridge and the Minato Mirai skyline all at once.

📜 History:
The warehouses were built in 1911–1913 for customs clearance and storage of import and export goods — at the time, the most advanced industrial structures in Japan. After the Second World War the buildings were used by US occupation forces for several decades, and from 1989 their gradual conversion into a cultural and retail space began, completed in 2002.

🚢 Getting there from the port:
• On foot from Osanbashi: 15–20 minutes along the waterfront via Zou-no-hana Park
• Taxi: 7–10 minutes, JPY 1,000–1,300

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Entry to the grounds is free
• Shops typically open 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., restaurants until 10:00–11:00 p.m. (individual venue hours vary)

🏙️ 5. Minato Mirai 21 and Landmark Tower
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Minato Mirai (“Port of the Future”) is a business and entertainment district built from the 1980s onward on the site of former shipyards and rail facilities. The district's symbol is Landmark Tower, standing 296 metres (971 ft) tall — Yokohama's tallest building and, for many years, Japan's tallest, a title it held until 2023, when it was overtaken by Tokyo's Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower.
🔹 The tower's lower floors preserve the Dockyard Garden — a stone dry dock dating to 1896, one of Japan's oldest industrial docks, retained and converted into an amphitheatre and garden.
🔹 The tower's elevators were once among the fastest in the world.
⚠️ Important: the 69th-floor “Sky Garden” observation deck has been temporarily closed since 1 January 2026 for a major building renovation, with reopening planned no earlier than 2028. The panoramic view of the bay and Mount Fuji will have to wait for a future visit to Yokohama, but the shopping arcade, hotel and Dockyard Garden continue to operate as usual.

📜 History:
Development of Minato Mirai began on the site of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyards and the Yokohama freight station, both closed in the 1980s. Landmark Tower opened in 1993 as the flagship building of the new business district, while Dockyard Garden — the former 1896 shipyard dry dock — was deliberately preserved as a tribute to the site's industrial history.

🚢 Getting there from the port:
• Taxi from Osanbashi: 15–20 minutes, JPY 2,000–2,500
• On foot: about 30–35 minutes along the waterfront via the Red Brick Warehouse
• Bus: the “Akaikutsu” (“Red Shoes”) tourist bus runs from a stop near Yamashita Park to Minato Mirai, JPY 220 one way

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Entering the district and shopping arcade is free
• The “Sky Garden” observation deck is temporarily closed (see above)

🎡 6. Cosmo World and the “Cosmo Clock 21” Ferris wheel
💡 Interesting facts and background:
The city-centre amusement park “Yokohama Cosmo World” has free admission — you pay only for individual rides — and sits right in the heart of Minato Mirai. Its centrepiece is the giant “Cosmo Clock 21” Ferris wheel, standing 112.5 metres (369 ft) tall.
🔹 The wheel doubles as the world's largest clock: its 100-metre (328 ft) inner ring shows the exact time every minute, and every 15 minutes after dark it puts on a light show.
🔹 One full rotation takes about 15 minutes and the wheel can carry 480 passengers at once across 60 gondolas.
🔹 From the top you can see the Yokohama Bay Bridge, Tokyo Bay and, on clear days, Mount Fuji.

📜 History:
The park opened in 1989 for the Yokohama Exotic Showcase (YES '89), an international garden and maritime exposition that spurred the development of the entire Minato Mirai district. The “Cosmo Clock 21” wheel was built the same year, and in 2016 its lighting was fully upgraded to LED.

🚢 Getting there from the port:
• Taxi from Osanbashi: 15–20 minutes, JPY 2,000–2,500
• A 5-minute walk from Landmark Tower and the Cup Noodles Museum — easy to combine in one itinerary

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Park entry is free
• “Cosmo Clock 21” Ferris wheel: JPY 1,000 (ages 3 and up)
• Opening hours: weekdays 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., weekends and holidays 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. (last entry 15 minutes before closing)

🍜 7. CUPNOODLES MUSEUM Yokohama
💡 Interesting facts and background:
An interactive museum dedicated to the invention of instant noodles by Momofuku Ando, founder of Nissin. The museum is just as engaging for children as it is for adult foodies.
🔹 The main attraction is the “My CUPNOODLES Factory” workshop, where visitors hand-paint their own cup and choose from four broths and twelve toppings to create a one-of-a-kind noodle souvenir.
🔹 The “Noodles Bazaar” floor houses eight mini noodle restaurants from around the world, styled after an Asian night market.
🔹 The exhibits faithfully recreate the tiny shed in Ando's backyard where, in 1958, the world's first instant noodles were born.

📜 History:
The museum opened in 2011 in Yokohama, where Nissin built its first major factory. The concept goes beyond simply retelling the story of the invention — it aims to inspire visitors' own creativity through hands-on workshops.

🚢 Getting there from the port:
• Taxi from Osanbashi: 15–20 minutes, JPY 2,000–2,500
• A 5-minute walk from Landmark Tower and Cosmo World

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Admission (without workshop): adults (university age and up) — JPY 500, high-school age and younger — free
• “My CUPNOODLES Factory” workshop: an additional JPY 500 (requires advance online booking for a specific time slot)
• Opening hours: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (last entry 5:00 p.m.), closed Tuesdays
⚠️ Tip: workshop slots sell out quickly — book ahead on the museum's official website.

🍃 8. Sankeien Garden
💡 Interesting facts and background:
For travelers who want a taste of traditional Japan without a trip to Kyoto, Sankeien is an excellent choice. This former private estate of a silk trading magnate has been transformed into a classic Japanese garden spanning 17.5 hectares (43 acres).
🔹 The garden contains 17 historic buildings relocated from Kyoto, Kamakura and other regions of Japan, including a three-tiered pagoda dating from the 17th century.
🔹 In spring roughly 250 cherry trees of nine varieties bloom throughout the grounds, while autumn brings vivid maple foliage (momiji).
🔹 The garden has been open to the public free of charge since 1906, on the founder's own initiative — a rarity among private gardens of that era in Japan.

📜 History:
The garden was created by businessman Tomitaro Hara (known by the pen name Sankei), who made his fortune in the raw silk trade. In 1906 he opened the outer garden to the general public, guided by the principle that “beauty should be shared by all.” During his lifetime, the garden also served as a place of support for young Japanese artists, including Yokoyama Taikan and Shimomura Kanzan.

🚢 Getting there from the port:
• Taxi from Osanbashi: 25–30 minutes, JPY 3,500–4,500
• Public transport: the garden lies off the main tourist routes, so bus and train connections take over an hour with transfers — for a short port call, a taxi is the more practical option

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Adults (high-school age and up): JPY 900
• Schoolchildren (elementary and junior high): JPY 200
• Opening hours: 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.), open daily except late December

🎌 9. Other attractions worth considering
• ⛩️ A day trip to Kamakura — the former samurai capital of Japan, home to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) and dozens of ancient temples, 40–60 minutes from Yokohama.
• 🗼 A day trip to Tokyo — the capital is 25–30 minutes away by JR train: Asakusa and Sensoji Temple, Shibuya, Ginza.
• ⚓ Nippon Maru and the Yokohama Maritime Museum (Nippon Maru Memorial Park) — a 1930 sail training ship turned museum, next to Sakuragicho Station.
• 🎨 Yokohama Museum of Art — a major collection of Japanese and Western modern art in Minato Mirai.
• 🌉 Yokohama Bay Bridge — a 1989 suspension bridge and symbol of the modern port, best viewed from Zou-no-hana Park or from the deck of your ship.

🗺️ Three self-guided routes through Yokohama in 9 hours
A cruise call in Yokohama typically lasts 8–12 hours. The port's great advantage is its compactness: realistically, you can see 4–6 top attractions without spending a single yen on a taxi. Below are three options depending on budget and interests.

🥉 Route No. 1. Budget — on foot, up to JPY 3,000 per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: JPY 2,000–3,000 + meals

🕘 9:00 a.m. — Leave the Osanbashi terminal
Walk the terminal roof (the “whale's back”) and Zou-no-hana Park — free panoramic photos of your ship and the bay.

🕘 9:30–10:15 a.m. — Yamashita Park and “Hikawa Maru”
Stroll the waterfront, photos by the “Girl in Red Shoes” statue, an exterior look at the museum ship (going aboard is optional, JPY 300).

🕙 10:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Yokohama Chinatown
A 15-minute walk through the park. Explore the main streets, photograph the paifang gates, sample street food — baozi and pan-fried dumplings for JPY 200–400.

🕛 12:00–1:00 p.m. — Lunch in Chinatown
A set lunch menu at a local restaurant — JPY 1,200–2,000.

🕐 1:00–2:00 p.m. — Red Brick Warehouse
A 15–20 minute walk along the waterfront. Browse the shops, coffee with a bay view.

🕝 2:00–4:00 p.m. — Return via Yamashita Park toward the port, free time
Extra time for souvenirs or relaxing in the park.

🕟 4:00–4:30 p.m. — Return to the ship, check-in

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Transport: JPY 0 (everything on foot)
• Entry to “Hikawa Maru”: JPY 300 (optional)
• Lunch and snacks: JPY 1,500–2,500
💸 TOTAL: JPY 1,800–2,800 per person

🥈 Route No. 2. Optimal — JPY 8,000–10,000 per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: JPY 9,000 + meals

🕘 9:00 a.m. — Leave the port, taxi to Minato Mirai
JPY 2,200 — straight to Cosmo World.

🕤 9:30–10:30 a.m. — Cosmo World and the “Cosmo Clock 21” Ferris wheel
A ride on the Ferris wheel (JPY 1,000), a walk through the amusement park.

🕥 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Cup Noodles Museum
A 5-minute walk. Admission JPY 500, optionally the own-noodle workshop (an additional JPY 500, book ahead).

🕛 12:00–12:30 p.m. — Stroll through Minato Mirai and Dockyard Garden
View Landmark Tower from outside and the historic dry dock at its base.

🕧 12:30–1:30 p.m. — Lunch in the Minato Mirai shopping arcade
JPY 1,500–2,500 for a set menu.

🕐 1:30–2:00 p.m. — Taxi to the Red Brick Warehouse
JPY 1,300, 7–10 minutes.

🕝 2:00–2:45 p.m. — Red Brick Warehouse
Browsing and souvenirs.

🕞 2:45–4:00 p.m. — Walk to Chinatown via Zou-no-hana Park and Yamashita Park
A final stroll, street snacks.

🕓 4:00–4:40 p.m. — Return to the ship on foot via Yamashita Park

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Taxi there: JPY 2,200
• Ferris wheel: JPY 1,000
• Cup Noodles Museum: JPY 500–1,000
• Taxi to the warehouse: JPY 1,300
• Lunch: JPY 1,500–2,500
💸 TOTAL: JPY 6,500–8,000 per person

🥇 Route No. 3. Premium — a private tour from JPY 45,000 per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: JPY 45,000–70,000 + admission tickets

🏆 What's included:
• ✅ A private driver meeting you with a name sign right at the gangway
• ✅ A comfortable car/minivan for the whole day
• ✅ A professional Ukrainian- or English-speaking licensed guide
• ✅ A flexible itinerary — classic Yokohama, or combined with a day trip to Kamakura or Tokyo
• ✅ Priority restaurant reservations
• ✅ Guaranteed return on board before departure

You can book through your cruise manager, or contact us by whichever channel is most convenient:

Phone numbers:
• Office: +38 (044) 337 82 01
• Mobile (LifeCell):    +380 93 653 05 53
• Mobile (Vodafone): +380 66 653 05 53
• Mobile (Kyivstar):   +380 97 653 05 53

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8:30 a.m. — Meet your driver and guide at the Osanbashi terminal

9:00–10:30 a.m. — Sankeien Garden with your guide
Drive over (25–30 min). A private walk through an authentic Japanese garden, with commentary on the historic buildings and the traditions of the tea ceremony.

11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Yokohama Chinatown (culinary focus)
Your guide leads a tasting route: dim sum, noodles, traditional sweets, and a visit to Kanteibyo Temple.

12:45–2:00 p.m. — Lunch at a premium restaurant in Minato Mirai
For example, a bay-view venue serving teppanyaki — from JPY 8,000 per person. Reservations are handled by your guide.

2:00–3:00 p.m. — Minato Mirai and Dockyard Garden
A private tour of the historic dry dock and the district, with your guide's commentary on the port's development.

3:15–4:15 p.m. — Cup Noodles Museum with priority workshop booking
Your guide pre-books a slot at “My CUPNOODLES Factory” so you avoid the queue.

4:30–5:00 p.m. — Shopping at the Red Brick Warehouse
Your driver waits while your guide points you to shops selling handmade souvenirs.

5:15 p.m. — Return to the port in comfort

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Private guide (9 hrs): from JPY 20,000
• Driver with car (9 hrs): from JPY 18,000
• Admission tickets (Sankeien + Cup Noodles + workshop): JPY 2,800
• Lunch at a premium restaurant: from JPY 8,000
💸 TOTAL: from JPY 48,800 per person (for 2+ people — priced per group, not per person)

🤝 Four Gates Group arranges private tours of Yokohama and the surrounding area with licensed guides, gangway-side transfer and a guaranteed return on board. Contact your cruise specialist — and your day in Yokohama will be planned perfectly around your taste. 🛳️✨

⚠️ Good to know before you go ashore
🕐 The “all aboard” rule: you must be back on the ship 60 minutes before departure. If you're late, the ship will not wait, and catching up with it at the next port will be at your own expense.
🪪 Documents: bring a photocopy of your passport and your cruise Ship Card — Japan requires foreign visitors to carry identification.
💴 Cash: despite the widespread use of cashless payment at larger venues, Chinatown and street vendors often accept cash only — carry JPY 5,000–10,000 (roughly USD 35–70) in small bills.
👟 Footwear: comfortable shoes are essential — most of the routes are on foot. In summer, be prepared for high humidity.
📱 Internet: free Wi-Fi is available at the Osanbashi terminal and throughout Minato Mirai. For navigation, download an offline Google Maps area in both Japanese and English.
🔐 Safety: Yokohama is one of the safest large cities in the world, with virtually no petty crime, though ordinary travel caution is still worthwhile.
☀️ Sun protection: summer temperatures reach 90–95°F (+32…+35°C) with high humidity. A hat, water and sunscreen are essential.
🈺 Language: English is spoken reasonably well at tourist sites, but beyond them a translation app with character-recognition for kanji will come in handy.

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is for general reference and was accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please confirm current details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant venues.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals