Yokohama City Guide
Image by Alex Mesmer via unsplash

Japan

Yokohama City Guide

Kanagawa Prefecture

Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city, near Tokyo Bay. It mixes modern city life with history and has a relaxed feel compared to Tokyo. The city offers good infrastructure, green spaces, and a rich cultural scene, making it suitable for longer stays.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
9

The city offers local dishes like Sanma-men and Gyunabe, plus a wide range of international food especially in Chinatown. Vegetarian and vegan options exist but might need searching. Late-night izakayas and ramen shops are common.

Local Dishes:
Sanma-men, Gyunabe, Seafood from Tokyo Bay
International Cuisine:
Chinese, Italian, Korean
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife ranges from refined bars to lively pubs and clubs, mostly in Minato Mirai, Kannai, and Noge.

Coffee Culture
Excellent
8

A strong coffee scene with many specialty shops focusing on quality and craftsmanship.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is not expected and can be considered rude. Prices usually include service charges.

Top Attractions
Minato Mirai 21
urban
Modern waterfront area with shops and entertainment.
Yokohama Chinatown
cultural
Largest Chinatown in Japan with many restaurants.
Sankeien Garden
nature
Traditional Japanese garden.
Yamashita Park
nature
Waterfront park popular for walks and views.
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
cultural
Historic buildings with shops and dining.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are sold at airports and electronics stores. Top providers are NTT Docomo, au, and SoftBank. eSIM options exist. ID or passport is needed.

Available at:
Narita Airport
Haneda Airport
Bic Camera
Yodobashi Camera
Recommended Apps
Google Maps(navigation)
Japan Transit Planner(transport)
DeepL or Google Translate(language)
Tabelog or Gurunavi(food)
LINE(communication)
PayPay(payments)
Uber Eats(food)
Japan Official Travel App(travel)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
9

Yokohama is very clean with efficient waste management and low sanitation issues.

24/7 Services
Good
7

Convenience stores operate 24/7 for essentials. Some pharmacies and clinics have extended hours. Late-night food is widely available.

Groceries
Ito-Yokado
Aeon
Summit Store

International products are common in big supermarkets. Smaller local markets also offer fresh produce. Most supermarkets open from 9 or 10 AM to 9 or 10 PM and are open on Sundays.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Cards are accepted in major shops, restaurants, and hotels, but cash is still common in smaller places.

ATMs

ATMs are in convenience stores like 7-Eleven and post offices. Most accept international cards but charge a fee around 220 JPY per withdrawal.

Schools
International

There are international schools offering education in English. Local schools teach in Japanese. Admission can be competitive.

Available Schools:
Yokohama International School
Saint Maur International School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
8
Available Spaces:
WeWork Minatomirai
Modern space with meeting rooms and various plans.
Basis Point Yokohama
Quiet atmosphere with day passes.
The Hub Yokohama
Community-focused with events.
BIZcomfort Yokohama
Multiple locations, some with 24/7 access and private booths.
24/7 Access
Tsutaya Electrics
Part of a bookstore with work-friendly areas.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
Starbucks
Multiple locations with reliable Wi-Fi.
Tully's Coffee
Multiple locations, good for work.
Doutor Coffee
Local chain with outlets.
Excelsior Cafe
Comfortable seating, suitable for longer stays.
Blue Bottle Coffee
Good ambiance, limited outlets, located in Minatomirai.
Cafe & Books Bibliotheque
Relaxed atmosphere in Minatomirai.
Wired Cafe
Good for casual work, several locations.
Alternatives:
Yokohama City Central Library
Quiet with Wi-Fi.
Hotel lobbies
Comfortable seating and Wi-Fi in major hotels.
Community centers
Some offer quiet spaces; Wi-Fi varies.
Digital Nomad Community
Good
6

The nomad community is growing with meetups and co-living options. Many cafes have good Wi-Fi.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
8

Parks like Yamashita Park and Sankeien Garden provide plenty of green areas for walking and running.

Running
Excellent
8

Safe and scenic running routes include waterfront parks and riverside paths. Running clubs are active.

Gyms
Available

Gyms cover various fitness needs with multiple locations across the city.

Available Gyms:
Gold's Gym
Anytime Fitness
Tipness
Konami Sports Club
Tennis
Good
6

Tennis courts are available in public parks and private clubs. Booking is often required.

Padel
Poor
3

Padel is less common and facilities are limited.

Yoga
Good
7

Many yoga studios offer various classes. Some have English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Excellent
8

Dojo options include Judo, Karate, Kendo, Aikido, BJJ, and Boxing. English instructors can be found.

Skiing
Poor
3

Ski resorts are several hours away with good snow but not easily accessible from Yokohama.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing are popular in the bay and nearby areas, mainly in warmer months.

Surfing
Good
6

Surf spots along the Shonan coast are 30-60 minutes by train. Spring and autumn are best. Schools and rentals are available.

Diving
Limited
5

Diving sites on the Izu Peninsula are 2-3 hours away, suitable for various experience levels.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
9

Healthcare is high quality with major hospitals having some English-speaking staff. Pharmacies are widely available, though hours vary. Public healthcare is excellent.

Hospitals:
Yokohama City University Hospital
Kanagawa Cancer Center
Pharmacies:
Matsumoto Kiyoshi
Welcia
Sugi Pharmacy
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe to drink.

Common Scams
Overpriced tourist services, Friendly touts leading to costly entertainment venues

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Yokohama has parks with playgrounds, kid-friendly cafés, and family attractions like the Anpanman Children's Museum and Sea Paradise.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Good
7

Yokohama is relatively accepting with some safe spaces and events. Legal protections are limited but improving.

Pet Friendly
Good
6

Pet policies vary and should be checked beforehand. Vet services and pet supply stores are available.

Communities
Yokohama Expats & Friends (expat)
Kanagawa International Community (expat)
Meetup.com Yokohama Groups (social)

Quick Facts

Population
3,757,630
Power Reliability
Excellent
10/10

Power supply is very reliable with virtually no outages.

Beach Access
Available

Beaches like Zushi and Yuigahama are about an hour away by train for swimming and relaxing.

Mountains
Available

Mountains such as Mount Oyama are reachable within 1-1.5 hours with hiking trails for various levels.

Languages
Japanese(95%)
English(30%)
Emergency
110
Police
119
Ambulance/Fire

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
High Risk
7
🏔️
Earthquake
Very High Risk
9

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Typhoons
August, September, October
Typhoons bring heavy rain and strong winds mainly from August to October.
Extreme Heat
July, August
July and August can be very hot and humid.

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