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Only a 40-minute train away from center Tokyo, Yokohama city is a destination that can blow a cool breeze of ocean air into your day-out! Yokohama is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture at the south of Tokyo and its name (横浜) can be translated literally as “horizontal beach”.
Not only is Yokohama famous for being a developed port city, but also for numerous tourist attractions. From the marvelous sights on the bay, to the Chinese meals full of flavors, Yokohama is an outstanding candidate for 1-day trips of Kanto area’s residents.
Here are some of the spots highly recommended in Yokohama:
CHINA TOWN
The Yokohama’s China town is the largest China town in Japan, with a history of over 100 years. It is an area filled with shops and restaurants that are influenced by Chinese culture. People who open business or live in China Town, however, are descendants of Chinese families, so not everyone here can speak Chinese fluently.
When visiting the Yokohama Chinatown, people are overwhelmed with the variety of snacks and merchandise. Popular to-go food are pork buns, dim sum, fried buns with sweet red-bean filling, and even peeking duck. Eye-catching souvenirs can also be found such as charms, jewelries, lanterns or Chinese spices.
Another common thing in Yokohama China Town is the tabehoudai (all you can eat) restaurant, serving an impressive number of up to 80-100 dishes. The menu for these restaurants does not alter much. Most places offer the same Chinese food such as dumplings, soups, stir-fries and noodles. The price for a tabehoudai experience can range from 1500-4000JPY, with time limits at some restaurants (usually about 90-100 minutes). Keep in mind to ask about the price and time before entering these restaurants to make sure you get the service you wished for. A tip for tabehoudai diners is that you should go in groups instead of by yourself because that helps you be able to try various dishes, since they can come in pretty big portions.
CUP-RAMEN MUSEUM
After having a satisfying meal at China Town, taking a 20-minute stroll to reach the Cup Ramen Museum can help your digestion! In tribute to the father of cup ramen – Momofuku Ando and his wonderful invention, the Cup Noodles Museum is built to present hundreds of types of ramen produced in Japan and give an insight into how it is produced.
The museum dwells on creativity and hopes to educate children on the importance of food. The highlight of this museum is a service that allows visitors to custom their own cup ramen – from flavor to packaging and bring it home.
Museum Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Last admission is at 17:00)
Admission Fee: 500JPY for adults
Official website
https://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/
RED-BRICK WAREHOUSE
Hold on to your cup ramen, because right next to the museum is the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. This used to be a storage place that supported shipping and has been remodified into a lovely complex purposed structure, hosting many small shops, restaurants and seasonal events. An indulgent dinner at the Red Brick Warehouse can add a nice final touch to your day-out.
Its location is extremely ideal as it gives an oceanfront view of the Yokohama Bay Bridge. The grand sight that blurs the separation between water and sky can certainly help you get valuable photos. Not to mention, the spacious yard in front of the warehouse is often picked as a venue for festivals. If you visit the Red Brick Warehouse on weekends, there’s a chance you might run into a Beer Festival with live music performances and lining food trucks, selling food and drinks from different countries which is surely fun to join, too.
YOKOHAMA HAKKEIJIMA SEA PARADISE
For the people who need more adrenaline, let’s skip the usual shopping – dining trip and head to Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise! This mega park is truly a “paradise” for fun as it combines a variety of entertaining activities. Aquariums, theme park, shopping area, restaurants, hotels… you name it – they got it! The special thing is, it has no admission gate, so there is no charge to enter. Operating on a pay-as-you-go model, visitors of Hakkeijima Sea Paradise can pay for separate services that they want to participate in. Many opt for the one-day pass to experience all the thrilling attractions and exciting shows in giant aquariums
Due to the impressive total size of 16.3 hectares, the Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise will take a whole day for you to explore and enjoy! Remember to research in advance to see whether you want to challenge yourself with the crazy 107-meter vertical drop or get to meet some adorable dolphins first so as to get around the park easily and not wasting time.
Opening Hours: 9:30 – 21:30
Tickets: (one-day pass)
Adult (16 years old and over): 4,700JPY
Junior High School children (6-15 years old): 3,300JPY
Kids (4-5 years old): 1,900JPY
Official Website:
Nam Chi / Vietnam
