Last Updated: Feb 23, 2025

A Different Side of Yokohama

Some Hidden Gems in the City

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

While it’s true that Yokohama is indeed getting a bit more popular than it used to be, in many ways, the city is still something of a hidden gem. You see, despite being under half an hour away from Tokyo by train, a lot of people write Yokohama off as just another urban allure that doesn’t differ enough from Japan’s capital to warrant a trip. Those who do make it out to Yokohama often only ever go to the popular spots in Minato Mirai, like the Red Brick Warehouse. As you’ll hopefully see by the end of this piece, though, there is SO much more to Yokohama.

Before we get into my yet-to-be-discovered attractions (at least by the standards of tourists), allow me to first dive into who Yokohama appeals to. As I’ve often said before, Tokyo and Yokohama differ greatly in their vibe, to use the jargon of the kids these days. In fact, though essentially two megacities that merge into one another at some hard-to-define point, the culture of Yokohama is drastically different from that of Tokyo. As you’ll see when you visit, Yokohama is just a lot more chill than its more crowded cousin a little to the east.

As a result of Yokohama’s more laid-back environment, the city is perfect for people looking to take it slow and enjoy their time…