Articles / Tourist Guide / Yokohama Tourist Guide / Yokohama Tourist Guide

The history of the city goes back to 1854 when American ships pulled in the Edo bay to a little fishing settlement which is now known as the city of Yokohama. Ever since then the city has been working its way to what it is considered to be now ? an important financial, transport and cultural hub of international value.

Being a sea port, Yokohama has acquired a fresh cosmopolitan area.

The population of the city is 3.6 million people; its territory is 437.35 square kilometers, which makes it Japan?s second biggest city after the Tokyo Municipality. 

Over the years the city has become one of the most appealing destinations for tourists from Europe, both Americas, Australia and Asia.

To feel on the safe side while visiting Yokohama you will profit by reading the following information about the city:

Once you?ve set your foot on Yokohama curb stones, you can travel unhampered by an elaborate network of the city subway sprawling its tentacles like a giant squid. But keep in mind that during rush hours the city is much too overcrowded and you had better used a prepaid fare card.

Reaching Yokohama is easy whichever way of traveling you prefer ? plane, ship, train or car.

Like many other Japanese cities, Yokohama is highly contrastive: it combines the signs of traditional architecture and esthetics like ones in the historic area of Kannai port with hi-tech styled contemporary buildings like a fashionable Motomachi shopping mall and sky-scrapers. Be sure to see Yokohama Marine Tower, which is the tallest lighthouse in the world.

Many people in Yokohama speak English as the English language makes a compulsory part of education in Japanese schools. But nevertheless it would come in handy if you learnt some words of Katakana, which is a simpler form of the Japanese language. When shopping, don?t count to meet an English speaking clerk though unless you are in a big department store located somewhere in Noge area or a place like the brand boutique of Dolce & Gabbana in Shibuya Isezakicho shopping area.

Among other must-sees of Yokohama there is Yokohama Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Japan which is also one of the largest in the world. In the vicinity of Chinatown tourists can visit Yokohama Stadium, the Silk Center, the Yokohama Doll Museum and a large immigration office next to a beautiful and vibrant Yamashita Park. You can spend a wonderful day of shopping in the nearby areas of Isezakicho and Noge with a multitude of big department stores and trendy boutiques, lots of pubs, restaurants and bars.

If you are looking for some air of international sportive events, go to see Yokohama Arena,

the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum, or Nissan Stadium, which once housed the final for the 2002 FIFA World Cup held on June 30, 2002 (back the it went by the name of International Stadium Yokohama).

Finding an accommodation is easy in Yokohama ?: Pan Pacific, Monterey, New Grand, Shin-Yokohama Prince, Rose, Jal City Kannai, Shin-Yokohaa Kokusai, Star, Excel Tokyu ? a lot of five, four and three stars hotels are ready to house thousands of tourists.