Endless fun in Yokohama and its Surrounding Areas!

Endless fun in Yokohama and its Surrounding Areas!

Yokohama is a lively international port town. Kicking off the modernization of Japan in the 19th century, its unique blend of cultures helps set it apart from Tokyo. While there are plenty of famous tourist attractions to visit, beyond that you’ll find some real excitement waiting for you. Go and enjoy everything Yokohama and its surrounding areas have to offer!

1: Fun for the Family

The Yokohama area isn’t just fun to visit; it’s also a popular place to live. It’s especially great for families because of its many family-friendly locations. One is Yokosuka, which has a strong relationship with the nearby U.S. Navy base. You can take the family to explore an uninhabited island, and while you enjoy the view of the sea we recommend picking fresh fruit ripened by the warm weather. Be sure not to miss out on the Machida area as well. It has a park with a petting zoo and will soon be home to a new amusement park.

Parque temático Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

This is one of the most visited amusement spots in Yokohama area. Its main attractions are the amusement park Pleasure Land and the Aqua Resorts section that boasts an aquarium, performances, and more. Admission ticket is required for both.

Hours: Depends on facility
Admission:
[1 DAY PASS (Aqua Resorts Pass + Pleasure Land Pass)]
5,050 JPY (Adults & High School Students), 3,600 JPY (Junior high school & Elementary school students), 2,050 JPY (Children: 4 years or over), 3,600 JPY (Senior: 65 years or over)
Address: Hakkejima, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama
Access: Nearby Hakkejima Station (Seaside Line)

More information on Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise:
https://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?bbid=115

Sarushima (Monkey Island)

A ten-minute ferry ride from Mikasa Park takes you to Sarushima “Monkey” island, an uninhabited island that was once used as a fortress. Remains of brick forts and gun batteries can still be seen there.

Hours: Ferry starts every hour during (Mar-Nov) During other months in service only on Sat., Sun. and holidays
Admission: Round trip fare by ferry / Adults1,300JPY, Children 650 JPY + Entry fee to Sarushima / 15 years old and over 200JPY, Junior high school & Elementary school students 100JPY
Address: 1 Sarushima, Yokosuka
Access: 10-min from Mikasa Pier beside Mikasa Park by ferry

2: Active Outings

If you’re a fan of sports, then you’re probably the kind of person who likes doing rather than watching. The Port of Yokohama’s beautiful bay area is a great place to go jogging and cycling. Why not try some marine activities? Travel a little farther out and you can visit Zushi; Japan’s marine sports mecca. If you’re into hiking, then drop by Kamakura. It was originally a samurai city and is guarded by the high-rising Kamakura Alps, which have some old scenic hiking trails.

Zushi Beach

A beach facing Sagami bay with many restaurants and bars. Several schools in the area provide all year stand-up paddling (SUP) and windsurfing lessons. Inquire in advance for lessons in English.

<Feather Factory Zushi>
SUP has been growing in popularity in Japan recently, so if you're thinking of SUP'ing in Japan, please come to Zushi coast. This calm and beautiful sea is the right place for first time SUP'ers. Feather Factory Zushi opened last year, and during the summer, you may have lessons from an English-speaking instructor.

Hours: 10am-7pm (Apr-Sep, open daily) Close: Mon (Oct-Mar)
Fee: 4,320JPY~ (Inclusive of lessons, facility usage costs and rental fees)
Address: 2-13-12 Shinjuku, Zushi
Access: 10-min walk from Zushi Station (JR Yokosuka Line) or Shinzushi (Keikyu Line)

<Marine Blue >
Marine Blue has over 30 years of experience in opening a shop in Zushi. At this school, they provide not only SUP but also windsurfing lessons. Depend on the season or weather, Mt. Fuji can be seen on the board!

Hours: 9am-7pm
Fee: 【SUP】Visitor experincing lesson 4,000JPY~ 
【Wind surfing】Half day experience 4,000JPY~ (Inclusive of lessons, facility usage costs and rental fees)
Address: 3-1-4 Shinjyuku, Zushi
Access: 10-min walk from Zushi Station (JR Yokosuka Line) or Shinzushi (Keikyu Line)

Hiking Along the Kamakura Alps ―The Tenen Hiking Trail

Like Kyoto, Kamakura’s large collection of old temples has made it a popular place for sightseeing. When I heard of hiking courses along the Kamakura Alps, I decided to pay it a visit. South of Kamakura is the sea, and surrounding it from the north, east and west are sprawling mountains. The northern mountains are called the “Kamakura Alps.” The Tenen Hiking Trail begins at Kencho-ji Temple, a famous place in Kamakura known for its very large old Buddhist temple. The course takes you through the temple grounds and up a long staircase. When you reach the top, you come face-to-face with another-worldly karasu tengu (Japanese goblin) statues. This isn’t your average hiking course, it’s one paved with Japanese history and culture. The entire course spans about 5.5 km (3.4 mi) across a low altitude. While appreciating the surrounding nature, you can walk the course in about 3 hours. On clear days, they say you can see Mt. Fuji far off in the distance.

Tenen Hiking Trail: Kenchoji Temple in Kita-kamakura to Zuisenji Temple in the east of the city, leading mostly along the ridge of the hills.

Kencho-ji Temple
Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Admission: Adult (High school students and up) 500JPY, Children (Elementary and junior high school students) 200JPY
Address: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura
Access: 15-minute walk from Kita-kamakura Station (JR Yokosuka Line)

3: Fun for Adults

For Japanese people, Yokohama is also famous for its places to enjoy romantic dates. Minato Mirai is a popular area known for its dazzling night views and bar hopping in its high-spirited Noge drinking district. The fun doesn’t stop there though. You can enjoy beautiful sunsets on the Enoshima coast, shopping, art museums, join interesting workshops and discover tucked away spots for cherry blossom viewing in spring—you’ll never run out of things to do.

Taro Okamoto Museum of Art

The museum opened to celebrate the art of Taro Okamoto and his parents. Once inside, I walked around the museum's inviting walkways and art space for mood lite art installations, all of which showcased the awe-inspiring artwork to full effect. The displays showed Taro and his family as vibrant and colorful creators, unrestricted in style, a mix of canvas, paintings, structures, monuments, and object’s which meant the flexibility of his art was really appealing and interesting to see.

Hours: 9:30am-5pm (Last Admission 4:30pm)
Close: Mon (open on holiday)
The day after Japanese national holidays (open on Sat and Sun)
Year-end holidays and New Year’s holidays (from Dec 29 - Jan 3)
Admission: Adults 500 JPY, Student (Senior High School, College) or 65 years and over 300 JPY, Children (Junior High School and under) Free
* Admission fees vary depending on the exhibition
Address: 7-1-5 Masugata, Tama-ku, Kawasaki
Access: 17-min walk from Mukogaokayuen Station (Odakyu line)

Noge district

An entertainment area that comes to life every evening with hundreds of closet-sized bars, clubs, restaurants and izakayas, serving Japanese-style and international snacks and food. The quaint and welcoming alleys are embellished with gates and lanterns that lend an old-Japan vibe to the neighborhood.

Address: Noge-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama 
Access: 3-min walk from Sakuragicho Station (JR Keihin-Tohoku Negishi Line / Municipal Subway Blue Line) or Hinodecho Station" (Keikyu Line)

More infromation on Noge:
http://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/shotengai/en/area.php?shotengai_id=SG004&lang_id=en

4: Connecting with Japanese History and Culture

There are many places in the city of Yokohama and surrounding areas where you can connect with Japanese history and culture. The best place to start is probably Kamakura, which has a famous statue of Buddha and some old temples. As you explore the area, you can feel the remnants of samurai culture. Kamakura has plenty to see and do for those who would like to experience “authentic Japanese” culture. However, further inland are open-air museums surrounded by the tranquility of Japanese nature, where you can learn about the traditional ways of Japanese living. Finally, there's Kawasaki. With its large temple, this bustling town makes for an enjoyable visit.

Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple

Founded in 1128 AD, the grand main hall at this Buddhist temple complex is surrounded by various unique prayer facilities such as Dai-Sanmon (Main Gate), Hakkaku Gojunoto (Octagonal Five-Storied Pagoda), and an Indian-style Jidosha Kotsuanzen Kitoden (Prayer Hall for Safe Driving) dedicated to all those praying for travel safety. It is one of the most popular temples for the Japanese tradition of hatsumode (the first visit to a place of worship in the new year to ward off evil.)

<Kawasaki Daishi Nakamise-dori>
A shopping street extending from the main hall of the Kawasaki Daishi temple is lined with shops of traditional items such as Tontoko rock candy, bright red Daruma dolls that are said to bring luck, and Kuzumochi, a traditional Japanese jelly.

Hours: 5:30am-6pm (Apr-Sep), 6am-5:30pm (Oct-Mar)
*Every 20th 5:30am-9pm, 21st 5:30am-5:30pm

Address: 4-48 Daisahi-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki
Access: 8-min walk from Kawasaki-daishi Station (Keikyu Daishi Line)