In past days, Yokohama served as a gate to the world outside Japan. The Yamate area where you will visit first served as the living quarters for foreigners when Yokohama port was first opened. Approx. 100 year old house have been shifted here and undergone renovations. In addition to being the shooting location for Studio Ghibli movies, this area has always been popular for filming TV dramas and movies. Picture yourself in a movie, viewing the port city from the hill top with a camera in hand.

* Selections of TV dramas and movies filmed in Yokohama:

“Tatta Hitotsu no Koi (Just One Love)”, “HERO”, “UMIZARU EVOLUTION”, “Nodame Cantabile”, “Karei Naru Ichizoku (The Grand Family)”, “KUI-TAN”, “Shiritsu Tantei Hama Mike (The Private Detective Mike) “, “Unmei No Hito”, “Renai NEET~Wasureta Koi No Hajimekata~ ” etc.

* Movies based in Yokohama:

“Kokuriko Zaka Kara (From Up on Poppy Hill)”, “Abunai Deka (Dangerous Cops)”, etc.

1. Harbor View Park
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=39

2. Yamate 111 Ban-Kan
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=17

3. British House Yokohama
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=20

4. Iwasaki Museum
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=45

5. Berrick Hall
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=12

6. Ehrismann Residence
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=31

7. Yamate Italian Garden
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=140

8. Bluff No. 18 House
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=15

9. The Diplomat’s House
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=42

Enjoying quality time at a Western House.

Some houses have cafes or coffee rooms built within. Play out your fantasies of becoming a retro-movie star sipping tea or coffee surrounded by gardens and handsome house.

Ehrismann Residence Cafe

You can view the Yokohama Marine Tower even from the 1st floor, as the residence is on a hill. The atmosphere of the residence reminds you of the house of “Umi” in the movie “Kokuriko Zaka Kara (From up on Poppy Hill)”. Chocolate cakes and seasonal fruit tarts are also available.

Rose Garden Enoki-tei

The cafe is in the 1st floor section of this building that used to be the residence of an American businessman in the foreign exchange business. It is equipped with an entrance hall in the wellhole style and a bedroom with an ocean view. Enjoy rose tea with rose petals in your cup, pink chiffon cake infused with rose essence, and rose soft cream – just about every rose-related foods you can think of!　Standing in front of the rose garden before the residence makes you feel like a princess.

Coffee Break

1. Rose Garden Enoki-tei
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=105

2. Yamate Jubankan
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=141

Enjoying the Motomachi area cafes which are popular among the ladies of Yokohama is also an option.

Descend 15 minutes by foot from the Yamate area. You will arrive at the largest shopping street in Yokohama – the Motomachi shopping town. First, find a posh back-street cafe and enjoy some lunch.

1. Japanese Tea Speciality Shop “SAKURA”
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=107

2. kaoris
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=58

Motomachi Shopping Street was a shopping area dedicated to foreigners when Yokohama Port first opened. Enjoy window shopping in a shopping district with shops that boast more than 100 years of history and brands originating in Motomachi. The street is also renowned for its exotic façade, where tradition meets avant-garde.

Kitamura

Chikazawa Lace

Star Jewelry

Star Jewelry opened shop in 1946 at Yokohama Motomachi. It started out as a jewelry shop for foreign residents. The brand has its own metal working studio and private figure sculptors for creating Star Jewelry was a pioneering jewelry shop that introduced to Japan items such as pierced ear-rings and pinkey rings, which were still relatively unknown. Since its founding, the brand has worked to rid jewelry of its image as being prohibitively expensive and out of reach, and instead has strived to spread the concept that jewelry more casually compliments fashion. There is a museum in the basement floor of the main store displaying an historical range of products. Also famous as the shooting location for a popular TV drama series.

The Pet Bar
- a drinking fountain for dogs!

Enjoy shopping at the Stores originates in Motomachi.

1. Kitamura
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=62

2. STAR JEWELRY THE SHOP & MUSEUM (Motomachi Main Store)
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=129

3. Chikazawa Lace
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=25

4. Mihama Shokai Motomachi Main Store
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=68

5. Fukuzo Yohinten (Clothing store)
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=33

Once a major building dockyard, the Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 area is the most trendy spot in Yokohama surrounded by high rise buildings. Many restaurants and trendy shops are gathered in this area. From reasonably priced trendy fashion items, to major brands featured in fashion magazines, and the global Japanese brands like UNIQLO and MUJI, there is a wealth of choice to select from.

Yokohama World Porters

From shopping to romantic dates – Yokohama World Porters is a shopping mall that caters to all, for a full day. Yokohama World Porters is a shopping complex with over 210 unique shops. Complete with movie theater and restaurants, you can spend a whole day here.

Colette・Mare

Right next to JR Sakuragicho station!　Colette・Mare is a shopping complex with more than 130 stores, complete with movie theater, fitness gym, restaurants, and hotel. Well stocked cosmetic shops, nail salons and head-spa facilities are also available, in addition to general stores such as Muji.

1. Landmark Plaza
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=162

2. Yokohama World Porters
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=174

3. Colette・Mare
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=27

Venture out to the central department stores and shopping complexes.

Yokohama Bay Quarter

One of the main shopping complexes in the Yokohama Station area designed in the image of a passenger cruise liner. You can find fashionable interior design and clothing stores such as Actus and George’s. Watch the sea and feel the sea breeze while enjoying shopping and gourmet food.

Sogo Yokohama

At Sogo Yokohama you will find a variety of stores including Loft, selling miscellaneous life-style goods in addition to popular Japanese cosmetic brands such as Shiseido and Kanebo, popular youth and global fashion brands, high class brands such as Gucci and Chanel. 1On the 10th floor is the “Dining Park Yokohama”, a restaurant area with over 32 places to choose from, serving Japanese, Chinese, and Western foods.

Department Stores and Shopping Complexes in Yokohama

1. Yokohama Bay Quarter
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=149

2. Sogo Yokohama
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=124

3. Yokohama Takashimaya
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=132

4. Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Yokohama
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=143

The Yokohama Bay Sheraton and Towers on the West Exit of Yokohama Station has received extremely favorable reviews on the 2012 Michelin Guide for hotels in the Tokyo/Yokohama/Shonan area. Special accommodation plans for women are available. Tired from shopping with a handful of bags to carry? The Bay Sheraton is only 1 minute on foot from the West exit of Yokohama Station.

Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel and Towers

1. Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel and Towers
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/where-to-stay/detail.php?id=56