Treat Yourself to a Tour of Yokohama by City Loop Bus "Akai Kutsu"

Treat Yourself to a Tour of Yokohama by City Loop Bus "Akai Kutsu"

After working hard all week, why not treat yourself to the little luxury of a day out exploring the city?
Allow us to suggest a route that lets you make the most of the Akai Kutsu City Loop Bus while visiting some of Yokohama’s very best shopping spots.

Showing us around their favorite places are Yokohama Goodwill Ambassadors Rie Sakakibara and Keiko Hongyo, who know the city inside out.

1: Sakuragicho Station

The route starts at Sakuragicho Station. First, buy a Minato-Burari Ticket at the Tourist Information Center in the JR station.

The Minato-Burari Ticket not only gives you unlimited rides on the municipal subway (Blue Line) and city buses from Yokohama Station to the Bay area, but also entitles you to a variety of special offers at partner stores, including discounts on meals and beneficial gifts in shops. It makes treating yourself to a day out a total bargain!

If you come to see the sights of Yokohama, make sure that you get hold of a Minato-Burari Ticket first and then you’ll be able to enjoy the city’s attractions to your heart’s content.

Sakuragicho Station Tourist Information Center

Opening hours:10:00am~5:00pm
<YOKOHAMA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER>
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/information/information-centers/

Minato Burari Ticket

<Fares> Adult 750 yen, Children 350 yen
<Where to buy tickets>
- Yokohama Municipal Subway (Blue Line) Stations
Yokohama, Takashimacho, Sakuragicho, Kannnai, Isezaki-chojamachi, Shin-Yokohama (only "Minato Burari Ticket-WIDE")
- Sakuragicho Tourist Information Center (only "Minato Burari Ticket") , etc

<"Minato Burari Ticket" official website>
https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/kotsu/bus/unchin/minatoburari.html

2: Aka-Renga Soko (YOKOHAMA RED BRICK WAREHOUSE): Akarenga Depot

Get off at bus stop A5 Akarengasoko (Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse) / Marine & Walk and head for Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.
The bus stop is right in front of it, so you won’t have any problems finding your way there, even if it’s your first time.

Our two guides took us to Akarenga Depot, a shop offering items with a retro Yokohama feel that you just won’t find anywhere else.
Among the warehouse-themed store’s many charming products showcasing Yokohama’s appeal are a 1.5-kg chocolate brick, little red-shoe chocolates, and toy versions of the Akai Kutsu bus.
Other items include Yokohama Ale, a beer that offers a taste of the city’s history with a recipe that replicates the flavor it would have had at the time the port opened in the 19th century, and Shimizuya Ketchup, Japan’s first domestically produced tomato ketchup, which was created in Yokohama in 1896. You’re bound to find souvenirs to suit all tastes.

<Special offer for holders of the Minato-Burari Ticket>
Offer: Show your Minato-Burari Ticket when buying something at Akarenga Depot to get a free gift with an exclusive design

Our two guides each got a lovely postcard as their Minato-Burari Ticket gift when buying souvenirs at Akarenga Depot!
*Postcard images vary according to the season.

Aka-Renga Soko (YOKOHAMA RED BRICK WAREHOUSE)

<Address> 1-1-2 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-0001
<TEL> 045-211-1515
<More information>
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=1

3: MARINE & WALK YOKOHAMA「SODA BAR」 (@COMMUNITY MILL)

Once they’d finished shopping, our two guides walked across to Marine & Walk, located next to Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.
This open-air mall caressed by sea breezes isn’t just a great place for shopping and a meal; with the walls of its buildings adorned with all kinds of art, it’s also a fabulous location for photography.

Once you’ve had a stroll around the shops and looked around the buildings, why not take a break at Soda Bar?
Located in Community Mill, a shop offering a curated range of lifestyle goods, Soda Bar specializes in sodas made from carefully chosen ingredients. The stylish colors and smart cups will definitely stand out among your social media photos.
Right outside the store is a seating area where you can gaze at panoramic views of the sea as you sip your soda.

<Insider tip>
One of the most popular items on the menu is the Seasonal Fruits Soda. Savor a refreshing blend of fizzy soda with the tastiest, most colorful fruit available at the time.

MARINE & WALK YOKOHAMA

<Address> 1-3-1 Shinko,Naka-ku,Yokohama
<TEL> 045-680-6101
<More information>
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=234

4: Yokohama Chinatown: Jukei-Hanten Main Building

After a pleasant morning exploring the Bay area, hop back onto Akai Kutsu and head for the China Town, Choyo-Mon Gate.
The streets of one of the world’s largest Chinatowns are lined with some 600 or more eateries.

Enjoy your long-awaited lunch at Jukei-Hanten main building!
Refurbished in October 2018, Jukei-Hanten’s main restaurant has a luxurious atmosphere inspired by the Chinese townscapes of past.

Our two guides ordered the hot pot, choosing the restaurant’s popular Herbal Medicine Chicken Soup and Mala Soup from among its selection of four different soups. Together, these two soups contain a total of 20 different spices.
Just swish the vegetables and three types of meat in the soup until cooked and enjoy. Packed with nutritious ingredients that support health and beauty, this hot pot will warm the body and soul.

*Hot pot reservations are accepted for dinner on weekdays and all day on weekends. Customers wishing to order hot pot must ensure that they make a reservation by the day before their visit.

<Special offer for holders of the Minato-Burari Ticket>
Offer: Show your Minato-Burari Ticket to get 10% off your bill when dining here
*Valid for cash payments only *Excludes the service lunch menu

<Insider tip>
On the first floor of Jukei-Hanten main building, you can buy souvenirs offering a distinctive flavor of Chinatown.
Most popular are the sweet treat Ban-pin and a Mapo Tofu recipe kit that makes cooking this spicy dish at home a breeze. We also recommend the cute Akai Kutsu tin filled with Chinese almond cookies.

Jukei-Hanten Main Building

<Address> 164 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama
<TEL> 045-641-8288
<More information>
https://www.jukeihanten.com/honkan/

5: Yokohama Chinatown: Koumen

Located on that epitome of Chinese culture, Kanteibyo Street, Koumen sells traditional confectionery from China’s Guangdong Province.
The most popular item on the menu here is the egg tart called “dan tat,” an exquisite sweet treat known only to the most discerning!

The delectable combination of crisp pastry and rich, pudding-like custard filling brought these blissful smiles to the faces of our two guides.
Each one is handmade in-store, so only a limited number might be available, depending on when you go. If you time your visit right, you might get one fresh from the oven!
Do check this shop out when you’re in Chinatown.

Koumen

<Address> 190 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama
<TEL> 045-651-2210
<More information>
http://www.koumen.co.jp/

6: Motomachi: Chikazawa Lace Store (Motomachi Main Store)

After a delicious meal, it’s time for a little deluxe shopping at the stores along Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street.
With a sophisticated, Western-style townscape, it’s another complete change of scene from Chinatown.

From among the famous high-end brand stores and classical cafés, our two guides picked out Chikazawa Lace Store as their first destination.
Founded in 1901, this lace boutique offers a range of high-quality lace products demonstrating meticulous craftsmanship. Lace tends to be regarded as delicate and difficult to care for at home, but part of the appeal of Chikazawa Lace’s products is that their easy-care design ensures anyone can keep them looking as pristine as when they were first bought.

You’re bound to get a thrill just looking at the intricate lace patterns, each different from the next. Browse Chikazawa Lace’s ample stock to find a lace design that you’ll love.

<Insider tip>
Check out the range of handkerchief towels, featuring limited-edition designs that change every month and designs exclusive to the Motomachi Main Store.

Chikazawa Lace Store (Motomachi Main Store)

<Address> 3-119 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama
<TEL> 045-641-3222
<More information>
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=25

7: Motomachi: Kitamura (Motomachi Main Shop)

Next, our two guides dropped into Kitamura, which sells unique handbags and apparel.
Just looking at the colorful array of products on display in the store is enough to make your spirits soar.

We recommend the bespoke bags and wallets that you can order here, choosing everything from the shape to the color of the stitching and the metal hardware.
You’ll have to wait a while for your item to be made once you’ve ordered it, but the shop can arrange delivery, so a custom-made Kitamura product makes an ideal gift for someone else or treat for yourself.
It also means you can create your own wonderfully distinctive style, with linings and stitching colors customized according to the season.

<Special offer for holders of the Minato-Burari Ticket>
Offer: Show your Minato-Burari Ticket when you spend 10,000 yen or more (including tax) to get a free towel handkerchief.

Our two guides each got an exclusive towel handkerchief as their Minato-Burari Ticket gift when shopping at Kitamura!
*Towel design may vary depending on the time of year.

<Insider tip>
Bespoke products can be embossed with your initials, creating a one-off item unique to you.

Kitamura (Motomachi Main Shop)

<Address> 4-178 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama
<TEL> 045-664-1189
<More information>
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?id=62

8: Motomachi: pLus & Kalita

Completely shopped out, our two guides took a break at pLus & Kalita, handily located just a little further along Motomachi Shopping Street.

This café has been fully designed by coffee equipment manufacturer Kalita, which is headquartered in Yokohama.
From the specialty boutique on the first floor, follow the aroma of coffee up to the second floor, where you’ll find a chic café. Ms. Sakakibara ordered a coffee, while Ms. Hongyo went for a caffè latte. The caffè latte is a perfect balance of rich coffee and finely foamed milk that lasts all the way to the bottom of the cup.

Round off a day enjoying all that Yokohama has to offer by taking time to unwind over a coffee and a leisurely chat.

<Insider tip>
The full range of Kalita products is available in the specialty boutique on the first floor. Coffee tastes a bit different when prepared with carefully chosen items.
You can also get a hands-on lesson in how to use the equipment sold on the first floor in the second-floor café!

This tour offers the chance to reward yourself by enjoying your fill of fabulous products and tasty treats. After making so many wonderful memories, you’re bound to want to visit Yokohama again.
But don’t get too absorbed in having fun—the last Akai Kutsu bus back to Sakuragicho Station leaves Motomachi at 18:29 on weekdays and 19:03 on weekends and national holidays, so make sure you don’t miss it.

pLus & Kalita

<Address> 4-167 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama
<TEL> 045-227-4333
<More information>
http://plus.and-kalita.com/

9: A final note

Just for reference, when comparing the cost of the Minato-Burari Ticket with using ordinary bus tickets for this route, the Minato-Burari Ticket comes out 180 yen cheaper than separate bus tickets.
Bus tickets: 220 yen × 4 journeys = 880 yen Minato-Burari Ticket = 700 yen

Plus there are all the special offers you get, which makes it even more of a bargain!
We hope you’ll make the most of the Minato-Burari Ticket to treat yourself to a relaxing day out that won’t cost the earth.

About Sightseeing Bus “Akai Kutsu”
http://www.yokohamajapan.com/information/getting-around-yokohama/#busTaxi