The Second City, Yokohama

With a whopping 9 million people, Tokyo is by far the most populous of the cities in the county. But a short journey south will take you to the second largest city in Japan, the port of Yokohama.

On our way back from Kamakura, on the JR Yokosuka line, the stop of Yokohama provided us with an opportunity to visit of the major hubs in Japan. With a few hours to spare on hand, we took the chance to take a detour, and explore the second city. With time being against us, we decided to head to the the most popular spot in Yokohama, Yamashita Park. Yokohama does have its own Metro system, which can take a bit of decoding, but a few stops along, and you’ll arrive at the splendid public park, offering a stunning waterside views of the Port of Yokohama.

The biggest Chinatown in Japan is located 10 mins away from the park, so if you want to embrace the vibrancy of downtown China, make sure to check it out!

Yamashita Park, especially at sun down, is a sight to behold. From its elegant archways and fountains, to the bustling waterside promenade, filled with joggers, walkers and sightseers. If you love anime, the Gundam factory is close by, with its life-size Mech. It’s one of the most in demand attractions.

What you can’t miss in the park is the simply mammoth Ocean liner anchored by the shore. The ship, called the Hikawa Maru, a part of the famous Yokohama Dock Company, now takes permanent residence as a nautical museum. Even if you’re not a fan of boats, you’ll be a fan of climbing onboard and enjoying the views from up and above.

As our evening was coming to an end, we made our way down towards the main promenade in the city. It’s not hard to make your way there, simply make your way towards the iconic ferris wheel, that is part of Yokohama Cosmo World, a theme park in the centre of Yokohama! The docks here offer a lovely view of the modern side of this historic port, with it’s sleek skyscrapers and offices. Enjoy a walk along the waterways, or take the cable car close by, for a more aerial look!

Though the distance back to Tokyo really isn’t too far or long, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to ride the legendary Shinkansen bullet train, for which, you need to catch the train from Shin Yokohama station, not to be confused with the main Yokohama center station. Using the ticket machines, it’s quite straightforward to book your train and seats (if you prefer not to risk missing a seat in the unreserved carriages!). Waiting for our train back, you really do notice how silent these machines are, as they glide through the platforms. As our 18:00 service arrived, we managed to tick off one of the items on any travelers bucket list!