Yokohama Day Tour

Pick-up from Tokyo hotel

Scenic drive to Yokohama (45 minutes via Bayshore Route with Tokyo Bay views)

Cup Noodles Museum (Cupnoodles Museum), interactive exhibits tracing instant ramen's invention by Momofuku Ando in 1958, see wall displaying 800+ instant noodle packages from around the world, watch theatrical presentations about ramen innovation, main attraction: My CUPNOODLES Factory - design your own cup, choose from 4 soup flavors and 12 topping ingredients, watch your custom ramen sealed (¥500 per cup, take-home souvenir), optional: Chicken Ramen Factory - make instant noodles from scratch kneading and seasoning (advance reservation required, ¥500), tasting room to sample regional ramen flavors, fun and educational for all ages - surprisingly engaging!

Drive to Red Brick Warehouse area (15 minutes to waterfront)

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (Aka-renga), explore these two historic brick warehouses built in 1911 as customs facilities, now converted into trendy shopping and dining complex, browse boutique shops selling fashion, crafts, interior goods, local Yokohama souvenirs, walk between warehouses on harbor-side promenade with bay views, see occasional events, concerts, or markets in outdoor plaza, photograph beautiful brick architecture against modern Minato Mirai skyline, enjoy waterfront atmosphere with ships and sea breeze

Walk along waterfront to Minato Mirai 21 area (15 minute pleasant waterfront stroll, or 5 minute drive)

Lunch in Minato Mirai or Chinatown area, if Minato Mirai: restaurants in Landmark Plaza or Queen's Square shopping complexes, if heading to Chinatown: authentic Chinese dim sum, noodles, Peking duck, lunch not included - budget ¥1,500-3,000 (Chinatown particularly good value)

Yokohama Chinatown exploration, enter through one of ten ornate Chinese gates (paifang), walk down Chinatown Main Street (Chukagai-dori) lined with 600+ Chinese shops and restaurants, this is Japan's largest Chinatown - authentic Chinese food adapted to Japanese tastes (many restaurants run by Chinese immigrants), sample street food: steamed buns (nikuman), xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), sesame balls, bubble tea, visit Kanteibyo Temple (Guan Yu temple) with elaborate decorations, Ma Zhu Miao temple dedicated to sea goddess, browse Chinese grocery stores selling imported goods, herbs, teas, souvenirs, experience vibrant atmosphere with Chinese music, red lanterns, aromatic food smells, try fortune cookies (originated in Japan, not China!)

Drive to Sankeien Garden (20 minutes southeast)

Sankeien Garden, enter this 175,000 square meter traditional Japanese landscape garden created by silk merchant Hara Sankei in 1906, Outer Garden: stroll around large pond seeing three-story pagoda (relocated from Kyoto in 1914), historic buildings including tea houses and samurai residences moved from Kyoto and Kamakura, Inner Garden (additional fee): more intimate area with even older structures and carefully designed vistas, seasonal beauty: plum blossoms (February), cherry blossoms (late March-April), irises (June), lotus (July-August), autumn foliage (November-December), peaceful escape from urban Yokohama with birds, koi fish, and traditional architecture, excellent example of how wealthy merchants preserved cultural heritage, bring historic buildings from old capitals

Drive back to Minato Mirai waterfront area (20 minutes)

Minato Mirai 21 & Yamashita Park, Option A: Ascend Yokohama Landmark Tower to Sky Garden observation deck on 69th floor (273m high - Japan's 4th tallest building), enjoy 360-degree views of Yokohama, Tokyo Bay, Mt. Fuji on clear days, see entire port layout and city sprawl, Option B: Walk Yamashita Park - seaside promenade created after 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake using rubble as landfill, see Hikawa Maru - retired ocean liner from 1930s now museum ship (optional tour ¥300), enjoy harbor views with ships, Marine Tower, and Bay Bridge, rose gardens blooming May-June and October-November, romantic waterfront setting, Option C: Ride Cosmo Clock 21 - giant Ferris wheel (112.5m diameter) in Cosmo World amusement park area, harbor and city views especially nice at dusk (¥900), browse shopping malls (Queen's Square, Landmark Plaza, World Porters) if interested

Return drive to Tokyo (30-45 minutes depending on traffic)

Drop-off at Tokyo hotel