Location: Kanagawa

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Kotokuin Temple

Temple is home to a 121-ton stone Buddha (“The Great Buddha”) which has stood since the mid-13th century and is a designated National Treasure. It took 10 years to complete, the cost of construction borne by the priests and members of the community.

Tokasan Jomyoji Temple

Quiet temple near Hokokuji with a tea house and Japanese rock garden.

Engakuji Temple

700 year old temple built on the sloping hillsides of Kamakura which is today one of the most important Zen temples in Japan.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

Kamakura’s most famous shrine. It enshrines the spirit of Hachiman, the divine protector of Japan, its people, and of the Minamoto clan, which established the country’s first shogunate in Kamakura in 1185.

Cup Noodles Museum

Museum opened by the Nissin Food Company whose founder, Momofuku Ando, invented the cup noodle.

Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

Ramen museum built as an indoor reconstruction of a typical Japanese street from 1958 where you can buy ramen from different regions of Japan.

Yokohama Landmark Tower

Standing almost 300m tall, the Landmark Tower provides the best night view of the harbor area. You can also make the boast of having ridden the fastest elevator in Japan (it takes just 40 seconds to arrive at the observation deck on the 69th floor). The Yokohama Plaza on the first five floors of the building contains restaurants and shops.

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

These two structures were formerly customs warehouses for Yokohama port. They underwent extensive renovation before re-opening in 2002. Today they contain small boutiques, craft shops, and a handful of restaurants and cafes. Open-air events are often held in the surrounding plaza.

Osanbashi Pier & Passenger Terminal

Osanbashi Pier was built in the late 19th century to facilitate the loading and unloading of the ships that came into the Yokohama port. Today boarding gates and shops can be found beneath the modern wooden walkway, but many on the pier are just there for the view looking back onto Yokohama.

Yamate District

Yamate was the area where foreigners lived in the years after Yokohama port opened for trade. Harbour View Park located at the top of the hill provides one of the best views of Yokohama port and also has a rose garden and Western-style cemetery. You can walk up the hill from the Motomachi shopping district to the view point at the top which looks over the Minato Mirai area.

Yamashita Park

Yamashita Park was built on reclaimed land following the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and today is one of the most relaxing places in the city. From the park you can clearly see the Hikawa Maru ocean liner which was taken out of service in 1960 and now serves as a museum.

Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama Chinatown was established by Chinese immigrants the year after the Harris Treaty ended Japan’s 250 years of isolationism and opened up the country to foreign trade. It is the largest Chinatown in Japan with over 600 restaurants and shops. Kuan Ti Miao Temple in the middle of the area has roots dating back to 1862.