Yokohama

You arrive in the middle of bustling Chinatown.

The new state of the art cruise Osanbashi terminal. This pier is not only a functional terminal but also an architectural landmark known for its sweeping views of Yokohama Bay and the city skyline.

From Osanbashi Pier to the downtown area of Yokohama (around Minato Mirai), it's approximately 1 to 1.5 kilometers. This is a pleasant walk of about 15-20 minutes

There is a public bus service every ten minutes (200 yen) between the passenger terminal and Yokohama Station, which is in downtown and is the hub for rail trips to Tokyo (about 40 km away) and other destinations. For more information on Bus Routes, please visit the Yokohama Guide for Cruise Passengers.

Passengers sailing from Yokohama, Japan’s Osanbash cruise terminal will be sent off in style, as the port has organized a farewell ceremony for every ship call. Tourists, locals and terminal employees will gather with yellow cloth handkerchiefs (provided free of charge) to wish ships and passengers a happy and safe journey.

A new facility for cruise ships opened in April 2019 at the Daikoku terminal in addition to the new Shinko terminal opened in November 2019.

The five-story terminal building houses not only a cruise terminal but 25 shops and a luxury hotel, Intercontinental Yokohama Pier8. As of March 2020, an additional attraction will be the adjacent Hammerhead Park and Promenade. The park will feature Yokohama’s Hammerhead Crane, the first quay crane installed in 1914 which will be the central icon of the park.

Printable map to take along.

Yokohama is a cosmopolitan city that blends the old and the new, and Japanese and western cultures. Within walking distance from the passenger terminal, there are shopping districts, high-end hotels and a renowned Chinatown. A 10-minute bus ride will take you to Sankeien, a vast traditional Japanese garden, and to the Yokohama Noh Theater with a 19th century traditional noh stage.

The port and city of Yokohama are renowned for their warmhearted hospitality cultivated over a century through welcoming countless passenger vessels from around the world. Yokohama with its geographical advantage, extensive railroad networks and unique terminal that can offer efficiency to your operation can be an ideal logistic hub for various tours, whether sightseeing or dining or cultural activities in the Tokyo Metropolitan region. Sankeien Garden is a vast genuine Japanese garden with an area of 180,000 square meters. Many of the buildings have been designated as national cultural properties. The garden comes alive with plum blossoms in…

When you board a taxi, note that the vehicle's left rear door is opened and closed remotely by the driver. You are not supposed to open or close it by yourself. Furthermore, you are not supposed to tip taxi drivers, as the service is included in the price.

If you do not speak Japanese, or your destination is not a well known place, it is recommended to give your driver the precise address of your destination on a piece of paper or, even better, point it out on a map, since the Japanese address system can be confusing even to local taxi drivers.

Kamakura was the site of the feudal government (the ancient capital of Japan) 800 years ago. It is now a quiet cultural center with many sights of interest, especially temples and shrines including Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu built by the Shogun in 1180. Further south is the Daibutsu, or Great Buddha of Kamakura. It is 11.4 meters tall, the second highest Buddha statue in Japan. It is a national treasure but you can enter inside the statue. 60 minutes by bus. Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, is a national symbol. Hakone is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan. It offers not only hot spring accommodation but also daily bathing…

Yokohama also has many shopping spots for all fashions. Especially, Minato Mirai 21 has lots of large shopping malls. The west side of Yokohama has all kinds of entertainment, music, fashion and of course Yodobashi camera and Big camera for electronic shops.

The currency in Japan is the yen. It comes in denominations of ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes, as well as ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1 coins.

ATMs in Japan are becoming more useful, and most can be used to withdraw funds from overseas accounts. Post offices also offer ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted at a majority of stores and restaurants in large urban areas, but if you plan on spending any time in rural areas, be sure to carry sufficient cash. Japan is still very much a cash society and some stores, hotels and restaurants regardless of location refuse credit cards.

Don't tip, as it's considered rude!

Cafes which offer free WiFi for customers are springing up all over the country. Costs vary, with some coffee shops offering free Wi-Fi services and others charging by the hour for cable-enabled PCs

Shops and department stores in Japan are generally open daily, including national holidays (with the exception of New Year's), from 10:00 or 10:30am to 7:30 or 8:00pm. Some specialty shops are closed Sundays and national holidays. Department stores are sometimes closed one day a week on an irregular basis, but since closing days vary for each store, shoppers can always find stores that are open.

Public Holidays in Japan