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Why Yokohama

Yokohama is genuinely a city like no other. This community’s cosmopolitan and storied heritage is palpable on every street and by-way throughout the city, while the metropolis simultaneously displays its sophistication and urbanity through its shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities. Yokohama is chic, fun and stimulating, whether you are here for work or for relaxation.

1. City on the bay

Yokohama makes the very most of its position, with attractive green spaces, eye-catching modern design and architecture, restaurants, bars and hotels dotting the waterfront districts. It has yet more unforgettable dining and entertainment options on the waters of the bay - the port that is still today the heartbeat of this community.

2. Connected city

Yokohama is located in the Greater Tokyo Area, one of the world’s largest metropolitan districts. The city is in close proximity to the international airports of Haneda and Narita, and is a major international port for trade and cruise ships. The center of the city is less than 30 minutes from Haneda international airport and about the same distance by train from central Tokyo. Train and bus services offer smooth local connectivity, while the “shinkansen” bullet train takes visitors further afield.

2,500
Number of international flights from Haneda and Narita airports every week
112
Number of international destinations served by Haneda and Narita airports
30min.
Time to Haneda airport and central Tokyo by local train
Every 10min.
Departures of inter-city bullet trains

3. Convenient & exciting

The heart of the city is compact and easy to navigate, while local transport means that you are never too far from the sights, the entertainment and shopping districts, the hotels or the restaurants. As the second-largest city in Japan after Tokyo, Yokohama has restaurants to excite every palate, bars that satisfy every liquid desire and venues to suit every musical taste. The nightlife is electric. The entertainment does not end. The excitement is constant.

12,600
Number of restaurants
15,200
Number of retail stores
10
Number of department stores

4. Unrivaled opportunities

Yokohama has thrilling theme parks, urban “onsen,” theaters, classical music, traditional Japanese entertainment and iconic buildings, including the 296-meter Landmark Tower and the historic Red Brick Warehouse district. Stroll through the stunning grounds and historic buildings of the Sankeien Japanese garden. Wonder at one of the largest aquariums in the country. Eat out in colorful Chinatown. Take a day trip to the medieval capital of Kamakura, the beach resorts of Enoshima or Atami, and relax in the onsen of Hakone. Yokohama and its environs reward visitors with unrivaled sightseeing opportunities.

36million
Number of tourists per year (2019)
380billion yen
Total tourism-related consumption per year (2019)
46
Number of museums

5. Innovative city

Since the opening of its port in 1859, Yokohama has developed its identity as a diverse and vibrant city that is open to new peoples, cultures and ideas. Now, Yokohama is a flourishing hub of companies, universities and research institutes specializing in the life sciences, IT, mobility and manufacturing technologies. An increasing number of leading companies are drawn to Yokohama to set up their urban R&D and innovation centers. Most of the new buildings incorporate museums and interactive facilities where visitors can try cutting-edge experiences for themselves.

157
Academic research institutions and R&D facilities, second only to Tokyo (2016)
26
Universities
6
New R&D centers operated by global companies by 2023
(Shiseido, Keikyu, Sony, Murata Manufacturing, LG Electronics, YAMAHA)

6. Wide range of accommodation

Yokohama has a wide selection of hotels to meet every taste and budget. Properties range from niche localhotels to the famous chains and a number of luxury residences. And thanks to the growing popularity of the city, work is under way on several major additions to those accommodation options, including some famous high-end hotels.

17,000+
Hotel rooms (2021)
1,000+
Additional hotel rooms by 2026

7. 'Hamakko' – the people

Once a sleepy fishing village that became feudal Japan’s touchpoint with the outside world, Yokohama has ever since embraced new cultures, new attitudes and new information from overseas. Those attitudes are reflected in the people who call this city their home and are known as “Hamakko.” The combination of the domestic and the international gives Yokohama a unique flavor, making it a popular place to live for both Japanese and foreigners alike. Nowhere will the out-of-town visitor find a warmer welcome than in Yokohama.

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