Yokohama 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

Experience the modern and traditional sides of Yokohama and Kamakura on a half-day private trip with a licensed guide. Customize your itinerary and explore these dynamic and ancient Japanese cities.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Sankeien Gardens - Sankeien (三溪園) is an expansive Japanese-style garden located in southern Yokohama, showcasing numerous historic buildings from various parts of Japan. The garden features a pond, small streams, flowers, and scenic walking paths that evoke the feeling of being in Kyoto rather than Yokohama.

The garden was created by Hara Sankei and opened to the public in 1904. Among the historic structures on display are a refined daimyo (feudal lord) residence, several tea houses, and the main hall and three-story pagoda of Kyoto’s old Tomyoji Temple.

Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 - Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい 21) is a waterfront urban area in central Yokohama, with a name that translates to “harbor of the future.” It boasts numerous high-rise buildings, including the Landmark Tower, which was Japan’s tallest building from 1993 to 2014. The area was a large shipyard until the 1980s when it began transforming into a new city center.

Minato Mirai enjoys a prime location along the water and offers a variety of attractions. Visitors can explore shopping centers, hotels, a convention center, an amusement park, a relaxation center with hot spring baths, museums, and park spaces.

Yokohama Chinatown - Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街, Yokohama Chūkagai) is the largest Chinatown in Japan, situated in central Yokohama. The narrow, vibrant streets of Chinatown are lined with numerous Chinese shops and restaurants. Various events and festivals, such as Chinese New Year in early February, are also celebrated here.

Yokohama Chinatown rapidly developed after Yokohama’s port became one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade in 1859. It became home to many Chinese traders who settled in the city. Today, the area has more businesses than residents.

Four colorful gates mark the entrances to Chinatown, with five additional gates within. The Kanteibyo, a brightly decorated temple in the heart of Chinatown, was built in 1873 by Chinese residents and is dedicated to the Chinese god of good business and prosperity.

Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama - The Cup Noodles Museum (also known as the 安藤百福発明記念館, Andō Momofuku Hatsumei Kinenkan) is an engaging and interactive museum in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai District. It chronicles the history of instant ramen noodles through whimsical exhibits and hands-on workshops. The museum was established by the Nissin Food company, whose founder invented instant ramen noodles in 1958 as a quick and convenient food option. It is the second cup noodles museum in Japan, with the first being the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka.

Tickets are only available for purchase on the day of your visit. You must line up before 10am at the museum to buy tickets.

Motomachi Park - For most of the Edo Period (1603-1867), Japan’s rulers enforced a policy of isolation, restricting almost all interactions with foreign countries. When this isolation ended in the 1850s, Yokohama became one of the few port towns where foreign traders were allowed to reside. While the Chinese community established Chinatown, Westerners settled in the Yamate area, also known as “The Bluff.”

The Yamate area (山手) still features several sites related to its history as the main residential district for Westerners in Yokohama. However, due to the Great Kanto Earthquake, few structures predate 1923. Today, Yamate remains a predominantly hilly residential area with some pleasant parks. Visitors will notice international schools and churches, indicating the continued presence of Western residents.

Yamate 234ban Residence - For most of the Edo Period (1603-1867), Japan’s rulers enforced a policy of isolation, restricting almost all interactions with foreign countries. When this isolation ended in the 1850s, Yokohama became one of the few port towns where foreign traders were allowed to reside. While the Chinese community established Chinatown, Westerners settled in the Yamate area, also known as “The Bluff.”

The Yamate area (山手) still features several sites related to its history as the main residential district for Westerners in Yokohama. However, due to the Great Kanto Earthquake, few structures predate 1923. Today, Yamate remains a predominantly hilly residential area with some pleasant parks. Visitors will notice international schools and churches, indicating the continued presence of Western residents.

Shinyokohama Ramen Museum - The Shinyokohama Raumen Museum (新横浜ラーメン博物館, Shin Yokohama Ra-men Hakubutsukan) is a distinctive museum dedicated to ramen, a beloved Japanese noodle dish originally brought over from China.

On the first floor, the Ramen Museum showcases the history of ramen noodles in Japan, including the success of instant ramen. It displays the various types of noodles, soups, toppings, and bowls used throughout Japan and explains the noodle-making process.

The two basement floors feature a life-sized replica of streets and houses from Shitamachi, Tokyo’s old town, circa 1958, when ramen’s popularity was soaring. Nine ramen restaurants are located here, each offering a ramen dish from a different region of Japan.

Yamashita Park - Yamashita Park (山下公園, Yamashita Kōen) is a public park that extends about 750 meters along Yokohama’s waterfront. The park is approximately 100 meters wide and consists mainly of open green spaces. It was built after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

While strolling through Yamashita Park, visitors will notice the large ocean liner docked beside the promenade. This ship, the Hikawa Maru, began service in 1930 on the Yokohama-Vancouver/Seattle line. Its first-class cabins attracted notable passengers, including the imperial family and Charlie Chaplin, for transpacific voyages. After 30 years at sea, the ship was retired in 1960 and now serves as a museum, featuring informative displays and 1930s-style interiors.

Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal - The Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal (大さん橋国際客船ターミナル, Ōsanbashi Kokusai Kyakusen Terminal), also known as Osanbashi Pier, is situated between Minato Mirai and Yamashita Park. It is the docking point for international cruise ships visiting Yokohama. The 400-meter pier includes walkways and green spaces open to the public, making it an appealing spot even for those not boarding a ship.

Originally built in 1894, the pier was reconstructed in 2002 as a passenger terminal. Its innovative design features grass and floorboards that resemble rolling waves. The pier is one of Yokohama’s top spots for a stroll and offers unobstructed views of the Minato Mirai skyline. Below the walking area, there are boarding facilities, shops, restaurants, and a hall for small exhibitions and events.

What's Included
  • Customizable tour of 2-3 sites from ‘What to expect’ list (Yokohama or Kamakura)
  • Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Yokohama
  • Licensed local English-speaking guide
What's Not Included
  • Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
  • Private transportation
  • You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
  • Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Additional Information

Enjoy an efficient, half-day walking tour of Yokohama accompanied by a government-licensed and experienced multilingual guide! Your guide will introduce both modern and traditional sides of these dynamic and ancient Japanese cities during this half-day tour.

For options to experience both modern and traditional sides of Japan outside of Tokyo, the cities of Yokohama may be the best. Our nationally-licensed and experienced English-speaking guides will help you efficiently spend a half-day walking tour of these areas. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that’s best for you!

Note1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note
2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

  • Travel time between Yokohama and Kamakura is about 30 minutes one way.
  • This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Location
Sankeien Gardens
58-1 Hommoku Sannotani, Naka-Ku
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(8 Ratings)
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1 star
Allisonpd3054gm
Aug 2, 2024
5 stars for Shinji and his touring - Absolutely amazing tour by Shinji. He was friendly and took me to the places I wanted to see. Highly recommend him as a guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shelliem_k
May 7, 2024
Fantastic Toyr - The guide was great. We met where I wanted to and we able to see all the things I requested to see. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly.
Review provided by Viator
Wemgl
Apr 4, 2024
First time visit to Japan had must see locations for Yokohama/Kamakura included - This was my first visit to Japan and it went great. The guide, Shinji, was very knowledgeable about all the places we visited. Also, the itinerary was packed with really interesting places for a first timer to see, so it felt like I got to visit all the “must see” locations.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Regina_y
Aug 16, 2023
Fabulous tour! - Fabulous tour and fabulous tour guide! Highly recommended! Tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and went out of her way to make the tour extraordinary.
Review provided by Viator
Rommelr234
Aug 1, 2023
Great things in kamakura - Michio was awesome and showed me a good time. Also helped me find gifts and had a great lunch. Arigstou Michio-san
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R_mark105
Apr 24, 2023
Kamakara shrines and templesl - Our tour guide was Mizutome. He gave us a great 6 hour tour of Kamakara. We skipped Yokohama because we had explored it on our own. Mizutome spoke very good English and he adjusted his pace to ours. He managed to show us a lot of temples and shrines on our tour. He showed us how to use the Ice card so we could use buses, trains, and subway. He led us to a great ramen lunch. A great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tascaver
May 26, 2024
Kamakura half Day - Our half day out with guide Shinji kept us very busy. We used trains, subway and a bus; having a guide made this less daunting. He was engaging and knowledgeable, plenty of interesting sites visited. It did involve a lot of walking and stairs. Zen gardens very nice, big Buddha impressive. A good tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shafak_a
Apr 21, 2023
Great sunny day - Nice tour explored new part of Japan, learn new things about Japanese culture, my guide Hide was the best, highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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