PRIVATE yokohama TOUR: Japan’s Gateway to the World

Explore Yokohama through the eyes of the early immigrants who helped shape the city.

Just 40 minutes from Tokyo, this waterfront city offers a completely different perspective on Japan. It was here, in the mid-1800s, that foreign traders, diplomats, and entrepreneurs first arrived, bringing new ideas, cultures, and ways of life that would shape the country’s future.

On this full-day experience, we explore Yokohama through the lives of those people — following their journeys, discovering where they lived, and understanding how this once small fishing village became one of Japan’s most important international cities.

A unique exploration of Yokohama.
Boat ride, museum and lunch included.
Hotel pick-up from Tokyo available.

Your private Yokohama tour begins at Yokohama Station, where we set the scene before boarding a harbour boat — arriving into the heart of the city by sea, just as early visitors once did.

As we cross the bay, we will discuss the moment Japan opened to the outside world — emerging from over 250 years of isolation with the arrival of Matthew Perry and the beginning of international trade.

We arrive at the waterfront and step aboard the historic Hikawa Maru, a 1930s ocean liner that once carried passengers and cargo between Japan and North America. Through the stories connected to the ship, you’ll gain a sense of what it was like to travel between continents at a time when Japan was rapidly changing — including the unexpected visit of Charlie Chaplin.

From the port, we make our way up to Yamate, a quiet hillside district where foreign residents were required to live after the port opened in 1859.

Here, we step inside beautifully preserved Western-style homes and explore the neighbourhood where these early residents built their lives. As we move through the area, you’ll hear about the people who lived here — from business owners and architects to families navigating life far from home — offering a more personal perspective on Yokohama’s history.

We also visit the foreign cemetery, where the city’s international connections — and the realities of life abroad — are reflected in the lives remembered there.

We then continue down into Yokohama Chinatown, the largest in Japan and one of the biggest in the world.

This is where we explore another side of Yokohama’s international story — the Chinese community that settled here and helped shape the area.

We visit a vibrant temple dedicated to Guan Yu, and stop for lunch in the heart of Chinatown. You can choose between a sit-down meal in a traditional Chinese restaurant or sampling a variety of local street foods as we explore — from dumplings to freshly made sesame balls.

In the final part of the tour, we head to Minato Mirai, where Yokohama reveals its modern identity. Walking along the waterfront, we visit the iconic Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, once a hub for international trade and now a lively cultural and shopping space. This part of the tour brings everything together — showing how Yokohama has evolved from its early days as a trading port into the modern city you see today.

The tour concludes back near Yokohama Station, where your guide will assist with directions — whether you choose to continue exploring or return to Tokyo.

All prices listed are in US$ and are the total price for the tour including local tax.
We do accept last-minute bookings so if you are already in Tokyo please contact us for our availability. Tours can be booked online up to 18 hours before the desired start time. For very last-minute inquiries please email us.

This private Yokohama tour is just for you and your friends/family. No one else will join your tour. You can bring a maximum of 14 people on your tour. For numbers over 8 people (12 years of age and above) please add US$79 per person. Children aged 11 years and under are free to join the tour. There is however a surcharge of US$40 per person (including sales tax) for children aged 3 to 11 years to cover the cost of the boat ride, museum and lunch. Prices for the Yokohama tour include a boat ride, lunch, and museum entrance. If you book a private tour and would like to be met at your hotel by your guide you will need to book the 7.5 hours tour. Our tours are walking tours and we make use of the world-class public transportation system to travel around. Prices do not include the costs of transport. You will need to buy a subway pass on the day.

This tour requires you to be physically fit. You will be walking about 10 km over the course of the day. We will be going at a slow pace across mostly flat land but you do need to be in good health and be able to walk up and down stairs.

Please be aware that Yokohama is NOT in Tokyo. While Yokohama and Tokyo are very close it will take about 45 minutes to an hour and a half by train depending on what part of Tokyo you are staying in.

WHEN/TIME: Private Yokohama tours run everyday of the week except the second Wednesday of each month.

Meeting Time for 6 to 6.5 hour tours starting at Yokohama Station: 9:50 am for a 10:00 am start time.

Meeting time for 7.5 hour tours with a hotel pick-up in Tokyo: 8:50 am at hotel lobby for a 9:00am departure.

WHATS INCLUDED: The tour price includes a boat ride, lunch and entry into the Hikawa Maru Museum. Public transportation used during your tour is NOT included (train and subways), nor are the costs of any taxis which you might choose to use. A train pass must be bought beforehand to travel between locations. Learn how to acquire a train pass here. The costs of souvenirs and any extra foods not included in the food crawl are also NOT included.

STARTING POINT: Yokohama Station or at your hotel lobby if you booked a hotel pick up.

FINISHING POINT: Yokohama Station. Alternatively if you wish to be taken back to your hotel, just let us know.

WHAT TO WEAR: Comfortable shoes.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: All tours take place as scheduled (including in heavy rain) except under a Red Warning or Purple Emergency Warning issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency. For up to date information see the Japan Meteorological Agency website. In rare occasions, the boat trip to Yamashita Park may be cancelled due to sudden changes in water conditions. We will get to Yamashita Park by train instead.

Ready to book your Yokohama tours? Then use our secure online booking form to secure your ultimate Hello! Tokyo tours experience. If you can't find what you're looking for, please feel free to contact us.

All pricing is in USD.

Please click on the Date that you would like to book and then select ‘hotel meet-up’ or ‘Yokohama meet-up’ rate.

If you select ‘Yokohama Meet-up’ we will meet you at Yokohama Station.

If you select ‘hotel meet-up’ we will meet you in your hotel lobby in Tokyo and travel with you to Yokohama.