Yokohama is very close to Tokyo, about 30 kilometres, which means that, if you traveled to Tokyo, it would be a good idea to give yourself 2-3 days at least to also get to visit Yokohama Japan.
While not as famous as Osaka, Kyoto or Hiroshima, for instance, Yokohama is still the second largest city in Japan and a gorgeous one to see. Not to mention that, its incredible multicultural vibe makes it exciting to experience.
You’ll still get a huge sense of the Japanese culture and spirit, while also seeing other civilizations thrive and mix in a delightful way. Yokohama opened its port for the world about 160 years ago and successfully built a true melting pot of civilizations.
If you allowed me to say, Yokohama is for Japan what New York City is for the US, an exciting city that blends the new with the old, the Eastern and the Western, without cultural clashes or cacophony.
And, if you look at the huge list of things to do in Yokohama, you’ll realize that perhaps those 2-3 days I mentioned to do some sightseeing might actually not even be enough.
How to Get to Yokohama by Plane
If you come from abroad, such as I do, from NYC, you won’t be able to land directly into Yokohama, so you’ll land at Tokyo and then take the bus / train to Yokohama.
There are 2 main airports that serve this purpose: Tokyo International Airport and Narita International Airport, West of Tokyo.
Usually the internal visitors, those who come from Japan, are serviced by the Haneda Airport (located outside of Tokyo).
So, you’ll only get as close to Yokohama as 30 Km (to Tokyo) via plane and then you’ll need to take the train or the bus. Don’t worry, there are SO many options, you’ll surely find the best one without hitches.
How to Get from Tokyo to Yokohama by Train
There are 6 railways you can use to get from Tokyo to Yokohama and the travel time is about half an hour to 45 minutes. The prices are more than acceptable, especially compared to other international locations.
Tokyo train stations to have in mind, if you wish to go to Yokohama:
- Tokyo Station,
- Ueno Station,
- Shinagawa Station,
- Shibuya Station,
- Shinjuku Station,
- Ikebukuro Station
Either station has trains that will take you to Yokohama and, since we talked about trains, here are your main options, travel times, approximate prices and details:
Tokyu Toyoko Line
| Fastest Train | Starting Station | Fare Yen | Fare USD | Duration |
| Limited Express | Shibuya | 270 | 2.52 | 27 min. |
Shonan-Shinjuku Line
| Fastest Train | Starting Station | Fare Yen | Fare USD | Duration |
| Limited Express | Ikebukuro | 620 | 5.78 | 36 minutes |
| Limited Express | Shinjuku | 550 | 5.13 | 31 minutes |
| Limited Express | Shibuya | 390 | 3.64 | 25 minutes |
Keihin Kyuko/Keikyu Line
| Fastest Train | Starting Station | Fare Yen | Fare USD | Duration |
| Limited Express | Shinagawa | 300 | 2.80 | 18 minutes |
Tokaido Line / Ueno-Tokyo Line
| Fastest Train | Starting Station | Fare Yen | Fare USD | Duration |
| Rapid or Local | Ueno | 550 | 5.13 | 33 minutes |
| Rapid or Local | Tokyo | 470 | 4.39 | 26 minutes |
| Rapid or Local | Shinagawa | 290 | 2.71 | 23 minutes |
Keihin-Tohoku Line
| Fastest Train | Starting Station | Fare Yen | Fare USD | Duration |
| Rapid or Local | Ueno | 550 | 5.13 | 33 minutes |
| Rapid or Local | Tokyo | 470 | 4.39 | 26 minutes |
| Rapid or Local | Shinagawa | 290 | 2.71 | 23 minutes |
Yokosuka Line
One of the Yokosuka Line’s end stations is Narita Airport, so it’s possible to get from Narita Airport to Yokohama with just one train.
| Fastest Train | Starting Station | Fare Yen | Fare USD | Duration |
| Rapid | Tokyo | 470 | 4.39 | 26 minutes |
| Rapid | Shinagawa | 290 | 2.71 | 23 minutes |
The price in dollars is calculated for am exchange rate of 107.05 Yen / 1 USD.
How to Get to Yokohama by Bus
The Airport Limousine Bus is the simplest way, with buses just outside the airport. The buses depart every hour and it generally takes around two hours for them to reach the centre of the city.
You can also rent a car. If you plan to drive to Yokohama, there are several car hire companies with offices located inside the airport. Just fill out the right forms, collect the keys and drive in the right direction.
