Can you do this cruise port on your own?
Yokohama
DIY Score
Easy DIY
Load an IC card first, then walk the waterfront or take the train to Tokyo.
Tender or Docked?
Ships dock at Yokohama. The Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal is a 10-20 minute walk from central Yokohama or two stops on the Minatomirai Line.
How to Get Into Town
Walk to Minatomirai (15 min) or take the train to Tokyo (30-40 min, ~€3-4 each way). An IC card (Suica or Pasmo) makes every transit seamless.
Main Attractions
Minato Mirai waterfront, Yamashita Park, and Yokohama Chinatown are all within easy walking distance. For Tokyo: Asakusa temple district and Shibuya crossing are the most manageable in a port call.
How Much Time You Need
A Yokohama-only day needs 7-8 hours. A Tokyo day needs 9-10 hours minimum once transit is factored in.
Keep in Mind
Get an IC card (Suica or Pasmo) as your first stop. Buying individual train tickets at every machine is slow and avoidable.
Safety & Comfort
Yokohama and Tokyo are among the safest cities in the world for independent visitors. Pickpocketing is essentially non-existent. The main hazards are heat in summer and jet lag.
Tips from Cruisers
"We did Kamakura instead of Tokyo. Absolutely the right call. 50 minutes from Yokohama by train, the Great Buddha was incredible, t…" — by Maria C.
We did Kamakura instead of Tokyo. Absolutely the right call. 50 minutes from Yokohama by train, the Great Buddha was incredible, the temples were peaceful, the town was easy to walk. No crowds like in Tokyo and we were back at the ship by 4pm completely relaxed.
We skipped Tokyo and spent the whole day in Yokohama. Chinatown for lunch, the Red Brick Warehouse for dessert, the big Ferris wheel in the evening. So relaxed. No transit stress. Coming off a Japan cruise where every port was intense, it was exactly what we needed.
We were terrified of the transit system before we went. Then we arrived, followed the signs, found the IC card machine at Yokohama Station, loaded it up, and it was just... fine. Google Maps told us exactly which exit to leave from. Nobody looked at us strangely. We had a wonderful day in Asakusa.
do not try to do both asakusa and shibuya on a cruise day. they are far apart and the subway between them takes 40 minutes. i tried. by 3pm i was exhausted and hadn't really enjoyed either properly. pick one.