While Tokyo no doubt has it own share of kid-friendly attractions starting with Tokyo Disneyland, the port city of Yokohama is worth the visit. Yokohama is totally child-friendly as seen with its open spaces and kid-friendly attractions and leisure venues for both locals and visitors.
Whether you are visiting as a day trip or spending at least 48 hours in Yokohama, you will love how child-friendly this city is. The best thing is that most family things to do in Yokohama are clustered together at Minato Mirai 21 area, you wont be spending a lot of time getting from one attraction to the other.
Escape the crowd of Tokyo and enjoy these things to do with kids in Yokohama.
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Pokemon Center Yokohama
At the 4th floor of Landmark Tower, Yokohama’s tallest building is Pokemon Center. Do I need to introduce this place?
For Pokemon lovers of all ages, this is a must-visit. Prepare to buy different merchandise from Pokemon cards to Pikachu cookies. During summer, watch out for the famous Pokemon Parade.
This is Landmark Tower, Yokohama’s tallest building. You can spend half a day at Landmark alone if you want to.
2. Sky Garden
Still at Landmark Tower is Sky Garden. I was surprised when I asked my kids to rank the attractions in Yokohama and both of them placed Sky Garden on top of the list. Sky Garden is located at the top floor (69th) of Landmark Tower and serves as the city’s highest observation deck.
Look at this view!
The view above is just one of the areas depending on where you are facing. On clear days, you can even see Mt. Fuji. We saw Mt. Fuji but a stubborn cloud was blocking it. At the lobby floors below, they will place an announcement on visibility.
So how do you reach the 69th floor? It must take a one-of-a-kind elevator right? A trip to Sky Garden Landmark Tower means taking the fastest elevator in Japan at 750m/min taking you from the building’s 2nd floor (where the lobby is located) to the 69th floor in just 40 seconds. Yes, your ears will surely pop!
3. Ice-skating at Roof Garden
This is quite a discovery for us. We went to World Porters, one of the malls in Minato Mirai and we saw the poster for Ice Skating. Yokohama has an ice rink at Aka Renga Park (see #7) during winter but we are glad we discovered it.
The ice rink at Roof Garden is small and perfect for kids, the staff was focused on our children. Though we were shivering from the cold, we got a great view of the cityscape.
4. Nissin Cup Noodles Museum
One of the things visitors go to when in Yokohama is the Nissin Cup Noodles. My child was hyper and blurted, “Who would make a noodles museum?!“. It was a crazy idea at first, though he told me later, “ I’m taking it back Ma. I like it“.
You see, it is more than just a noodle museum. The museum takes you to the journey of the inventor of instant ramen, Momofuko Ando who introduced chicken ramen in 1958 and the cup noodles in 1971. By learning about this life, you will know the value of not giving up.
A multi-floor museum, there are different attractions like the Instant Noodle History Cube, Chicken Ramen Factory, and Momofuku’s Work Shed.
5. Sankeien Garden
This is the only family things to do in Yokohama in my list that is not located in Minato Mirai. Don’t worry, it is worth the trip outside downtown Yokohama. Opened in 1906, it was developed by a silk trader named Tomitaro Hara. The garden’s name came from Hara’s other name, Sankei Hara.
The best time to come is during spring or autumn with all the leaves and cherry blossoms. But even during winter, Sankein Garden is breathtaking. We often visited this garden when my sister used to live nearby and it was great to bring the kids. My husband enjoyed it the most.
Again, my kids mentioned this place as one of the best things to do in Yokohama for kids. I think they loved the freedom. haha! My sister watched over them with their cousins while my husband and I roamed around. I like that there are English information plaques in every attraction, it made me appreciate Sankeien Garden more.
Enjoy the landscape and traditional houses especially the Gassho that they transported all the way from Shirakawa-go. The three-tiered pagoda is the garden’s icon. Enjoy the scenery, even the great Rabindranath Tagore composed a poem during this visit at the garden.
6. Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum
Going back to Minato Mirai area, just behind Landmark Tower is one of the most interactive museums I’ve been too. Highly informative that I felt my neurons snapping away. Built by Mitsubishi, it brings fun to science.
The museum has two floors with the first floor centred on aerospace and transportation. There is a small gallery of automobile models by Mitsubishi, a play area, and an Astronaut suit kids can pretend to be wearing. See models of jet, rockets, and submarines.
At the second floor is about nuclear, environment, and energy. I learned more about the Fukushima and the Great Earthquake of Japan. Plenty of sensory plays like art and experiments. Indulge your school children here!
7. Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery
Nissan Global Headquarters looks like a luxury showroom, but it has become one of the free things to do in Yokohama. It is located just outside Yokohama Station and great for school children. Parents will love seeing different cars in the gallery.
There is a small play area and a mini arcade area (racing of course!) and a Starbucks. Check out vintage cars, sports cars, and mini electric cars.
8. Aka Renga Park
Aka Renga Park or Red Brick Warehouse is a heritage site itself. This is one of the first places I’ve been too in Yokohama. Its wide open space serves as a venue depending on the season like flower pyramid (during my first time in 2005) and ice skating rink during winter.
Built way before World War I, the Brick Warehouses are now repurposed to house different cafe, restaurants, and shops. Parents can stretch their legs outside while kids can freely run around at the open space.
9. Yamashita Park
We always equate (especially among us Filipinos) Yamashita with treasures and I won’t be surprised if you’ll giggle with the fact that their is a park named Yamashita Park in Yokohama. This seaside park is the biggest in Yokohama and the venue for summer festivals.
Kids love open space and this is the place for the kids to run around. At the end of the park is the Nippon Maru that you can visit. Those with little ones will love it here.
Kids enjoy watching seagulls and other birds by the water’s edge.
10. Yokohama Cosmo World
If you are looking for a mini amusement park in Yokohama, Yokohama Cosmo World is for you. It is in front of World Porters and a few steps from the Nissin Cup Noodles Museum. Rides and plenty of games and quite popular with bigger kids and teenagers.
Runner up..
Here’s another place to check out Orbi!
A partnership by BBC and SEGA, Orbi poses as the future of zoos. It is no doubt, advanced with all the effects. The kids enjoy the photo booths and other interactive features of the place.
Want more?
Yokohama has plenty of museums and I felt bad that I didn’t bring the kids to any historical museums. Near Yamashita Park is Doll Museum and the Silk Museum.
How to get to Yokohama
Yokohama is highly accessible from Tokyo. You can even stay in Yokohama and go to Tokyo for day trip. Yokohama for me is not as fast-paced as Tokyo and the ambiance is very family-friendly.
From Tokyo, there are many trains going to Yokohama. To get to most of the attractions I mentioned above, alight at Sakuragicho (Negishi Line) or Minatomirai Station (Minatomirai Line).
Your base will be Landmark Tower and walk to the attractions I listed here. It’s that convenient.
Do you have other suggestions for family things to do in Yokohama as well as child-friendly attractions? Feel free to leave a comment!
