17. Return to Yokohama

After disembarking from the elegant Diamond Princess in Yokohama, we made our way back to the comfortable Citadines Harbour Front Yokohama to drop off our bags. With the day still ahead of us, we wasted no time and jumped aboard the city’s circular sightseeing bus to explore more of this vibrant port city.

Our first stop was Harbour View Park, a beautifully maintained garden perched high above the harbour. The neatly manicured lawns, seasonal flowers, and quiet pathways make it a peaceful escape from the city below. From the lookout points we enjoyed sweeping views across Yokohama Harbour, with the elegant span of the Yokohama Bay Bridge stretching across the water in the distance.

Back on the bus, we continued to the striking Yokohama Marine Tower. Standing 106 metres tall, this slender landmark offers observation decks on its top two floors, and the 360-degree views are nothing short of spectacular. From the top we could see the entire waterfront spread out below us — ships, parks, and the modern skyline all blending together. The tower first opened in 1961 and even served as a lighthouse until its retirement in 2008.

Our next stop was the historic Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. The old port warehouses have been beautifully restored and now house shops, restaurants, and event spaces. A food market was in full swing next door, but the queues were absolutely insane, so we decided to keep moving rather than spend half the afternoon waiting in line.

Instead, we wandered over to the Yokohama Air Cabin. The ropeway ride isn’t particularly long, but it’s definitely memorable. Gliding quietly above the waterfront gives you a fantastic perspective of the harbour and the surrounding city.

Continuing the maritime theme of the day, we stopped by Nippon Maru Memorial Park to see the magnificent training vessel Nippon Maru. Built in 1930 to train cadets, the tall ship is an imposing sight with her elegant masts and rigging. Nearby is the historic Yokohama Dockyard Garden, a former ship repair dry dock that has been cleverly incorporated into a modern shopping complex while preserving the original stone walls and structure.

For Rob, who spent years working in dry docks around the world, standing down in the dock bottom felt strangely familiar — like stepping back into an old workplace, only this time surrounded by cafés and shops instead of welders and cranes.

By this point we were ready for a bit of refuelling, so we headed into the towering Yokohama Landmark Tower. At 296 metres high, it’s the third tallest building and fifth tallest structure in Japan, and it dominates the city skyline.

Inside we found the lively World Beer Museum Yokohama. Calling it just a bar doesn’t really do it justice — it’s more like a world beer theme park. The venue is divided into several internationally themed bars, each celebrating beers from different regions, with an enormous display of bottles and taps to choose from.

A couple of well-earned beers and a snack later, we were happily recharged and ready to call it a day, heading back to the Citadines Harbour Front Yokohama after a surprisingly full afternoon exploring the sights of Yokohama.