CUPNOODLES MUSEUM YOKOHAMA | Review by Queenie

While in Yokohama, I discovered this very unique attraction! The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is the world's first ramen-themed food amusement park, bringing famous ramen shops from all over Japan together in one place. For people who love ramen, it's really appealing.

I originally thought it was just a regular ramen food court, but I didn't expect it to have streetscapes with such a strong retro Showa-era feel. Walking inside is like traveling back in time, with a nostalgic atmosphere everywhere that makes it hard not to pull out your camera and take pictures.

It wasn't very crowded on a weekday, so there was no need to squeeze through crowds, and admission wasn't too expensive. Besides exploring the retro streets, you can also choose from well-known ramen shops from different regions and sample the different regional flavors all in one visit.

It may not be an attraction worth making a special trip just for the ramen, but if Yokohama is already on your itinerary, it's still well worth stopping by. It was an unexpected little highlight of this trip!

On this trip to Yokohama, of course I had to visit Yokohama Chinatown, which is very famous in Japan! Before I even officially entered the district, I was drawn to the colorful, ornate Chinese-style gates. The red and yellow structures really stand out, and the streets are filled with a strong Chinese atmosphere. Walking through it really feels like you've suddenly arrived in a Chinese neighborhood, which is pretty unique!

Yokohama Chinatown is one of Japan's three major Chinatowns. It has a history of more than 160 years and over 600 shops throughout the district. Once I actually started exploring, I realized it was even livelier than I'd imagined. Both sides of the streets are packed with restaurants, snack shops, and souvenir stores, and the dazzling array of signs is almost overwhelming. Every few steps, I couldn't help stopping to look around.

Besides all kinds of Chinese food, there are also quite a few fortune-telling shops, giving the whole district its own distinctive character. What I found interesting was unexpectedly seeing Taiwan Beer and Apple Sidra while walking around! Suddenly coming across familiar Taiwanese products on the streets of Japan gave me an indescribable sense of familiarity, and I couldn't help taking a few extra looks.

The streets here are cleaner and tidier than I expected. Even though there are lots of shops and plenty of people, it's a great place to stroll around and take your time looking. Every corner has different Chinese-style architecture and distinctive storefronts, so you can easily spend quite a while just taking photos and enjoying the street scenery.

Originally, I thought that since I was visiting Chinatown, I had to try all the specialty snacks. But it was just too hot that day, and after walking for only a short while under the sun, I completely lost my appetite. In the end, all I wanted was to find somewhere to have something cold and cool down, so I made a last-minute decision to get a bowl of matcha shaved ice.

Although I didn't get to complete my original food plan this time, which was a little disappointing, that's just how travel is. Sometimes a small last-minute change can also become an interesting memory from the trip.

My impression of Yokohama Chinatown is that it's lively, fun to explore, and full of character. You don't need to plan any particular itinerary; it's enjoyable just to wander around and look. If I get another chance to visit, I'll definitely choose a cooler day and make up for all the snacks I missed this time!

On this trip to Yokohama, I made a point of visiting the Red Brick Warehouse. Before I even got close, I was captivated by the vast red brick buildings! With the blue sky that day, the whole scene was so beautiful that I couldn't stop taking pictures with my phone.

The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse was originally a historic building used by the port. After being renovated, it has become a cultural and commercial complex combining shopping, food, creative shops, and exhibitions.

I really like the architectural details here—the red brick walls, dark roofs, and vintage windows. The buildings look full of character from every angle. Especially when you stand in front of the warehouse and shoot upward, you can fit the entire building in the frame, and it looks even better against the blue sky.

The outdoor plaza is quite spacious. There was no need to rush anywhere, so I slowly walked along the Red Brick Warehouse, going from the front to the side and enjoying the architecture from different angles along the way. I stopped whenever I saw a view I liked and took a few photos. It was exactly the kind of travel pace I enjoy.

Besides photographing the buildings, it's also a great place to include people in your shots. With the red brick walls as a backdrop, even casual photos have an exotic feel. Inside, there are also plenty of unique shops, souvenirs, and restaurants, so you can browse and shop without getting bored at all.

I didn't plan any particular activities this time. I simply walked around, looked at the sights, and took photos, and it felt very relaxing. I really like places like this that preserve their historic appearance while incorporating modern businesses. It isn't too noisy, yet it's full of charm. If you come to Yokohama, I really recommend adding this place to your itinerary. Especially when the weather is nice, the red brick buildings against the blue sky look beautiful no matter how you photograph them!