Motomachi / Yamate Area in Yokohama | Review by Queenie

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Motomachi / Yamate Area in Yokohama

A shopping district where Yokohama culture was born, and the exotic former foreign settlement area

10 Nov 2026 See More

When you visit the Motomachi and Yamate area, you can really feel how different Yokohama is from other cities in Japan. There are shopping streets full of Japanese character, as well as international-looking streets with a European and American atmosphere. The mix of traditional Japanese streetscapes and Western architecture makes you feel as though you’re in another country.

Compared with the crowds in popular tourist areas, it feels much more relaxed here. There aren’t too many visitors, and there’s a wide variety of shops along the way. Whether you’re shopping, admiring the streets, or slowly exploring unique little stores, it’s all very comfortable.

I really like this kind of travel pace, where there’s no need to rush or squeeze through crowds. Even just taking a quiet walk lets you experience Yokohama’s unique charm.

Other Reviews by Queenie

Yamashita Park

Yamashita Park is located by the sea, just a short walk from Yokohama Chinatown. It was opened in March of 1930, reclaiming the waterfront using rubble caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake.
- Yokohama
- Parks & Gardens
10 Nov 2026 See More

來到橫濱，山下公園是我很喜歡的一個地方！當天的天氣很好，藍天白雲搭配遼闊的港灣景色，一走進公園就讓人覺得心情特別放鬆。沿著公園慢慢散步，迎面吹來徐徐的海風，沒有都市裡的喧鬧感，反而多了一份悠閒與自在。

這裡最讓我印象深刻的就是公園的花卉與植栽，沿途可以看到各式各樣的花朵，色彩繽紛，花圃整理得非常漂亮，整體環境維護得相當好，步道也很乾淨，看得出來平時管理得非常用心。

一邊欣賞花景，一邊看著橫濱港的海景，偶爾還能聽見鳥兒的叫聲，整個氛圍真的很舒服。公園裡也有不少人在散步、運動、拍照，還有人坐在長椅上悠閒地享受午後時光。

我特別喜歡這種不需要趕行程的景點，可以放慢腳步，隨意走走、看看風景，吹吹海風，單純享受當下。原本只是安排來走走看看，沒想到這裡的環境比想像中還要舒服，讓人很有度假的感覺。

如果有機會再來橫濱，我想還是會想來這裡散散步，享受這份難得的悠閒時光。
Yokohama Marine Tower

Built in 1961 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Yokohama's port opening, the Yokohama Marine Tower stands as a beloved symbol of the city. Standing at 106 meters and inspired by a lighthouse, you can spot this landmark from a number of points across the Bay Area. With significant renovations completed in 2022, the spot now glimmers as a fully enhanced, prime destination.
- Yokohama
- Observatories
10 Nov 2026 See More

When visiting Yokohama, of course you have to stop by one of its most iconic landmarks, Yokohama Marine Tower! After the renovations, there’s much more to see and do. Besides going up to the observation deck for the views, there are also quite a few places to browse around.

This time, I bought an observation deck ticket in advance through KKday. After arriving, I first looked around the shop on the first floor. The decor was quite elegant, and the atmosphere was very comfortable. Then I took the elevator from the second floor directly to the observation deck at the top of the tower. It was very fast, so I didn’t have to wait long.

Once I reached the observation deck, what I was looking forward to most was seeing Yokohama from above! The harbor and city streets stretched out before me, and the view was very open. It’s really beautiful when the weather is good. Taking my time to enjoy the scenery from up high made me feel relaxed too.

Compared with walking around at ground level, seeing Yokohama from a different height offers another kind of travel experience. You don’t need to set aside much time for this place, but you can still leave with some very nice memories of the scenery.

If you’re visiting Yokohama, I recommend adding Marine Tower to your itinerary. It’s especially worth coming up if you enjoy observation decks and harbor views!
CUPNOODLES MUSEUM YOKOHAMA

Through the museum’s many exhibits you can learn about the creative thinking of Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Food products, and inventor of Chicken Ramen, the world’s first instant noodles.
- Yokohama
- Museums
6 Nov 2026 See More

While in Yokohama, I made a special trip here to experience making my own cup noodles! I usually buy ready-made instant noodles, so getting to design the cup and choose the soup flavor and toppings myself felt pretty fresh and fun!

The weather was cool that day. After buying a ticket on-site, I was able to reserve a time for the DIY experience right away. Once I had the admission ticket and numbered ticket, I could explore other places and come back when it was time, so there was no need to wait in line the whole time.

The DIY cup noodle experience was simple and fun from start to finish:
- First, purchase a special cup noodle cup.
- Draw on the cup yourself and create a one-of-a-kind design.
- Choose 1 soup flavor and 4 toppings you like.
- Add the noodles and finish the packaging, and your custom cup noodles are done!

You get to decide everything yourself, from decorating the cup to choosing the toppings. Seeing the finished product all packaged up at the end gave me quite a sense of accomplishment!

The museum isn't very large, so it doesn't take long to see everything. The 4th floor also has a dining area, play area, and observation deck that you can check out while you're there.

Admission was JPY 500, plus JPY 500 for the DIY cup noodles, for a total of JPY 1,000. This time, I didn't just visit the museum—I also made my own custom cup noodles to take home as a souvenir. It was a very fun stop on my trip to Yokohama!