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🏮 Yokohama Chinatown District

Yokohama Chinatown — Japan's Biggest, Food, Walking and Dragon Gates

Step through the red paifang gate and you're among 600-plus Chinese restaurants, the smell of hot steamed nikuman drifting down the whole street, dazzling red-and-gold shrines — and a few minutes' walk away, a waterfront park and a historic shopping street. We'll walk you through the entire district on one page.

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Start Here

Through the Red Gate —the Largest Chinatown in Japan

Picture a narrow street lined on both sides with Chinese restaurants, red-and-gold signs glowing overhead, the smell of steamed buns and roast duck drifting past in waves, and a towering dragon gate guarding every way in and out. This is Yokohama Chinatown (Yokohama Chukagai) — the largest Chinatown in Japan, squeezed into roughly 500 metres square yet home to more than 600 restaurants and shops. You could walk it all day and still not eat everything.

The district began taking shape when Yokohama's port opened to foreign trade in the late 19th century and Chinese merchants settled here, growing into the most vibrant Chinese community in Japan today. The best part is that it's small and easy to explore — walk straight through the district in a few minutes and you reach the waterfront Yamashita Park and the Motomachi shopping street. String these three spots together and you've got a perfectly paced half-day to full-day trip.

🏮 Straight up, before anything else: the heart of this district is eating and walking — not museums or admission tickets. Come hungry and graze your way through (a snack-walk) and you'll have the most fun. Both shrines are free to enter. Most shops are open from late morning to evening, and a few of the famous ones get long queues on weekends.
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Biggest in Japan
More than 600 restaurants and shops packed into roughly 500 m.
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10 Paifang Gates
Colourful dragon gates ring the district on every side — prime photo spots.
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Street Food to Graze
Nikuman, dim sum, all-you-can-eat buffets, starting from a few hundred yen.
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Walk to the Waterfront
Yamashita Park 2–5 min · Motomachi another 5 min on foot.
What to Do, What to See

6 Things You Can't Missin Yokohama Chinatown

The district is small but jam-packed — photograph the dragon gates, grab a hot nikuman, pray at the red-and-gold shrines, then walk straight out to the bay. These are the highlights people come home talking about.

⛩️ 🏮 Every entrance1
The 10 Paifang Gates
Paifang Gates · 牌楼

Ten brightly coloured dragon gates ring the district on every side. The most famous is Zenrinmon (善隣門, meaning friendship and peace), a regular on TV and in magazines, while the eastern gate, Choyomon (the East Gate / rising-sun gate), leads out toward Yamashita Park. Each gate is carved with different designs.

📍Highlight: Zenrinmon (west side, main street) is the best for photos
📸Tip: The lights come on in the evening — the gates against the neon look stunning
🎫Admission: Free to walk through, 24 hours
Yokohama Guide →
🥟 🍜 Along the main street2
Street-Food Snack Walk
Snack-walk · Nikuman & Dim Sum

The star of the district is nikuman (肉まん, hot steamed pork buns) and anman (red-bean filling), with several famous shops clustered around the Zenrinmon gate. You'll also find dim sum, fried sesame balls, roast duck, and unusual ice creams to graze on all the way down the street — come hungry and it's the most fun.

🥟Must-try: nikuman · dim sum · fried sesame balls · roast duck
💴Price: walking snacks start at a few hundred yen each
💡Tip: Famous shops queue on weekends — come on a weekday instead
What to Eat in Yokohama →
🛕 🏮 Heart of the district3
Kanteibyo Shrine
Kanteibyo · 関帝廟

The most lavish temple in the district, built in 1862 and dedicated to Guan Yu, the legendary warrior of the Three Kingdoms. Decked out in full red-and-gold with dragons coiling across the roof, it draws people praying mainly for success in business and trade. Even if you don't pray, the carving and colour are worth a close look.

🙏Pray for: trade, business, success
🎫Admission: Free (donation box provided)
💡Tip: Buy a small incense set at the counter to follow the ritual
Yokohama Guide →
🏛️ 🔵 East side4
Masobyo Shrine
Masobyo · 媽祖廟

The newer shrine, opened in 2006 and dedicated to Mazu, the sea goddess revered by coastal Chinese for safe passage. Unlike Kanteibyo, it's done in blue tones decorated with dragons, and people come to pray for safe travel, love, and family. It sits on the east side of the district, near the exit toward Yamashita Park.

🙏Pray for: safe travel, love, family
🎫Admission: Free (donation box)
📍Address: 136 Yamashitacho · near Motomachi-Chukagai
Yokohama Guide →
Yamashita Park on the Yokohama waterfront at dusk with the Hikawa Maru ship and Marine Tower 🌊 2–5 min walk5
Yamashita Park
Yamashita Park · Waterfront

From the eastern gate of Chinatown it's a 2–5 minute walk to this long waterfront park along the bay. The star attraction is the Hikawa Maru, a 1930s ocean liner now retired and moored as a floating museum, plus the view of Marine Tower. It's the perfect place to sit after you've eaten your fill — and the light at dusk is gorgeous.

🚢Highlight: Hikawa Maru (museum) · bay views
🚶Walk from Chinatown: about 2–5 min (via the east gate)
🎫Admission: Park is free · boarding the Hikawa Maru is a separate fee
Yokohama Guide →
Motomachi shopping street in Yokohama at sunset with shops and flags 🛍️ 5 min further6
Motomachi Shopping Street
Motomachi Shopping Street

Another 5 minutes on from Yamashita Park brings you to Yokohama's historic shopping street — the polar opposite of Chinatown's bustle. It's quiet and stylish, full of fashion boutiques, bakeries, and chic cafés. This is the birthplace of "Hama Trad," the city's classic port-town fashion style, and a lovely, laid-back way to finish the trip.

🛍️Highlight: fashion, bakeries, cafés, a European feel
🚶Walk from Yamashita Park: about 5 min
🚉Nearest station: Motomachi-Chukagai (Motomachi exit)
Yokohama Guide →
Eat & Drink

Come Hungry —What to Eat in Chinatown

Eating here splits two ways: grazing on street food as you walk (a snack-walk), or sitting down to an all-you-can-eat buffet (tabehoudai) in one of the bigger restaurants. Both are fun in their own way — here's what people come here to try.

DishWhat it isRough priceHow to eat it
NikumanNikuman · 肉まんHot steamed pork buns — the star of the districta few hundred yen eachBuy and eat on the move · famous shops near Zenrinmon
AnmanAnman · あんまんSweet red-bean steamed buns, the partner to nikumana few hundred yen eachA sweet walking snack
Dim SumDim Sum · 点心Xiao long bao, har gow, shumai — freshly steamedfrom a few hundred yenSit down, or grab a box to walk with
Roast Duck / Peking DuckRoast DuckCrispy-skinned duck served with thin wrappersvaries by shopA sit-down menu item · often in the buffet
Fried Sesame BallsGoma Dango · 胡麻団子Sesame-coated fried dough with red-bean filling, crisp outside, soft insidea few hundred yen eachA walking dessert
All-You-Can-Eat BuffetTabehoudai · 食べ放題Dozens of Chinese dishes — duck, dim sum, dessertsaround 1,500–4,500 yen/personSit-down at a bigger restaurant · usually time-limited to ~90–120 min
🥢 How to eat well for less: if you're in a group and want to try a lot, the tabehoudai buffet is better value, but if it's just one or two of you, grazing the street stalls is more fun and lets you sample more shops. Prices change, so double-check at the shopfront. Want to go deeper on the city's best restaurants? Read on at the Yokohama food guide.
Stay Nearby

Where to StayIf You Want to Walk Chinatown in the Morning

Chinatown itself doesn't have many hotels right inside the district, but the nearby Minato Mirai side (just a few stops on the Minatomirai Line) has far more to choose from. Stay there and you can wake up and walk over before the crowds arrive.

🏨 How to choose a location: want to step straight into Chinatown in the morning? Look for hotels around Motomachi-Chukagai / Yamashita Park. Want city views, skyscrapers, and big shopping? Pick the Minato Mirai side and ride the train over in about 5–10 minutes. Both areas are linked by the single Minatomirai Line.
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Minato Mirai Hotels

Our pick of hotels on Yokohama's Minato Mirai side — bay views, landmark towers, shopping, and a short train ride to Chinatown.

See Recommended Hotels →
🗺️

Full Yokohama City Guide

Where to stay, what to see, where to eat, and how to get around Yokohama — pick the location that fits your plans.

Open the City Guide →
🔍

Search Hotels Yourself

Compare available rooms in Yokohama for your dates, and filter by location, budget, and reviews.

Search on Agoda →
Getting There — Stations

How to Get toYokohama Chinatown

Two main stations leave you within a short walk of the district gates — pick the one that suits where you're coming from. Both are just a few minutes on foot from the station (double-check the latest fares, as they can change).

MAIN STATION #1
Motomachi-Chukagai

The Minatomirai Line — get off and take the Chukagai Exit for a 1–3 minute walk to the gates. The closest and most convenient. About 8 minutes from Yokohama Station, and it's the line's terminus, so you can't miss your stop.

MAIN STATION #2
Ishikawacho (JR)

The JR Negishi Line — about a 7–8 minute walk from the station to the Chinatown gates. Handy if you hold a JR Pass or are already on a JR line. Around 17 minutes from Yokohama Station.

FROM TOKYO
~45 min – 1 hr

From Shibuya, take the Tokyu Toyoko express straight to Motomachi-Chukagai in about 45 minutes (~500 yen) with no transfer. Or from Tokyo Station, take the JR to Ishikawacho in about 1 hour (~570 yen).

Map

Yokohama Chinatownand the Walk Around It

You can see at a glance why this area is so easy to explore — the Zenrinmon gate, Kanteibyo shrine, Yamashita Park, and Motomachi street are all close together, an easy half-day on foot.

Before You Go

6 Things That Make Walking ChinatownMore Fun

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Come Hungry
There's so much good food here — don't fill up beforehand. Save room to sample several shops as you walk; it beats one big plate.
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Beat the Queues on a Weekday
Weekends and holidays get packed and the famous shops queue up. If you can, a weekday morning or late morning is far more relaxed.
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Carry Some Cash
Many of the small street-food stalls and vendors still take cash first. Keep coins and small notes handy to pay quickly.
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The Neon Is Lovely at Night
In the evening the Chinese neon signs light up the whole street — a completely different mood from daytime, great for photos of the gates and shrines.
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Chinese New Year Is the Liveliest
Jan–Feb brings lion and dragon dances and decorations across the district — hugely fun, but the busiest of all, so allow extra time and patience.
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Leave Time for the Waterfront
From the east gate it's 2–5 minutes to Yamashita Park, then another 5 to Motomachi — string them together into an easy half-day walk.
Related Guides

More of Yokohama — Districts, Food, and Hotels

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Minato Mirai District

Yokohama's bayfront — landmark towers, the Ferris wheel, and the Red Brick Warehouse — a few minutes by train from Chinatown.

Minato Mirai Guide →
🥢

What to Eat in Yokohama

Nikuman, Yokohama ramen, Chinese sweets, and the best spots across the city — going deeper than Chinatown.

Yokohama Food Guide →
📸

Yokohama Attractions

The city's top sights, from the waterfront to its lovely parks and museums — plan a full day in one go.

Yokohama Attractions →
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Yokohama Itinerary

A ready-made route through Yokohama with no planning needed — Chinatown, Minato Mirai, and the bay in one trip.

See the Itinerary →
🗺️

Full Yokohama City Guide

Where to stay, what to see, where to eat, and how to get around the port city of Yokohama — start planning here.

Open the City Guide →
ℹ️

Japan Travel Prep

Visa · eSIM · IC Card · JR Pass · yen · power plugs · Japanese etiquette — everything before you fly.

Travel Prep →
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions AboutYokohama Chinatown

How do I get to Yokohama Chinatown?
Get off at Motomachi-Chukagai Station (Minatomirai Line) and take the Chukagai Exit — it's a 1–3 minute walk to the district gates. From Yokohama Station it's about 8 minutes. Alternatively, get off at Ishikawacho Station (JR Negishi Line) and walk another 7–8 minutes. From Tokyo, take the JR to Ishikawacho in about 1 hour for roughly 570 yen, or the Tokyu Toyoko express from Shibuya straight to Motomachi-Chukagai in about 45 minutes for roughly 500 yen (check the latest fares).
How big is Yokohama Chinatown?
It's the largest Chinatown in Japan (and one of the largest in East Asia). In an area of roughly 500 metres square it packs more than 600 restaurants and shops, ringed on every side by 10 colourful paifang (牌楼) gates. The most famous is the Zenrinmon gate (善隣門), whose name means friendship and peace.
What shrines are there in Yokohama Chinatown?
There are two main shrines. Kanteibyo (関帝廟), built in 1862, honours the warrior god Guan Yu, with a red-and-gold colour scheme and dragons on the roof; people pray here for success in business and trade. Masobyo (媽祖廟), opened in 2006, honours Mazu, goddess of the sea, in blue tones decorated with dragons; people pray here for safe travel and love. Both are free to enter (donation boxes are provided).
What should I eat in Yokohama Chinatown?
The must-try walking food is nikuman (肉まん, hot steamed pork buns) and anman (red-bean filling), with famous shops clustered around the Zenrinmon gate. You'll also find dim sum, Peking duck, fried sesame balls, and Chinese sweets. If you want to eat your fill, all-you-can-eat tabehoudai restaurants cost around 1,500–4,500 yen per person (check the latest prices at the shop).
Where can I walk to after Yokohama Chinatown?
From the eastern gate (Choyomon) it's a 2–5 minute walk to Yamashita Park, a waterfront park where the ocean liner Hikawa Maru is moored as a museum, and another 5 minutes or so to the Motomachi shopping street, Yokohama's historic fashion quarter. Together these three spots make an easy half-day to full-day walk.
When is the best time to visit Yokohama Chinatown?
Late morning to afternoon is when all the shops are open and the streets are at their liveliest — ideal for lunch. In the evening the Chinese neon signs light up beautifully for photos. Weekends and Chinese New Year (January–February) get very crowded, with lion and dragon dances. If you'd rather avoid the crush, come on a weekday morning. The district is enjoyable year-round because the main draws are along the streets and inside the restaurants.
Ready to Eat Your Way Through Chinatown?

Open the Yokohama Guide
and Book a Well-Placed Hotel

Plan your Yokohama trip to take in Chinatown, Minato Mirai, and the waterfront — open the city guide for hotels, sights, and transport, or start looking early for a hotel near the district.

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