Audio Guide: Yokohama Downtown Walking Tour (Self Guided), Yokohama

French writer Jules Verne featured Yokohama in his famous novel Around the World in Eighty Days. Even then, in 1873, Yokohama was seen as a symbol of modern, international Japan.

The city is Japan’s second-largest and one of its most important ports. The name Yokohama is derived from the words yoko, meaning “horizontal” or “sideways,” and hama, meaning “beach.” The name refers to a sandbar that once projected into the sea near the original fishing village. Viewed from offshore, this sandbar appeared to run horizontally along the coastline.

For much of its early history, Yokohama was a small fishing settlement on the shores of what is now Tokyo Bay. Its fortunes changed dramatically in the mid-19th century. In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States arrived with a fleet of warships and pressured Japan to end more than two centuries of relative isolation. Following a series of treaties with Western powers, the Japanese government opened the Port of Yokohama to foreign trade on June 2, 1859.

The opening of the port transformed Yokohama almost overnight. Merchants, diplomats, missionaries, and traders from Europe, America, and elsewhere in Asia settled in the city. Foreign residential districts appeared in areas such as Kannai and Yamate, while warehouses, banks, churches, and consulates sprang up along the waterfront. Yokohama soon became Japan’s principal gateway to the outside world and played a central role in introducing Western technology, architecture, and customs to the country. Many “firsts” in modern Japan appeared here, including the country’s first railway, daily newspaper, gas street lamps, and thriving Chinatown.

The city grew rapidly during the Meiji era as silk exports and international trade fuelled economic expansion. However, Yokohama also suffered devastating setbacks. The Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923 destroyed much of the city and killed tens of thousands of residents. During World War II, extensive bombing again caused severe damage. Despite these disasters, Yokohama rebuilt itself and emerged as one of Japan’s leading commercial and industrial centres.

Walking through central Yokohama, visitors encounter a blend of historic port districts and modern waterfront architecture. The route may include the bustling streets of Chinatown beyond the ornate Choyomon Gate, the tree-lined paths of Yamashita Park overlooking the harbour, and the restored Red Brick Warehouse along the waterfront. Nearby, the futuristic skyline of Minato Mirai 21 rises above the city, crowned by Landmark Tower. Along the way are international restaurants, busy shopping streets, maritime landmarks, and sweeping views of Tokyo Bay.

As you begin your walk, pause for a moment and look toward the harbour. Like Verne’s adventurers, follow the waterfront, keep your eyes open, and let Yokohama reveal how Japan’s journey into the modern world began.