The second-largest city in the country is found south of Tokyo and has a skyline dotted with modern skyscrapers, as well as the giant Ferris wheel that’s part of the Yokohama Cosmo World amusement park. Points of interest in the city include Minato Mirai 21, a waterfront area with the Red Brick Warehouse mall, the interactive Cup Noodles Museum and the Yokohama Landmark Plaza with its vast array of restaurants and shops; the Sankeien Garden is a traditional outdoor space with historic tea houses and seasonal cherry blossoms; and Yokohama Chinatown, one of the largest Chinatowns in the world,
InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8, an IHG Hotel
In 2019 the InterContinental opened its second property in the port city of Yokohama, with 173 guestrooms and suites ranging from 45 to 133 square metres and providing great port views. The hotel echoes its location with a gentle nautical theme. Ascend to the Pier 8 rooftop and you may feel like you’re on one of the cruise ships you can see sail past. Dine in the Larboard Restaurant and Bar on yōshoku (local versions of European dishes). It serves a half-buffet style breakfast, an à la carte lunch and a table d’hôte dinner menu. Or pop into the Katabami sushi bar for food. There’s also a spa, courtyard and fitness centre.
The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama
The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama is in the Minato Mirai 21 neighbourhood and launched in 2020. A gleaming mirrored glass exterior is complemented by modern interior design, incorporating both geometric patterns and alternative, curved aesthetics. Omotenashi (the commitment to wholeheartedly look after guests) runs deep here, so you can expect attentive five-star service. There are 137 bedrooms, restaurants serving Italian and Japanese meals, special excursions for guests, a spa and fitness centre and a pool looking over Rinko Park and the tree-lined boulevard towards the port.
The Westin Yokohama
Coming from an international brand that places an emphasis on wellness, this hotel is just a year old and the sixth Westin in Japan. Naturally, the spa, with its indoor pool area is a draw. There are five places to eat onsite; Brasserie du Quai serving French cuisine, Kissui-sen for contemporary Japanese food, the Iron Bay grill on the 23rd floor, Code Bar and Sugar Merchant overlooking Mount Fuji (do try the themed afternoon teas and arrive early for the best window seats). 373 bedrooms are bright with floor-to-ceiling windows, ultra-modern bathrooms and tea/coffee-making sets.