Six things to do in Yokohama during the Rugby World Cup 2019

From an endless array of eateries to dynamic festivals featuring traditional dragon and lion dances, it’s no mystery as to why Yokohama Chinatown is the hot spot that it is. Throughout the six weeks from end September to early November, the festivities will include events exclusive to the rugby season. ‘Yokohama Chinatown Red X New Zealand Black’ is a special event in collaboration with the Embassy of New Zealand in support of the New Zealand All Blacks and will last from September 18 to October 15. 

To celebrate the first kick off on September 20, there will be a lion dance two hours before Japan goes head to head with Russia in the first match of the World Cup. This is just the start of a series of events as Yokohama Chinatown will also be holding a Night Market for the duration of the Games. Over selected days in September through November, various shops and restaurants in town will also extend their opening hours until 11pm, so you won’t miss out even if the match of the day ends late.

For more information about these Yokohama Chinatown events, check the official website here.

There’s much more to Yokohama after dark than just cocktail bars and pubs. Autumn brings a series of dazzling illumination installations across Japan but none more innovative than ‘Night Sync Yokohama’ (October 23 to December 27), a light exhibition directed by Seiichi Saito of Rhizomatiks, an expert of media art and expression through technology. 

This sparkling display can be seen at Shinko Chuo Hiroba, which is just by the city’s iconic ferris wheel, Cosmo Clock 21. The lights go on from 6pm to 9.10pm, and displays are interactive, with digital content revolving around sports and games as well as visual art. In addition to the installations, the square and the surrounding buildings will also feature special ten-minute light shows every hour from 6pm to 9pm. 

For dinner, you can make your way to Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse just across the park, which houses plenty of restaurants and cafés with outdoor terraces. Come here for the jazz bar Motion Blue Yokohama, where you can listen to skilled musicians over a glass of wine. If you don’t mind a 15-minute train ride to the city centre from the Shinko Pier area, it’s also worth checking out the atmospheric streets of Noge Yokocho – it’s the perfect place to bar-hop from one little eatery to the next and snack on different izakaya-style specialities. 

Just because you don’t have tickets to certain matches doesn’t mean your experience as a spectator has to be any tamer. Join thousands of spirited rugby fanatics at the Yokohama Fanzone in Rinko Park over the weekends from September 20 to November 2, where 32 matches, including the final tournaments, will be live-streamed on a 380-inch screen. In addition, the Fanzone will also be open on the first and last Friday of the Games. Various tents selling food and drinks will be set up so you can watch the games properly – with a beer in hand. 

The screening isn’t the only attraction here, either. There will be a number of performances including Japanese dance and a ninja demonstration on the main stage to warm the crowd up before a match, plus an activities area where anyone can participate. Be prepared for some ball passing and tackling in the ‘Athlete Challenges’, where kids are also welcome to try and challenge the records of the world’s top athletes. The best part? Admission is free.

For more information, check out the official Yokohama Rugby World Cup website.

Japan is revered for its seamless transportation systems that get people where they want to be efficiently, and getting around will be made even easier with the addition of shuttle buses during the World Cup to give you access to the top attractions across the city. 

A one-way shuttle bus will depart from the Rinko Park Fanzone and make a stop at Yokohama Chinatown before reaching the nightlife hub of Noge in about 40 minutes, whereas another bus will make a roughly 80-minute loop starting and ending at the Fanzone and making stops at Chinatown and Sankeien Garden along the way. Keep an eye on the Yokohama Official Visitor’s Guide for more bus routes. 

While you’re in Yokohama, take advantage of the city’s more traditional elements and pay a visit to some of its cultural landmarks such as the Yokohama Noh Theatre. Noh is an ancient form of Japanese theatre that incorporates music, dance and drama, and is performed with traditional masks and costumes. This theatre's Noh stage has a history of over 140 years. There are English summaries available for all the productions so you’ll be clued in as you watch the show. Special backstage tours will be given during the rugby season, where those new to Noh can learn more about this intangible cultural heritage. 

Prefer the fresh air? Take a scenic stroll through Sankeien Garden, where you can admire historical structures including the old residence of a feudal lord and several tea houses, in addition to a stunning three-storey pagoda that was originally built in Kyoto and dates back to the mid-1400s. The garden is big enough to spend half a day here and there will be a number of cultural exhibitions and demonstrations held in October and November. 

Don’t leave Yokohama without stopping by a few craft beer bars – the city is famous for its breweries and is also the proud host of Japan’s biggest Oktoberfest. Many of the craft beer pubs will be hosting screenings for Rugby World Cup matches, so you can sample different brews while keeping score.

Pubs like Yokohama Bay Brewing will make you feel right at home with its cosy atmosphere, whereas people travelling in larger groups would do well to visit the spacious Spring Valley Brewery. Fancy pairing food with your beer? The American-style BBQ at Baird’s Bashamichi Taproom is second to none while Charcoal Grill Green in Bashamichi offers everything from steak to cheesecake.

For something more local, check out 29BY / 254BeeR for its signature yakitori (chicken skewers) and other Japanese pub fare. Sakura Taps, on the other hand, is a coffee shop and brew bar, thus offering you more drink options.