30 things to do in Yokohama for art lovers

The Japan International Cooperation Agency Yokohama Centre displays an interesting selection of installations by noted contemporary artists and houses a cosmopolitan restaurant with a diverse menu, including plentiful halal and vegetarian options. Its terrace offers views of the Red Brick Warehouse and the Yokohama Bay Bridge. JICA Yokohama

Opened in 1927, Hotel New Grand boasts some seriously eclectic architecture and has seen many a famous figure pass through its doors. Its restaurants offer a variety of original dishes and drinks: at the ground-floor coffee shop you can enjoy Japanese-style Western food like doria rice gratin and ‘napolitan’ spaghetti, both of which supposedly originated here. Hotel New Grand

Set on the site of the city’s old port, Zou-no-hana (‘elephant’s trunk’) is an open space that represents a link between the history and future of Yokohama. Home to a 6m-long elephant sculpture by artist Noboru Tsubaki, created for the 2001 Yokohama Triennale, it hosts a wide variety of events from dance and music to film screenings, and includes a nice café serving soft-serve ice cream shaped like an elephant’s head. Zou-no-hana Terrace

Yokohama’s iconic lighthouse was built in 1961 and refurbished in 2022, when facilities including a restaurant, a bar and a media arts gallery were added. Historic equipment from the original beacon is displayed in the atrium, while the observation deck offers spectacular views of the port and transforms into a kind of festival of lights at night. If the weather is clear, you might see Mt Fuji, too. Yokohama Marine Tower

Browse through accessories like felt necklaces from Nepal, Indonesian beads and antique jewellery from China, plus an expertly curated selection of clothing from across the Asian continent, at this stimulating and fashion-forward Chinatown import store. Tasty pho and Hainanese chicken rice can be savoured at the upstairs café. Tef Tef

Home to more than 10,000 dolls from over 100 countries, this museum appeals to children and serious collectors alike. The exhibition room featuring folk dolls from across Japan and around the world is a standout, while anime fans can expect to spot some familiar figurines here, too. Yokohama Doll Museum

A beautiful, traditional Japanese garden with more than a century of history, Sankeien houses several priceless structures relocated from places including Kyoto and Kamakura. Seasonal events such as cherry blossom viewing and autumn leaves make great reasons to visit. Sankei Memorial Hall in the garden displays art by early 20th-century masters such as Taikan Yokoyama. Sankeien Garden

Noh and Kyogen are both forms of classical drama and considered two of the world's oldest performing arts. Opened in April 2024, OTABISHO Yokohama Nohgakudo champions for these traditions while the Yokohama Noh Theatre undergoes renovations, inviting visitors to learn about the musical instruments, masks, costumes and props, and shop for unique merchandise. Look out for the facility's programme of educational events. OTABISHO Yokohama Noh Theatre

A fixture of the Yokohama film scene since 1991, the two-screen Jack & Betty highlights an international selection of art and indie flicks you won’t find on show at the big multiplexes. Keep an eye out for the many special programmes and mini-festivals, too. Jack & Betty Cinemas

Tucked away amidst cliffsides (gake) and steep staircases (kaidan), this quirky bar occupies a corner of a small art space and is staffed by different artists and curators – many of them English-speaking – every evening. It’s the ideal spot for high-flying conversation over a craft cocktail. Check their Instagram page for opening days. Bar Gake to Kaidan

Its streets littered with music bars, restaurants and gig spots, Yokohama is the home of jazz in Japan. At Bar Bar Bar, you can just drop in casually for dinner, drinks and a live performance – there’s someone playing on stage practically every night. Bar Bar Bar

Theatre, dance, musicals – the variety of performing arts on display here should satisfy even the most ravenous aficionado. The building encompasses a grand hall with up to 1,200 seats as well as an atrium and several studios. It’s fully accessible, with facilities including a nursing room and seats with wheelchair spaces. Kanagawa Arts Theatre

Occupying the beautifully renovated, airy ground floor of the former Silk Conditioning House, a heritage-listed brick building in historic Bashamichi, the Nagano-based Anglo-Japanese Brewing Company’s brewpub, distillery and cocktail lab conjures up an impressive range of artisanal booze. Don’t sleep on the food either: the spicy ‘JFC’ buttermilk fried chicken is a standout. Libushi Bashamichi

A former dockyard site turned creative community space for residents, visitors and people working in Minato Mirai, BUKATSUDO encompasses a gallery, coffee stand and business lounge, as well as a studio, kitchen and spaces for rent. The gallery hosts regular exhibitions with a focus on photography and fine art. BUKATSUDO

Bringing sports and creativity together in a nearly century-old former office building, this multi-use facility is run by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, the city’s beloved pro baseball team. Here you’ll find the exclusive +B brand, which offers trendy, quality clothing and accessories inspired by baseball culture. After a bout of shopping, recover by enjoying an official BayStars beer at the adjacent pub, Craft Beer Dining &9. THE BAYS

Replete with quirkly little bars and eateries, the streets of Noge are perfect for finding your new local. Heirloom chicken, fresh seafood and a colourful array of seasonal produce are grilled to smoky perfection over smouldering charcoal at Kagura, which styles itself a yakitori joint but offers so much more. Pair your meal with some sake or shochu, and don’t forget to finish off with a bowl of their signature torisoba (chicken ramen). Kagura

A remnant of a simpler and smokier era, the Tanuki Koji alleyway west of Yokohama Station is riddled with old-school bars and eateries like Maichin, which has been serving up pork ears, tongue, feet, tail and so on – all slowly simmered in a soy sauce-based broth – alongside cups of stomach-warming shochu since 1956. Maichin

One of the smarter moves in the redevelopment of the Minato Mirai area was the decision to preserve these former customs houses, which date back to the early 20th century. The No 1 building gets used for a wide range of art events, while No 2 houses a trendy selection of shops, bars and restaurants. Various festivals and other happenings take place on the open-air plaza between the structures. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

Set in an understated, overgrown-looking brick building a stone’s throw from the bustle of Yokohama Station, this unpretentious but refined joint counts among the best Italian restaurants in the city. Naples-trained chef Taro Takada’s pizzas and multi-course meals draw expertly on local, seasonal ingredients. Cambusa