Essentials
- City
- Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
- Population
- 3,770,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 160 Mbps (Fiber optic standard in most apartments)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JPY ≈ 0.0067 USD. 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY (Fluctuates March 2026)
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink; high quality tap water city-wide
- Power
- 100V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (Flat two-pin)
- SIM Card
- Ubigi (eSIM), Sakura Mobile (long-term), Mobal (for expats)
- Banking for Expats
- Sony Bank (English app), Wise, Revolut, JP Post Bank
- Accommodation
- Monthly Mansions, Oakhouse (Sharehouses), Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly yes; Suica/Pasmo cards and PayPay are ubiquitous
- Short Term Rentals
- MetroResidences Yokohama, Blueground Yokohama
- Budget Accommodation
- Guest House Futareno (Noge), Capsule Plus Yokohama (West Exit)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Minato Mirai 21 and Motomachi/Chinatown
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kannai (Affordable/Central) and Ishikawacho (Trendy/International)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork Ocean Gate Minato Mirai (Approx. ¥45,000/mo)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Blue Bottle Coffee Minato Mirai, Starbucks Yokohama More's (8F/9F)
- Networking Events
- Yokohama IT Professionals Meetup at GINZA SIX (occasional regional nodes)
- Social Events for Expats
- Yokohama International Lounge events, Noge Bar Crawls
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- GO (Taxi app), Uber (Hires local taxis only), S.RIDE
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Baybike (Docomo Cycle) - ¥165 per 30 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- Zushi Beach (30 mins via JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line)
- Top Regional Airline
- Peach Aviation (Operating from nearby Haneda HND)
- Top International Airline
- Japan Airlines (JAL), ANA (All Nippon Airways)
- Highway Access
- Shuto Expressway K1 (Yokosuka Route) and K3 (Kariba Route)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Yokohama Station (Connects JR, Tokyu, Keikyu, Sotetsu lines)
- Public Transport Passes
- Minato Burari Ticket (¥500/day), Suica/Pasmo IC Cards
- Regional Travel
- JR Tokaido Line to Tokyo (25 mins), Shinkansen from Shin-Yokohama
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Yokohama City University Hospital (English support available)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Studio Yoggy (Yokohama Station West Exit)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gold's Gym Yokohama Bashamichi, Anytime Fitness Kannai
- Laundry Services
- Pierrot Launderette (Self-service chain), Cleaning Kyowaya (Dry cleaning)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats Japan, Wolt, Menu
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Sanmamen (Yokohama-style Ramen), Gyunabe (Beef Hotpot)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- M's Tapas (Kannai), T's Tantan (inside station areas nearby)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Gateau de Voyage (Bashamichi), Uchiki Pan (Motomachi)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Don Quijote (Yokohama West Exit), OK Store (Minato Mirai)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon Japan, Rakuten, Mercari
- Grocery Delivery
- Aeon Net Super, Ito-Yokado Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Noge District (Famous for small Izakayas and jazz bars)
- Local Brewery
- Yokohama Brewery (Japan's oldest craft beer brand)
- Wine Bars
- Cave de Wall (Kannai), Yokohama Winery
- Street Food Stalls
- Yokohama Chinatown (Chukagai) - steamed buns and Xiao Long Bao
- Popular International Cuisine
- Rigel (Indian), Bills Yokohama (Australian Breakfast)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Osanbashi Pier (View of the skyline), Landmark Tower Sky Garden
- Birdwatching Locations
- Yokohama Bird Sanctuary in Negishi Forest Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Wild Magic (Toyosu - nearby Tokyo) or Umi no Koen (Kanazawa-ku)
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Kamakura Hiking Trails (25 mins away by train)
- National Parks Nearby
- Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (1.5 hours via Odakyu Line)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Yamashita Park Waterfront Promenade
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko), Sagawa Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Bic Camera Yokohama (Repair desk), Apple Store Yokohama (NEW)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Yokohama Budokan, Round1 Yokohama (Gaming/Sports center)
- Language Classes
- Yokohama Design College (Japanese Language Department)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Yokohama City Central Library (Sakuragicho)
- Community Centers
- Yokohama International Lounge (Inside Minato Mirai station)
- Gaming Lounges
- Esports Cafe Yokohama, LFS Esports Arena
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pachinko Pia (Yokohama West Exit)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥1,100,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² ≈ ¥33,000,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥750,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² ≈ ¥22,500,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥1,200,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² ≈ ¥60,000,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥850,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² ≈ ¥42,500,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥1,050,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² ≈ ¥73,500,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥700,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² ≈ ¥49,000,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Effective rate approx. 30.6% (including local inhabitant taxes)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.42% (Standard rate for non-residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for permanent residents; Remittance-based for non-permanent
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (Plus 10% local resident tax)
- VAT
- 10% (Reduced 8% for food/takeout)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applies if foreign tax rate is below 20%
- Property Tax
- 1.4% Fixed Asset Tax + 0.3% City Planning Tax annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 3% for Real Estate Acquisition Tax + Stamp duty
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa (Launched 2024): 6 months duration, requires ¥10M annual income
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Yokohama Landmark Tower, Cup Noodle Museum, Gundam Factory
- Museums & Art Venues
- Yokohama Museum of Art, Hokkaidō Museum of Modern Art
- Historical Sites
- Sankeien Garden, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
- Religious Sites
- Kanteibyo Temple (Chinatown), Iseyama Kotaijingu Shrine
- Annual Events
- Yokohama Port Festival (June), Pikachu Outbreak (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Motomachi Shopping Street, Chinatown
- Theater Venues
- Kanagawa Arts Theatre (KAAT), Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
- Local Markets
- Yokohama Central Wholesale Market (Fisherman's Market)
- Music Scene
- Billboard Live Yokohama, Motion Blue Yokohama
- Street Art
- Koganecho Art Center (Formerly red-light district turned art zone)
- Cooking Classes
- ABC Cooking Studio (Yokohama Landmark Plaza)
- Art Galleries
- BankART KAIKA, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No.1
- Historic Buildings
- The 'Three Towers of Yokohama' (King, Queen, Jack)
- Local Heritage
- Open Port Heritage (Early Western-style architecture)