Car Hire Yokohama

Yokohama was the first Japanese city to open up to westerners at the end of the isolationist Edo Dynasty. It began as a port and to this day is one of the most important in Japan. The biggest event in its history was the Great Kanto Earthquake which killed or injured over half of the population. Since then it suffered greatly in the Second World War and failed to regain the prominence it once had as the premier port of Japan.

How do I get to Yokohama?

Interestingly for Japan’s second largest city, it doesn’t have its own dedicated airport and instead relies on Tokyo’s Narita or Haneda airports. Narita is over an hour and a half away but has direct access by train to Yokohama whilst Haneda is only thirty minutes away and has train access but may require a change en route. Whilst BA flies to Haneda, you’ll have a better choice of flights and prices flying to Narita with four airlines plying the route. At the airport, you may want to consider using the train to get into Yokohama rather than negotiate the roads, especially if it’s your first time in Yokohama. You can always pick up a hire car in the city later.
 

Possibly a little bizarre, but one of the main attractions in Yokohama is its Chinatown, the biggest in Japan, and very authentic too being so close to its origins. You also have the world’s biggest mainland lighthouse – the Marine Tower, which has great views. Another slightly unusual thing to do but good if you’re feeling homesick for Europe is to walk the neighbourhood of Yamate where early European settlers built their homes. You’ll find roads reminiscent of Italy, France and the UK and it’s not until you leave the neighbourhood that you’ll remember you’re in Japan!