Day 4 of 7 in Tokyo, Japan (Yokohama - Minato Mirai

For Day 4 of my Japan trip, I spent half a day exploring Yokohama, a charming port city that somehow reminded me of Odaiba in Tokyo. It wasn’t overly crowded, which made it a pleasant stroll despite the dark skies (thankfully, no rain).

Walking along the waterfront, I spotted views that reminded me of the Rainbow Bridge. The scenery was beautiful, especially the field of daisies in full bloom. My first stop was the iconic Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, now a shopping and dining complex. While there wasn’t much for me to buy, it’s a great spot for a walk after a hearty meal at Bills Yokohama, where I enjoyed a delicious breakfast to start my day.

Nearby, I saw a huge navy ship docked at the port and crossed a bridge that again gave me Rainbow Bridge vibes. Then it was off to see the famous Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel in the Minato Mirai 21 district, right across from the Cup Noodles Museum. The museum itself is modern and fascinating, featuring exhibits on instant noodle innovations, a replica of the original shed where the first Cup Noodle was born, and of course, the hands-on Cup Noodles Factory. I opted to design my own cup rather than make noodles from scratch—it was faster, especially with the long queues filled with locals and tourists alike.

I also checked out World Porters Mall before walking to Queen’s Square and Landmark Plaza in Minato Mirai. (Fun fact: Landmark Plaza has a Pokémon Center, but I missed it!)

For lunch, I hunted down the legendary Yoshimura-ya, the very first iekei ramen shop in Yokohama. Ordering was via a vending machine with no English, but with a bit of Googling, I managed to get the recommended bowl—with extra eggs. The shoyu-tonkotsu broth was rich and perfectly balanced, the noodles were al dente, and the roast pork was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A must-visit for ramen lovers in Yokohama!

Before calling it a night, I browsed Tokyo Character Street and found adorable limited-edition Pokémon plushies, including Magikarp and Gyarados Pikachu—totally worth the detour!

Afterwards, I returned to Tokyo Station for dinner at Hirugao, a ramen shop specialising in shio ramen. The clear, salt-based broth was surprisingly flavourful, served with wonton, roast pork, seaweed, bamboo shoots, and negi. It might just convert anyone who’s on the fence about shio ramen.