Exploring Minato Mirai 21 @ Yokohama, Japan

Minato Mirai 21 is a new seaside urban area which features modern looking buildings located at Central of Yokohama. There are many highrise building around and Landmark Tower was the tallest building in Japan until 2014 before surpassed by Tokyo Skytree. Yokohama was a shipyard until 1980 before it transformed into new city centre. There are many human made attractions around Minato Mirai such as Cosmo World amusement park, cup noodles museum, World Porters shopping centre and Queen's Square shopping centre. Overall Minato Mirai area is pleasant to walk around. The waterfront is lovely, lots of shopping and good place for family outing.

I think that Minato Mirai area is quite boring with not much unique attractions. Many of the attractions are newly build which does not have cultural, architecture or history element which makes it interesting. The plus point here is the place is very clean, convenient and proper planning with good restaurant options, shopping and a few tourist attractions which all within short walking distance from Minato Mirai station.


Japan tallest building until 2014. The Landmark Tower. Beside Landmark Tower on the right were Queen's shopping centre. Minato Mirai station is at the basement of the shopping centre.

From Yokohama to Minato Mirai station. Minato Mirai train line just opened in 2014.

Cosmo World amusement park/theme park.

House of Dr.Edgar at Cosmo World.

Good place for family with kids.


Cosmo World in cloudy weather. The Cosmo World theme park has two roller coaster rides, game attractions and the obvious large Ferris wheel which also function as a clock. In the evening, Cosmo World were illuminated which beautify the night view of Yokohama.

Roller Coaster Vanish. Scary name. Hope not going to vanish after the ride.

Cosmo World theme park is free to enter. If you would like to play their attraction or ride their roller coasters, you may purchase individual ticket.

The roller coaster will fall thru the water pool.

Walking nearer to the Ferris wheel.


That's fun.

Cup Noodles museum is a famous attraction in Minato Mirai.

Quite crowded during my visit on saturday.

Souvenir pack of cup noodles.

Unique flavour of Donbee Soba from Cup Noodles Museum shop.

Crowded shop.

Chikin ramen. I think this is Malaysian version of Mamee Monster.

Special edition of cup noodles.

At level 4, there is food court selling noodles from different countries. If you notice, there is curry laksa featured as Malaysian style noodles.

Cute chicky which is the object of photo moment.

Me in Cup Noodle museum.

Small park outside the cup noodles museum.

On the way back to Minato Mirai train station. Pass by saw this nice snow house.

Before I go. Take a selfie with snow house, Ferris wheel and lover bench in Cosmo World.

Inside Minato Mirai line train. Next stop is Motomachi-Chukagai Station which is Yokohama Chinatown.

Public transport: The nearest station is Minato Mirai Station via Minato Mirai Line which is located at the basement of Queen's Square and is two stations from Yokohama Station (3 minutes, 180 yen). Second option would be via JR Negishi Line (Keihin-Tohoku Line). Stop at Sakuragicho station which is just one stop from Yokohama station (3 minutes, 140 Yen).

Exploring Yokohama Chinatown @ Yokohama, Japan

Yokohama's Chinatown is the largest in Japan and open since 1859. It is touristy, but there are plenty of Chinese grocery shops and food to try on. You can enjoy various Chinese cuisines, mainly Cantonese but also Beijing, Shanghai, and Szechuan dishes, while you may also want to buy some ingredients or goods. The main gate is unique and you may want to see it. With the opening of the Minatomirai Line railway, its easier to get to Chinatown directly at the Motomachi-Chūkagai Station.


Entrance to Chinatown.

Minatomirai Chukagai station.

Antique store.


George and Kawpie clothing store. Mostly selling light winter clothing and shirts.

Souvenir store.


Traditional souvenir items with Thai theme.

This shop selling many kinds of steamed buns.



Not sure what flavour of bun no 2, I decided to try it.


The bun is just ordinary. Its pork with some crab meat and preserved vegetables.

Typical chinese food restaurant.

Surprisingly, there are many restaurants here selling shark fin.

Ma Zhu Miao temple.

Colourful Sensoji Temple @ Asakusa, Tokyo

Sensoji temple also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. This is one of the most popular tourist attraction spot in Tokyo. The distinctive red colour temple with its unique architecture does offers scenery and cultural elements. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples. Sensoji temple was completed in 645 and it is Tokyo's oldest temple. The temple was built to honor Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

If you come to the temple using Tokyo subway, you will enter via the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) which is the outer gate of Sensoji temple. There is a long shopping street called Nakamise which leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate which is called Hozomon. You can easily get Japanese souvenir from Nakamise street. There are many typical Japanese items on the shops such as snacks, masks, sweets, folding fans, toys and sinbei. For your information, this temple is very touristic and quite crowded during the day.


Sensoji temple quite crowded especially during weekend as this is a famous tourist attraction in Tokyo.

Entrance to temple compound via Kaminarimon or Thunder gate.

Very busy shopping street of Nakamise.

Shop selling Japanese sandals.

Wow, its so crowded and pack during weekend.

This woman selling rice sweet dumplings which is also known as dango.

Rice sweet dumplings covered in grind peanut.

Try the crispy rice cracker sinbei. The rice crackers was grilled on the spot and flavored with soy sauce.

My super crispy sinbei. But this is very expensive at 100 Yen per piece.

Many types of rice crackers.

Colourful masks

Many lanterns similar to the Sensoji temple.

This is really a famous shopping street with many international visitors.

visitors able to purchase good quality of kimono and yakuta here.

Very cute cakes and biscuit. Its too cute to eat it.

Tokyo Skytree tower is within walking distance from Asakusa.

Reached the second gate.

Place to wash hand before entering Sensoji temple.

You may write notes for the temple.

GPS/Coordinate: 35.714752, 139.796676
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 6.00am to 5.00pm.
Public transport: Asakusa station. You can reach Asakusa station via JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station then transfer to Ginza Subway line for Asakusa. OR Take JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station and switch to Ginza Subway line for Asakusa.