Yokohama Chinatown (Chukagai) is the largest Chinatown in Japan — and one of the biggest in the world — a vibrant, lantern-strung warren of some 600 shops and restaurants packed into a few colourful blocks. Marked by ornate paifang gates in every direction, it’s a feast for the senses: steaming dim sum, sizzling street snacks, ornate temples and shops bursting with sweets and souvenirs. Born from Yokohama’s opening as a port in 1859, it’s both a culinary destination and a lively cultural quarter, and an essential stop on any Yokohama visit.

This guide covers the gates and layout, what to eat, the temple and how to get there.

🗓️ Quick Reference
Location Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Size ~600 shops/restaurants; biggest in Japan
Time needed 2–3 hours
Best time Lunch or evening
Good for Food, street snacks, gates, atmosphere

The gates & layout

  • Ten ornate paifang gates mark the entrances and intersections — the grand Zenrinmon and Choyomon among them.
  • Wander the main streets and side lanes; the atmosphere is best after dark when the lanterns glow.
  • It’s compact and walkable — easy to graze your way around.

What to eat

  • Dim sum & buns: steamed shumai, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), and giant nikuman pork buns to eat on the go.
  • Street snacks: roast chestnuts, mango sweets, sesame balls and panda-shaped treats.
  • Sit-down feasts: all-you-can-eat (tabehodai) Cantonese and Sichuan restaurants abound.
  • Want to cook it yourself? Try a dim sum class — see our Chinatown dim sum cooking guide .

Kanteibyo temple & around

  • The colourful Kanteibyo temple, dedicated to the god of business, is the spiritual heart of the quarter.
  • Souvenir shops sell tea, sweets and panda goods galore.

Combine your visit

Chinatown pairs perfectly with the Yokohama waterfront:

How to get there

  • Minatomirai Line → Motomachi-Chukagai Station, right at the gates.
  • Or JR Ishikawacho Station + a short walk; ~30–40 min from central Tokyo.