Yokohama, an exotic port city, has a variety of faces, including not only exotic cultures but also traditional Japanese gardens, remnants of Showa period (1926-1989), and futuristic areas.
Cycling in Yokohama’s Nishi and Naka wards with a rented road bike. Here is a 20-km bicycle trip full of attractions.
Contents
Bikeport Yokohama Nishiguchi Branch
Search from TABIRIN’s Travel x Bicycle Information page (Japanese) “Rental bicycles with sports type available” and reserve a rental bicycle at Bikeport Yokohama Nishiguchi Branch, which is within walking distance from Yokohama Station.
The rental bicycles are available as cross bikes or road bikes, with a choice of aluminum or carbon models for road bikes.
Since the distance of the cycling is about 20km, a cross bike is sufficient, but I chose an aluminum model road bike (half day /4 hours).
After completing the procedure at the shop, the staff will not only adjust the saddle position, but also encourage you to test ride on the road in front of you. You can check the saddle height, brakes and shifters before you start.
Beautiful Minato Mirai Area along the coast
First, I headed for “Rinko Park,” which is about 2 km long.
From Pacifico Yokohama to Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, you will push along the seaside for about 1 km.
Many of the parks and seaside promenades in this area are closed to bicycles, but it is more luxurious to push along slowly than to ride through quickly.
Yokohama Hammerhead, opened in October 2019, is a complex facility consisting of a commercial facility (Hammerhead SHOP & RESTAURANT) and a hotel (Intercontinental Yokohama), centered on Shinko Pier Cruise Terminal.
The facility name “Hammerhead” is derived from the historical industrial heritage “Hammerhead Crane”.
From the front of Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, ride for 1km in the direction of Osanbashi Bridge.
The breakwater called Zou-no-Hana (Elephant’s Nose) extends from the base of Osanbashi Bridge, and was restored in 2009, the 150th anniversary of the opening of Yokohama Port.
From here, you can see Yokohama Landmark Tower, Yokohama Cosmo World wheel, Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel, and Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.
Exotic Yamashita Park to Yamate Area
In front of Yamashita Park, the gingko trees are in full bloom.
Ride toward Minato-no-Mieru-Oka park (Harbor View Hill Park) and climb Yato-zaka (Yato-zaka Hill) to Yamate Hon-dori (Yamate Main Street).
In the exotic townscape of Yamate, there is the “Yokohama Yamate Western-style Building,” where seven western-style houses are located.
This photo was taken in front of Ehrismann Residence, one of the Western-style buildings. The coffee room of Ehrismann Residence is known as Café Ehrismann, where you can enjoy coffee and desserts with a sense of Taisho Period (1912-1926) Romanticism.
Sankeien, a beautiful Japanese garden
Turn down Biyazake Street to Honmoku Street.
Since Honmoku is full of Chinese restaurants run by Chinese people in the old days, I had lunch at Chinese restaurant “Li Yuan”.
I had fried rice and dumplings for lunch.
I rode about 2.5 km down Honmoku Dori to Sankeien.
Sankeien is a Japanese garden created by Mr. Sankei Hara, an industrialist and tea master. The garden has 17 buildings, including 10 national important cultural properties and 3 tangible cultural properties designated by Yokohama City.
During the holiday season, the parking lot is often full, and you will see many people walking from distant parking lots. Bicyclists do not need to worry about the parking lot being full.
Feel the history of Negishi to Noge
From Sankeien, head west and up the hill to Negishi Forest Park.
Ride halfway around the perimeter of the park, and you will see Former First Class Horse Spot.
Opened in 1866 as Japan’s first Western-style racetrack, it was closed in 1943 after the war, and only the former first-class horse observatory remains today as a valuable modern industrial heritage.
From Negishi Forest Park, ride about 3km toward Hinode-cho, then turn right along Ooka River to Noge area.
Noge is a downtown area with a retro atmosphere, where many small bars and pubs that have remained unchanged over the years still remain.
Among them, Miyakobashi Shopping Street (a.k.a. Harmonica Yokocho), known as a location for movies and TV dramas, is a shopping street building built during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to beautify the streetscape of Noge Main Street.
It is now owned and managed by a public interest incorporated association and 60 shops operate there.
New scenery – YOKOHAMA AIR CABIN
If you go from Noge to the opposite (east) side of JR Sakuragi-cho Station, you will find yourself at the entrance to Minato Mirai, which is a complete change from the retro Showa-period townscape.
YOKOHAMA AIR CABIN, the world’s first state-of-the-art urban ropeway, opened in April 2021, and offers a 630m (5-minute) one-way aerial walk between Sakuragi-cho Station in front of JR Sakuragi-cho Station and Canal Park Station at Canal Park in the Shinko District. You can enjoy a 630-meter (5-minute) one-way aerial walk between Sakuragicho Station in front of JR Sakuragi-cho station and Canal Park Station in the Shinko canal district.
The 20-km, 4-hour ride ends with a look up at the Yokohama Landmark Tower from Nihonmaru Memorial Park and a ride toward the West Exit of Yokohama Station.
Course Introduction
▼Bikeport Yokohama Nishiguchi Branch
http://www.cycletravelation.com/
▼Yokohama Hammerhead
http://www.hammerhead.co.jp.e.aix.hp.transer.com/
▼Sankeien
https://www.sankeien.or.jp/en/
▼Former First Class Horse Spot
https://www.hama-midorinokyokai.or.jp/park/negishi/details/post-85.php
Summary
Yokohama’s Nishi and Naka wards are well-known as a tourist area, and strolling the area by bicycle will allow visitors to experience the changing times and the different cultures of the different areas.
The 20-km course includes a variety of attractive spots and restaurants, so a full day can be spent enjoying the area.
Using a rented bicycle allows those who do not own a sports bicycle to enjoy cycling, while those who do own your bicycle can enjoy a drink immediately after cycling.
After returning my road bike to Bikeport Yokohama Nishiguch branch, I had a glass of wine and cheese at a restaurant right across the street.
