Tall, shimmering skyscrapers. An iconic color-changing ferris wheel. A port that sees humungous ocean liners and cruises cross into the seas. And crowds that wear the utmost stylish clothes. Dazzling Yokohama has every appeal to be on screen in scenes of an anime or a pop culture action movie or even an urban fantasy novel.

That said, while the city is steeped in ultra-modern vibes, it has its old-world charm as everything in Yokohama has its roots in history. Some these marks have made the city famous among international travelers. But one of the things that Yokohama is loved for is that it is the main location and setting for the beloved and popular Japanese action anime series “Bungou Stray Dogs” (BSD).

Image left: Akutagawa Ryounuske, a character in Bungou Stray Dogs is seen standing facing the Yokohama bridge and bay in the anime.
Image right: Daybreak novel is the book that features Yokohama as the story’s main setting

Several dozen places and parts of the city has been used in numerous scenes for the anime and these places can be visited today. Travelers seeking to immerse themselves and walk in the same footsteps of their beloved characters will uncover real-life anime places in Japan right here in Yokohama. And it’s not just BSD, the city was also used as the main spot for the setting of the fan favorite fantasy novel Daybreak.

From bustling districts mirroring the backdrop of the series to iconic landmarks that serve as vivid settings, Yokohama emerges as an anime pilgrimage for fans of BSD and non-fans who want to experience some movie-vibes. As you explore this captivating destination, discover not only the unmistakable Bungou Stray Dogs locations but also a plethora of other fascinating Yokohama tourist spots that make it one of the best places to visit in Japan.

Check out these best hotels in Yokohama while you’re in the city.

Image left: The view of Yokohama skyline as the sun sets. Photo Credit: Unsplash
Image right: A still from anime Bungou Stray Dogs with the Yokohama skyline in the background

So, for those who are looking for both popular and out-of-the-norm things to do in Yokohama while the fans want to live and breath BSD, Yokohama will serve it to you hot on a plate.

Note: Much of the places in Yokohama listed are within walking distance so we advise you to get a pocket Wi-Fi with unlimited data so you can use google maps to guide you from one destination to another without getting lost. We also recommend this itinerary schedule to plan your trip around the spots as some of the locations closes at 4-5pm.

Yokohama Chinatown

Image left: The real Zenrimon gate of Yokohama Chinatown. Photo Credit: Ameena Navab
Image right: The Zenrimon Gate of Yokohama Chinatown shown in Bungou Stray Dogs anime

You might ask, while in Japan, why visit Chinatown? That’s because the Yokohama Chinatown is the city’s most popular attractions with its gaudy gold and red colors, yellow lanterns, tasty street food and eye-popping architectural designs. It also serves as a very important historic link to both countries.

This Chinatown, also known as Yokohama Chukagai, was established in the 1800s after Yokohama became one of the Japanese ports that accepted foreign trade in 1859. This helped a lot of the Chinese traders and merchants settle down in the city turning it into a buzzing hub for Chinese business.

Today, the Yokohama Chinatown is a lively place filled with all sorts of Chinese eateries and shops that sells anything from porcelain dinner sets and clothes to souvenirs and food. They also celebrate both Japan’s winter festive season as well as the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Chinatown was also featured in a couple of episodes of the anime Bungou Stray Dogs and was also the main setting for a collaboration between Chinatown and BSD.

Harbour View Park

Image left: Harbour View Park shown in the anime Bungou Stray Dogs
Image right: The real Harbour View Park in Yokohama. Photo Credit: Ameena Navab

A beautiful rose garden in an English setting, a serene mini forest and an observatory that gives breathtaking views of the Yokohama Bay is what gives Harbour View Park it’s charm and makes it one of the best things to do in Yokohama. And it has good reasons for its Western style taste.

Once the Port of Yokohama opened its trade for foreigners in 1859, the area was used as a settlement with the British army stationed above on the hill and the French army at the bottom. That’s why you will see locations at the park titled as “French Mountain” and “British House”.

In the following years between 1862 and 1875 the location became part of the camp for the British military garrison. After 1969, the buildings and surrounding gardens were returned to the City of Yokohama and became the 72-hectare Harbour View Park that we know today.

The park is best enjoyed during the early afternoon towards sunset. After a stroll in the lovely rose garden with its amazing fragrances, head onto the observatory with its long benches. From here, you can witness the sunset and the moment when the lights of Yokohama Bay and the famous Minato Mirai Ferris wheel flickers and turns into a vibrant nightscape.

This makes the Harbour View Park one of the top Yokohama attractions in town and can be enjoyed during a leisure day or as a brief stop in between hopping to other tourist locations.

France Yama (French Mountain)

Image left: France Yama shown in the anime Bungou Stray Dogs with its characters
Image right: The real France Yama in Yokohama. Photo Credit: Pexel

Part of the hill that connects to the Harbour View Park, France Yama can be accessed by the small bridge connecting the Park to the beautiful green of the mountain. While being cuddled by the trees and nature, you can see the reminiscent of the French troops that were once stationed here to protect their foreign citizens in Japan.

While walking through the park, you can see the ruins of the French consulate, brick wells and a replica of the windmill that were once used in this site.

This park was featured in the thrilling Episode 21 of Bungou Stray Dogs where Osamu Dazai was about to start an epic fight between him and his enemies.

Red Brick Warehouse

Image left: Red Brick Warehouse shown in a scene of the anime Bungou Stray Dogs
Image right: The real Red Brick Warehouse near Yokohama Port. Photo Credit: Ameena Navab

The Red Brick Warehouse at the Yokohama port stands out with its blood-colored bricks against the backdrop of the blue waters and the monochrome silver skyscrapers. This warehouse was once the main shipping hub of the city and was originally a customs inspections house for shipping boats during the Meiji period and controlled the flow of goods in and out of Yokohama.

Maintaining its appearance from the 19th century when it was built, this historic site has become a go-to spot for shopping, cafes and concerts. It’s also the main spot in Yokohama for festive events and Christmas markets. Amidst your exploration of Yokohama’s tourist spots, the Red Brick Warehouse provides a chance for you to not just see what the city’s port was like but also to take a break and down some delicious coffee and cake before making your way around the buzzling city again.

The Sky Garden

Image left: Aerial shot of Yokohama bay and Minato Mirai shown in the opening scene of Bungou Stray Dogs anime
Image right: The view of Yokohama Bay and Minato Mirai from The Sky Garden. Photo Credit: Ameena Navab

If you want to get the view of the famous skyline shown exactly as it does in Bungou Stray Dogs with all its dazzling beauty and the famous Minato Mirai Ferris wheel then head to The Sky Garden at Landmark Tower in Yokohama.

Not only is this place less crowded compared to Shibuya Sky, it also provides a more unique view of Tokyo with a 360-degree panoramic view of the city all the way to mid-town Tokyo and even Mt. Fuji on a clear day. The night view offers the changing colors of the Ferris wheel and a breath-taking nightscape of a million dazzling lights stretching out like an ocean.

To enter the Sky Garden you need to get entry tickets for a fee. You can purchase discounted entry tickets on Klook which gains you access to the view tower via the elevator that rockets you to the 69th floor in just 40 seconds.

Motomachi Shopping District

Image left: Motomachi street shown in the anime Bungou Stray Dogs
Image right: The real Motomachi street in Yokohama. Photo Credit: AWO staff

While it looks fancy and ultra-modern now, Motomachi was once a village that ultimately got divided into two sections back in 1859 when its residents were initially involved in agriculture and fishing.

However, around the year 1875 (Meiji period), a noticeable number of foreigners began to settle down in this district. Businesses saw new opportunities and fresh customers hence Motomachi street became a common place for these businesses to prosper.

Flower shops, bakeries, clothing stores and the lot lined up one after another creating an environment that was exotic and buzzing. Overtime, this developed into the popular modern street today. You can stroll down the Motomachi Shopping District just like the characters Osamu Dazai and Nakajima Atsushi did in Bungou Stray Dogs while sipping delicious drinks from cafes or buying souvenirs to take back home.

Yamashita Park

Image left: Yamashita Park shown in a scene of the anime Bungou Stray Dogs
Image right: The real Yamashita Park in Yokohama. Photo Credit: Yoshio Kohara, Wikimedia

Yamashita Park (Yamashita Kōen) is another public park in Yokohama that sits right at the city’s waterfront. Stretching for 750 meters, Yamashita Koen offers beautiful views of the bay, it’s port and cruisers passing by.

The park was constructed after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and has its own historical spots and BSD locations to visit. One of them is the Hikawa Maru, a massive ocean liner that used to run 1930 along the Yokohama-Vancouver/Seattle water line. While not as big as Titanic, it had its first-class cabins that took some pretty famous passengers like Charlie Chaplin and the Japanese Imperial Family.

After 30 years at sea, Hikawa Maru retried its engines and the ship now rests along the waters of Yamashita Park. It now serves as a museum where visitors can see the interiors that remains with all its designs from the 1930s.

The Hikawa Maru came on screen in the 31st episode of BSD, when it’s protagonist, Atsushi, reminisces about his past and his adoptive father.

Another spot for the BSD fans to visit at Yamashita Park is the Guardian of Water statue which is a gift from San Diego given to Yokohama as the symbol of the San Diego-Yokohama Friendship Commission. This is where the show’s Armed Detective Agency has a power tiff with two other organizations.

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