Motomachi-Chukagai Walking Guide — From a Prewar Ship to Chinatown Alleys and Late-Night Bars

The area around Motomachi-Chukagai Station in Kanagawa gathers 17 walking spots, from a historic ship moored at Yamashita Park to century-old Chinatown restaurants and bars that run late. Prices span a wide range: ¥300 admission to the Hikawa Maru, ¥250 egg tarts at Komen, ice cream for around ¥150 at MIXUE, up to a ¥2,100 chilled noodle plate at Manchinro. Nearly every spot listed sits in Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, so the whole route connects into a single day's walk.

Suggested order: Start on the waterfront side with the Hikawa Maru, the Yokohama Doll Museum and Hotel New Grand, then cut into the Chinatown alleys for lunch, dim sum and sweets. After dark, finish with live music and bars.

[NYK Hikawa Maru](/spot/229c6c32-3f7f-4533-b3db-6130c9a42368)

The only large prewar-built passenger-cargo ship still in existence, moored at Yamashita Park. Onboard you can view the cabins where figures such as Chaplin stayed. Admission is ¥300 and last entry is 16:30, so start this walk early in the afternoon.

[Yokohama Doll Museum](/spot/bd1b5df5-ede5-4402-8e0d-b2ae816cc81f)

Opened thanks to a donated private collection. It holds over 10,000 dolls from more than 100 countries, conveying world cultures through dolls.

[Hotel New Grand](/spot/799f44c6-beb2-41a4-867d-bf500b3e2ba0)

A classic 230-room hotel opened in 1927, standing directly across from Yamashita Park. Even without stepping inside, viewing the building from the park tells you how much history the district carries.

[Jukei Charo Yokohama Chinatown Main Store](/spot/e9b02be8-2cea-4218-867c-862f5df2dd2d)

A dim sum specialist in Chinatown. It's known as a casual entry point to yum cha, which makes it a good first stop if Chinatown is new to you.

[Banraitei](/spot/abe9fe84-afef-459b-b55d-861756692ea9)

A neighbourhood Chinese restaurant founded in 1956, tucked into a back alley. It was created by a noodle maker in business since the Taisho era, and moved to its current location in 2001. The specialty is thick-noodle Shanghai yakisoba at ¥980, alongside soup noodles with char siu at ¥1,100 and aromatic stir-fried spare ribs at ¥1,880.

[Keika Hanten](/spot/862d95d2-1ee5-425c-938b-68ba57b11f04)

Praised for wonton in a class of its own. It's the kind of bowl that leaves you wanting to speed-walk a lap of the ballpark to work it off.

[Manchinro Main Store](/spot/eda97c27-e9ca-4281-9af6-30214f1b10e2)

One of Chinatown's leading establishments, 130 years old, where you dine to live erhu and Chinese pipa performance. The colourful chilled ramen with sesame and soy dressings is ¥2,100. It stays open through the afternoon on weekends and holidays, so a late lunch works.

[Junkaikaku Main Building](/spot/ac857275-295b-444f-ad03-3d3bd1a0d0a2)

A long-established restaurant with separate head chefs for appetisers, dim sum and Cantonese dishes. Ordering across categories is the way to notice the differences.

[Shimon Shurou](/spot/510f2571-0ccd-466d-84e4-4434843489b2)

A Cantonese restaurant suited to large groups sharing platters. Drunken shrimp is ¥650 per piece and shrimp-and-mango fritters ¥950 each, so smaller orders work too.

[Komen](/spot/1eeccdd7-63a0-4ca6-9e53-60b78b76202d)

A long-standing Chinatown shop known for egg tarts. Wrapped in light pastry, they are ¥250 each, and coconut tarts are a staple too. If you take them home, reheating in an oven is recommended.

[MIXUE Yokohama Chinatown](/spot/30fb762d-336b-43e5-b688-8a72734170a8)

The Kanteibyo-dori branch of a Chinese sweets chain. Beyond ice cream at around ¥150, the regulars are brown sugar bubble milk tea (¥400 for medium) and lemon tea at ¥370 — a good pause between bites.

[Yokihi Cafe Chinois](/spot/3dd379ff-1bf4-45f6-8194-64f86cf47f75)

A cafe and boutique with more than half a century of history since opening on Hokumon-dori. It moved here 16 years ago and started the cafe on the second floor. The Yokihi dessert is ¥1,250 and the mooncake plate set ¥1,400; the ground floor is the boutique.

[F.A.D YOKOHAMA](/spot/9f9ae460-0b4c-4156-b268-9327aed6ae7f)

A Chinatown live house marking its 30th anniversary in 2026. Check the schedule on its website (www.fad-music.com); phone lines are open 14:00–23:00.

[MINTON HOUSE](/spot/7ccd83fd-294c-4f45-b19c-68932fb1d972)

A jazz bar open since 1967. The warm sound of its Altec 605B speakers is still going strong — a good place to rest tired ears.

[Bar Norge](/spot/1481b386-7c04-4aeb-b4ff-354369271e26)

A bar built around the image of aquavit and Norwegian summer retreats. It's a three-minute walk from Junkaikaku, and the Nordic mood makes it easy to settle in.

[Bar Three Martini](/spot/5ab526c9-2ce1-45ce-baa0-be0f50aba4ba)

The bar to drop into after Shanghai yakisoba at Banraitei. Open the door prepared for martinis.

[Sea Guardian II](/spot/e8b16a17-0d62-4c97-b22c-e4d6b078f8f0)

The main bar of Hotel New Grand, where you sit with the evening sea breeze. Tank tops, beach sandals and zori are not permitted.

Closing tip: The Chinatown side is full of low-cost stops — ¥250 tarts, ¥400 bubble tea — so a snack-led route is easy to build. If you plan to walk into the night, check Sea Guardian II's dress rule and F.A.D YOKOHAMA's performance schedule in advance.