Overview
Yokohama's public transport system is designed to move visitors and residents efficiently around this major port city in Kanagawa Prefecture. The backbone is the Yokohama Municipal Subway (横浜市営地下鉄, Yokohama-shiei chikatetsu), a rapid transit network operated by the Yokohama City Transportation Bureau. You'll also find extensive JR rail connections, private railway lines, municipal buses, and waterborne ferries. For most trips within the city, you can plan your journey end-to-end using a combination of subway, JR lines, and buses—purchasing a single ticket or a day pass at machines with English-language guidance, tapping your IC card (such as Suica or Pasmo), or using contactless credit cards and smartphone payments. The two subway lines intersect at Center-Minami and Center-Kita stations, making transfers straightforward.
The network
Yokohama Municipal Subway
The Yokohama Municipal Subway consists of two lines spanning approximately 53.4 kilometres with 42 stations. The system uses the colour-coded and numbered designation system: stations on the Blue Line are labeled B01 through B32, and Green Line stations are labeled G01 through G10.
- Blue Line (Lines 1/3): Operates as an integrated 40.4-kilometre route between Shōnandai Station in Fujisawa (south) and Azamino Station (north), making it Japan's second-longest subway line. Key stations include Shonandai, Totsuka, Kamiooka, Yokohama (the main city-centre station), Sakuragicho, Kannai, Shin-Yokohama, and Azamino. In July 2011, mobile phone use was officially banned except in designated areas; "mobile phone power off areas" are marked in each car.
- Green Line (Line 4): A 13.0-kilometre route running between Nakayama Station (west) and Hiyoshi Station (east), opened on March 30, 2008. The journey takes approximately 21 minutes end-to-end. The Green Line uses linear induction motors for propulsion, similar to the Toei Ōedo Line in Tokyo. The line is being upgraded: by the end of fiscal year 2024, 10 of the 17 trains will be extended to 6-car capacity.
JR and Private Railway Lines
Multiple JR and private railway lines connect Yokohama to Tokyo and surrounding areas, meeting at Yokohama Station (the main transport hub) or Shin-Yokohama Station (Shinkansen stop).
- Keikyu Main Line (京急本線): Connects Shinagawa and Haneda Airport to Yokohama, with express trains reaching Yokohama in 18 minutes.
- Tokyu Toyoko Line (東急東横線): Runs from Shibuya to Yokohama (26 minutes on the fastest service). The line continues as the Minato Mirai Line beyond Yokohama Station.
- JR Tokaido Line, JR Yokosuka Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, and JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line: All serve Yokohama Station with various frequencies and journey times from Tokyo.
- Sotetsu Line (相鉄線): Connects Ebina and Shonandai to Yokohama, with limited express and express services available.
- Minato Mirai Line (みなとみらい線): A direct extension of the Tokyu Toyoko Line from Yokohama Station, with five stations running through the historic waterfront: Shin-Takashimacho (新高島町), Minatomirai (みなとみらい), Bashamichi (馬車道), Nihon Ōdori (日本大通り), and Motomachi-Chūkagai (元町・中華街, the terminus at Chinatown). A one-day unlimited ride ticket costs ¥460 for adults and half-price for children.
- JR Negishi Line (根岸線): Available for accessing Chinatown and the Minato Mirai area.
Buses
Yokohama operates approximately 800 buses on around 140 municipal routes across the city. Cream-coloured buses with blue horizontal lines serve residential and tourist areas. You board at the front door and exit at the rear. The standard flat fare is ¥220 for adults and ¥110 for children (ages 1–11); Line 40 uses distance-based fares instead. Payment is accepted via IC card (Pasmo, Suica, and other national systems), cash, mobile IC, or the "my route" app.
- Akai Kutsu Bus (Akaikutsu Loop Bus): A red sightseeing bus running every 20 minutes around Minatomirai, Chinatown, and Motomachi. A single ticket costs ¥220 and a one-day pass costs ¥500.
- Bayside Blue Bus: Runs between Yokohama Station, Minato Mirai, and other sights.
Ferries
The "Sea Bass" boat operates between JR Yokohama Station (east exit), Minato Mirai, and Yamashita Park. The fare ranges from ¥350 to ¥700 depending on distance. The boat runs one to two times per hour and is a popular scenic alternative for getting around on sunny days.
Tickets & fares
Single Fares and Ticket Purchase
You can purchase single tickets at automatic ticket machines installed at all stations. The machines have English-language guidance and accept coins and ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥5,000, and ¥10,000 notes. Base subway fares start at ¥210 for adults for the first 3 kilometres; child fares are half the adult price. All ticketing machines sell tickets for both the Blue Line and Green Line.
IC Cards and Contactless Payment
IC cards are the most convenient payment method. The Yokohama Municipal Subway accepts Suica, Pasmo, and eight other major Japanese city IC cards. Using an IC card provides slightly cheaper fares than purchasing a paper ticket. Contactless credit cards and smartphone payments are also accepted on the subway.
Day Passes and Tourist Passes
Several day passes and multi-purpose passes are available and sold at ticket machines and customer service centres (located at Center-Minami, Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama, and Kamiooka stations):
- Yokohama Subway One-Day Pass: ¥740 for adults, ¥370 for children—unlimited rides on both the Blue Line and Green Line.
- Yokohama Subway & Bus One-Day Pass: ¥830 for adults, ¥420 for children—covers unlimited subway and city bus rides.
- One-Day Bus Pass (buses only): ¥600 for adults, ¥300 for children.
- Minato Burari Ticket: ¥700 for adults, ¥350 for children (¥750 and ¥380 respectively for the "Wide" variant)—covers sightseeing routes in the bay area. Available digitally via the "my route" app or Klook.
- Minato Mirai Line One-Day Pass: ¥460 for adults, half-price for children—unlimited rides on the Minato Mirai Line.
Bus commuter passes are also available: 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month options for workers and students. Prices are approximate and subject to change.
From the airport
From Haneda Airport
Haneda is the closest airport to Yokohama. Take the Keikyu Line's Express (急行) train directly to Yokohama Station in 30–35 minutes for ¥480. Express trains have several variants: if the train's destination is Shin-Zushi (新逗子) or Kanazawa-Bunko (金沢文庫), you can stay on board for the entire journey. If the train's destination is elsewhere, you will need to change at Keikyu-Kamata Station to the next limited express train in the other direction.
From Narita Airport
Narita is further away, but you have several options:
- Narita Express (N'EX): Direct trains from Narita Airport go through to Yokohama in approximately 1½ hours for ¥4,290 (free with a JR Pass).
- Limousine Bus: Limousine buses run frequently from Narita to the Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT) in 2 hours for ¥3,600.
- Budget option via Keisei: The Keisei Main Line train (with a cross-platform transfer at Aoto) costs ¥1,500 to Yokohama. The Sky Access line train costs ¥1,690. Most Sky Access trains run to Keisei Ueno, but a handful each day run through to Yokohama (and beyond) on the Keikyu Main Line.
Etiquette & customs
Japanese public transport has well-established customs that visitors are expected to observe. When riding the subway, buses, or trains, be courteous and quiet—keep conversations soft and avoid making phone calls. Mobile phone use on the subway is officially banned except in designated areas; power-off zones are clearly marked in each car.
- Queuing and boarding: Queue in an orderly line at platform doors. Allow exiting passengers to leave before you board.
- Escalators: While Yokohama etiquette is less uniform than Tokyo (where standing on the left is standard), it is customary to stand on one side and allow others to walk on the other. Follow the lead of local passengers or inquire locally.
- Priority seating: Reserved seats at the front and rear of each car are for elderly passengers, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and parents with young children. Offer your seat if you are young and able-bodied and see someone in need.
- Eating and drinking: Eating is generally not permitted on subways and local trains, though light snacking may be tolerated on longer-distance JR services. Drinking non-alcoholic beverages (especially from bottles with lids) is acceptable. Avoid alcoholic drinks on subways during busy hours.
- Rush-hour behaviour: During peak commute times (typically 7–9 a.m. and 5–7 p.m.), trains become extremely crowded. Remain patient, keep your belongings close, and avoid standing near doors unnecessarily. Do not push or shove; allow the natural flow of passengers.
- Luggage and bags: Keep backpacks in front of your body during crowded times to avoid accidentally striking other passengers.
Official links
Survival terms
- 地下鉄 (chikatetsu): Subway / Metro
- 切符 (kippu): Ticket
- 線 (sen): Line
- 入口 (iriguchi): Entrance
- 出口 (deguchi): Exit
- 乗り換え (norikae): Transfer
- 普通運賃 (futsū unchin): Single fare
- 一日乗車券 (ichinichijoushaken): Day pass
Always have a pocket Wi-Fi device or SIM card with data access when exploring Yokohama, as it will allow you to use real-time journey-planning apps and translation tools to navigate the station signs and announcements more confidently.