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UN/LOCODE JPYOK · Japan
Yokohama, Japan's principal commercial port, grants shore leave to seafarers with a seaman's book and a shore pass under Japan's standard short-term port-call procedure. Japan is not a Convention 185 signatory but operates a seafarer-friendly regime. Daikoku Pier and Honmoku Pier are the principal container berths. Mission to Seafarers Yokohama operates a welfare centre near the port with chaplaincy + transport. The Japanese-style welfare provision (with cultural overlay) is among the most generous in the world but quieter than the Anglo-Saxon variety.
Daikoku Pier is connected by frequent bus services to Yokohama Station (20-30 minutes). The historic Yamashita Park and Chinatown areas are walking distance from the older quays. Yokohama is the easiest Japanese port for shore leave — much more compact than Tokyo Bay or Nagoya.
ATMs: 7-Eleven (7-Bank) and Family Mart accept foreign cards reliably; Japan Post Bank ATMs do tooMoney changers: airport on arrival is best; in-city is rare. Bring a cardHospital: Yokohama City University Hospital, Saiseikai Yokohama-shi Tobu Hospital (Daikoku area)Prayer rooms: rare in standard shops; mosques exist (Yokohama Mosque); ask welfare centre for prayer-friendly venuesHalal food: limited but growing — concentrated in central Yokohama and Tokyo; check HappyCowSupermarket: 7-Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart open 24/7; supermarkets (Aeon, Seiyu) close around 10pmSIM card: bring eSIM if possible (Ubigi, Airalo); local SIM is bureaucratic for short-stay visitors
Do: carry your seaman's book + ship's stamp at all times; bow when greeted by port officials; remove shoes when entering homes or some traditional restaurants. Don't: tip (it's confusing or rude in Japan); blow your nose loudly in public; smoke outside designated areas. Watch for: Japanese immigration takes paperwork seriously — never overstay your shore pass. ATM withdrawal limits are stricter than in Singapore or Hong Kong (¥30,000 per transaction is common). Most crew use cards or get cash from the welfare centre.
Last verified: 2026-06-29