Take Tokyo’s neon-lit skyscrapers, Osaka’s laidback vibe, and Kyoto’s combination of old and new Japan, then mix them all with a fresh ocean breeze: that’s Yokohama. From a historical port to the colorful Unko – er, poop – Museum, Yokohama is packed with diverse attractions that put the city on the map (and can’t even be found on a map).

But luckily for you, your host knows where to find both! From massive shopping complexes and the Cosmo World amusement park to the secret alleys at the ground levels of the Yokohama Landmark Tower, the central hub can get dizzying. And when you’ve had enough of ultra-modern, ancient Japan is just a train ride away in seaside Kamakura, home to the tranquil Kōtoku-in temple and its iconic Great Buddha.

Along the eastern bay of Yokohama, you could get a birds-eye view of the sea and futuristic Minato Mirai from the giant Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel, or you could stick to exploring at ground level.

You might trek north to the city’s secret, the no-frills fish market, for a platter of sashimi moriawase and a professional tuna-cutting demonstration, or maybe you’ll join salarymen a mile south in the CBD, leaving their offices for lantern-lit Noge and a drink at a low-key jazz bar.

You could cut through bright, tulip-filled Yokohama Park en route to Chinatown – the biggest in Japan – to slurp soup noodles or go a little further for a different side of “historical Yokohama: Yamate, the old 1920s-mansion-lined district of Western diplomats.