A helicopter tour over Yokohama is the best way to see the city’s massive skyscrapers and exciting landmarks.
Some of the must-sees during an ariel tour of the city are Yokohama are: Minatomirai, Red Brick Warehouse, the Yokohama bay area, the Yokohama bay bridge, Yokohama Chinatown, Yokohama Stadium, Ferris Wheel, etc.
If you plan a helicopter tour of Yokohama at night, you can see the glittering amongst millions of lights.
Flights last between five and 55 minutes, with both shared and private options available.
In this article, we share everything you must know before you book your helicopter tour in Yokohama.
Table of contents
- From where do helicopters take off?
- Timing of the helicopter tours
- Number of passengers in one chopper
- Children on helicopter tours
- Weight restrictions
- Cost of Yokohama helicopter tours
- Cancellation policy of air tours in Yokohama
- Things to know before booking
- Tokyo-Yokohama shoreline helicopter tour
- Tours that take off from Yokohama heliport
- Helicopter tour over Yokohama & Tokyo at night
From where do helicopters take off?
Yokohama has two heliports from where the chopper tours take off.
Since Yokohama is only 35 kms from Tokyo, some Yokohama helicopter tours also start from Tokyo.
Before booking the tour, do check which is the closest heliport.
1. Tokyo heliport
Address: 4-chōme-7-25 Shinkiba, Koto City, Tōkyō-to 136-0082, Japan (Google Map)
As the name suggests this heliport is in Tokyo and the Tokyo-Yokohama shoreline helicopter tour starts from here.
The Tokyo heliport is five minutes by car (or taxi) from Shinkiba station.
From the station, you can also take a bus to reach the heliport.
Bus Stop No 1: The bus bounded for the Wakasu campsite
Bus Stop No 2: Board the bus bounded for Toyocho, or Shinkiba Zyunkan
This heliport gets used for flights in the Greater Tokyo Area by both the Government and private helicopter tour companies.
The Tokyo heliport has a waiting room and restrooms.
The Tokyo-Yokohama shoreline helicopter tour takes off from Tokyo heliport.
2. Yokohama Nishi Helipad
Address: Yokohama Nishi Helipad, 1221 Imaichō, Hodogaya Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-0035 (Google Map)
It is also known as Tokyo Westside Helipad.
Higashi Totsuka, which services JR Shonan Shinjuku and JR Yokosuka lines, is 2 kms (1.3 mile) from the heliport.
Taxis available outside the station can take you to the heliport in five minutes. If you decide to walk, you will need approximately 25 minutes.
Parking is available at Yokohama Sunny Aero park, which is next to the heliport.
The combined helicopter tour over Yokohama & Tokyo at night takes off from this heliport.
3. Minatomirai heliport
Address: Minatomirairinji Helipad, Kanagawa, Yokohama, Nishi Ward, Minatomirai, 1 Chome−7 (Google Map)
This is also often referred to as the Minatomirairinji helipad.
There are three stations close to this heliport – Sakuragicho Station, Yokohama Station and Minatomirai Station.
Sakuragicho Station services the Blue Line and the Negishi Line and is five minutes by taxi from the heliport.
Being a massive travel terminal the Yokohama Station services a lot of lines (see image).
Once you reach Yokohama Station, take the East exit and board a taxi for a five-minute ride to the Minatomirai heliport.
Minatomirai Station is approximately 900 meters (half a mile) from Minatomirairinji Helipad and the distance can be walked in 12 minutes.
Once you get off the train, remember to take Exit 2 of Minatomirai Station – that’s the closest to the helipad.
Minatomirai heliport has no car parking. If you plan to drive to the helipad, head straight to Rinko park parking lot, which a minute’s walk away.
There are no toilets at the Minatomirai heliport.
Check out all the helicopter tours from Minatomirai heliport.
Where do helicopters return
After your Yokohama sightseeing trip is over, you will land at the same place from where the helicopter took off.
Timing of the helicopter tours
The Yokohama helicopter tours which take off from Tokyo Heliport and Yokohama Nishi Helipad run all through the week.
Tours that take off from Minatomirairinji helipad are available only on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays.
Day time helicopter tours over Yokohama are available from 10 am to 3.30 pm while the night tours can start at 5 pm and go on till 8.30 pm.
During winter, the the take offs stop a little earlier.
While booking your tour, you must select your preferred time slot.
Note: All flight times are an approximation and are subject to change depending on the weather conditions.
Number of passengers in one chopper
Except for the shared helicopter tour over Yokohama, every other tour over the city is private.
That means, they are charter flights and only your group will be in the helicopter with you.
Yokohama aerial tours taking off from Tokyo Heliport and Yokohama Nishi helipad have a limit of three passengers, while those taking off from Minatomirairinji helipad have a limit of five passengers.
You will find these details on the tour booking page.
Even if you are one person, you will be paying for the whole helicopter ride, and that is why there is no minimum number of passengers required for confirmation of the tour.
Children on helicopter tours
Children under two years of age can join the tour for free, and they must sit on their parents’ lap.
Parents must also carry the kid’s proof of age.
If your kid is three years, they must sit separately as an adult. Infant seats are available in the helicopters.
Weight restrictions
Three-seater helicopters are used for tours that take off from Tokyo Heliport and Yokohama Nishi helipad.
Tours that take off from the Minatomirairinji helipad are run on five-seater helicopters.
On the helicopter tour booking page, you can find out if its a 3-seater or a 5-seater helicopter.
On a 3-seater, passengers may not exceed 130 Kgs (286 lbs), and the total weight of all the passengers can’t exceed 240 Kgs (530 lbs).
On a 5-seater helicopter also the upper limit for a passenger’s weight is 130 Kgs (286 lbs).
Before take-off, the pilot and the ground staff will make sure the passengers’ weight is distributed evenly in the helicopter.
Cost of Yokohama helicopter tours
Despite the high costs, helicopter rides over Yokohama are the best way to see the city.
In Yokohama, since you charter the flight, the cost mentioned is for a group of up to three or five passengers (depending on the helicopter).
If you are a single person who wants to take an aerial tour of Yokohama, you must book the shared helicopter tour, which costs 18,359 Japanese Yen (170 US Dollars) per person.
If you are a group of three, you can book a five-minute tour over the city for 56,000 Yen (520 USD). As air time increases the cost of the tour increases, for instance, the 15-minute tour of Yokohama is priced at 63,580 Yen (590 USD).
If you are holidaying in Tokyo and plan to fly over Yokohama, the Tokyo-Yokohama shoreline helicopter tour will cost you 1,56,600 Japanese Yen (1,460 US Dollars) for up to three people.
If you plan to do a night tour over both the cities, you must shell out 1,28,000 Japanese Yen (1,200 US Dollars) for a group of 3 passengers.
All fees and taxes are part of this tour price.
Cancellation policy of air tours in Yokohama
If you cancel at least 24 hours before your helicopter tour is scheduled, you qualify for a 100 percent refund.
Cancellations made within 24 hours of the start date of the tour won’t receive any refund.
When helicopter ride gets canceled
Sometimes because of bad weather or technical issues in the helicopter, a planned trip may not happen.
In such a case, the helicopter tour operator will offer a different date or a full refund. You get to decide.
Things to know before booking
- Reservations can be made from about one month in advance.
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.
- Passengers who have gone scuba diving in the past 24 hours can’t fly. Why diving and flying are dangerous together.
- All passengers get “third-party passenger comprehensive liability insurance”, the cost of which is included in the flight fee.
- Except for the ‘shared tour,’ all other chopper tours over Yokohama are private, which means only your group will take off together.
- All passengers must go through the metal detector security check before the flight.
- You can bring along your mobile and camera on the helicopter and take as many photos and videos as possible. Just that you can’t take photographs at the Tokyo Heliport (because it is part of Japan’s anti-terrorism plan)
- All passengers will receive pre-flight explanations for their safety.
- Flash photography is NOT allowed during the flight. During the course of the flight, all passengers must always listen to the pilot.
- Some of the tours that take off from Yokohama are not wheelchair accessible. You will find the details on the tour booking page.
Tokyo-Yokohama shoreline helicopter tour
This 55-minute helicopter tour offers stunning visuals of the Tokyo area and Yokohama area and is very popular with the tourists.
It is the only helicopter tour that takes off from Tokyo and also includes a complete flight over Yokohama.
Here are some of the highlights you will see during this aerial tour: Rainbow Bridge, Kachidoki Bridge, Yokohama Landmark Tower, Yokohama Chinatown, Yamashita Park (Hikawamaru), Tokyo Station, Akihabara, Tokyo Stadium, Imperial Palace, Shinjuku, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shibuya, Haneda Airport, Roppongi Hils, Tokyo Tower, Ryōgoku Kokugikan(for Sumo), Skytree, Sensoji Temple (in Asakusa).
Departure: Tokyo Heliport, 4-chōme-7-25 Shinkiba, Koto City, Tōkyō-to 136-0082, Japan (Google Map)
Duration in the air: 55 minutes
Narration: Live Commentary
Tour Operator: AirX Helicopter service
Tour timings: 10 am to 3 pm, every half hour
Availability: All through the week
Cost of the tour: 1,56,600 Japanese Yen (1,460 US Dollars)
If you want the cheaper 40-minute Tokyo-Yokohama shoreline chopper tour, check this out.
Tours that take off from Yokohama heliport
In this section, we list all the chopper tours that take off from Minatomirairinji Helipad in Yokohama.
Shared helicopter tour over Yokohama, at night
Most of the Yokohama heli tours are charters, which means you book it for up to three passengers.
However, when you book this helicopter tour, you share the cost with a maximum of five other passengers, which makes this the cheapest helicopter tour in Yokohama.
You take off right after the sunset—when the natural light fades away and the city starts to shine in the darkness.
This is one of the most popular plans for whoever wants to experience Yokohama’s night scene.
Departure: Minatomirairinji Helipad, Kanagawa, Yokohama, Nishi Ward, Minatomirai, 1 Chome−7 (Google Map)
Duration in the air: 10 minutes
Narration: Live Commentary
Tour Operator: AirX Helicopter service
Tour timings: 10 am to 3 pm, every half hour
Availability: Only on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays
Cost of the tour: 18,359 Japanese Yen (170 US Dollars)
Private tour over Yokohama just after sunset
You take off just after sunset and get fantastic sights of the city of Yokohama.
This helicopter cruise is a completely private affair so just perfect for a birthday surprise or an anniversary gift.
Departure: Minatomirairinji Helipad, Kanagawa, Yokohama, Nishi Ward, Minatomirai, 1 Chome−7 (Google Map)
Duration in the air: 10 minutes
Narration: Live Commentary
Tour Operator: AirX Helicopter service
Tour timings: 7 pm to 8.30 pm, every ten minutes
Availability: Only on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays
Cost of the tour: 67,300 Japanese Yen (625 US Dollars) for a group of 5 passengers
Yokohama night city helicopter tour
This 10 minute helicopter tour takes an extraordinary look at Yokohama at night.
You will fly over the city’s landmarks such as Yokohama City, Minatomirai, Red Brick Warehouse, Osanbashi, Yokohama Chinatown, Yokohama Stadium, Yokohama Baybridge, etc.
Departure: Minatomirairinji Helipad, Kanagawa, Yokohama, Nishi Ward, Minatomirai, 1 Chome−7 (Google Map)
Duration in the air: 10 minutes
Narration: Live Commentary
Tour Operator: AirX Helicopter service
Tour timings: 5 pm to 6.30 pm, every half hour
Availability: Only on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays
Cost of the tour: 73,500 Japanese Yen (685 US Dollars) for a group of 5 passengers
This Yokohama heli tour at night is also available with more airtime.
| Air time | Passengers | Cost |
| 5 minutes | up to 3 | 56,000 Yen (520 USD) |
| 15 minutes | up to 3 | 63,580 Yen (590 USD) |
| 20 minutes | up to 5 | 1,88,000 Yen (1,755 USD) |
| 30 minutes | up to 5 | 2,75,000 Yen (2,565 USD) |
Helicopter tour over Yokohama & Tokyo at night
This flight allows passengers to explore the spectacular scenery of both Tokyo and Yokohama at night for over 45 minutes of flight time.
The tour takes place over Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Sensoji Temple(in Asakusa), Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba, Musashikosugi Station, Haneda Airport, Futago Tama River, Yokohama City, Minatomirai etc.
Departure: Yokohama Nishi Helipad, 1221 Imaichō, Hodogaya Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-0035 (Google Map)
Duration in the air: 45 minutes
Narration: Live Commentary
Tour Operator: AirX Helicopter service
Tour timings: 6 pm to 7.30 pm, every half hour
Availability: All through the week
Cost of the tour: 1,28,000 Japanese Yen (1,200 US Dollars) for a group of 3 passengers
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# FAQs about Helicopter tours