After visiting Yokosuka recently, I noticed that I would’ve loved a digital version of the Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide. Which you can find here. Or you can also check out some other important learnings from my short visit.
Where to get the Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide?
First things first, even though you now have the digital version, you probably want to get the real thing as well. The easiest and quickest would be to find the Yokosuka Tourist Information right at the train station. Just exit via the East Gate and you’re right there. If you can’t find the map on display, you can also ask; they speak English very well.
Does the map cover everything?
Actually no. It’s definitely missing the bars and side streets. Those are very easy to find, just wander off Dobuita Street. And it’s Japan, so you don’t need to worry in dark side streets either, just watch out for Sailors :).
One thing that is missing, which I would consider one of the highlights of my visit, is the Ryochoin temple. It’s near Odakicho Park, which is on the Sacred Map, so basically on your way. You can just walk in, and it bears a stark resemblance to the Hazuki residence in the game. And a very cool place to visit, probably even for those of your group who didn’t play the game.
How much time do I need to visit all Shenmue spots in Yokosuka?
Depending on who you ask, people tend to vary from a few hours, an afternoon, to a full day and night. Which is not particularly helpful. So, let’s start with some of the factors you can consider when planning your trip.
The short visit
This category is for those of you who only have a very limited time in Japan. You’re maybe only in the vicinity for a business trip, or you already planned out your trip with different cities all over the country, or you’re traveling with friends who have no affection for Shenmue.
For those visitors, it is at all possible to just go to Yokosuka from Tokyo quickly via train, it’s around 90 minutes depending on the train, you can even use your Suica card since it’s not a long distance. You can make your way quickly to Dobuita Street, have a look around, visit the shrine, maybe even have a quick look at the harbour. Being only a short visit, other not-so-enthusiastic members of your group should be able to enjoy it as well before it gets too boring. Because we must be somewhat realistic, Yokosuka is probably not a big attraction in itself. It’s a small Japanese city, a little bit hilly with a seaside. Which is just to say that for people without any Shenmue fandom, it may feel that way. I personally really liked visiting Yokosuka, especially the train ride there, passing through cities and a cool landscape.
The longer visit
If you’re a bigger Shenmue enthusiast and want to dive deep into the atmosphere, I would say it is worthwhile to stay for a whole day. This way you can enjoy strolling around, going up the surrounding hills near the Suwa Grand Shrine, check out the harbour area in more detail, or even grab something to eat.
You could also just wander around, listen to the Shenmue soundtrack (thanks to TokyoJones85 on Reddit for that amazing idea), and enjoy the atmosphere. It takes out the stress of your visit, and you don’t need to run from one point on the map to another. And at the same time, should you get bored, then you can just hop onto the train and visit, for example, Yokohama, which is not too far away.
Should you stay overnight?
This is probably for the hardcore fans. As with any city, especially in Japan, night turns it into a different place, lit up with lights. It also means the bars are open, which you could also visit. In this case, you could check for cheap hotels to stay or take one of the later trains back to whichever city you’re staying in.
If I could do it again, which option would I choose?
My original plan was to stay overnight on my way back from Kyoto. But after checking the train routes, it made more sense to go to Yokosuka from Tokyo. I only stayed for a few hours, and I probably could’ve stayed a bit longer.
But I also feel like staying a whole day could be too much. Especially if you’re with anyone there that has no connection to Shenmue, they might get bored, depending on what they are looking for in a trip. However, the closeness to Yokohama could also present a nice way to split up, with you exploring Yokosuka on your own and meeting up later. Doing both Yokohama and Yokosuka in one day could be stressful, though, if you want to see more of both cities than the direct surroundings of the main train stations.