We live in Minato Mirai and know pretty much the ins and outs of the area.  Yokohama Train Station is  pretty high end but there are also some affordable shops there too.  Places like UniQlo has basic clothing ie sweaters, khaki pants/capri, long and short sleve Ts really like this store.  Sogo (a department store) is huge with about 6-7 loors.  Many, many small boutique type stores too.  Lots of places to eat too (although rather high priced) check out the Bay Quarter for nice restaurants.

Another area is the Queen's Square Mall a short walk from Yoko Station (about 10 minutes) or you can hop on the Minato Mirai Line at Yoko Station and get off right at Minoto Mirai Station which is down in the basement of the Queen's Square Mall or ride the Negishi Line and get off at Sakuragicho Station and walk from there (about 5 minutes).  This is my favorite mall, because it has some of the shops from "home".  Gap, Banana Republic, H&N, and Talbots.  Banana Republic sizes run a bit small but the others are American sized.  This mall also has a Pokeman shop, Coach and a bunch of other fun/speciality shops.  I really like Madu, Franc Franc, and Niko & Co for nice decorator/housewares.  Some neat places to eat include HardRock (which is too loud for us) a really neat soup shop and plenty of "others", these are all located on the b1 or bottom floor. Also 2 Starbucks, a Sizzler, and a Cold Stone Creamery. 

Speaking of Sakuragicho Station, to the left of the station (almost directly upon exiting) there is another mall, this one is mostly Japanese small shops but they do have a couple of neat sports clothing/gear stores and some good eating (this on the 5 & 6 floors).

If you go across the street from Sakuragicho and down the wooden bridge, 5 minutes across and you hit the World Porters, another mall, this one is full of afordable shopping, but if size is important, shop carefully.  There is a whole floor full of Japanese furniture/housewares (about the 4th or 5th floor).  Street level floor has Starbucks, Tullys, and Cold Stone Creamery, this besides a good noodle place.

Another 5 minute walk from the World Porters is the Red Brick area (head away from the Queens Mall), here are two revamped warehouses full of touristy shops, this is where the tour ships dock and is a nice place to see unusual neat finds.  Things here remind me of Cannery Row in Monterey California.  Bottom floor are some restaurants, best is the Kua'aina Hawaiian burger place (goooood burgers).

All this within about a 15 minute walk radius.  Want shopping, here ya go.

Posted By Nekoluvr on 02-07-2012 8:58 PM
Frank, the Ramen Museum is at Shin-Yokohama...short walk from from the station. You can always ask information at the station and they can probably give you a map. Totally different station than Yokohama. I have been there many times but have never seen where you can do your own noodles.

Posted By Nekoluvr on 02-08-2012 6:35 PM
Maybe the cup-o-noodles museum in Yokohama has where you can design your own cup...the Ramen museum in Shin-Yokohama has many ramen restaurants from all over Japan. I'm sure you can google Yokohama Ramen Museum and find it. Downstairs from the " museum" part it's set in 50's era Japan...like going back in time...take an appetite!

Posted By Donna on 02-08-2012 8:20 PM
Take a Japanese person along to translate for the museum - it's not in English.

Posted By Frank on 02-09-2012 3:45 PM
Wilson - Thanks for all the information.  I'm sure others will find it very useful as well.