Explore how Yokohama and its surrounding region are embracing a circular lifestyle with English and Japanese bilingual guides guaranteeing a smooth experience.
Explore the Circular Economy Deep with Us!
Why Visit Yokohama for Circular Economy Insights?
Yokohama is a thriving urban center and dynamic consumption hub, uniquely reimagining everyday life through a circular economy lens. Through close collaboration with the City, local SMEs, startups, universities, and NPOs, our tours offer not only a deeper understanding of the circular economy’s structure and urban development, but also opportunities to connect with the real people driving change on the ground.
Who Should Join?
Our tours are perfect for a vibrant mix of participants:
- Students and educators looking for cross-cultural exchange and inspiration
- Sustainability professionals and entrepreneurs seeking fresh ideas and partners
- NGO, government, and global organization delegates eager to deepen their understanding of circular models
This is a place for open conversations, new connections, and lasting friendships. All wrapped up in a collaborative learning experience!
What the Tour with Us Looks Like
Our group tours are as flexible and dynamic as your interests:
- Duration: Choose from half-day to multi-day itineraries
- Style: Walkable routes or travel by shared transport; designed to relax and engage
- Activities: Expert-led site visits, lively Q&A sessions, interactive workshops, meet-and-greets
- Customization: Tailored to your focus—urban design, resource recycling, circular startups, and more
Who You'll Get to Meet
Our tours are all about learning directly from the people who make circular living a reality in Yokohama. Depending on your group’s focus, you might visit and talk with:
Local upcyclers and recyclers – NAKANO & Co.
At one of Yokohama’s first recycling hubs, NAKANO & Co. offers a unique lens on fashion—not as design, but as waste. You will explore how discarded clothing is collected, processed, and transformed into reusable raw materials and upcycled products. This visit highlights the environmental challenges of fast fashion and uncovers practical, local solutions already making a difference.
Sustainability-driven startups – Sachiumi Heroes
Sachiumi Heroes is a local initiative tackling marine conservation through blue carbon solutions like kelp farming, beach cleanups, and upcycling. In warm Yokohama waters, kelp grows rapidly, capturing CO₂ efficiently. The team explores multiple uses—from food to cosmetics and fertilizer—showing how ocean-based resources can drive local circular systems rooted in both ecology and creativity.
Public-private crossed sectors – Yokohama SDGs Design Center
Yokohama SDGs Design Center is a public-private initiative powering Yokohama’s district-wide circular transition. One major effort, the Minato Mirai Circular City Project, focuses on decarbonization by 2050 in Japan’s designated “Decarbonization Leading Area.” You will learn how cross-sector collaboration, data mapping, and resource tracking are transforming city districts into models of circular innovation.
Academic collaborators – Kanagawa University Minato Mirai Campus
Located in the heart of Minato Mirai 21, Kanagawa University is a hub for next-generation circular design. Students and faculty collaborate with local businesses to prototype sustainable products using digital fabrication tools. At the on-campus FabLab, you will discover how open access to design and production technology empowers youth to shape real-world circular economy solutions.
What You’ll Gain
- Authentic insights into collaborative consumption—home to city-wide systems in action
- Inspiration from creative solutions with global impact
- Connections: Meet Yokohama’s changemakers—researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders
- Joyful memories: Hands-on experiences that spark conversation and innovation
Past Tour Reports
Curious about what our group tours look like in action? Take a look at some of our past programs to see how international students, sustainability professionals, and local changemakers explored circular practices together. Each report highlights unique experiences, partner sites, and the connections built along the way.
https://circular.yokohama/en/2023/09/26/ndp-philippines_japantour_01/ 
Contact Us Today
Ready to create your own custom tour? Whether you’re organizing a university program, corporate training, or government exchange, we’re here to help design a circular experience tailored to your group’s goals.
While our core focus is Yokohama, we can also coordinate visits to circular initiatives in nearby regions, depending on your interests and goals. Let’s co-create a meaningful circular journey—together.