Want to see how a chair gets reupholstered, or make a leather keychain with your own hands? On Sunday, November 1, 2026, the Yokohama Skills Festival (よこはま技能まつり) opens the doors of the Yokohama City Skills Culture Hall (横浜市技能文化会館), a few minutes on foot from Kannai Station. The City of Yokohama announced the event on October 20, and the poster calls it the 45th edition.
Expect three kinds of things: short hands-on workshops, live demonstrations by working craftspeople, and a few items for sale, including pork katsu curry you can take home. Here is what we know, and what to check before you go.
Key details at a glance
| Event | Yokohama Skills Festival (よこはま技能まつり) |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
| Hours | 10:00–15:30 |
| Weather | Held rain or shine |
| Venue | Yokohama City Skills Culture Hall (横浜市技能文化会館) |
| Address | 2-4-7 Bandaicho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa (横浜市中区万代町2-4-7) |
| Nearest stations | JR Kannai Station, South Exit: 5 min walk Isezaki-chojamachi Station (Yokohama Municipal Subway), Exit 2: 3 min walk |
| Booking | Some programs give priority to advance bookings |
| Fees | Not stated in the announcement. Check the official page |
| Announced by | City of Yokohama (October 20, 2026) |
| Organizer | Yokohama Council of Skilled Trade Associations (横浜市技能職団体連絡協議会, Hamagiren) |
What you can do there
The press release names these items. It lists them as examples, so the full lineup on the day may be bigger. The Peatix page has the details.
| Type | Item | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-on workshop | Genuine leather keychain | 本革でつくるキーホルダー |
| Hands-on workshop | Original clear folder | オリジナルクリアフォルダ |
| Live demonstration | Chair upholstery | 椅子張り実演 |
| Live demonstration | Ironing | アイロンがけの実演 |
| For sale | Pork katsu curry | ポークカツカレー |
| For sale | Panda beanbag dolls | パンダお手玉人形 |
Make a leather keychain
This is the most hands-on item on the list: you work real leather yourself and walk away with something you made. It is a nice option if you are bringing kids, or if you just like small craft projects.
Design an original clear folder
The second workshop lets you make a clear folder of your own. The press release also shows a sheet of Halloween-themed cutouts with bats, cats, pumpkins and stars.
Watch a chair being reupholstered
Upholstery is the kind of work most of us never see up close. At the demonstration, a craftsperson re-covers a chair seat in front of visitors.
See professional ironing
The other demo is ironing. It sounds ordinary, but watching a professional press a shirt can teach you a trick or two for your own laundry.
Pork katsu curry to eat or take home
Among the items for sale is pork katsu curry. The image in the press release says takeout is OK, so you can grab one for later. Prices were not announced.
Handmade panda beanbag dolls
Panda beanbag dolls are also for sale. Otedama are small fabric beanbags traditionally used in a juggling game in Japan, so they make a small, very Japanese souvenir.
Booking and fees
Some programs give priority to people who booked in advance. The press release does not say which ones, so open the official Peatix page and check each program you are interested in.
Getting there
The hall sits between Kannai and Isezaki-chojamachi, and two stations are within a short walk:
- Isezaki-chojamachi Station (Yokohama Municipal Subway): about 3 minutes on foot from Exit 2
- JR Kannai Station: about 5 minutes on foot from the South Exit
Address for your map app: 2-4-7 Bandaicho, Naka-ku, Yokohama (横浜市中区万代町2-4-7).
Tips for the day
- Book first, plan second. Since some programs give priority to advance bookings, secure the workshop you want on Peatix, then fit the demos and food around it.
- Rain is not a reason to skip it. The festival goes ahead in wet weather.
- Mind the closing time. Doors run 10:00–15:30, so a late-afternoon arrival leaves little time.
- Takeout curry is an option. If the venue is busy at lunch, you can take the pork katsu curry home.
- Long day out? If your phone tends to run low, our d VALUE PASS guide explains free, unlimited ChargeSPOT power bank rentals.
Looking for more weekend outings? See our guides to the Shibaura Canal Festival and its free canal cruises, the Musashino Art University Festival, and the Ghibli Park exhibition, which also stops in Yokosuka. If you are still setting up payments in Japan, our guide to credit cards for foreigners helps you pick a first card.
FAQ
- When and where is the Yokohama Skills Festival held?
- On Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 10:00 to 15:30, at the Yokohama City Skills Culture Hall near Kannai Station in Yokohama. It goes ahead in the rain.
- Do I need to book in advance?
- Some programs give priority to people who booked in advance. The official Peatix page lists the details and how to apply.
- Is there an admission fee?
- The press release does not mention admission or workshop fees. Check the official Peatix page before you go.
- Which station is closest?
- Isezaki-chojamachi Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway, about 3 minutes on foot from Exit 2. From JR Kannai Station, use the South Exit and allow about 5 minutes.
Contacts and sources
| Event office | Yokohama Council of Skilled Trade Associations (横浜市技能職団体連絡協議会, Hamagiren) secretariat Tel: 045-650-5811 (Mon, Wed, Fri 13:00–17:00) Email: [email protected] |
|---|---|
| City office | City of Yokohama, Economic Affairs Bureau, Employment and Labor Division (横浜市経済局雇用労働課) Tel: 045-671-4098 (weekdays 9:00–17:00) Email: [email protected] |
Sources: City of Yokohama press release (PR TIMES, October 20, 2026) / Official Peatix page. Details may change, so check the official page for the latest information.