Seitaro Tomisawa opened the scoring for Yokohama three minutes before the half-time interval but the visitors' lead lasted just three minutes into the second half after Yojiro Takahagi found the back of the net for the defending champions.

Kosuke Nakamachi restored Yokohama's lead in the 74th minute and Marquinhos secured the points 10 minutes from time.

Yasuhiro Higuchi's men are now five-from-five this season, and two points clear atop the ladder following Urawa Red Diamonds' come-from-behind 2-1 win against Jubilo Iwata.

Urawa trailed after 25 minutes but Ryota Moriwaki levelled proceedings with 15 minutes remaining and Genki Haraguchi completed the hosts' comeback deep into injury time.

Elsewhere on Saturday, a 78th-minute strike from Zlatan Ljubijankic proved the difference as Omiya Ardija edged Tokyo 1-0, preserving their unbeaten start to the season.

Kashima Antlers edged Cerezo Osaka 1-0 at Kashima Soccer Stadium, condemning the visitors to their first defeat of the year.

Last season's runners-up Vegalta Sendai suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Albirex Niigata, Ventforet Kofu ended their winless start to the season by beating cellar-dwellers Oita Trinita 1-0, while Kashiwa Reysol and Nagoya Grampus shared the spoils following a six-goal thriller.

In other results, Shimizu S-Pulse ran out 1-0 winners away to Sagan Tosu and newly-promoted outfit Shonan Bellmare held Kawasaki Frontale to a 1-1 stalemate.