Just a few dozen kilometres south of Tokyo, Yokohama offers a different urban atmosphere, facing the ocean and marked by a rich maritime past. Its district of Minato Mirai, literally “the port of the future”, embodies this identity by concentrating a set of cultural, playful and architectural attractions that make this area one of the most dynamic places in the city.
A neighborhood designed for leisure and discovery
Minato Mirai extends over Yokohama seafront. It was developed in the 1980s to transform an old industrial port area into a modern urban area. Today, it includes many shopping centres, offices, hotels, museums, parks and leisure facilities. Thanks to its central location, it is easily accessible from Sakuragicho and Minatomira stations.
Minato Mirai is also an anchor to better understand the evolution of Yokohama, a city open to international trade since the 19th century and model of adaptation to contemporary dynamics.
Cosmo World: a waterfront amusement park
Cannot miss the silhouette of the large wheel Cosmo Clock 21, 112 meters high, visible from many points of the bay. It is part of the Cosmo World amusement park, which is inspired by traditional carnivals.
The site focuses on families and fans of moderate sensations. The wheel offers a panoramic view of Tokyo Bay, particularly spectacular at sunset or at night. The most famous ride is the Diving Coaster Vanish, a Russian mountain that plunges briefly into an aquatic tunnel, creating a striking visual effect.
Museums around transport and innovation
Minato Mirai houses several museums that explore the history of transportation, engineering and technology in Japan. They offer a very concrete overview of the rapid modernization of the country and its industrial know-how.
TheHara Railway Museumpresents an impressive collection of reduced rail models brought together by a enthusiast, Hara Nobutarō. The site includes a gigantic diorama 30 meters long, powered by a miniature power grid. An interactive activity allows you to take virtually the controls of a train.
Themuseum Keikyu, located in the premises of the eponymous railway company, traces the evolution of suburban trains. More modest but free, it complements the technical information of the Hara museum with an approach to the company’s history.
Finally, theMitsubishi Industrial Museumoffers immersion in shipbuilding, aeronautics, space exploration and robotics. It is intended for a curious audience of science and technology, with several interactive simulators and models. Brochures in English are available at the entrance.
Thematic museums
TheAnpanman Museum, dedicated to the popular character of Japanese youth literature, is particularly suitable for young children. The site combines interactive exhibitions, a specialized shop and a theme restaurant. The universe of Anpanman, based on benevolence and mutual aid, has marked several generations.
TheYokohama Instant Noodle Museum, opened by the Nissin group, looks back on the invention of cup nobles and their diffusion throughout the world. Workshops allow visitors to design their own cup noodle to take away. The entrance is affordable, and the highly appreciated experience of families as lovers of Japanese popular culture.
The Landmark Tower: panorama and shopping
In the heart of Minato Mirai stands the Landmark Tower, an iconic skyscraper of Yokohama, which culminates at 296 metres. It is the second highest building in Japan. An ultra-fast lift allows you to reach the 69th floor in just 40 seconds to access the Sky Garden, an observation platform offering panoramic views of the city, bay and in clear weather, to Mount Fuji.
At the foot of the tower, the Landmark Plaza shopping centre brings together many Japanese and international brands. There is a Pokémon Center shop, souvenir shops and several cafes.
The Port Museum and the sailboat Nippon Maru
A short walk from the Landmark Tower, Yokohama Harbour Museum is located in Nippon Maru Memorial Park. It allows to trace the port history of the city through models, archives and objects related to maritime activity.
The main attraction of the museum is the sailing school Nippon Maru, preserved in the adjacent basin. This four-mast, launched in 1930, is classified as important cultural property. It is possible to visit the inside of the vessel, including the master’s cabin. The sails of the ship are sometimes hoisted during specific events, making it a privileged moment for the visit.
A museum dedicated to Japanese Coast Guard
More discreet, the Coast Guard Museum is located about a kilometre away from Cosmo World, on the seafront. It details the missions of the Japanese Coast Guard and maritime security issues. The most significant element is the wreckage of a North Korean spy ship sunk by the Japanese authorities in 2001. Admission is free.
Practical information
Minato Mirai is accessible by train from Tokyo via the lines JR Keihin-Tohoku and Tokyu Toyoko. From Yokohama station, you must then reach the stations of Sakuragicho or Minatomira, depending on the place to visit.
Most museums and attractions are open every day except for specific holidays, usually from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Prices are affordable, and several museums offer discounts for children or combined tickets.
It is advisable to spend an entire day exploring Minato Mirai if you want to visit several museums, enjoy the amusement park and explore the surroundings. The neighborhood also enjoys at the end of the day, when the bay lights up and the terraces of the restaurants offer a place for a break by the sea.
Minato Mirai is a showcase of Yokohama’s contemporary face. This district, which is concentrated in fun, cultural and commercial activities, makes it possible to enrich a route in the Tokyo region, without leaving the seaside. It is also a privileged place to feel how a large Japanese city can reinvent itself around its maritime past, its technological dynamism and its open urban environment.
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