14 New Tourist Spots in Yokohama Minato Mirai: A Comprehensive Plan to Visit the Ropeway and Red Brick Buildings

Minato Mirai is recommended for sightseeing in Yokohama

The official name of Minato Mirai is "Yokohama Minato Mirai 21." It is an area that spans Yokohama's Nishi-ku and Naka-ku, and is dotted with many famous sights, including historical buildings, commercial facilities, and entertainment spots, among the beautiful waterfront scenery. It is a recommended tourist destination.

In addition, since it is located southeast of Yokohama Station and north of Yokohama Chinatown, it is an area with easy access from Yokohama Station to surrounding stations in just a few minutes on both the JR and Minatomirai lines. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes from Haneda Airport to Yokohama Station on the Keikyu Main Line, so it can be said to be a tourist destination that is easily accessible from the gateway to the sky.

Yokohama Minato Mirai Tourist Map

Great for trips with friends or dates. Yokohama Minato Mirai walking and shopping spots

"YOKOHAMA AIR CABIN" is a ropeway that lets you take an aerial stroll through Minato Mirai

If you want to see the scenery of Minato Mirai, you can't miss the YOKOHAMA AIR CABIN, Japan's first permanent ropeway in an urban area, which began operation in April 2021. It connects Sakuragicho Station and Yokohama World Porters, and offers a bird's-eye view of Minato Mirai.

The total length is about 630m, and it takes about 5 minutes to walk in the air one way. You will pass by the symbols of Minato Mirai such as Yokohama Landmark Tower and the Ferris wheel as you ride through the city in a gondola. Enjoy Minato Mirai from a different perspective than on the ground.

One of the attractions of Minato Mirai is the way its appearance changes from day to night. One way to enjoy the area is to watch the clear blue sky gradually turn into a sunset and then into a glittering night view from the ropeway.

YOKOHAMA AIR CABIN

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse: A photogenic building with a wide variety of shops.

The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is a historic structure built as a model warehouse for the country from the end of the Meiji period to the beginning of the Taisho period. It is surrounded by a park with trees, making it a great place to relax. At night, the Red Brick Warehouse is lit up in orange, creating a fantastic atmosphere that is different from the daytime.

The warehouse is divided into Building No. 1 and Building No. 2, with the hall and multipurpose space in Building No. 1 hosting plays, concerts, dance performances and other performances throughout the year, while Building No. 2 is a commercial facility with over 60 restaurants, general merchandise stores and other establishments, as well as a live music restaurant and buffet restaurant.

In addition to walking to the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse from the station, you can also take the Sea Bus, which departs from the East Exit of Yokohama Station. You can enjoy a short cruise with a great sense of freedom, overlooking the Minato Mirai scenery from a perspective close to the water's surface. It's a great way to take commemorative photos with famous landmarks such as the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse and the Yokohama Landmark Tower in the background, so be sure to check it out.

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

Full of gourmet food that will be appearing for the first time: "Yokohama Hammerhead"

Next up is Yokohama Hammerhead, a 10-minute walk from Minatomirai Station. This is a complex with a large passenger ship terminal at its center, as well as international brand hotels and commercial facilities.

Hammerhead SHOP & RESTAURANT is a gourmet-themed shopping facility that brings together 25 stores, including some that are new to Japan and some that are new to the industry. Based on a factory concept, the experience-oriented store offers new discoveries and surprises.

For example, at the JAPAN RAMEN FOOD HALL, five unique ramen shops will liven up the food hall, which seats approximately 250, along with the Ocean Bar, which offers a diverse drink menu.

If you have fun with your children, we recommend the Peter Rabbit™ Cafe and Ariake Harbor Studio. The Peter Rabbit™ Cafe is a must-see for Peter Rabbit fans, with interior and menu items that are reminiscent of a storybook world.

Ariake Harbor Studio is also famous for its industry-first "My Harbor," where photos taken in the photo booth are printed on Harbor Studio's exclusive ship-shaped packaging, creating a one-of-a-kind souvenir. It's also the perfect place to make memories.

Yokohama Hammerhead

Marine & Walk Yokohama: Unique gourmet food and shopping at a seaside mall.

Marine & Walk Yokohama is an open mall that was created in 2016 with the idea of "creating a street in a warehouse district along the sea" that seamlessly connects the sea and greenery. Unique shops line the central street, and you can enjoy the colorful scenery of Yokohama throughout the four seasons.

One representative restaurant is Pieholic, a pie specialty restaurant. Aiming to become a pie emporium, a California soul food, lunch offers all-you-can-eat freshly baked pies for adults starting at 2,200 yen. For dinner, the number of pies increases, with over 20 varieties available.

Another must-see restaurant is the PEANUTS DINER. You can enjoy West Coast gourmet food inspired by Snoopy and his PEANUTS friends, as well as authentic main dishes and desserts. In addition to the glasses, mugs, and T-shirts used here, the restaurant also sells PEANUTS DINER limited edition goods. You can enjoy the world of PEANUTS in its entirety, so it's recommended for girls' parties, couples, and families with children.

Marine & Walk Yokohama

Zo-no-hana Park: a memorial park with an art space and cafe

Zou-no-hana Park is a park with a great sense of openness that opened in 2009 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of Yokohama Port. The cute name comes from the fact that the breakwater built at the end of the Edo period looked like an elephant's trunk when seen from above, and was commonly called "Zou-no-hana."

This Elephant's Trunk Breakwater has been restored to its appearance in the late 1880s. There is also a granite monument of "Tanemaru", the mascot character of the "Kaikoku Haku Y150" held in 2009, and an object of the light blue baby elephant "Perico", making it a fun and memorial place.

Located within the park, the "Zou-no-hana Terrace" is an art space and rest house that regularly hosts events such as concerts and workshops. The terrace also has a takeaway "Zou-no-hana Cafe" that serves dishes made with local vegetables. With lots of greenery and beautiful views, it's a recommended spot for a break.

Zo-no-hana Park

The rooftop deck is a great spot for taking photos. The spacious and open "Yokohama Port Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal"

You can enjoy a pleasant walk along the waterfront at the Yokohama Port Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal, commonly known as Osanbashi, the gateway to Yokohama Port. The attraction is the rooftop plaza. This is an open space with natural grass and a vast wooden deck that resembles a ship's deck. As it juts out into the sea, there is nothing to obstruct the view, making it a great place to take photos of Minato Mirai, including the Yokohama Bay Bridge.

The building (terminal) also houses two restaurants, "Subzero" and "Blue Terminal", as well as shops, so just wandering around the building is fun and packed with things to see. Osanbashi Pier is a place where you can experience a variety of things, from photography spots to gourmet food and shopping.

Yokohama Port Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal

Yamashita Park is famous as a date spot, with monuments, towers, roses and boats.

Yamashita Park was built in 1930 (Showa 5) by filling in rubble from the reconstruction work after the Great Kanto Earthquake. In addition to the beautiful ocean view, there are many attractions such as monuments and song monuments, and the view of Yokohama Bay Bridge and the ships passing through the harbor is romantic. It has long been known as a popular date spot.

The area is also famous for its many monuments that give a glimpse of the rich exchanges that have taken place with other countries, such as the "Statue of the Girl in Red Shoes" from the familiar nursery rhyme, the "Indian Water Tower" donated by the Indian Association of Japan in 1937, and the "Guardian of Water" donated by San Diego, America, Japan's sister city.

Yamashita Park is also a famous rose spot in Yokohama, and every spring and fall, many roses bloom in the "Future Rose Garden." The cargo and passenger ship "Hikawa Maru" is moored at the eastern end, and you can tour the ship's interior except on Mondays and special closing days. Near the entrance, there is a shop selling goods related to the sea and ships, so why not check it out for souvenirs?

Yamashita Park

Enjoy lunch and shopping during the day, and gourmet dinner at "Yokohama Chinatown"

After enjoying a stroll and shopping, the night will come around. The best way to finish off such a tour is with dinner. If you have already traveled to Minato Mirai, why not try a delicious meal at Yokohama Chinatown, which is within walking distance of Yamashita Park?

The town has a long history, and after the opening of Yokohama Port, Chinese traders who came with Westerners started doing business there, and then it developed into its current form with the help of many Chinese people. It is now known as one of the world's largest Chinatowns, with over 600 stores, and is a place where you can enjoy lunch and shopping during the day, and is bustling with people looking for delicious food at night.

You can also experience the atmosphere of a busy downtown area in China, and the unique gates you see everywhere are called "pairou" (architectures) built based on the idea of feng shui. There are also the "Yokohama Kanteibyou" (Guan Yu), a famous military commander from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, enshrined as the god of prosperity in business, and the "Yokohama Masobyo" (Maso Temple), which enshrines several gods including the goddess "Mazu" who protects the safety of voyages, and are objects of worship mainly among locals.

Yokohama Chinatown

Related article

Yokohama Chinatown Food Walking Map 2022 Latest Edition. A thorough introduction to 12 recommended restaurants!

Yokohama Chinatown is a treasure trove of gourmet food to eat while walking around, including the famous dim sum such as baked xiaolongbao (baked dumplings) and steamed meat buns. From among the many restaurants, we have compiled a list of 12 truly delicious restaurants carefully selected by a gourmet writer! Please use this map not only for snacks to satisfy your hunger, but also for eating while walking around at lunchtime.

ontrip.jal.co.jp

Recommended for family trips. Hands-on spots in Yokohama Minato Mirai

Immerse yourself in outer space at the latest facility: "Konica Minolta Planetarium YOKOHAMA"

A planetarium has finally come to Minato Mirai. Konica Minolta Planetarium YOKOHAMA, which opened in March 2022 inside Yokohama Gate Tower, is the fifth Konica Minolta Planetarium directly managed by the company.

What's noteworthy is that this planetarium is the first in the Tokyo metropolitan area to use the LED dome system "DYNAVISION®-LED," which allows for unprecedented realistic and beautiful images. You'll be immersed in the space projected across the entire dome screen.

In addition to the reclining standard seats, there are also four special premium seats called "Planet Seats" that are separate from the standard seats. In the Planet Seats, you can stretch your legs out and lie down while watching the show, so you can spend an extraordinary time as if your whole body is enveloped in outer space.

Inside the planetarium, there is a cafe that sells drinks that you can bring into the planetarium, as well as a shop where you can purchase original items, so be sure to stop by.

Enjoy a space journey at Minato Mirai's latest experiential facility.

Konica Minolta Planetarium YOKOHAMA

Yokohama Museum of Art: A wealth of modern and contemporary art, including works by Dali and Picasso

The Yokohama Museum of Art features a powerful, symmetrical exterior and an open, open-ceilinged Grand Gallery. Admission is 500 yen for adults, with group and student discounts available (special exhibitions are charged separately). The museum boasts seven exhibition rooms, an Art Information Center with a collection of over 110,000 books, an atelier for holding a variety of workshops, and more, making it one of the largest museums in Japan.
As a museum worthy of the international port city of Yokohama, it has a wide collection of modern and contemporary art dating back to the opening of the port. In addition to thematic exhibitions throughout the year from its collection of approximately 12,000 pieces, the museum also hosts a variety of special exhibitions.

The museum's collection includes works by world-famous first-class painters such as Dali, Magritte, Cezanne, and Picasso. It also collects domestic and international art from the late 19th century to the present, including works by artists with deep ties to Yokohama from the end of the Edo period and the Meiji period onwards. And, as Yokohama is one of the birthplaces of photography in Japan, it also has an extensive photography collection. Even if you're not an art lover, you can easily enjoy the museum.

Yokohama Museum of Art

Yokohama Landmark Tower: A super high-rise observation deck and other attractions

The symbol of Minato Mirai is the Yokohama Landmark Tower, which opened in 1993. With 70 floors and a height of 296m, it is one of the tallest towers in Japan, and is a commercial facility housing offices, a hotel, and a shopping mall.

The hotel's famous attraction is the Sky Garden, an observation deck on the 69th floor that commands a 360-degree panoramic view. This is currently undergoing renovations in preparation for its reopening on April 25, 2020, but it is a spectacular spot from which you can enjoy views of Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Mt. Fuji, the Boso Peninsula, the Izu Peninsula, and more, as well as atmospheric evening and romantic night views.

The adjacent five-story atrium mall, Landmark Plaza, is lined with over 170 diverse shops, including fashion, interior goods, and gourmet food. One must-see is the Dock Yard Garden, located on the same premises. This space was created by utilizing the site of a former dock where ships were brought in for construction and repairs. It is the oldest remaining stone dock for commercial ships and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property by the government.

Various events are held here, and in winter, you can see illuminations on the stone walls, so it's also recommended as a date spot. Yokohama Landmark Tower offers a variety of experiences, including the view from the observation deck, sightseeing, shopping, gourmet food, and relaxation.

Yokohama Landmark Tower

Yokohama Cosmo World: Free admission and a place to enjoy your favorite attractions

Yokohama Cosmo World is an amusement park whose symbol is the Cosmo Clock 21, one of the world's largest Ferris wheels, which is 112.5m tall and can carry up to 480 people. A major feature of the park is that admission is free. Since you pay for each attraction, it's also great that you can easily enjoy it while you're walking around.

The park is divided into three areas: the Wonder Amusement Zone, Burano Street Zone, and Kids Carnival Zone, with a lineup of about 30 different attractions. From thrilling rides like roller coasters and rapids to rides that are safe for small children, there is something for the whole family to enjoy.

The highlight is the giant Ferris wheel "Cosmo Clock 21" (900 yen / ages 3 and up / ages 0 and up are welcome). Waiting times are around 5-10 minutes even at night on weekdays, 10-20 minutes during the day on weekends and holidays, and 30 minutes to as long as 50 minutes at night. There may be a line, but if you want to enjoy the beautiful waterfront even more, we recommend going at night.

Yokohama Cosmo World

Make your own original cup noodles at the Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama.

One of the foods that Japan is proud of overseas is the world-famous "Cup Noodles." The Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama is an experience-based food education facility where you can have fun while learning about the importance of invention and discovery, and the "creative thinking" of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant ramen, through various exhibits and experience workshops related to instant ramen.

Admission is 500 yen for adults, but free for high school students and younger. There are attractions such as the Chicken Ramen Factory, My Cup Noodle Factory, and Cup Noodle Park, so everyone from adults to children can have fun in their own way.

One place you should definitely visit is the "My Cup Noodle Factory" where you can experience making your own original cup noodles (500 yen per meal). You can create a one-of-a-kind cup noodle by choosing your favorite soup from four types and four toppings from 12 ingredients in a cup you design yourself. There are an overwhelming total of 5,460 combinations. You will need a numbered ticket, so don't forget to check when you enter.

Cup Noodle Museum Yokohama

The footbath garden with a panoramic night view is a unique experience. The fulfilling "Yokohama Minato Mirai Manyo Club"

After having lots of fun, head to a spot to relax your tired body. We recommend the Yokohama Minato Mirai Manyo Club, one of the most popular hot spring facilities in the area. For adults, a set of yukata and towels costs 2,750 yen, so you can experience a relaxing time empty-handed.

The hot water is transported daily by tanker truck from the hot springs of Atami Onsen and Yugawara Onsen, which have been known since ancient times as famous hot springs. Among the several types of baths, the one that stands out here is the "Observation Footbath Garden," from which you can enjoy the night view of Minato Mirai. On clear days, you can even see Mt. Fuji, making this a luxurious location that is very appealing.

In addition to dining, there are also plenty of facilities such as a game corner, karaoke room, and reading area, so children will be very satisfied. Also, for those who like saunas, we recommend the "löyly" (an authentic Finnish sauna where aromatic water is poured onto heated stones) twice a day. If you want to enjoy an extraordinary bathing experience, this is the place to go.

Yokohama Minato Mirai Manyo Club

The best thing about Minato Mirai is that it is packed with a variety of attractions, from gourmet food and shopping to parks and night views, all in one area, and you can easily explore them on foot. It is a great place for couples and families with children, as well as three generations of a family to enjoy. Please use the itinerary in this article as a reference and go for a visit.

*Article publication date: March 18, 2020 (some content was updated on October 12, 2022)
*All prices include tax.

Related article

Yokohama Chinatown Food Walking Map 2022 Latest Edition. A thorough introduction to 12 recommended restaurants!

Yokohama Chinatown is a treasure trove of gourmet food to eat while walking around, including the famous dim sum such as baked xiaolongbao (baked dumplings) and steamed meat buns. From among the many restaurants, we have compiled a list of 12 truly delicious restaurants carefully selected by a gourmet writer! Please use this map not only for snacks to satisfy your hunger, but also for eating while walking around at lunchtime.

ontrip.jal.co.jp

Focus on the "creation of zoo space": A trip to the zoo that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of adults

Zoos are one of the most popular tourist spots that have remained unchanged throughout the ages. On the other hand, some people may think of zoos as places for school trips or sketching competitions, and as places for children. However, zoos are also places that stimulate the intellectual curiosity of adults.

ontrip.jal.co.jp