History of Yokohama

It is towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867), during which Japan maintained a policy of self-isolation. Yokohama’s port was one of the first to be opened to foreign trade in 1859. Consequently, Yokohama quickly grew from a small fishing village into one of Japan’s major cities. There is a number of modern buildings as well as buildings with a more traditional design. Until today, Yokohama has one of the world’s largest Chinatowns. And the city also preserves some former Western residences in the Yamate international district.

It was only a small fishing village when in 1854 Matthew C. Perry arrived with his fleet of U.S. naval warships. He arrived at the harbor of the neighboring town of Kanagawa. Five years later Kanagawa was designated Japan’s first port under the Harris Treaty (1858) where foreigners could reside and trade.

However, Kanagawa was an important post station on the Tōkaidō, Japan’s main east-west road at the time. Moreover, the Japanese government did not want foreigners to have access to it. Instead, it established the port at Yokohama, which was isolated from the highway and had a deepwater harbor superior to the harbor in Kanagawa.

The area flourished with the growth of Japan’s foreign trade and shipping after the Meiji Restoration (1868), and in 1889 the city of Yokohama was established through the amalgamation of Kanagawa and Yokohama. Basic municipal services (water, electricity, and gas) were installed beginning in the late 1880s. The city grew rapidly, becoming one of the country’s major ports and trading centers.

Modern Yokohama

Yokohama was the first harbor city introduced to the world as the entrance to Japan. Since its port opened, the people in Yokohama has been vigorously learning about new cultures, so it is not a surprise that it was through Yokohama that many first-time-ever things ranging from food to sports were introduced to Japan, which makes Yokohama the birthplace of Japan’s modern culture.

The Yokohamaites, referred to as Hamakko in Japanese, have been very capable of enjoying life and possess a great willingness to adopt whatever new that is good. This tradition of the Hamakko that was cultivated long ago has been incorporated into the present fashionable and sophisticated streetscape.

In 1945, the bombing by the USA became more intense and the whole city of Yokohama was burnt to the ground by repeated bombings. Especially in the air raid on May 29, when a total of 14,157 died, were injured, or went missing, 79,017 houses were destroyed, and 42 percent of the city area was burnt to ashes. The population, which at the end of the war was some three-fifths of what it had been in 1943, grew steadily in the early postwar years. Population growth began increasing at a faster rate after 1960. And by 1980 the city had surpassed Osaka to become the second-largest city in Japan.

Areas of Interest in Yokohama

Minato Mirai 21: a modern district with large shopping malls and a great view over the harbor

Chinatown: a must-visit for those who want to taste exquisite Chinese cuisine and snacks

Yamate district: a neighborhood with preserves Western-style houses of Western notables in the past

Cosmoworld Amusement Park: a very family-friendly small but exciting amusement park with nice views

Red Brick Warehouse: a hip, modern shopping complex housed in an old industrial building

Landmark Tower: one of the highest buildings in Japan with good views over the whole area

Sankeien Garden: a large traditional Japanese landscape garden

Cup Noodles Museum: interesting for young and old who want to learn more about the history of cup noodles in a fun, interactive museum

Shin-Yokohama Rāmen Museum: not so much a traditional museum, but more a place where you can taste an enormous variety of noodle dishes in a retro mid-20th-century setting

Koganecho: this area is where a part of the contemporary art scene of Yokohama is housed in a district that was renowned for prostitution

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we create perfect Japan package tours including destinations like Yokohama. Check out our group tours and private tours, or contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

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Yokohama Area Map

Red Brick Warehouse Shops

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 2 offers different scenes on each floor. The theme of the first floor is ‘The Hospitality of Yokohama Port’, and the theme of the second floor is ‘Specialties that go beyond imagination’. You can enjoy a large number of stores aimed at all audiences. Here, you will find clothing stores, handbags, accessories, photographs, souvenirs, and much more.

Cafeteria & Restaurants

The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse has a wide range of restaurants ranging from cozy cafes to Japanese or Western food stalls. You can enjoy a good meal while taking in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the warehouse.

Event Square

Various events are held each season, including the Yokohama Oktoberfest which pioneered the Oktoberfest in Japan, at the event plaza connecting Buildings 1 and 2. Have fun in this open space!

Square

In this open square facing the sea, you can admire the landscape of Minato Mirai and the boats that pass through the port and relax on the lawn. You can also enjoy a boat cruise from the dock.

Red Brick Warehouse Building No. 1 Hall Space

In the hall and space of Building No. 1 various expressions and exchanges take place, such as dance, theater, music, video, and art. From here, the fascinating artistic culture of Yokohama is transmitted to the rest of Japan and abroad. Spend a relaxing moment in a beautiful exclusive Yokohama space that boasts a lively atmosphere.

Motion Blue Yokohama

Western culture has entered Japan mostly through Yokohama. Jazz spread from Yokohama to all of Japan, and Yokohama became famous as a jazz city. Motion Blue Yokohama allows you to enjoy the charms of the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, which includes music, a variety of dishes, and a night view of the port. Enjoy a luxurious moment in an extraordinary space.

If you travel around Yokohama, the Red Brick Warehouse should definitely be on your itinerary!

Your Japan Tour

If you are thinking about making a trip to Japan, as seasoned Japan experts we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including destinations like Yokohama. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

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New Development in Yokohama

In 1981 the municipal government of Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city after Tokyo, started to revitalize its port area in order to carry Yokohama into the 21st century as a business hub independent of Tokyo. Minato Mirai 21 is the 1.2-mile urban redevelopment of the waterfront of Yokohama. Minato Mirai 21 literally translates to ‘the future port city of the 21st century’. It is located southeast of Yokohama station and the east side of the area faces the Yokohama port.

Originally this was the location of a shipyard and a railroad freight terminal and redevelopment began in 1983. Since 1989, office buildings, high-rise condominiums, hotels, commercial complexes, entertainment facilities, and various other facilities have been completed one after another.

Sightseeing Spots in Minato Mirai

Landmark Tower: this is the highest building in Japan and it opened in 1993. Its height is 296 meters, there are 70 stories above ground. The building houses offices, a hotel, restaurants, and some clinics. On the 69th floor, there is an observatory room called Sky Garden, which is located at a height of 273 meters which makes it the highest observatory room in Japan. Additionally, the elevators also are the fastest in Japan going at a speed of up to 750 meters a minute. On the north side of the tower, there is a large shopping mall called Landmark Plaza.

Dockyard Garden: this is the area where many ships had been constructed between 1896 and 1973, and it is now used as an open terrace and the event site of Landmark Tower. Around here, there are several restaurants.
It is like a deep moat, and the surrounding slopes are made of stone like the auditorium of Roman theater. The Dockyard Garden has been designated as a historic structure.

Family-Friendly Minato Mirai

Nippon-maru Memorial Park: this is a park located just south of Landmark Tower. Here you can find a large sailing ship called Nippon-maru and the Yokohama Maritime Museum that educates visitors on the Yokohama port and various ships. Nippon-maru was completed in 1930 as a navigation training ship and was retired in 1984. Now you can enter the ship to see what the inside looks like, as it became a museum.

Yokohama Cosmoworld: if you travel with kids you can’t skip Yokohama Cosmoworld, a compact amusement park with great views of the harbor area, especially after dark. There are attractions for kids aged 2 and up, and there is even a large rollercoaster for older kids and adults. The main attraction is the giant Ferris wheel which lights up gorgeously at night.

A visit to Yokohama isn’t complete without going to Minato Mirai 21!

Your Japan Tour

If you are thinking about making a trip to Japan, as seasoned Japan experts we can help you create your perfect Japan tour. We can include destinations like Yokohama. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Area Map