Minato Mirai 21

In Japanese, “Minato” means harbor and “Mirai” future. Minato Mirai 21 embodies Yokohama’s future dreams for the 21st century. Renovated from an industrial port to a new type of district full of novel and fashionable designs, Minato Mirai 21 gathers numerous representative buildings, parks, museums and entertainment facilities. Besides, it hosts various activities throughout the year, like concerts, night lighting events and historical and cultural exhibitions, creating a strong atmosphere of art and culture. 

Top Places to Visit in Minato Mirai 21

Yokohama Landmark Tower

Sky Garden in Yokohama Landmark Tower

Yokohama Landmark Tower is the tallest modern building in Minato Mirai 21, standing at 295.8 meters (970.4 feet) tall. Its exterior lines are simple and smooth, with the top gradually narrowing to form a unique sail post shape, symbolizing the integration of Yokohama’s maritime history as a port city and its modern development. The 69th floor of the Landmark Tower is “Sky Garden”, an observation deck, which is surrounded by a glass wall on all sides, offering a spectacular view. From here, you can overlook the entire Minato Mirai 21 and Yokohama. On a clear day, you can also enjoy a distant view of Mount Fuji, Tokyo and Izu Peninsula. 

Useful Tip：It is recommended to go up the “Sky Garden” and enjoy the view between 17:30 and 19:30. You can not only capture Minato Mirai 21 during the day but also the beautiful sunset at dusk. If you wait a little longer, you can also enjoy the breathtaking night view.

Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00, the last entry is at 20:30. 

Ticket: 1,000 yen (6USD).

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is also one of the famous landmarks of Minato Mirai 21. Built from the late Meiji Period (1905-1912) to the early Taisho Period (1912-1915), it was once one of the most advanced warehouses in the world. Nowadays, it has been transformed into a commercial area with an industrial retro style. After being illuminated at night, the entire building has a more retro-modern style, very suitable for dates, walks and taking photos.

Boutique Shops in the Red Brick Warehouse

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is made up of building one and building two. Building one has a more artistic atmosphere, where you can buy souvenirs, enjoy coffee and visit exhibitions；Building two is larger, and there are various local specialties of Yokohama and many shops like jewelry shops, grocery stores, custom perfume shops and leather goods shops. On the third floor, there is a Disney-themed restaurant.  

In addition, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse holds a variety of activities in different seasons, like the flower show in spring and the Christmas market in winter.

Opening Hours: building one 10:00-19:00; building two 11:00 -20:00.
 
Ticket: free to enter. 

Cosmo World

If you think it’s a bit monotonous to just take photos and wander around, you can drop by Cosmo World to have fun. It is located in the core area of Minato Mirai 21. You can enjoy the bay views while experiencing recreational activities. The facilities range from thrilling to tender, and you can also take a ride on famous Cosmo Clock 21 to overlook the entire Minato Mirai.

It is recommended to experience the pink roller coaster, which is very dreamy. When it enters the tunnel, water splashes out, as if rushing into water, and then you rise to the sky again. It is a very thrilling experience that most visitors enjoy. 

Opening Hours: 11:00-20:00 on weekdays and 11:00-22:00 on weekends and public holidays.

Ticket: Admission to Cosmo World is free. Tickets for each project are charged separately, costing approximately 500-1,000 yen (3-6USD) per ride. The ticket vending machines may support international credit cards and local transportation cards like Suica, PASMO and ICOCA, but the manual counters usually accept only cash, so it is recommended to prepare cash in advance to avoid queuing. 

Cup Noodles Museum

Cup Noodles Museum is the world’s first museum themed on instant noodles. You can not only taste the special cup noodles of various countries, enjoy the exhibition of more than 3,000 kinds of global instant noodles, but also DIY your own cup noodles, very suitable for family trips and ramen lovers.

Opening Hours: 10:00-18:00. Admission stops at 17:00. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Ticket: Admission fee is 500 yen (3 USD), and an extra 500 yen is required to experience the cup noodle making process. Chicken soup ramen experience costs 1,000 yen (6 USD).

Breathtaking Night View of Minato Mirai 21 and Best Places to Enjoy it

The night view of Minato Mirai 21 is very beautiful and charming. From the lights of the port to the rotating neon lights of Cosmo Clock 21, it is as beautiful as a painting. If you want to seek a bit romance, there is a night that belongs to you here.

The Breathtaking Night View of Minato Mirai 21

In addition to the “Sky Garden” on the 69th floor of Yokohama Landmark Tower and Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse mentioned above, there are still many great places to enjoy the night view of Minato Mirai 21: 

1.  Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal is an excellent spot to enjoy the night view and sea view. The approximately 430-meter-long (1,410feet-long) wooden roof deck is open all day long, offering a 360-degree view of Yokohama Port, Yokohama Bay Bridge and the dazzling lights of Minato Mirai 21 across the port. On a clear day, you can also catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance. 

2.  From the Rinko Park located at the very front end of seaside in the Minato Mirai 21, you can also enjoy the iconic buildings and light clusters, offering a very pleasant night view experience.

3.  Yokohama Air Cabin, which connects World Porters and Sakuragicho Station, offers an excellent view of Minato Mirai 21. You can enjoy the cityscape and harbor views of Yokohama while moving in the air.

Summer Fireworks Festivals

Summer Fireworks Festivals in Minato Mirai 21

The Minato Mirai Fireworks Festival is held in the early or middle August every year, which is the most significant summer fireworks display in Yokohama. About 20,000 fireworks are set off, synchronized with music, creating a very spectacular scene. The best viewing spots are the Port Side Park and Yokohama Hammerhead Park.

Every early June, the Yokohama Port Opening Festival Fireworks Display is also held, which is a traditional celebration commemorating the opening of Yokohama Port. Although relatively small in scale, it is beautiful and spectacular as well. 

How to Get to Minato Mirai 21 and Recommended Tour Route 

Route A: 
Take Minatomirai Line to Odori Station → Zou-no-Hana Park → Red Brick Warehouse → Cosmo World → Cup Noodles Museum → take the Yokohama Air Cabin from World Porters near the Cosmo World to Sakuragicho Station → Landmark Tower → leave by train from Minatomirai Station

If interested, you can extend your visit to the Yokohama Anpanman Children's Museum. Kids will love it very much.

Route B: 
You can also follow the opposite route for your journey. Start at Minatomirai Station and leave by train at Odori Station. It is also a good choice to take a stroll to Chinatown around Odori Station and taste the delicious food there.

Note: The one-way fare of Yokohama Air Cabin is 1,000 yen (6 USD), and the round-trip fare is 1,800 yen (11 USD). You can also buy a package ticket including the Air Cabin and Cosmo Clock 21: 1,700 yen (10 USD) including Air Cabin one way ride; and 2,500 yen (15 USD) including Air Cabin round-trip. Package tickets are only sold at manual windows.

The Yokohama Port

Nearby Attractions:

1.    Yamashita Park：The famous seaside park in Yokohama offers a very pleasant stroll along the coastline. Flowers bloom all year round in the park, and you can also enjoy a distant view of the Yokohama Bay Bridge and the luxurious cruise ship Hikawa Maru moored there. 

2.    Yokohama Chinatown：The largest Chinatown in Japan features nearly 200 Chinese restaurants and snack bars. It is recommended to try steamed soup dumplings, shumai and Yum Cha.