Minato Mirai 21 みなとみらい21
The port of the future
In Tokyo Bay, huge buildings of Yokohama MM21 give the air of a futuristic city ...
The opening of the port for international trade in 1853 and the sudden industrialization in the early 60s have transformed the face of Yokohama.
Announced in 1965, the creation of a business area (together with other development projects, such as the Yokohama Bay Bridge) allowed the city to adapt to rapid expansion.
But it's more than just a business district, Minato Mirai 21 is literally "the port of the future". Hidden behind many buildings are the best attractions in Yokohama.
Vertical neighborhood
Strolling through the streets of Minato Mirai 21, one can feel the surrounding immensity.
Between the 296 meter high Landmark Tower, the second highest skyscraper in the country, Cosmo Clock 21, the ferris wheel amusement park Cosmo World, and the three towers of the Queen's Square Yokohama, visitors go crazy.
Culture and History
Proud of its unique history, the city shows its evolution through various exhibitions at the Yokohama Museum of Art . The museum, designed by the famous architect Kenzo Tange, also hosts big names in painting, Japanese and Western.
The Maritime Museum tells the story of the transformation of a small village into an international port. Opposite, the Nippon Maru, a superb 1930's sailboat, revives this bygone era.
Historical control
Further, established on the artificial island of MM21, district buildings Akarenga Soko (otherwise known as the Red Brick Warehouse) experienced their creation in 1911, and are used for a variety of things.
The first gates of Japanese customs, Yokohama fall into the hands of US troops until 1956. Today, the two century-old warehouses are divided between exhibitions, shops and restaurants.
