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🌃 Minato Mirai · Yokohama

Minato Mirai — Yokohama's Waterfront of Towers, a Ferris Wheel, and Red Brick

A bayside district that's a tower-studded skyline by day and a sea of lights reflected on the water by night — we'll walk you through Landmark Tower, the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel, the Red Brick Warehouse, the Cup Noodles Museum, and Osanbashi Pier, plus where to stay and how to get there from Tokyo.

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One District With It All —Skyline Views, an Amusement Park, and the Bay

Picture a district where a few minutes' walk gets you everything — curved waterfront towers, a colour-changing Ferris wheel, century-old red-brick warehouses, a museum where you make your own cup noodles, and a wooden pier you can climb for a free bay view. This is Minato Mirai 21 (Minato Mirai means "harbour of the future"), Yokohama's bayfront district built on reclaimed land as a modern city centre. Honestly, if you're in Tokyo and want to escape the crowds for a day by the water, this is the answer — and you can get here on a single train straight from Shibuya.

The charm of Minato Mirai is that it transforms after dark — a sleek, polished skyline by day, then the moment the sun sets the tower lights and the Ferris wheel reflect off the bay, turning it into one of the favourite photo and date spots of Yokohama locals themselves. On this page we'll walk the highlights one by one, tell you which neighbourhood to stay in, and how to get here without getting lost.

🏙️ Heads-up before you go: the Sky Garden observation deck on the 69th floor of Landmark Tower is scheduled to close for a major renovation from the end of 2025 and reopen around 2028. In 2026, if you want a high-up view, check the latest status before you go — or take in the view for free from the rooftop of Osanbashi Pier and ride the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel instead.
🌆
Bayside city views
A tower skyline + a free 360° pier rooftop to take it all in.
🎡
Family & amusement park
Cosmo World, the Ferris wheel, and the Cup Noodles Museum.
🛍️
Shopping & cafés
Landmark Plaza, Queen's Square, and the Red Brick Warehouse.
🌃
Dates & night photos
City lights on the water — a top photo spot for Yokohama locals.
Getting There · Stations

Reaching Minato Mirai — Which Station Drops You Right There

The district has two main gateways — Minatomirai Station (the private Minatomirai Line) sits right in the heart, while Sakuragicho (JR) is the gateway on the ropeway side. Pick whichever fits where you want to start walking.

FromRouteGet off atApprox. timeNear what
ShibuyaShibuya · TokyoTokyu Toyoko → through onto the Minatomirai Line (no transfer)Minatomirai~30–40 minLandmark Plaza, Queen's Square
Tokyo / ShinagawaTokyo / ShinagawaJR → Yokohama, then 1 stop on the Minatomirai LineMinatomirai~30–45 minHeart of the district, walk anywhere
Yokohama (main station)Yokohama StnMinatomirai Line, 1–2 stopsMinatomirai~3–5 minMalls, amusement park, piers
Old town / JR sideJR Negishi LineJR to Sakuragicho, then walk or ride the Air CabinSakuragicho~5–10 min walkCosmo World, Red Brick Warehouse
🚃 Travel tip: some Toyoko Line trains run through onto the Minatomirai Line and some don't — check the destination on the front before you board (trains bound for Motomachi-Chukagai go into the district) · If you get off at Sakuragicho and want the best view, try the Yokohama Air Cabin, the ropeway that crosses to Unga Park (~630 m, about 40 m up · one-way adult ~¥1,000) — it's both transport and an activity in one.
What to See & Do

6 Spots YouCan't Miss in Minato Mirai

Everything is within a bayside stroll of everything else — start at the landmark tower and finish at the view pier. We've ordered them along the real walking route, so you can tick them all off in a single day.

Yokohama Landmark Tower rising above the Minato Mirai skyline 🏙️ Landmark building1
Landmark Tower
Yokohama Landmark Tower

At 296 metres, this is one of Japan's tallest buildings. Its base is the Landmark Plaza mall, and the 69th floor was the Sky Garden observation deck, reached by one of the country's fastest elevators (~40 seconds). Honestly, the Sky Garden is closed for a long renovation right now — but the tower and its mall are still the heart of the district, visible from every angle.

📍Where: Centre of Minato Mirai · a few minutes' walk from Minatomirai Station
🛗Observation deck: Sky Garden, 69th floor (~273 m) · closed for renovation from end of 2025, expected to reopen around 2028
🛍️Below: Landmark Plaza mall · shops, cafés, and restaurants open as usual
💡Tip: For a high-up view while the Sky Garden is closed, head to the free Osanbashi Pier rooftop or ride the Ferris wheel.
Yokohama Guide →
The Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel and rides at Cosmo World on the Minato Mirai waterfront 🎡 Amusement park2
Cosmo World + Ferris Wheel
Cosmo World · Cosmo Clock 21

A free-entry amusement park in the middle of the district where you pay per ride. The star is the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel, 112.5 metres tall, with the whole wheel changing colour at night — one loop gives you a view of the bay and Landmark Tower. The roller coaster that plunges into the water is another favourite that people love to stand and photograph.

📍Where: Beside the canal in the district · ~5–8 min walk from Sakuragicho/Minatomirai
🎟️Cost: Free to enter · Ferris wheel ~¥900 a ride (check the official site for the latest)
🕐Hours: from ~11:00 · usually closed on Thursdays
💡Tip: Ride at dusk for the best value — you catch both the daytime view and the night lights, with the city reflected on the water.
Yokohama Attractions →
The red-brick building of the Cup Noodles Museum in Minato Mirai, Yokohama 🍜 Museum3
Cup Noodles Museum
CUPNOODLES MUSEUM Yokohama

An instant-noodle museum that's more fun than it sounds. The highlight is the My CUPNOODLES Factory workshop, where you design your own cup — choosing the soup and toppings — and take home a one-of-a-kind cup. It's great for families and kids, and a solid indoor activity to keep in your back pocket for a rainy day.

📍Where: Shinko area, near the Red Brick Warehouse · ~8 min walk from Minatomirai
🎟️Admission: Adults ~¥500 · free for children through high school (the workshop costs extra)
🕐Hours: 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00) · closed Tuesdays
💡Tip: The workshop is popular and often fills up — on holidays, sign up or grab a slot early in the day.
Yokohama Attractions →
The Red Brick Warehouse lit orange in the evening at Yokohama 🧱 Shopping & events4
Red Brick Warehouse
Red Brick Warehouse · Akarenga

A pair of red-brick buildings over a century old, once port warehouses, now a hub of shops, restaurants, and seasonal events. In winter there's an outdoor ice rink (the Art Rink, roughly late Nov–mid-Feb), and the buildings look lovely both by day and lit up at night — an easy, relaxed stroll by the bay.

📍Where: Shinko area, by the bay · ~6 min walk from Bashamichi/Minatomirai
⛸️Winter: Art Rink ice skating (paid entry · runs roughly late Nov–mid-Feb)
🛍️Inside: Shops, cafés, Yokohama souvenirs · often seasonal events on
💡Tip: Come in the evening to photograph the lit-up buildings, then walk on to Osanbashi for the night view.
Yokohama Attractions →
Osanbashi Pier and its international passenger terminal on the Yokohama bayfront ⚓ View pier5
Osanbashi Pier
Osanbashi Pier · Big Pier

An international cruise terminal whose rooftop is laid with wooden decking and lawn, open to walk on free, 24 hours a day. From here you get a 360-degree view — Landmark Tower, the Ferris wheel, the Red Brick Warehouse, and the Bay Bridge. Yokohama locals know it as a night-view spot that's prettier and quieter than the rest.

📍Where: Bayfront on the old-town side · ~7 min walk from Chinatown/Nihon-Odori
🎟️Cost: Rooftop is free, open 24 hours
🌃Known for: A 360° Minato Mirai skyline · best from sunset into the evening
💡Tip: Walk straight on from the Red Brick Warehouse · the bayfront gets windy in winter, so bring a windbreaker.
Yokohama Guide →
🚠 🌉 Aerial ropeway6
Yokohama Air Cabin
Yokohama Air Cabin · Ropeway

One of Japan's first urban aerial ropeways, opened in 2021, linking JR Sakuragicho Station with Unga Park in the Shinko area — a ~630-metre run, floating about 40 metres above the district, taking around 5 minutes. It's both a shortcut into the Red Brick Warehouse zone and a high-up sightseeing ride in itself, with the gondolas changing colour beautifully at night.

📍Route: Sakuragicho ↔ Unga Park (Shinko) · ~630 m · about 40 m up
🎟️Fare: One-way adult ~¥1,000, child ~¥500 · round trip ~¥1,800/¥900 (check the latest)
⏱️Duration: About 5 minutes each way
💡Tip: Ride at dusk for the best city-light views · combined tickets with the Ferris wheel are available at certain times.
Yokohama Attractions →
Eat & Drink

Hungry Wherever You Are —Eat Right There

In Minato Mirai you don't have to walk far — every mall and the bayfront has options, from quick food-court meals to restaurants with a bay view. To dig into Yokohama's best food (Kobe beef, ramen, and Chinatown included), continue to our food guide.

In the malls
Landmark Plaza · Queen's Square · MARK IS

Food courts and restaurants of every cuisine gather inside the big malls right by the station — easy to grab a bite and dodge the rain. Many upper-floor spots have city or bay views to linger over, ideal for lunch mid-walk.

By the water
Red Brick Warehouse · World Porters

The bayfront side has cafés, craft-beer bars, and dessert shops inside the red-brick buildings — a great mood in the evening, perfect for a coffee with a view of the boats. It's a favourite hangout for locals.

A little further
Chinatown · Sakuragicho

If you want something more serious, it's a few minutes on foot or by train to Japan's largest Chinatown (street food and dim sum) and the eating-and-drinking lanes around Sakuragicho. Our food guide rounds up the best spots.

🍽️ Want the full restaurant list: open the Eat in Yokohama guide → for ramen, beef, Chinatown, and the best desserts across the city, with locations and price ranges.
Stay in This District

Sleep in Minato Mirai — Wake Up to the Bay

The upside of staying here is that you can walk to every highlight, and many hotels have rooms with a bay or city view — ideal for families and couples. See whether Minato Mirai is right for you before you book.

🌅
Bay & city-view rooms
Many waterfront hotels have rooms that look out on the Ferris wheel and skyline — wake up to it, or watch the lights from your room at night.
👨‍👩‍👧
Good for families & couples
Walk to the amusement park, malls, and museums with no long train rides · easy for kids to wander, with a safe, clean feel.
🚉
By the station, easy travel
Stay near Minatomirai or Sakuragicho and you can hop into Tokyo or over to Chinatown easily — a great transport hub.
🏨
Luxury and good value both
From waterfront luxury to affordable chains, pick by budget and how much you care about a view.
🛍️
A lift ride to the mall
Many hotels connect straight to Landmark Plaza / Queen's Square, so you can shop and eat without stepping outside.
🌃
Stay out for the night lights
No need to rush back — watch the city lights on the bay, then walk straight to your room. That's the advantage of staying in the district.
🏨 Pick a hotel in the district: see our picks in 10 hotels in Minato Mirai →, or get the citywide picture in the Yokohama guide → · compare live prices on Agoda's Yokohama hotel search →
Map

Minato Mirai Highlightson One Map

Everything lines up along the bay within walking distance — you can clearly see how it all fits into a single day, from Landmark Tower around past the amusement park, the Red Brick Warehouse, and the cup-noodle museum.

Tips Before You Go

6 Things That Make Minato MiraiSmooth and Stress-Free

🌇
Start in the afternoon for the best value
Walk the malls and museums by day, then stay on for the night lights — you get both moods in one visit.
🚠
The Air Cabin doubles as a shortcut
From Sakuragicho into the Red Brick Warehouse zone, the ropeway gives you a high-up view along the way · ~5 minutes.
📅
Check the weekly closing days
The Cup Noodles Museum closes Tuesdays · Cosmo World usually closes Thursdays. Plan around the closures.
🛗
Sky Garden is under renovation
The 69th-floor deck is closed for a long stretch (expected to reopen around 2028) · take in the free view from the Osanbashi rooftop instead.
💳
Carry an IC card plus some cash
Suica/PASMO is handy for trains and malls, but some small shops still take cash only — keep a few coins on you.
🧥
The bayfront is windy in winter
The waterfront is cooler than inland, especially at Osanbashi in the evening — bring a windbreaker.
Related Guides

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Full Yokohama Guide

The citywide picture — districts worth visiting, where to stay, getting around, and a full Yokohama trip plan on one page.

Yokohama Guide →
📸

Yokohama Attractions

Chinatown, Yamashita Park, Motomachi, and the standout sights across the port city of Yokohama.

Yokohama Attractions →
🍜

Eat in Yokohama

Ramen, Japan's largest Chinatown, beef, and the best desserts — with locations and price ranges.

Yokohama Food Guide →
🗓️

Yokohama Itinerary

Plan a Yokohama trip hour by hour — fit Minato Mirai, Chinatown, and the bayfront into a single day.

Trip Plan →
🏨

10 Hotels in Minato Mirai

Hotel options in the bayfront district, from luxury view rooms to affordable chains, all within walking distance of every highlight.

See Hotels →
🇯🇵

Full Japan Travel Guide

Every region and city, with links into city guides, hotels, and attractions across Japan.

Japan Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions AboutMinato Mirai

What is there to do in Minato Mirai?
The main highlights are Landmark Tower (one of Japan's tallest buildings), the Cosmo World amusement park with the 112.5-metre Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel, the century-old Red Brick Warehouse full of shops and seasonal events, the Cup Noodles Museum where you can design your own cup, the wooden Osanbashi Pier with free 360-degree views, and the Yokohama Air Cabin ropeway. The whole district is a flat bayside walk that's good both by day and after dark.
Can you go up Landmark Tower for the view?
The Sky Garden observation deck on the 69th floor of Landmark Tower (about 273 metres up, reached by one of Japan's fastest elevators in around 40 seconds) is scheduled to close for a major renovation from the end of 2025 and reopen around 2028, so in 2026 you should check the official site for the latest status before going. In the meantime you can get high-up views for free from the rooftop of Osanbashi Pier, or ride the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel instead.
How do you get to Minato Mirai from Tokyo?
The easiest way is the Tokyu Toyoko Line from Shibuya, which runs through onto the Minatomirai Line straight to Minatomirai Station with no transfer, taking about 30–40 minutes. Alternatively, take the JR Negishi Line to Sakuragicho Station and walk or ride the Yokohama Air Cabin ropeway into the district. Check the train's destination before boarding to make sure it runs through to the Minatomirai Line.
How many hours do you need in Minato Mirai — is half a day enough?
Walking the main highlights quickly (Landmark Plaza, Cosmo World, the Red Brick Warehouse, Osanbashi) takes about half a day. But if you want to make your own noodles at the Cup Noodles Museum, ride the Ferris wheel, stop at a café, and stay for the night lights too, set aside a full day or stay one night — the district is just as beautiful after dark as it is by day.
Is Minato Mirai a good place to stay, and who is it for?
Minato Mirai suits families, couples, and anyone who wants a room with a bay or city view. There are hotels from waterfront luxury to affordable chains, all within walking distance of the malls, amusement park, and piers. If you're more about food and strolling the old town, Chinatown or Sakuragicho might suit you better — but if you want to wake up to a skyline over the bay, this district delivers.
Are the Cup Noodles Museum and Cosmo World open every day?
Both have a weekly closing day. The Cup Noodles Museum is closed on Tuesdays (open 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:00 · adult admission around ¥500, free for children through high school). Cosmo World and its Ferris wheel are usually closed on Thursdays. Prices and hours can change, so always check each venue's official site before you go.
Ready for Minato Mirai?

Sleep by the Bay for a Night
and Wake Up to the Towers

Pick a hotel in Minato Mirai within walking distance of every highlight, and wake up to a bay or city view. See our picks, or compare live prices on Agoda.

🏨 10 Hotels in Minato Mirai 🔎 Search Yokohama Hotels →
🔴 Yokohama Hotels Minato Mirai Hotels