{"id":4816,"date":"2022-09-20T22:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T13:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/log\/?p=4816"},"modified":"2025-02-11T22:25:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T13:25:06","slug":"port-of-yokohama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/log\/2022\/09\/port-of-yokohama\/","title":{"rendered":"Port of Yokohama (\u6a2a\u6d5c\u6e2f)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Yokohama
Port of Yokohama piers for cruise ships. As seen from Yokohama Landmark Tower.
by Philbert Ono, updated: July 20, 2023<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Japan’s most historic and popular cruise ship departure port.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located on the west side of Tokyo Bay, Port of Yokohama is Japan’s most historic and storied port since it opened in 1859. Along with Kobe, Yokohama was Japan’s main international gateway until air travel became dominant from the 1960s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although it has been well expanded, developed, and modernized, Yokohama Port still has historical remnants of the port’s early years. Historic buildings, piers, crane, and even the tree that witnessed the signing of the treaty that opened Japan to the U.S. still exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The great city of Yokohama was basically founded with the opening of the port. It still has a very strong identity as a port town and international city. The port area is readily accessible from central Yokohama and full of enjoyable spots including cruise ship terminals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yokohama is Japan’s top departure port for cruise ships, favored more than Tokyo because it’s closer to the mouth of the bay and Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yokohama Port’s cruise ship piers<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

For cruise ships, three piers are available in Yokohama: Osanbashi<\/strong>, Daikoku<\/strong>, and Shinko<\/strong> Piers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Osanbashi Pier<\/strong><\/a> (“Big Pier” \u5927\u3055\u3093\u6a4b\u3075\u982d) is the most famous one with a full-scale cruise terminal building. It’s Yokohama’s first modern pier where many passenger ships have docked. Until the 1960s, many foreign tourists first set foot on Japan on this pier. Centrally located next to Yamashita Park. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Osanbashi Pier’s two-story Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal<\/strong><\/em> (\u6a2a\u6d5c\u6e2f\u5927\u3055\u3093\u6a4b\u56fd\u969b\u5ba2\u8239\u30bf\u30fc\u30df\u30ca\u30eb) was built in 2002 to replace the old building built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already 20 years old, the Osanbashi cruise terminal building is nicknamed “Whale’s Back” (\u30af\u30b8\u30e9\u306e\u80cc\u4e2d) because of its long, hump-like roof. Inside the terminal is a long, cavernous hall appropriately nicknamed “Whale’s Stomach” (\u30af\u30b8\u30e9\u306e\u304a\u306a\u304b). The building is very well designed for both function and form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The building has CIQ, PCR testing facilities, passenger waiting area, boat gates, a few gift shops, cafe, information counter, and a nice rooftop park (wooden deck and lawn) open 24\/7 where the public can see cruise ships come and go. It’s a tourist attraction. The terminal building is also used as an event hall.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Osanbashi
Historic Osanbashi Pier and terminal building (“Whale’s Back”). The humpback rooftop park is open 24\/7.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\""Whale's
“Whale’s Stomach” inside Osanbashi terminal. Perhaps the welcome sign is the whale’s uvula.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Way to Yokohama Port”s Osanbashi Pier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Hawaiian\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Hawaiian\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Hawaiian event outside and inside Osanbashi terminal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Nippon Maru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pacific Venus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Osanbashi terminal rooftop park with a green lawn and boardwalk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Osanbashi is centrally located, within walking distance to the Red Brick Warehouses<\/a>, Yamashita Park<\/a>, Yokohama Marine Tower<\/a> (just reopened after major renovations), and Hikawa Maru museum ship<\/a>. In the distance, you can see Yokohama Bay Bridge<\/a> which opened in 1989. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For shopping, there’s a large drugstore\/supermarket in Silk Center\/Museum a short walk away. Nihon-Odori<\/a> subway station is also convenient to visit Tokyo (Shibuya, etc.). Local buses stopping at Osanbashi go to JR Sakuragicho Station. (More nearby sights listed below<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n