Minato Mirai 21

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Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい21, Minato Mirai Nijūichi), often known as simply Minato Mirai and abbreviated as MM, is the central business district of Yokohama, Japan. Initially developed in the 1980s, Minato Mirai 21 was designed as a large master-planned development and new urban center planned to connect Yokohama's traditionally important areas and commercial centers of Kannai and the Yokohama Station area.

Today, Minato Mirai is a major center for business, shopping, and tourism, attracting visitors and businesspersons throughout the Greater Tokyo Area. The business district is host to several major hotels, office towers including the Yokohama Landmark Tower, the Pacifico Yokohama convention center, art museums, and numerous cafés and shops in shopping centers and along its central pedestrian mall. The area continues to be developed as originally envisioned in the 1980s.

Overview

Minato Mirai 21 was originally proposed as one of Yokohama's six major development plans by the mayor of Yokohama, Ichio Asukata, in 1965. After several assessments and review sessions, actual construction started in 1983. The area where it is located was once known as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Yokohama shipyard and the Japanese National Railways classification yard, Takashima wharf and Shinko wharf of Port of Yokohama. Conducted as an urban renewal and reclaimed land project, the port and industrial areas once divided the two city centers of Kannai and the Yokohama Station area. With the development of Minato Mirai 21, the two city centers were linked and now form part of the business and central 'core' of Yokohama. The name "Minato Mirai 21" was selected by a public opinion poll. Translated literally as "Port Future 21", it means "Port of the Future in the 21st century".

The area is now flourishing as one of the newest urban business districts in the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area, symbolized by Landmark Tower, Japan's third tallest skyscraper, the three Queens Square Towers, which contain a large shopping mall, the Pacifico Yokohama convention center, the Intercontinental Hotel, the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel, and more. Next to Landmark Tower is the Yokohama Museum of Art.

The area is an important business center, with Nissan Motors, JGC Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation and other major corporations locating their headquarters and branches in the Minato Mirai area. Today, about 79,000 people work in Minato Mirai 21.

Minato Mirai 21 also attracts numerous tourists along with the nearby Yokohama Chinatown. In 2010, it received approximately 58 million visitors. Due to the beautiful view, bay proximity, cruise ships docked at Ōsanbashi Pier, skyscrapers, and the graceful Yokohama Bay Bridge, Minato Mirai 21 has become a symbol of Yokohama and its skyline, and is frequently featured in images of the city.

Attractions

Major attractions in the area include:

Yokohama Landmark Tower, the second-tallest building and fourth-tallest structure in Japan, with sweeping views of Tokyo and Mount Fuji
Cosmo World amusement park, includes the 100-metre (328 ft) tall Cosmo Clock 21, formerly the world's tallest Ferris wheel
Kishamichi Promenade, a pedestrian walkway that follows the original harbor railroad tracks, linking Sakuragichō Station with Yokohama World Porters and the Cosmo Clock, and offering expansive views of the Minato Mirai skyline
Minato Mirai Hall, concert hall home to the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra
Pacifico Yokohama
Nippon Maru, a four masted sailing ship, permanently docked on the harbor at Minato Mirai as a museum
Yokohama Museum of Art
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Queen's Square Yokohama (Official website)
Yokohama Air Cabin
Pia Arena MM, music arena opened in 2020
K-Arena Yokohama, music arena opened in 2023
Zepp Yokohama, live music hall

Major hotels

Major hotels in the area with over 300 guestrooms include:

Yokohama Bay Grand InterContinental Hotel
Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu
Yokohama Royal Park Hotel
Yokohama Sakuragicho Washington Hotel
Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel and towers

Railway stations

Education

The Yokohama Municipal Board of Education [ja] operates public elementary and junior high schools.

Minato Mirai 1-6 chome are zoned to Minatomiraihoncho Elementary School (横浜市立みなとみらい本町小学校), which feeds into Yokohama Yoshida Junior High School (横浜市立横浜吉田中学校).^[1]