Minato Mirai 21 is a large-scale waterfront redevelopment district extending across Nishi Ward and Naka Ward in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Facing Yokohama Port, it is one of the city’s most recognizable urban areas and is commonly known as “Minato Mirai” or “MM21.”
Development of the district began in fiscal year 1983 and has continued in stages. Its carefully planned cityscape has received high praise and was selected as one of Japan’s “100 Best Urban Landscapes.”
Before the redevelopment of Minato Mirai 21, the area contained extensive port and industrial facilities. These included the Yokohama Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the former East Yokohama Station and Takashima freight yard on the Japanese National Railways Takashima Line, Takashima Pier, and Shinko Pier.
Because much of this land was occupied by industrial and port facilities, it was not easily accessible to ordinary visitors. The area also formed a physical barrier between the commercial district around Yokohama Station and the Kannai district, which had traditionally served as another center of the city.
Kazuo Asukata became mayor of Yokohama in 1963. He sought to address a series of serious challenges that had affected the city, including the Great Kanto Earthquake, the Showa Depression, the devastating air raids during the Pacific War, the requisitioning of central city areas during the Allied occupation, and urban sprawl caused by rapid population growth. These problems were collectively described as the “Five Great Hardships of Yokohama.”
In 1965, Yokohama City proposed its Six Major Projects. One of them was the strengthening of the central urban area, with the goal of bringing the divided city center together. This initiative became the starting point for the redevelopment plan that would eventually take shape as Minato Mirai 21.
Although Yokohama is the most populous municipality in the Greater Tokyo Area, it had long functioned largely as a satellite city and residential suburb of Tokyo. Its daytime population was often lower than its nighttime population, reflecting the large number of residents who commuted to Tokyo for work.
Minato Mirai 21 was developed in part to change this situation and stimulate Yokohama’s own economy. The city sought to attract corporate headquarters, research and development facilities, and other business functions.
Major companies, including Nissan Motor, Keikyu Corporation, Fujifilm, Sony, and Shiseido, relocated headquarters or research facilities to the district. Their presence has contributed to the development of office buildings and the growth of the local working population.
The redevelopment project was designed to create a forward-looking city suitable for the 21st century. The overall area is divided into several districts, including the Central District, Shinko District, and Yokohama Station East Exit District.
The total development area covers approximately 1.86 square kilometers, of which about 0.76 square kilometers consists of reclaimed land.
The skyline is one of the district’s most distinctive design features. Centered on Yokohama Landmark Tower, building heights gradually decrease toward the surrounding areas, creating a carefully balanced urban profile.
Disaster prevention and environmental sustainability have also been incorporated into the city’s infrastructure. Measures include underground water storage tanks, countermeasures against soil liquefaction, shared utility tunnels, and district heating and cooling systems. These facilities help make the district more resilient to disasters and more energy-efficient.
The Minato Mirai Line, operated by Yokohama Minatomirai Railway, opened in 2004 and provides convenient access to the district. The area is served by Shin-Takashima Station and Minatomirai Station.
In 2020, Yokohama City also introduced Bayside Blue, an articulated bus service that connects important locations around the waterfront. This has further improved transportation within the district.
The introduction of next-generation transportation systems, including light rail transit (LRT) and ropeways, has also been considered as part of the area’s future development.
The original development plan aimed to complete Minato Mirai 21 around 2000. However, the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble and other factors delayed the project.
In more recent years, efforts by the mayor of Yokohama and the governor of Kanagawa Prefecture to attract businesses have helped bring corporate headquarters and research and development facilities to the district. Since the mid-2010s, the concentration of research facilities and music-related venues has also increased, further strengthening Minato Mirai 21’s role as a center of economic activity in Yokohama.
In 2020, the Yokohama Minato Mirai International Convention Center was completed as a new exhibition and convention facility. The district has since placed greater emphasis on attracting international conferences and other MICE events—meetings, incentive travel, conventions, and exhibitions.
In the Shinko District, Yokohama Hammerhead was developed as a new complex combining a passenger ship terminal with commercial facilities. The city has also been actively working to attract cruise ships to Yokohama Port.
As of April 2024, the progress rate of the overall development project had reached approximately 98.6%. The proportion of land for which permanent use had been decided, excluding sites being used temporarily, was approximately 93.4%.
Yokohama City plans to continue inviting development proposals from private-sector businesses. It also intends to offer more flexible development conditions, including easing certain environmental assessment requirements in designated areas.
Minato Mirai 21 continues to strengthen Yokohama’s urban functions and support the city’s economic development. With its waterfront setting, modern architecture, business facilities, and cultural attractions, it has become one of the most distinctive urban destinations in Japan.