Yokohama Bay Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. It opened on September 27, 1989, and measures 860 meters in total length, with a central span of 460 meters.
The bridge is an important transportation route connecting the Tokyo Port area with Yokohama Port. It also plays a major role in easing traffic congestion in the city.
The bridge connects Honmoku Pier A in Naka Ward with Daikoku Pier in Tsurumi Ward. The upper level carries the Shuto Expressway Bayshore Route, while the lower level is used by National Route 357.
Bicycles and motorized two-wheeled vehicles with engine capacities of 125 cc or less are prohibited from using the lower level. Pedestrians are also not permitted to cross the bridge. The speed limit on the upper level was initially 70 km/h when the bridge opened, but it has since been raised to 80 km/h.
The bridge was planned to relieve chronic traffic congestion in Yokohama, which had become increasingly serious during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth. Its design was based on the Meiko West Bridge, and its name was inspired by the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.
At the planning stage, the volume of traffic associated with Yokohama Port was greater than that of Tokyo Port. As a result, traffic was concentrated on roads passing through central Yokohama, worsening congestion. Construction of the bridge was therefore promoted as part of Yokohama City’s Six Major Projects.
When completed, Yokohama Bay Bridge was Japan’s longest cable-stayed bridge and became a new symbol of the city. Soon after it opened, however, many drivers parked their vehicles to enjoy the nighttime scenery, creating traffic and safety problems. These problems gradually decreased as other bridges, including Rainbow Bridge, were built.
Even after the upper level opened, many container trucks avoided the bridge because of the expressway tolls and continued using ordinary roads through the city center. Local residents and people involved in port operations called for the construction of a general road route. In response, National Route 357 opened on the lower level on April 24, 2004, providing an important route for vehicles serving the port.
On the Daikoku Pier side of the bridge, visitors can find Yokohama Skywalk, a pedestrian walkway leading to an observation area beneath the bridge. It offers impressive views, particularly when large passenger ships pass through the area.
Skywalk was originally open to the public for a fee, but it closed in September 2010. From April 2019, it was temporarily opened to visitors free of charge on selected dates. It was then renovated and reopened on June 25, 2022. Following the renovation, it also took on the role of a public-relations facility for the development project at New Honmoku Pier.
Surveys for the construction of Yokohama Bay Bridge began in 1964, led by the Port and Harbor Bureau of Yokohama City. The Ministry of Construction began its own investigation in 1969, and the urban planning decision was made in August 1977.
Construction began in November 1980. On September 27, 1989, the upper-level Shuto Expressway Bayshore Route opened to traffic.
The general-road project for the bridge began in 1998. On April 24, 2004, the lower-level section of National Route 357 opened. It initially operated with two lanes, although the original plan called for six lanes. Its speed limit is 50 km/h, and in practice it is treated as a road exclusively for motor vehicles.
In recent years, the number of large international cruise ships unable to pass beneath Yokohama Bay Bridge has increased. The clearance between the sea surface and the bridge is approximately 55 meters, which is lower than the maximum height of 57.91 meters for a Panamax-class vessel. As a result, some cruise ships cannot enter Yokohama Port’s Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal.
This restriction has made it more difficult for Yokohama to attract certain international cruise ships and has affected the number of foreign vessels calling at the port.
For example, the Queen Elizabeth has been able to pass beneath the bridge by timing its passage to coincide with low tide, when the clearance is just sufficient. When passage is not possible, the ship docks at Daikoku Pier instead. To address these challenges, Yokohama City has considered making use of cargo berths at Honmoku Pier.
On March 6, 2009, the cruise ship Queen Mary 2 called at Yokohama but could not pass beneath the bridge, so it docked at Daikoku Pier. The same ship returned on February 14, 2010, and again had to dock at Daikoku Pier.
After these calls, access by the general public to the area was prohibited for safety reasons. Some passengers were dissatisfied with this arrangement, and in 2011 the ship changed its port of call to Osaka Port.
The original article states that a new passenger terminal at Honmoku Pier A was scheduled for completion around 2025 as an alternative to Osanbashi. The terminal was expected to help resolve the restrictions affecting large cruise ships and strengthen Yokohama Port’s international competitiveness.
Yokohama Bay Bridge has appeared in numerous works of popular culture. Examples include the “Abunai Deka” film and television series, “Ultraman X,” “Godzilla vs. Mothra,” and “Wangan Midnight.” It has also appeared in music-related works and video games.
In these productions, the bridge is often featured as an important setting or background, reinforcing its status as one of Yokohama’s most recognizable landmarks.