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Yokohama Landmark Tower

Rising above the Minato Mirai district, Yokohama Landmark Tower is one of the most recognizable features of Yokohama’s skyline. Standing 296 meters tall with 70 floors above ground, this impressive skyscraper offers spectacular panoramic views, a large shopping complex, a hotel, restaurants, offices and event facilities. Its observation floor, Sky Garden, provides a sweeping view of Yokohama, Tokyo Bay and the wider Kanto region.

A Landmark Skyscraper in Minato Mirai

Yokohama Landmark Tower is located in the Minato Mirai district of Nishi Ward, Yokohama. At 296 meters tall, it has 70 floors above ground and is one of the city’s defining landmarks. When it was completed, it was the tallest building in Japan. The source article describes it as Japan’s second-tallest building after Abeno Harukas in Osaka, which stands 300 meters tall.

The complex consists of the main tower and the lower-rise Plaza building. Inside are Landmark Plaza, a shopping and dining complex; Sky Garden, the observation floor; a hotel; a hall and various other facilities. The building serves as both a business center and a major destination for sightseeing and shopping.

History and Development

Construction of Yokohama Landmark Tower began in 1986, and the building was completed in 1993. Its design and development were undertaken by Mitsubishi Estate and the architectural team of Hightower Associates. The project represented an important achievement in Japan’s high-rise building technology and architectural design.

The tower was built on the site of a former shipyard dock. Its construction formed part of the wider development of the Minato Mirai waterfront, transforming the area’s former industrial landscape into a modern urban district with offices, commercial facilities, hotels and public spaces.

The tower’s completion brought a major change to Yokohama’s skyline and helped establish Minato Mirai as one of the city’s leading business, shopping and tourism areas.

Architecture and Structure

The tower has a sleek, modern exterior characterized by clean, straight lines and a strong vertical profile. Its design combines a distinctive appearance with practical functions, while lighting at night emphasizes its elegant form against the surrounding cityscape.

Earthquake-resistant technology was incorporated into the building’s structure. High-speed elevators provide efficient access to the upper floors, connecting the second floor directly with the observation level at a maximum speed of approximately 750 meters per minute, equivalent to about 45 kilometers per hour.

Sky Garden: Panoramic Views from the 69th Floor

Sky Garden is the observation floor on the 69th floor, approximately 273 meters above ground. Visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panorama from this elevated vantage point, taking in Yokohama Port, Tokyo Bay and the city below.

The view extends well beyond Yokohama. On clear days, visitors can see the central area of Tokyo, the Boso Peninsula, the Miura Peninsula and the Izu Peninsula, as well as Mount Fuji and the Chichibu Mountains. The broad outlook across the Kanto Plain makes Sky Garden an especially rewarding place to appreciate the geography of the region.

The observation floor also has a café, where visitors can relax and enjoy refreshments while looking out over the city. The scenery is attractive throughout the day, while the illuminated cityscape after sunset makes the observation floor particularly popular with couples and other visitors seeking a memorable night view.

Landmark Plaza: Shopping and Dining

Landmark Plaza is a spacious shopping mall within the complex. Its interior features a dramatic atrium extending up to the fifth floor, creating an open and impressive shopping environment.

The mall is arranged around two main atriums. Garden Square evokes the atmosphere of a European plaza, while Festival Square has a more casual and lively character. Together, these spaces form the setting for approximately 160 specialty shops.

The stores offer a wide range of goods, including fashion, accessories, lifestyle products and gifts. Baby and children’s clothing shops and character-goods stores are also well represented, making the mall appealing to families as well as individual shoppers.

Restaurants and cafés provide places to enjoy meals and refreshments during a visit. The combination of shopping, dining and entertainment makes Landmark Plaza a convenient destination in its own right.

Dockyard Garden: A Historic Shipbuilding Heritage Site

At the base of the tower is Dockyard Garden, an outdoor space preserving the remains of a historic stone shipbuilding dock. The dock was completed in 1896 and is recognized as the oldest surviving stone dockyard in Japan.

A dockyard is a facility where a ship can be brought into a dry area so that its hull can be inspected, maintained and repaired. The historic structure has been restored and preserved as part of the Landmark Tower development. It measures approximately 107 meters in length, 29 meters across at its upper edge and 10 meters in depth.

The dock is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Its interior is now used as a restaurant area, allowing visitors to dine within a space that preserves the atmosphere and scale of the former industrial facility.

Because the tower was constructed on the site of the former shipyard, Dockyard Garden offers a direct connection between the modern landmark and Yokohama’s maritime and industrial history.

Hotel and Business Facilities

Yokohama Landmark Tower accommodates a variety of facilities in addition to its observation floor and shopping mall. Office floors house numerous companies, making the tower an important business location in Yokohama.

The complex also includes the Yokohama Royal Park Hotel, which provides upscale accommodation in the heart of Minato Mirai. Its location within the tower allows guests to enjoy convenient access to the shopping, dining and sightseeing facilities in the surrounding district.

A hall and other multipurpose spaces are also part of the complex, supporting events and activities throughout the year.

Seasonal Events and Activities

Various events are held at Yokohama Landmark Tower throughout the year. Seasonal illuminations add color to the building and its surroundings, while campaigns and special events take place in Landmark Plaza.

Sky Garden also hosts special programs and events, giving visitors additional reasons to return. These activities attract both local residents and tourists and contribute to the lively atmosphere of the Minato Mirai district.

Explore the Minato Mirai Waterfront

Yokohama Landmark Tower is surrounded by many of the city’s major attractions. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse and Pacifico Yokohama are among the nearby destinations, and the wider waterfront district offers museums, shopping areas, restaurants and pleasant places to walk.

The tower’s convenient location makes it easy to combine a visit to Sky Garden with shopping, dining and sightseeing around Minato Mirai. Visitors can enjoy the historic atmosphere of the waterfront and then take in the modern cityscape from high above.

Experience Yokohama from Above

Yokohama Landmark Tower brings together a remarkable observation floor, a large shopping complex, a hotel, business facilities and an important piece of industrial heritage. From the 273-meter-high Sky Garden to the historic stone dock preserved at its base, the tower offers several different ways to discover Yokohama.

Whether you come for the panoramic views, shopping, dining or architecture, Yokohama Landmark Tower is an essential destination for experiencing the energy and character of modern Yokohama.

Information

Name
Yokohama Landmark Tower
横浜ランドマークタワー
Link
Official Site
Address
2-2-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Telephone number
045-222-5015
Hours of operation

10:00 - 21:00

Closed

No holidays

Access

3 minutes on foot from Minatomirai Station
5 min. walk from Sakuragicho Station

Area
Kanagawa Yokohama Minato Mirai Yokohama
Category
Towers, Observation facilities Shopping Mall

Gallery

Yokohama

Kanagawa

Category

Area