Minato Mirai 21

Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい21, Minato Mirai Nijūichi?), often shortened to Minato Mirai or MM is a large urban development in Yokohama, Japan. Minato Mirai 21 area is designated for new urban center planned to connect city's traditional center of Kannai and Yokohama Station area.

Minato Mirai 21 is originally proposed as one of the Yokohama's six major development plan by the mayor of Yokohama, Ichio Asukata in 1965. After several assessments and review sessions, actual construction started in 1983. This is the area once was known as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd's Yokohama shipyard and Japanese National Railways classification yard, Takashima wharf and Shinko wharf of Port of Yokohama. Conducted as Urban Renewal and reclaimed land, the port and the industrial area once divided city center between Kannai and Yokohama Station, turned to new business district in Yokohama today. Minato Mirai 21 means "Port Future in 21st century", which was selected in a public pull opinion.

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

In business, Nissan Motors Global Headquarters, JGC Corporation Headquarters, and other major corporations headquarters and branches as well as international organizations are located in this area in Yokohama. Today, about 79,000 people are working in Minato Mirai 21.

In Yokohama, Minato Mirai 21 also attracts numerous tourists along with nearby Yokohama Chinatown. In 2010, approximately 58 millions of people visited Minato Mirai 21. Due to graceful view, seashore accessibilty, cruse ships embarked at Ōsanbashi Pier, and Yokohama Bay Bridge, pictures of Minato Mirai 21 tends to be used for symbol of today's Yokohama.

Attractions

Major attractions in the area include the following:

Ø   Yokohama Landmark Tower - The tallest building in Japan, with views of Tokyo and Mt. Fuji

Ø   Cosmo World - amusement park, which includes the 100 meter (330 ft) Cosmo Clock 21 ferris wheel

Ø   Kishamichi Promenade - pedestrian walkway following the original Harbor railroad tracks, linking Sakuragicho station with Yokohama World Porters and the Cosmo Clock. The walkway offers expansive views of the Minato Mirai skyline.

Ø   Minato Mirai Hall - symphony hall with extensive performance schedule including the resident Kanagawa Philharmonic

Ø   Pacifico Yokohama - One of the largest convention complexes in the world

Ø   Nippon Maru - a four masted sailing ship, permanently docked in Minato Mirai as a museum

Ø   Yokohama Museum of Art - houses one of the most notable collections of modern art in Japan

Railway Stations

Ø   Minatomirai Station

Ø   Sakuragichō Station

Ø   Shin-Takashima Station

Posted in: JAPAN