Yokohama (Tokyo, Japan)

Yokohama is a major seaport and large city on Honshu island, ranked Japan's 2nd largest (after the capital Tokyo) with population over 3,73 million. It is located in Tokyo Bay, approx 28 km (17 ml) south of Tokyo City. Due to the close distance (train travel time 30 min) Yokohama is often used as cruise port to Tokyo. Port's cruising season runs from February through October.

Port Yokohama

The seaport was opened to foreign trade in 1859, handling mainly raw silk export and technology import. The port authority company (managing all facilities and operations) is Yokohama Kawasaki International Port Corporation. Currently, the port has 10 large piers.

• Honmoku Pier has 24 berths, of which 14 serve container ships.
• Osanbashi Pier serves passenger ships (ferries and cruises).
• Detamachi Pier serves food carriers (fresh fruits and vegetables).
• Daikoku Pier is located on a man-made island (sized 321 hectares) and has 7 container berths plus large-capacity warehouses.
• Minami Honmoku Pier (port's newest) has 2 berths (each 350 m long), water depth (max draft) 16 m (52 ft) and is equipped with 6 large gantry cranes. Here can be handled world's largest boxships. At Minami Honmoku is also APM Terminals Yokohama terminal, ranked among the world's most productive cargo handling facilities.
• Mizuho Pier has 7 berths used exclusively by US Forces Japan.

In 2013, the port handled a total of 37,706 vessels, over 271 million tons of cargo and nearly 2,9 million TEU-containers.

On January 31, 2017, Yokohama was selected as one of all 6 Japanese ports to receive private funding for structural upgrades of their cruise terminal facilities.

• The project aimed to attract more cruise ships and to increase the number of visiting international passengers. The other ports in that list are Shimizu, Sasebo, Yatsushiro-Kumamoto, Motobu and Miyakojima.
• At the above listed ports, cruise companies will build passenger terminals and other port facilities using their own funds. Other companies and lines / operators will be also allowed to use these facilities. However, the cruise ship companies that will build the new port facilities will be given priority to use the wharfs.
• The companies involved in the port building project are NYK Cruises (subsidiary of the Japanese cargo shipping corporation Nippon Yusen Kaisha / NYK Line) and  RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd).
• In 2016, the number of cruise ship visitors to Japan reached 1,9 million. In comparison, 2013 season's statistics showed only 174,000 passengers.

For season 2018-2019, the cruise port reported a 28% increase in berth bookings and handled 178 ship calls. In April 2019 was opened the new cruise terminal Daikoku Pier. By 2023, the Daikoku terminal expansion project will increase its berthing capacity to two large liners simultaneously. Another new cruise terminal (Shinko Pier) was inaugurated in October 2019. Shinko Terminal is fitted with commercial facilities (including 25 shops) and a dockside hotel (InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8). Shinko Terminal's first ship was Diamond Princess (berthed on Nov 4th).

There are also plans for redeveloping Yamashita Pier into cruise berth. By 2021 the port plans to develop LNG bunkering capabilities.

Yokohama cruise terminal

Yokohama tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Stay at Osanbashi Pier: the sunrise and the sunset there are amazing. You will see Minato Mirai, Bay Bridge and Yamashita Park. The sun will rise dehind Bay Bridge and it will set down behind Minato Mirai. Mt. Fiji is seen on a clear day.
• Sankeien Garden: traditional garden for Japan with shrines, ponds and pagoda.
• Yamashita Park: close to Osanbashi Pier is Yokohama’s premier park. Its length is 750 m. There you can see Hikawa Maru or join some of the events. Across is the Yokohama Marine Tower.
• Chinatown, Motomachi: go shopping in Motomachi and try one of the best food in Yokohama in Chinatown.
• Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum: the museum is noodle and mimics Tokyo in1958.
• Yamate Bluff and Harbor View Park: neighborhood with many historic Western homes, gardens and parks. There are a foreigner’s cemetery, Harbour View Park and Motomachi Park.
• Noge, Kogane-cho, Isezaki-cho: don’t miss to visit those area to discover the life in Yokohama.
• Kirin Yokohama Beer Village: tour the Kirin, Yokomaha beer factory, and try a free beer.
• Minato Mirai 21 Area: spend leisure day in this new area. Visit museums, amusement park, office towers, shops and parks. Great place for all the family.
• Yokohama Bay Stars: visit a baseball game at the Yokohama Stadium.