Situated in front of Landmark Tower in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai 21 district, the Yokohama Port Museum is a must-visit attraction. The sails of its star exhibit, the sail training ship Nippon Maru, tower above the museum and have become an iconic feature of Minato Mirai 21’s landscape.
The waterfront district of Minato Mirai 21 was once a bustling port before being converted into a public park in 1985. A few years later, the remodelled Port Museum opened as the Yokohama Maritime Museum, complementing the sailing ship that now calls the park home.
The Port Museum is divided into two zones: the Port of Yokohama History Zone and the Port of Yokohama Rediscovery Zone. These sections explore the 150-year history of the port and the various roles it plays today. The museum is housed in a semi-circular building across two levels, which also features a library, a special exhibition room, a café, and a gift shop. The museum sits alongside the Nippon Maru on a small peninsula known as Nippon Maru Park, which is scattered with monuments celebrating Yokohama’s maritime past.
The Nippon Maru was built in 1930 as a training ship for cadets. Over 54 years of service, more than 11,500 cadets trained aboard before the ship was retired in 1984 and gifted to Yokohama as a permanent attraction for Minato Mirai. While she no longer sails, her new role educates countless Japanese school groups about her history and the port’s significance.
Access:
The Yokohama Port Museum is a five-minute walk from:
- Sakuragicho Station on the JR Negishi Line or the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line
- Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai Line
Opening Hours & Admission
As with many attractions in Japan, the museum is closed on Mondays, as well as on select holidays, including Years End and New Year’s Day. Opening hours are from 10:00-17:00 with the last entry being at 16:30.
Admission Fees for both the museum and Nippon Maru:
- Adults: ¥800
- Elementary, middle, and high school students: ¥300
- Seniors (65 and over): ¥600
Official Website
https://www.nippon-maru.or.jp/port-museum/
