[Kanto day trip spot] [Kanagawa Prefecture] Bike trip to Yokohama Minato Mirai! Travel alone on a Harley through futuristic cities and theme park-like towns
Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I toured by motorcycle from central Tokyo to Minato Mirai, Kanagawa Prefecture. Minato Mirai is a new urban center by the sea in Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, and is an attractive spot lined with skyscrapers, a Ferris wheel, and art museums. In this article, we will introduce what kind of place Minato Mirai is, the route to Minato Mirai, the highlights of Minato Mirai, and the motorcycle parking lot in Minato Mirai. At the end, we will also tell you the words that translated Minato Mirai into English. So let’s get started.
Minato Mirai is a new urban center developed based on the “Yokohama Port Future City Plan” formulated by Yokohama City in 1983, centered on reclaimed land such as the former Nippon Yusen Pier and the former Osanbashi Pier. The name is a coined word that combines the words “minato” and “mirai,” meaning “hope for future development from the port.” Currently, there are facilities such as Yokohama Landmark Tower, Pacifico Yokohama, Red Brick Warehouse, Nippon Maru Memorial Park, Yokohama Museum of Art, Marine Tower, and Cosmo World, and many people visit this area as a base for tourism, business, culture, and art. Also, at night, illuminations and laser beams shine beautifully, creating a romantic atmosphere.
The starting point was Sumida River Ohashi Bridge, and we visited in the following order.
Enter Shuto Expressway No. 9 Fukagawa Line/Route 9 in Koto Ward from Sumida River Bridge and Fukuzumi
go southeast
turn right
Turn right at the intersection with Suitengu Street
Proceed along the Sumida River Bridge
From the Shuto Expressway 9 ramp on the right, proceed toward Haneda/Higashi-Kanto Expressway/Airport Chuo.
Take the Metropolitan Expressway Bayshore Line and the Metropolitan Expressway Kanagawa No. 1 Yokohane Line/K1 until Yokohama City 2 Keyaki-dori, then exit the Metropolitan Expressway Kanagawa No. 1 Yokohane Line/K1 at Minato Mirai.
Proceed along Keyaki Street until you reach your destination in 4-chome.
This route is a convenient route that takes about 40 minutes using the Shuto Expressway. You may also get stuck in traffic, so we recommend leaving with plenty of time to spare.
Highlights of Minato Mirai
There are many things to see in Minato Mirai. Here I will introduce some of my favorite spots.
Yokohama Landmark Tower is a skyscraper with a height of 296 meters and has the highest observation deck in Japan. The observation deck is located on the 69th floor and offers a panoramic view of Yokohama Port, Tokyo Bay, and Mt. Fuji. To reach the observation deck, use the world’s fastest elevator. The elevator moves at a maximum speed of 750 meters per second (2700 kilometers per hour). The sense of speed is overwhelming. The entrance fee to the observation deck is 2000 yen.
Pacifico Yokohama is a complex facility that combines an international conference hall, exhibition hall, and hotel. Various events and exhibitions are held here. When I visited, Japan’s largest motorcycle show “Motorcycle Show 2023” was being held. The latest bikes, parts, and accessories were on display at this show, making it an irresistible sight for bike lovers.
The Red Brick Warehouse is a historic building built during the Meiji period, and is currently used as a shopping mall and event space. Here you can enjoy original miscellaneous goods, fashion, gourmet food, and more. In addition, various events are held outdoors depending on the season.
There are several motorcycle parking lots in Minato Mirai. I used the “Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Parking Lot”. This parking lot is located right next to the Red Brick Warehouse, and you can park your motorcycle for free. This parking lot is open 24 hours a day and has good security. Also, from the parking lot, you can see the Red Brick Warehouse and the Cosmo World Ferris wheel. It’s located in the center of Minato Mirai, so it’s easy to access.
There are other motorcycle parking lots in Minato Mirai, such as Pacifico Yokohama Parking'' andYokohama Landmark Tower Parking.”
This time, I toured by motorcycle from central Tokyo to Minato Mirai, Kanagawa Prefecture. Minato Mirai is a new urban center by the sea, and is an attractive spot with a landscape lined with skyscrapers, a Ferris wheel, and art museums. I enjoyed the observation deck at Yokohama Landmark Tower, the motorcycle show at Pacifico Yokohama, and the flower festival at Red Brick Warehouse. There are several motorcycle parking lots, and there were no problems with fees or security. I think Minato Mirai is the perfect place for touring by motorcycle.
Finally, I will tell you the English translation of Minato Mirai. That word is “Minato Mirai.” This word has the meaning of “Harbor Future”. The English name of Minato Mirai is often written in Roman letters.
That was my touring report. Everyone, please try touring by motorcycle from Tokyo to Yokohama and Minato Mirai. I’m sure it will be a wonderful memory. See you next time.
[Kanto day trip spot] [Kanagawa Prefecture] Bike trip to Yokohama Minato Mirai! Travel alone on a Harley through futuristic cities and theme park-like towns
