Kanagawa · Yokohama / Minato MiraiNo.197★★Open in map →
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Two red-brick customs warehouses built in 1911 and 1913, now a culture and shopping complex on the Yokohama waterfront. Designed by the Meiji government architect Tsumaki Yorinaka, the buildings survived the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and later reopened as cultural and commercial facilities after a major restoration completed in 2002.
The two warehouses stand at the edge of Yokohama Port's central pier, with the bay behind them and the Minato Mirai skyline — including the Landmark Tower — rising to the west. Yokohama opened to foreign trade in 1859, and by the early 20th century these warehouses were part of a modern customs infrastructure built to handle the port's growing international commerce. The larger Building No. 2 now houses shops and restaurants; the smaller Building No. 1 hosts gallery and event spaces. The open plaza between them and the waterfront promenade are used throughout the year for outdoor markets, concerts, and seasonal events — including an ice-skating rink in winter. The area sits within easy walking distance of the nearby Chinatown (Yokohama Chukagai) and the Yamashita Park waterfront.
Background & history
Building No. 2 was completed in 1911 and Building No. 1 in 1913, both designed by Tsumaki Yorinaka, a government architect who applied reinforced-brick construction with iron embedded in the walls — which contributed to the buildings' survival of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake with comparatively limited damage, while much of Yokohama was destroyed. The buildings were later used by the US military after World War II and then as government storage, before being restored and reopened in 2002 as the mixed-use cultural facility seen today. A further major renovation was completed in December 2022, updating the facilities while preserving the historic brick facades.
What to look for — in walking order
- Building No. 2 (shops and restaurants)
- the larger of the two warehouses; ground floor shops and upper-floor restaurants with bay views; open daily 10:00–19:00 (restaurants 11:00–20:00)
- Building No. 1 (culture and events)
- the smaller building; gallery and event hall; programming changes seasonally
- Waterfront promenade and plaza
- open space between the buildings and the pier edge; evening bay views and the Minato Mirai skyline across the water
- Yamashita Park (10 min walk)
- a long waterfront park along the Yokohama bay shore, with a moored former ocean liner (Hikawa Maru)
How to enjoy it
The area is most atmospheric in the evening, when the brick facades and the pier lights reflect off the water. The buildings themselves are worth seeing even without shopping — the scale of the restored warehouses, the cast-iron columns inside, and the view across the bay from the upper floor of Building No. 2 are the main draws. From here, Yokohama Chinatown is a 10-minute walk east — combining the two makes a full half-day in Yokohama.
How to actually get there
- Shinjuku Station → Yokohama Station (JR Shonan-Shinjuku or Yokosuka Line, ~28 min).
- Yokohama Station (underground) → Bashamichi Station (Minatomirai Line, ~5 min, 2 stops).
- Exit 6 → walk east along the waterfront (~8–10 min) to the Red Brick Warehouse plaza.
- Shinjuku Station → Bashamichi Station (Minatomirai Line via Yokohama)
- From Shinjuku Station, take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line (or JR Yokosuka Line) to Yokohama Station (~28 min), then transfer to the Minatomirai Line from the Yokohama Station underground concourse to Bashamichi Station (~5 min, 2 stops). Exit from Exit 6 (Red Brick Warehouse exit) and walk about 8–10 minutes east along the waterfront. Total about 35 min. Minatomirai Line trains run every few minutes.
- Return from Bashamichi to Yokohama, then JR to Shinjuku
- Walk back to Bashamichi Station and return to Yokohama Station on the Minatomirai Line, then take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line or Yokosuka Line back to Shinjuku. Trains are frequent and no booking is needed. Alternatively, stay in Yokohama and explore Chinatown before returning.
Before you go
- Cash
- Entry to the plaza and exterior is free. Individual shops and restaurants set their own prices. The Minatomirai Line accepts IC cards (Suica, PASMO, etc.); one-day passes are also available.
- Closing days
- Building No. 2 shops: 10:00–19:00 daily; restaurants: 11:00–20:00. Building No. 1 hours vary by event. The outdoor plaza and pier have no closing time. During seasonal events (cherry blossom, summer marine fetes, Christmas market, winter ice rink) the area draws larger crowds, especially on weekends.
- Another way
- Yokohama Station also has bus connections to the Red Brick Warehouse area via the Akarenka Dori bus route — an option if you prefer not to transfer to the Minatomirai Line.
- After you get off
- Bashamichi Station Exit 6 (labelled 'Aka-renga-soko' / Red Brick Warehouse exit): walk east along the waterfront promenade, about 8–10 minutes on foot.