Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is a pair of brick buildings beside the harbor, built in the early twentieth century as customs warehouses for goods passing through the port. For decades they held cargo, and after a period of neglect they were restored and reopened as a cultural and shopping complex. One building houses event space and exhibitions, while the other contains shops, cafes and restaurants. The brick facades, iron fittings and generous windows have been preserved, and the open plaza between the buildings has become one of the city's favourite gathering places. The warehouses sit at the heart of the port-opening story, since they stand beside the piers where the first foreign ships tied up after Japan opened its ports.

A walking tour that follows the port-opening era is the best way to appreciate the setting. Such a walk usually starts in the Kannai area, where the first foreign settlement once stood, and follows streets with names such as Bashamichi, where the first horse-drawn carriages ran, past historic banks, merchants' buildings and the former customs office. The route ends on the waterfront near the warehouses. A guide explains how the harbor was dredged, how foreign residents lived apart from Japanese districts, and how silk and tea exports built the city's wealth.

The plaza is the draw for most people. Seasonal events are held throughout the year, including a well-known Christmas market in winter, beer and food festivals in warmer months, and an ice rink in some winters. Inside, shops sell Yokohama souvenirs and crafts, and the restaurants include harbor-view dining and casual cafes. In the evening the brickwork is lit and the building reflects in the water, and the promenade connecting to Minato Mirai makes it easy to walk on. Entry to the plaza and the shops is free, while special events may charge.

Plan around events. When a festival is on, the plaza is lively but crowded, and prices for food and drink rise. When no event is on, it is quiet and pleasant, ideal for a coffee with a view. The warehouses are a ten-minute walk from Bashamichi, Nihon-odori and Minato Mirai stations, and a short walk from the waterfront cruise piers.

Opening hours for shops and restaurants vary, and the warehouses typically close their shops in the evening, so check the schedule. Toilets, baby-change rooms and lifts are available, and the paved surfaces suit strollers and wheelchairs.

Two buildings, two moods. The larger building is the more commercial, with shops selling homeware, sweets and souvenirs on several levels, while the smaller one houses event halls and exhibitions that change throughout the year. The upper floors of the shop building have terraces with harbor views and a quieter atmosphere than the plaza. Families enjoy the open lawn and the seasonal stalls, and couples find the evening glow of the brick particularly romantic.

Parking nearby is limited and costly, so arrive by train or on foot. Pay attention to the events calendar for quiet days if you prefer to browse in peace, and look for terrace seating that faces the water, which is first to fill when the sun is out. Visitors with children can usually find a quiet corner and a place to change a baby before moving on.