Historical Context

Yokohama transformed from a modest fishing village into Japan's primary international port after the Treaty of Kanagawa opened Japan to Western trade in 1854. By the late 19th century the city attracted traders and sailors from across the world, and the Japanese government commissioned two state-of-the-art warehouses as part of the Shinko Pier expansion. Both were built with approximately six million red bricks manufactured in Japan. Building No. 2 was completed in 1911, followed by Building No. 1 in 1913. Each stands three stories tall — Building No. 1 spans 76 metres and Building No. 2 stretches 149 metres along the waterfront.

The Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1923 devastated Yokohama, collapsing the central section of Building No. 1. The reinforced brick-and-iron construction proved resilient enough to survive, and repairs were completed by 1930. After World War II, the buildings served under American military occupation until 1956, then fell into gradual disuse as containerization made traditional bonded warehousing obsolete. By the 1990s they were derelict. Yokohama city acquired jurisdiction in 1992 and commissioned the architectural firm Takenaka Corporation to carry out a comprehensive restoration from 1994 to 1999. The complex reopened on April 12, 2002 as a cultural, commercial and entertainment destination.

Building No. 1: Cultural & Event Venue

The smaller of the two warehouses is Yokohama's main indoor cultural venue. Its third floor holds a dedicated theater with roughly 300 seats, acoustically designed for concerts, theatrical productions, lectures, and musical competitions. The second floor is a flexible gallery that transforms throughout the year for contemporary art, photography, film festivals, and craft exhibitions. The ground floor has around five specialist shops, each representing a distinct aspect of local craft culture.

Standout tenants on the first floor include Akarenga Depot for brick-themed Yokohama exclusives, S. Shobey & Masuda Gama for traditional Yokohama Yaki ceramics and locally produced silk, and Camera wa Suzuki for vintage and contemporary photography equipment. The most distinctive stop is Yokohama Glass, an experiential glassblowing studio where visitors work with professional artisans to create their own glass artwork. Sessions last 30–60 minutes and run at various times throughout the day — this is a genuine hands-on souvenir that none of the standard shopping malls in the Minato Mirai 21 district can match. Booking ahead at the studio counter is recommended on weekends.

Entry to the gallery spaces and hallways is free. Ticketed events in the performance hall typically range from ¥1,500 to ¥4,000 depending on the production. Check the official event calendar at yokohama-akarenga.jp before you arrive to catch anything coinciding with your visit.

Building No. 2: Shopping, Dining & Harbor Views

Building No. 2 is the larger commercial building and the one most visitors spend the most time in. The first floor, themed "Harbor Connection," connects seamlessly to the waterfront promenade at its western end. It holds fashion boutiques, artisan goods, accessories, and casual dining options. Motion Blue Yokohama on this floor is a restaurant-bar with nightly live jazz and blues performances — one of the most atmospheric evening options in the entire harbor district.

The second floor carries a more progressive retail mix alongside cafes and bars. The third floor is the showpiece: a harbor-view terrace added in 2007 with panoramic views of Yokohama Bay, the Yokohama Bay Bridge, and the illuminated Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel at dusk. Premium restaurants on this level offer sunset dinners that are consistently rated among Yokohama's most memorable dining experiences. Reservations are strongly advised for terrace tables on Friday and Saturday evenings. For off-peak dining, aim for early lunch (11:30–12:30) or late dinner after 20:00 to avoid the worst queues.

The building accepts major credit cards in most shops, and many retailers offer tax-free shopping for international visitors on purchases over ¥5,000 — bring your original passport. Opening hours for shops run 11:00–20:00 daily; restaurants typically stay open until 22:00 or 23:00.

Year-Round Events & Seasonal Highlights

The outdoor Event Plaza between the two buildings is central to the Red Brick Warehouse's appeal — it hosts festivals and markets throughout every season. The event calendar changes year to year so always verify dates at the official site, but the following are annual fixtures.

Winter is the peak season for atmosphere. The Yokohama Christmas Market (late November to December 25) transforms the plaza into a German-style winter market with illuminated stalls, mulled wine, bratwurst, and live entertainment. It is one of Japan's largest Christmas markets. From December through February, the Yokohama Art Rink operates an outdoor ice skating facility with illuminated art installations around the rink — skate rentals are available on-site. These two events alone draw large crowds, so weekday evenings are far calmer than weekends.

Spring brings Frühlingsfest (a German-themed spring festival with beer gardens and live music), an Easter Flower Show, a Strawberry Festival, and a Bread Festival showcasing artisan bakeries. Summer sees pop-up food markets and outdoor concerts on the plaza. Autumn is anchored by Yokohama Oktoberfest (late September to mid-October), the most attended annual event at the site — communal tables, German craft beer, bratwurst, and brass bands in a Bavarian beer garden setting. A Taiwan Festival in autumn celebrates Taiwanese culture with music, crafts, and cuisine. Various artisan and craft markets run year-round on weekends.

Photography Hotspots

The classic exterior shot frames both warehouse facades from the Event Plaza with the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel rising behind Building No. 2 — best captured 30 minutes before sunset when the sky turns orange and the brickwork glows. Walking to the end of the waterfront promenade west of Building No. 2 gives a wide-angle view of both buildings reflected in the bay. Red Brick Park, the grass area directly facing the water, offers unobstructed compositions of the historic facades against the Minato Mirai skyline.

At night the buildings are lit from below, making the brick textures more dramatic than in daylight. The third-floor terrace of Building No. 2 provides an elevated perspective over the plaza and bay. For a different angle, the Osanbashi Pier (a 15-minute walk east) is a popular vantage point to photograph both warehouses framed by the harbor. The Yokohama Air Cabin gondola, departing from the Yokohama Air Cabin station near Sakuragicho, provides an aerial perspective of the entire waterfront including the warehouse complex.

What Is Nearby

The Red Brick Warehouse sits at the centre of Yokohama's most walkable sightseeing corridor. Yamashita Park, a large seaside promenade, is a 15-minute walk east and includes the Hikawa Maru museum ship moored at its pier. Yokohama Landmark Tower and the Minato Mirai 21 district are a 10-minute walk west, with the Cosmo World amusement park directly adjacent. The Cup Noodles Museum is a 10-minute walk and makes for a logical pairing with a morning at the warehouse.

Yokohama Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Japan, is a 20-minute walk south-east. The Sea Bass ferry (Shoko Kisen) connects the waterfront to Yokohama Station and Kannai in about 10 minutes and is a scenic alternative to the train. Osanbashi International Cruise Terminal is a 12-minute walk east and offers an excellent free viewpoint over the entire harbor. Most first-time visitors combine the Red Brick Warehouse with Chinatown and Yamashita Park in a single half-day loop.

Opening Hours & Access Information

Building No. 1 shops are open 10:00–19:00 daily. Building No. 2 shops and restaurants are open 11:00–20:00, with most restaurants extending to 22:00 or 23:00. Cafes and event spaces keep their own hours. The buildings close on scheduled maintenance days — verify at yokohama-akarenga.jp before visiting. Entry to the grounds, outdoor plaza, and Red Brick Park is free at all times.

The closest train stations are Bashamichi and Nihon-odori on the Minatomirai Line, both 6–10 minutes on foot. From Sakuragicho Station (JR Keihin-Tohoku Line) the walk takes 15–20 minutes along the pleasant waterfront path. From Tokyo, the fastest route is Shibuya → Toyoko Line direct to Nihon-odori in roughly 30 minutes. Via Tokyo Station take the Keihin-Tohoku Line to Sakuragicho (45 min) or transfer at Yokohama to the Minatomirai Line (total 55 min). The Akai Kutsu loop bus connects major Yokohama waterfront sights from Sakuragicho Station and stops near the warehouse. Use a Suica or Pasmo IC card for all transit.

Coin-operated lockers are available near the entrances — they accept 100-yen coins only (¥100–300 per use) and do not provide change, so carry coins in advance. The complex is fully wheelchair accessible with elevators in both buildings and accessible restrooms. Information desks are at the main entrances of each building. The official phone number for Building No. 2 is +81-45-227-2002 (open 11:00–20:00). Parking exists in the Minato Mirai district but fills quickly on weekends; arriving by train is strongly recommended.

Practical Visitor Tips

Arrive on a weekday morning to enjoy the plaza and Building No. 1 galleries before the lunch crowds arrive around 12:30. Shops in Building No. 2 open at 11:00, so use the early morning for outdoor photography and the exterior of Building No. 1. Plan at least two to three hours for a thorough visit across both buildings and the park; allow a half-day if you intend to dine or attend an event. Evening visits from 17:00 onward are worth considering specifically for the illuminated facades and harbor views.

Most shop signage includes English but staff English proficiency varies — download a translation app before you go. Comfort is important: the grounds feature uneven waterfront surfaces, so wear walking shoes. The area connects naturally to Sankeien Garden and Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise if you have a full day. Clean public restrooms are inside both buildings and near the Event Plaza.

A common first-timer mistake is arriving expecting a quick 30-minute browse and then running short of time once the Event Plaza festival is discovered or the glassblowing studio queue is spotted. Check the event calendar ahead of time. If a major festival like the Christmas Market or Oktoberfest is running, budget 30–60 extra minutes for the outdoor area alone, and expect weekend crowds to be significantly heavier than weekday crowds.