Tokyo Bay

As if I hadn’t written it often enough in the short while this site has been up, Yokohama is a port city. Of course, it can’t be narrowed down to only that, but living so close to the harbor, it takes a big part of my life. I have walked it countless times and am starting to get used to the sights. So I did what one does when something becomes too familiar: I did a 180 to destabilize myself in order to view the port from a different angle. Or does one? …and by 180, I mean seeing the port from where my gaze would usually fall upon. In layman’s terms, I took a boat ride and looked back toward the city. This update will be more a photo album than an informative page.

There are different possible tours around the bay. The one I boarded was the Marine Shuttle in Yamashita Park, close to Yamashita Pier.

Yamashita Pier focuses on conventional cargo. Right across from it is the permanently anchored Hikawa Maru, named after Hikawa Shrine, an important Shinto shrine. It served as a hospital ship during WW2 but is now a floating museum.

Leaving the pier, the ship headed inward toward the center of the port. Shinko Pier, “shinko” meaning “new port”, it is where was built the new development Minato Mirai 21 as well as where are located the Red-Brick Warehouses, which I will most likely introduce in later articles.

From there, the shuttle headed for Bay Bridge.

Now, for Bay Bridge, I could posts hundreds of pictures from all sorts of angles, but I think the picture above, seen from the other side, looking in to Yokohama, speaks without words!

Next stop was Honmoku Pier, the core pier. A total of 25 berths. And Yokohama is currently enhancing its installations. Across would be Daikoku Pier, but I unfortunately couldn’t get good pictures…

Finally, before returning, we passed next to Mizuho Pier which is one of the piers requisitioned by the U.S. military since WW2. However, the real reason why people know about Mizuho Pier is the huge wind turbine that has been installed on it. In fact, Yokohama is a viewed as the environment model city of Japan, a leader in taking environmental action, and the wind turbine stands as a symbol of this.

Upon our return to land, Hotel New Grand could be seen right in front of us. It is one of the more historical buildings in Yokohama. Commodore Perry actually signed some documents within its walls!

And here’s a last picture and a little bit of trivia:

The Port of Yokohama received 37,359 vessels in 2010, and that there is 3.28 million TEU of container throughout. The Port is also linked by 102 sea routes. Yokohama is even planning a 20m deep high standard terminal for 2013. Also worth mention is the export of finished vehicle handled by Daikoku Pier: 600,000 in 2009. Lastly, the Port of Yokohama has been the highest ranking cruise ship port in Japan for 8 years running, with 122 visits in 2010!

(Cette page en français)