Yamashita Park, Yokohama (must see)

Yamashita Park is a beloved waterfront space in the city, stretching along the harbour in front of Yokohama Port between Osanbashi Pier and the Motomachi area. Covering nearly 800,000 square feet, it opened in 1930 as part of the city’s recovery after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Much of the park was built using rubble from the destroyed Kannai commercial district, turning the remains of disaster into a public seaside promenade. Its broad lawns, trees, flower beds, fountains, and open views over Yokohama Bay helped reconnect the city with its port landscape.

From the waterfront promenade, visitors can look across the bay toward Osanbashi Pier, passing ships, and the Yokohama Bay Bridge. One of the park’s most recognizable sights is the Hikawa Maru, a Japanese ocean liner built in 1929 and permanently moored beside the park. The ship once served as a trans-Pacific liner and now operates as a museum, with exhibits on the history of the port, the pier, and the vessel itself. Visitors can explore its decks, cabins, and engine rooms, gaining a sense of Yokohama’s maritime past.

The park also contains many monuments and open-air artworks that reflect Yokohama’s international connections and public memory. These include the Statue of the Girl with Red Shoes, the Yokohama Indian Water Fountain, the Monument to General Artemio Ricarte of the Philippines, the Monument to the Children’s Song “Seagull Sailor Man,” and The Guardian of Water, a sculpture by American artist Donal Hord. Seasonal flower displays, especially near the waterfront, add colour throughout the year.