“Meiji-era brick glows amber after dark along the harbour.”
A historic building representative of Yokohama and known for its traditional brickwork architecture. The Red Brick Warehouse of Kanagawa prefecture is always a lively spot, with various events held during the daytime, while at night it is illuminated with orange light, creating a magical atmosphere different from the daytime. The Yokohama Bay Bridge, Yokohama Osanbashi Pier, and International Passenger Terminal pier also have beautiful night views which can be enjoyed throughout the season.
Photograph provided by Yokohama Visitors Guide
| Spot Name | Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse |
|---|---|
| Postal Code | 〒231-0001 |
| Address | 1-1 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa |
| Telephone Number | 045-211-1515 |
| Official URL | https://www.yokohama-akarenga.jp/ |
| Keywords | Art & Architecture, Food & Drink, Shopping |
by Yoko NagashimaKANAGAWA
Approx. ¥11,000 / guest
This is a good place if you want to take some photos since the architectural appearance is distinctive. And in the space between warehouse No. 1 and warehouse No. 2, sometimes some activities like music festivals and food festivals are hold. But the shops and restaurants in the warehouses are not so impressive. They are similar to the shops in a common shopping mall. So it is a good place if you want to have a rest in a modern atmosphere.
Despite the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 having reduced warehouse No.1 to half its size, it still stands firm after more than 100 years with warehouse No. 2 right by its side. Warehouse No.1 houses many craft shops and galleries with artworks by Yokohama artists, with old visible artifacts under your feet. The second (although it was built two years prior than warehouse No.1), larger warehouse was home to many diverse restaurants on the ground floor, with quaint boutiques occupying the second and third floors. The omurice restaurant Tachibanatei, opposite Kua 'Aina (where I had one of the best burgers in Japan) seemed very popular as many customers lined up to have a taste of the famed omurice. Fun fact: warehouse No. 1 hosted the first ever elevator for cargo handling in Japan, and you can still see it today. Overall, a nice place to spend at least a good 2 hours as you get a sense of its historical significance but also enjoy the view of the pier, even on a rainy day.
Unfortunately the interior of the building does not live up to the exterior. While the building itself looks nice it seemed to have very little of substance to offer. The first floor is mostly filled with rather generic and somewhat overpriced restaurants offering cuisine from different parts of the world. The rest are various gift shops, some better than others. Third floor was more of the same. Overall I would say it is still worth dropping by the area as a whole because it is quite pleasant to walk along the seafront and is close to Osanbashi Pier. However the inside of the building is very generic, with other places in Yokohama offering a much more authentic shopping and dining experience.
