Ship models on display at the Yokohama Port Museum.
Yokohama Port Museum located in Nippon Maru Memorial Park in the Minatomirai district of Yokohama was opened May 25th 1989 and plays host to displaying the vast history of the ports in Yokohama. Displays going all the way back 160 years.
The museum showcases the history within the museum through 7 sections. The following are the sections the main part of the museum is built of:
The Opening Days of Yokohama Port (1859 – 1888)
The Construction of the Modern Port (1889 – 1922)
The Great Kanto Earthquake and Reconstruction (1923 – 1940)
War and Requisition (1941 – 1950s)
The High-Growth Era and Port Development (Rapid Economic Growth Period)
The Dawn of Container Shipping
Strengthening International Competitiveness
There is also an option to upgrade from the museum ticket to the combo ticket to see the Nippon Maru ship built in the 1930s. The Nippon Maru ship was in service for 54 years and brought up around 11,500 cadets and logged enough distance to circumnavigate the Earth 45.4 times. That is a grand total of 1,830,000 kilometers in total of active traveling!
What can be enjoyed at the Yokohama Port Museum?
The Yokohama Port Museum features several interactive displays and hands-on simulators. All of these interactive exhibits are perfect for visitors of all ages, especially children. These include the likes of the following:
Gantry crane simulator, where visitors can try loading & unloading shipping containers.
1 - Gantry Crane Simulator
A realistic reproduction of a gantry crane cockpit where visitors can experience loading and unloading shipping containers.
2 - Ship-Handling / Navigation Simulators
Interactive setups that let visitors try steering and navigating a vessel.
3 - Minato Capsule VR Theater
An immersive virtual reality and multimedia experience offering bird's-eye views and historical looks into Yokohama Port operations.
4 - Interactive Touch-Panel Walls & Maps
Digital screens and a large photographic floor map at the entrance that illustrate the layout and 160-year history of the harbor.
Is the Nippon Maru ship worth visiting?
One of the most impressive things to see is the Nippon Maru ship as it compliments the museum’s content. Take special note of the outside of the well-preserved ship, as the metal rivets can still be seen. On select days each year, the sails of the vessel can be seen unfurled. The days this occurs are listed on the museum’s website and work out to be about once a month.
The Nippon Maru Ship, docked outside the Yokohama Port Museum.
Who would enjoy this museum the most?
Maritime & Naval History enthusiasts would enjoy the museum. Visitors fascinated by ship models, diorama displays and the 150-year evolution of Japan's major international port from 1859 onward will definitely appreciate what the museum and ship experience has to offer.
Yokohama Port Museum can also be enjoyed by families with slightly older children. The hands-on interactive experience of the virtual ship-docking simulator and a working cargo gantry crane cockpit simulator help engage children in an educational and entertaining experience.
The museum is located in Yokohama Port, and accessible to the Yokohama cruise terminal, making it a great itinerary item in the port-of-call or before boarding or after disembarking.
FAQs
What are the ticket prices for the museum and ship?
Admission Fees
| Visitor Category | Museum Only | Combination Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | ¥400 | ¥800 |
| Seniors (65+) | ¥250 | ¥600 |
| Students / Children | ¥200 | ¥300 |
* Preschool children enjoy free admission to the museum.
Tickets for visitors with a disability certificate have access to the museum for free and up to one accompanying caregiver gets free entry as well.
What are the hours of the Yokohama Port Museum?
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
Closed Days: Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
What are the facilities like at the museum?
The restrooms at the Yokohama Port Museum are clean, modern, and built for multi-purpose use. There are male and female restrooms with a unisex wheelchair accessible restroom as well. The facility includes infant seats/highchairs and diaper-changing stations, alongside a dedicated nursing/breastfeeding room inside. The museum is also wheelchair accessible throughout the indoor exhibitions. The museum is equipped with ramps, wide passageways and elevators connecting the different floors. There are wheelchairs for rent if needed.
However, due to the nature of the Nippon Mura being an old ship, it is not wheelchair accessible. It features tight corridors with steep steps. The ship also does have restroom facilities. So if needed to be used you will have to exit the ship and head over to the museum building to access them.
Service dogs, guide dogs, and hearing dogs are allowed inside the Yokohama Port Museum as long as they are certificated. However, on Nippon Maru, service dogs are restricted to the long poop deck due to the ship's steep, narrow structural layout.
What type of language support does the Yokohama Port Museum have?
This museum offers a range of English language support. To start off with, full English translated versions of the pamphlets are available. The pamphlet does not go into detail about what is within the museum but does give you a great amount of history and a basic understanding of what to expect. The pamphlet also shows you a map of the outside layout of the museum and Nippon Maru.
English translations are mostly available for the museum’s primary display panels, exhibits and animations. QR codes are periodically placed that can be scanned with a visitor’s camera application and offer deeper information. The museum and ship do not offer an audio guide.
What food is near to the Yokohama Port Museum?
There are no dedicated eating or drinking areas within the museum as well as no vending machines to be able to purchase drinks. However, if you are planning on finding places to eat then close by, around a 5-10 minute walk, is the Landmark Plaza that has a host of restaurants to choose from. Some of these consist of the following:
Bubby’s Yokohama - Serves American comfort food like burgers, sandwiches, and in house made pies. This option is the best for vegetarians or vegans, but does not offer gluten free options.
Aji no Beef Tongue Kisuke - Specializes in grilled ox tongue sets.
Mrs. Elizabeth Muffins - a small cafe that focuses on freshly baked muffins and light refreshments if you are looking more for a snack rather than a full meal
Afuri - a popular ramen store in Tokyo with branch in Yokohama. Afuri offers gluten free options, such as konjac noodles, but is not a gluten-fee kitchen.
If you choose to bring your own food and drink then the open-air park grounds, benches and a gently sloping lawn built onto the rooftop of the semi-underground museum complex is also a perfect place to sit and have a picnic style meal.
Explore Japan with TokudAw.
TokudAw is an expert in chartered experiences across Japan. We specialize in providing journeys tailored to your group’s interest and provide the flexibility to travel at your pace. For cruise guests, we can pick you up at Yokohama’s cruise terminal and facilitate a shore excursion for your day in a private vehicle taking you to areas that are harder to reach, and guided by a local living in Japan. TokudAw offers wheelchair-accessible vehicle options with ramps and secure attachments to ensure your family’s travel and safety. Contact us to plan your travels.