A skyline view of Minato Mirai 21 (Photo: Christopher Jue)

(Writer: Geoff Botting)

Less than a kilometer northwest of Yamashita Park and along the seafront is the Red Brick Warehouse. As its name suggests, this is a series of turn-of-the-century warehouses that have been converted into a shopping, eating and exhibition center. It also offers pleasant views of the ocean and makes a nice place to take a breather.

By this point you'll have spotted a massive modern building looming in the mid distance. This is Yokohama Landmark Tower, at 70 stories Japan's tallest building. A veritable city is housed inside, with a hotel occupying the highest floors and a plethora of shops and restaurants below. Completed in the early '90s, the Landmark Tower quickly lived up to its name, becoming one of Yokohama's most visible and famous spots.

The skyscraper is located on a large modern development called Minato Mirai 21, which was built on reclaimed land along the harbor. The idea was to offer a futuristic vision of a city with a vibrant history and port.

As Sabin puts it, "The center of Yokohama is its waterfront. Everything began with the port, and the port basically remains as its heart and genis loci."