Yokohama's Public Hall of 1917
The Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall (横浜市開港記念会館, Yokohama-shi Kaikō Kinen Kaikan) is a public hall opened in 1917 in Honmachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on September 2, 1989 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its clock tower is affectionately known as "Jack".
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a two-storey building of brick, steel-framed brick and reinforced concrete with a building area of 1,536.93 square metres, designated together with 46 blueprint drawings; designation number 02222, owned by the City of Yokohama.
A Citizens' Hall for the Port's 50th Anniversary
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the hall was built with donations from citizens to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the port, and opened on Port Opening Day, July 1, 1917.
The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 burned the roof and interior. In the restoration the building was strengthened with reinforced concrete and the interior redesigned; both the original working design and the restoration were by the city's building department. The roof and domes, long missing, were restored to their original form for the 130th anniversary of the port (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Designated
The Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1989. The Agency for Cultural Affairs praises its fine Taisho-period design, its status as an early case of structural reinforcement of a brick building, and an interior restoration in harmony with the whole.
What to Look For
The red brick is striped with white granite, and a tall clock tower, a square dome and an octagonal dome mark the corners, with spires and dormers throughout (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Yokohama Convention and Visitors Bureau places the clock tower at the southeast corner, the octagonal dome at the southwest and the square dome at the northwest.
The bureau highlights the stained glass on the upper floor. With the "King" of the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office and the "Queen" of Yokohama Customs, "Jack" is one of the "Three Towers of Yokohama", symbols of the port.
Visiting
According to the Yokohama Convention and Visitors Bureau, the hall is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the interior open for viewing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on the second Wednesday of each month (the next day if a holiday) and from December 29 to January 3. Enquiries: 045-201-0708.
The address is 1-6 Honmachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama, 1 minute on foot from Nihon-odori Station on the Minatomirai Line or 10 minutes from Kannai Station on the JR and municipal subway lines (Yokohama Convention and Visitors Bureau).
Q&A
- When was the Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall built?
- It was built for the port's 50th anniversary and opened on Port Opening Day, July 1, 1917 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is "Jack"?
- The nickname of the hall's clock tower, one of the "Three Towers of Yokohama" with the "King" and "Queen" (Yokohama Convention and Visitors Bureau).
- What are its exterior features?
- Red brick striped with white granite, with a clock tower, a square dome and an octagonal dome (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can I go inside?
- Yes, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; it is closed on the second Wednesday and over the New Year (Yokohama Convention and Visitors Bureau).
- When was the hall designated?
- On September 2, 1989, together with 46 blueprint drawings.
Basic Information
| Name | Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall (横浜市開港記念会館) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-6 Honmachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1989/09/02 (Heisei 1) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with 46 drawings) |
| Dimensions | Brick, steel-framed brick and reinforced concrete, building area 1,536.93 square metres, two storeys |
| Owner | City of Yokohama |
| Public Access | Interior open 9:00 to 16:00 (closed one Wednesday a month) |
References
- Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/588
- Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall (Yokohama Official Visitors' Guide, Japanese)
- https://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/spot/details.php?bbid=187
Last verified: 2026.10.14