The King of Yokohama's Three Towers
The Kanagawa Prefectural Office (神奈川県庁舎) is a prefectural government building of 1928 in Nihon-odori, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on December 27, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a steel-framed reinforced-concrete building of five storeys and a basement with a tower and a building area of 3,144.00 square metres, designated together with the east and west garages, the outer wall, 230 drawings and an architectural model; designation number 2703.
The "King" Born of a Design Competition
The Kanagawa Prefectural Office faces Nihon-odori near the port of Yokohama (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The prefectural building office worked up the winning design of a competition by Obi Karo, and the building was completed in 1928; because its predecessor had been badly damaged in the Great Kanto Earthquake, a steel-framed reinforced-concrete structure was chosen.
Known as the "King" among Yokohama's three towers, it pioneered the government building with a symbolic tower, here capped in the manner of a pagoda finial and pyramid roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The interiors are finely designed on Japanese themes such as the hosoge flower motif. Kanagawa Prefecture notes the brown scratch tiles and geometric ornament of the exterior, and the Art Deco arrow-like patterns on the columns of the main porch.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency stresses that the prewar open competition drew many entries, and that a full set of records from competition to completion, including working drawings and a model based on the winning entry, survives; it calls the building a landmark in the structure and design of local government buildings.
What to Look For
Look for the finial-like top of the tower and the hosoge flower motif in the entrance hall and elsewhere (Agency for Cultural Affairs; Kanagawa Prefecture). The prefecture says a history room on the sixth floor tells the story of the building with panels and audio, and the rooftop deck looks over the port and Minato Mirai to the Queen and Jack towers nearby.
Visiting
According to Kanagawa Prefecture, visits are possible on weekdays from 8:30 to 17:15 (except public holidays and December 29 to January 3), while the former state guest room, the old assembly hall and the ceremonial hall open only on special open days. The entry procedure changed in October 2024. The building is right by the Kenchō exit of Nihon-odori Station on the Minatomirai Line, or about 10 minutes on foot from Kannai Station.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- It was completed in 1928 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is the "King" tower?
- Its nickname as one of the three towers of Yokohama.
- What else is designated with it?
- Two garages, the outer wall, 230 drawings and a model.
- Can I visit?
- Yes, on weekdays from 8:30 to 17:15, with a history room and rooftop deck (Kanagawa Prefecture).
- When was the Kanagawa Prefectural Office designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On December 27, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Kanagawa Prefectural Office (神奈川県庁舎) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Nihon-odori, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 2019/12/27 (Reiwa 1) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with 2 garages, 1 wall, 230 drawings and 1 model) |
| Dimensions | Steel-framed reinforced concrete, 3,144.00 m², 5 storeys and basement, with tower |
| Owner | Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Public Access | Next to Nihon-odori Station, Minatomirai Line (Kanagawa Prefecture) |
References
- Kanagawa Prefectural Office (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/00005188
- Welcome to the King's Tower, Kanagawa Prefectural Office (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/docs/rb2/cnt/f380088/index.html
Last verified: 2026.10.21