If you are considering traveling to Japan, one of the must-see places is the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. Found in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohoma is the capital of the province, and the second largest city in Japan.
Because of it’s location on the Tokyo Bay, Yokohama is a city full of rich cultural history, as it has acted as one of Japan’s largest hubs for trade for several hundred years.
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse has a lot of culture and history attached to it. Originally constructed at the end of the 19th century and the turn of the 20th century, the buildings are divided into warehouse buildings 1 and 2. During the original construction, the Red Brick Warehouse served as a customs building for Japan.
Earthquake
In 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake hit Japan. While most of the buildings in the city were devastated by the large magnitude quake, the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse sustained minimal damage due to the iron plates between each of the bricks.
The Warehouse holds an interesting history to many Americans. In the 1940 and 1950’s after World War II, American soldiers requisitioned use of the building. From 1945-1956, the Warehouse housed American Soldiers stationed overseas in Japan.
Today Attractions
Upon being returned to Japan, the warehouse continued to remain a customs house until the late 1980’s, when the building was restored and renovated and turned into the tourist attraction it is today.
Today, the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse contains restaurants, art galleries, shopping, bars, and arcades. It draws millions of tourists each year and is considered one of the most popular tourist attractions in modern Japan.
Still separated into two buildings, the large, red warehouse has a little something for everybody. Whether you are taking in a leisurely stroll down the pier, or bringing the kids to the arcade, the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse will be one of the highlights of your trip to Japan.