2025-07-16

Skies Above Takanawa Gateway

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When Airplanes Meet Architecture: Watching the Skies Above Takanawa Gateway
羽田空港に向かう飛行機とリンクピラー・ワン北棟の新しい都市景観


After taking in the vivid “100 Colors” artwork outside the recently opened Takanawa Gateway Station, the steady hum of airliners overhead quickly caught my attention.

I’m not an aviation enthusiast by any stretch, but I’m always drawn to aircraft in the sky above my neighborhood when out walking the dog, whether it be a U.S. Navy jet from NAF Atsugi, an army helicopter from Camp Zama, a commercial flight to and from Haneda Airport, or even the Fujifilm blimp that once drifted along the Shonan coastline (maybe it still does?).

Perhaps the most striking aerial “show” I’ve witnessed in recent years was the formation of five or six helicopters buzzing above the Imperial Palace during one of the rare occasions when the public is allowed inside the grounds for the Emperor’s New Year greeting.

Watching another jet approach Haneda from Minato Ward, framed against Tokyo’s new Link Pillar One North Tower beside Takanawa Gateway Station, made me wonder if the local residents here eventually tune out the constant sound of planes overhead, or does it remain an unavoidable part of daily life in the city that they just have to deal with?

Photo 2.
  • Timestamp: 2025/07/16・17:46
  • Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
  • ISO 320 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/8 (moderate crop)
  • Velvia/Vivid film simulation
Photo 1.
  • Timestamp: 2025/07/16・17:58
  • Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
  • ISO 160 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/4.5 (heavy crop)
  • Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Location: Japan, 〒108-0075 Tokyo, Minato City, Kōnan, 2-chōme−1, 高輪ゲートウェイ駅

2025-05-28

Nippon Maru

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The Swan of the Pacific: Yokohama’s Nippon Maru

太平洋の白鳥「日本丸」


Although I usually prefer to photograph Nippon Maru at night, when she’s beautifully illuminated, I decided this time to make an attempt to compose a few shots in the harsh afternoon light.

Nippon Maru is now a permanently docked museum ship at the former Yokohama Dock No. 1, just a four-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station in Yokohama’s Naka Ward, within the Minatomirai waterfront district.

Built in Kobe and launched in January 1930, Nippon Maru was designed to train officers for Japan’s merchant marine. During World War II, her masts and rigging were removed so she could serve as a transport vessel, which was possible thanks to her two 600-horsepower diesel engines.

Her training mission resumed in 1952 after her rigging was reinstalled, and she continued sailing until 1984. Over her 54-year career, Nippon Maru trained 11,500 cadets and covered 1.83 million kilometers; an equivalent to circling the globe 45.5 times.

The reason for building such a large training ship dates back to a tragedy in March 1927, when all 53 crew and cadets aboard the smaller training vessel Kirishima Maru were lost at sea. Authorities recognized the need for larger, safer ships, resulting in the construction of two vessels: Nippon Maru and Kaiwo Maru (the latter now also preserved as a museum ship in Toyama Prefecture).

Nippon Maru is a four-masted barque (also known as a jackass bark), with her tallest mast rising 46 meters (161 feet) above the waterline.

Twelve times a year, volunteers help unfurl her 32 sails, which span a total area of 2,397 square meters (25,800 square feet). I hope to return on one of those days to witness the ship in full sail -- a sight I assume that likely inspired her nickname, the Swan of the Pacific.

  • Location: Minatomirai, Yokohama, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/05/28・15:12
  • Fujifilm with 5% diffusion filter
  • ISO 1000 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/10
  • Pro Negative High film simulation

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Timber Wharf

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Yokohama Timber Wharf: A New Landmark in Sustainable Design

サステナブル建築の新拠点、「横浜ティンバー・ワーフ」


Set to open in October 2025, Yokohama Timber Wharf features distinctive truss columns made from a hybrid of laminated wood and steel. This combination brings together the warmth and aesthetic appeal of timber with the strength and fire resistance of steel, ensuring both safety and long-term durability.

Designed by TJ Design & Architecture, the building presents a bold, forward-thinking vision grounded in environmental responsibility. The project aims to become a symbol of sustainable urban development, which demonstrates to future architects and developers the immense potential of wood as a primary material in modern city building.

From what I can gather, the facility will house a bakery and café on the ground floor, a restaurant suitable for weddings and events on the second floor, and a lounge, changing rooms,  baggage storage, and other amenities designed for runners, walkers, and outdoor enthusiasts. These features align well with local lifestyle habits, especially along the scenic waterfront promenade that stretches from Rinko Park to Yamashita Park.

I am encouraged to see more architectural projects in Yokohama embracing wood in their designs. Another notable example is Port Plus, completed in 2023. This high-rise training and education facility, also located in Naka Ward, uses advanced timber technologies to push the limits of what’s possible in vertical wood construction.

Projects like Port Plus and Yokohama Timber Wharf reflect a growing shift in Yokohama and Tokyo away from carbon-intensive construction materials, which have long been favored for cost-efficiency, earthquake resilience, and fire resistance, towards mass timber solutions. These new technologies make it possible to meet fire codes and seismic requirements while reconnecting with Japan’s deep-rooted tradition of wooden architecture seen in shrines, temples, and homes.

  • Location: Rinko Parak, Yokohama, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/05/28・14:09
  • Fujifilm with 5% diffusion filter
  • ISO 160 for 1/400 sec. at ƒ/2
  • Astia/Soft film simulation

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King Tower

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The King of Yokohama: A Glimpse into the City’s Art Deco Legacy
横浜三塔「キング」の歴史とアール・デコ建築の魅力

The Art Deco Kanagawa Prefectural Government Building is a striking symbol of Yokohama’s modern history. Seen from Port Opening Square (開港波止場) along historic Nihon-Odori Street, visitors can enjoy views of the harbor and attend open-air events in this cultural hub.

Completed in 1928, the building was designed in the image of a five-story pagoda and is designated a National Important Cultural Property. Its Japanese-style roof, known as Teikan-Yoshiki (Imperial Crown Style), blends traditional Japanese forms with symmetrical Western architecture making it one of the first examples of this hybrid design in Japan.

Geometric patterns in brown tile and marble appear throughout the building, reflecting the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and the bold lines of the Art Deco movement. The structure is illuminated each night until 10 p.m., making it a dramatic backdrop for various Japanese TV dramas.

Affectionately known as “King’s Tower,” the building is part of the famous Yokohama Three Towers (横浜三塔):

・The King – Kanagawa Prefectural Office
・The Queen – Yokohama Customs Building
・The Jack – Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall

Legend has it that foreign sailors arriving in Yokohama first spotted these towers as they entered the port in the early 20th century, when no other tall buildings dotted the skyline. Before departing, many made a wish to return safely in hopes of one day seeing the three towers again.

A more modern version of the legend promises that if you visit all three towers, or stand at one of four designated spots in Yokohama where all three are visible at once, your wish will be granted. Three of these spots are marked by circular metal plaques embedded in the sidewalks and one painted on the roof of Osanbashi Pier.

Over the past four decades, I’ve watched as Yokohama’s skyline has grown ever taller. One day, these beloved towers may disappear behind walls of glass and steel, lost in the shadow of the very progress they once stood for.

  • Location: Kaiko Hatoba, Yokohama, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/05/28・13:23
  • Fujifilm with 5% diffusion filter
  • ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/8
  • Provia film simulation

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Mosaic Tiles

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A Gift of Gratitude: Yokohama’s Indian Memorial Fountain
横浜・山下公園の「インド水塔」：関東大震災に感謝を込めた記念碑


Yokohama began exchanging goods and culture with India in the 19th century, and Indian immigrants played a key role in the local silk trade. The Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923—one of the most devastating natural disasters in Japanese history—claimed over 100,000 lives across the Tokyo and Yokohama regions. Yokohama, a major port city, suffered extensive damage. Among the victims were 28 Indian merchants who had settled in the Yamashita district.

In response, the city provided relief to affected Indian residents, including the construction of emergency housing.

In 1930, Yokohama transformed a former earthquake debris dumping ground into what would become one of its most iconic tourist destinations: Yamashita Park.

To express their gratitude to the Japanese people who assisted them after the disaster—and to honor those who perished—the Indian community built the Indian Memorial Water Fountain in Yamashita Park. The memorial was donated to the city in 1939.

Constructed from reinforced concrete and topped with a copper dome, the fountain reflects architectural influences from the Mughal period (1526–1857), blending Indian, Islamic, and Japanese design elements.

A closer look at the fountain’s ceiling reveals a striking bronze lamp casing framed by a vivid mosaic of floral tiles. The intricate design exemplifies the fusion of Mughal and Japanese aesthetics, with its symmetrical patterns and vibrant colors.

In March 2023, the memorial underwent its first major renovation in 84 years. The restoration addressed typhoon-related damage and included seismic retrofitting to protect the structure against future earthquakes.

  • Location: Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/05/28・13:10
  • Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
  • ISO 160 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/2
  • Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Hikawa Maru

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Yamashita Park and the Queen of the Pacific: A Glimpse into Maritime History
山下公園と「太平洋の女王」


Yamashita Park offers one of the most picturesque views of the Port of Yokohama, which is highlighted by the presence of the Yokohama Marine Tower, Yokohama Bay Bridge, and the iconic NYK Hikawa Maru, a retired Japanese ocean liner permanently moored alongside the park.

The Hikawa Maru sailed from 1930 to 1960, primarily as a trans-Pacific liner connecting Yokohama with Vancouver and Seattle. In her prime, she was considered the most luxurious way to cross the Pacific, attracting select passengers including members of the Japanese imperial family, Charlie Chaplin, and Babe Ruth.

Designed to carry 331 passengers with 76 of them enjoying First Class accommodations, she was manned by a crew of 147. First Class travelers were treated to exquisite cuisine prepared by chefs trained in European kitchens, and surrounded by elegant Art Deco interiors. So beloved was the vessel that she earned the nickname “Queen of the Pacific.”

During World War II, the Hikawa Maru was repurposed as a hospital ship and a repatriation vessel for Japanese citizens and soldiers. Remarkably, she survived three mine strikes without sinking, thanks to her thick steel hull.

The ship also played a lesser-known but vital humanitarian role during the war, carrying Jewish refugees escaping Nazi persecution to safety in North America. After the war, from 1945 to 1947, she transported U.S. military personnel between Japan and the United States. In 1953, following a retrofit, she resumed service as a cargo-passenger liner until her retirement in 1960.

Since 1961, the Hikawa Maru has been anchored at Yamashita Park, where she has served as a floating museum, hotel, and restaurant. I first explored her beautifully preserved decks and Art Deco interiors in the mid-1980s.

Now, nearly four decades later, I hope to board her again not only to relive those memories, but to experience her timeless charm with the eye of a slightly more seasoned photographer with the companionship of nostalgia. Dogs are not allowed onboard, so I will have to visit when I’m able to leave my border collie at home.

  • Location: Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/05/28・12:53
  • Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
  • ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/8
  • Classic Chrome film simulation

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Marine Tower

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A Waterfront Landmark Enjoyed with Spring Flowers
春の花とともに楽しむ港のランドマーク


The Port of Yokohama built this tower in 1961 to commemorate its centennial, making it the tallest lighthouse in the world at the time, standing at 106 meters (348 feet). It held this title until 2008.

I first visited the top of the tower in 1984, when it featured an aviary just below the lantern room. Exotic birds flew freely inside, creating a surprisingly serene atmosphere high above the city. In 2009, the tower underwent major renovations in celebration of the port’s 150th anniversary.

The aviary was replaced with an observation deck, now enhanced by light shows in the evenings. The first through fourth floors house restaurants, gift shops, and even a wedding hall. The tower’s iconic red-and-white stripes were repainted in a sleek silver finish, giving it a more contemporary look. It’s also fitted with LED strips and floodlights capable of illuminating the tower in a palette of 12 colors.

The upper observation deck is roughly equivalent to the 30th floor of a high-rise, offering panoramic views of Yamashita Park, the historic Hikawa Maru ocean liner, and the Minatomirai waterfront district. On clear days, you can even see Mount Fuji’s silhouette about 125 kilometers (76 miles) to the west.

In this shot, I was struck by the visual contrast between the lush flowers in full bloom against the steel and glass of modern Yokohama. Spring is an especially rewarding time to visit Yamashita Park, when the city hosts its annual “Garden Necklace Yokohama” festival. During this event, seasonal flowers bloom across small and large parks throughout the city, making it a paradise for garden lovers and photographers alike.

  • Location: Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/05/28・12:25
  • Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
  • ISO 160 for 1/40 sec. at ƒ/11
  • Classic Chrome film simulation

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