Industrial heritage inspires Yokohama’s up-coming cruise terminal complex

A new commercial complex inspired by the Port of Yokohama’s industrial heritage is set to open in October, forming the core of the new Shinko Pier Cruise Terminal which is scheduled welcome passengers later on in the year.

The Hammerhead Shop & Restaurant commercial facility takes its name from the British-made 50-tonne hammerhead crane which began handling cargo upon the completion Yokohama’s Shinko Pier in 1914. The crane, now out of service, will form the centerpiece of the adjoining Hammerhead Park, set to upon in March 2020.

According to a press release, the design of the two-floor, food-themed Hammerhead Shop & Restaurant is said to reflect the atmosphere of a renovated harbor warehouse with art evoking the sea flowing through the open space. 

Among the 25 tenants that the facility will house there will be a number of establishments that represent a first for Japan. These include craft chocolate store VANILLABEANS THE ROASTERY from Chocolate Design Inc., and the six-store Japan Ramen Food Hall.  

Fans of all-things Beatrix Potter and crepes might be pleased to hear that Rakuru Co., Ltd. will be bringing along their Peter Rabbit Cafe to the facility which will also house a branch of coffee-chain Starbucks.

Hammerhead Shop & Restaurant looks set to be the commercial heart of the Shinko Pier Cruise Terminal area through which planners (operating under a consortium built around local companies) aim to draw together influences of town, land, sea and sky under the concept of “umi eki,” billed as Japan’s first “sea station.”  

As well as Hammerhead Shop & Restaurant and the cruise terminal the area includes the customs, immigration and quarantine terminal for cruise-ship passengers as well as the 173-room InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8 hotel, from Yokohama Grand InterContinental Co., Ltd., set to open in Nov. 2019.

Shinko Pier Cruise Terminal, which will have a berth of 340 m and depth of 9.5 m will be able to handle cruise ships up to 116,000 gross tonnes, is scheduled to begin operations on Nov. 4, 2019 with Carnival Corporation’s Diamond Princess set to be the first ship to make port.

The new terminal follows the opening of the terminal at Daikoku Pier in April as the city of Yokohama looks to expand its capability to handle large cruise ships.

The hammerhead crane at Shinko Pier was the first crane built specifically for the handling of cargo to be installed in Japan. Prior to that heavy goods at the pier were handled manually with barges used to transport them to ships waiting off-shore.  

While much of the area was damaged as a result of the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, the crane emerged unscathed and remained in operation until 2001. It was designated as a Heritage of Industrial Modernization in Nov. 2007 by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 

Shinko Pier is also home to the Yokohama's iconic Red Brick Warehouses which were opened to the public in 2002 following restoration work.