Only one day in a year, all the office buildings at Minato Mirai 21 shine.
That special event is called “TOWERS Milight”. “Milight” is coined word made from Minato Mirai and light.
This year it was December 24th. Yes, it’s Christmas Eve!

Minato Mirai 21 is bay area located Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
About 1 hour from Shinjuku by train.
Here is redevelopment area from 1980s.　Before redevelopment, here were dock, shipyard, railway yard.
The name Minato Mirai 21 is also coined word. Minato means dock or harbor, Mirai means future in Japanese. Of course 21 means century.
I like this name very much. It links past and future.
Now here is famous travelers destination next to business district.
Many industrial sites are utilized as tourism resources.

This photo is general view of Minato Mirai 21 from edge of Osanbashi pier.

Tallest building is Landmark Tower. It has 70 floors, 296.33m high tripodbuilt in 1993.
At that time, it was the tallest building in Japan.
Now second tallest. No.1 is Abenoharukas at Osaka.
There is observatory at Landmark Tower. I’m going to visit next time.

Landmark Tower(English,Chinese,Korean,Thai)
Landmark Tower “Sky Garden” (Ovservatory)(English,Chinese,Korean,Thai)

Honestly, I didn’t check where is the best place for Milight.
Once I have taken photos here and I like view from here. So I chose here at first.
There were many visitors(include couples) and photographers.

Unfortunately, this day was cloudy.
If it was sunny, I could see Mt.Fuji.
I tried daytime long exposure with ND400 filter.

Strong contrast made intensity.

Blue tone. Calm atmosphere.

Twilight.

Ferris wheel is “Cosmo Clock 21”. There is amusement park around Cosmo Clock 21. It is also symbol of Minato Mirai 21.
Red brick architectures are Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.
Now they are used as cultural and commercial buildings.

Cosmo Clock 21(English, Chinese, Korean, Thai)
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse(English, Chinese, Korean, Thai)

Close up. Actually office building are shining. But here is not good angle. I decided to move after a few photos.

This is view from land side of Osanbashi pier. Here is good to see general view of Minato Mirai 21 including building lights.

Panorama view.

Opposite side. There were Yokohama Marine Tower and former cruise ship Hikawamaru.

There is also observatory at Yokohama Marine Tower. I must go here too next time!
Hikawamaru is now exhibited as museum. Visitors can enter it.

Yokohama Marine Tower(English, Chinese, Korean, Thai)
Hikawamaru(English)

Yokohama Bay Bridge.

As bridge photographer,I must take here!

Here is ZOU-NO-HANA Park(means Elephant’s Nose Park).
Next to entrance of Osanbashi pier.

Historical building on the left is Yokohama Customs. It’s generally called as “Queen’s Tower”.
There are also Jack’s Tower and King’s Tower at Yokohama. They are called Yokohama 3 towers.

Panorama view.

Close up.

I moved closer to Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.
This is view from pedestrian deck. Small pier was beautifully illuminated.

Here is ZOU-NO-HANA Terrace. Roof top is view point.

Many lovers…I can understand.

Panorama view. Front is lawn. Here will be good to visit daytime.

Osanbashi pier. There was gorgeous cruise ship.

Queen and light track.

Way to Red Brick Warehouse.

Buildings were really shiny…

With reflection.

There was skate rink in front of Red Brick Warehouse.

This event is held during December 5th 2015 – Feburuary 21st 2016.
Art Rink(English, Chinese, Korean, Thai)

There was also Christmas Market at Red Brick Warehouse.

But this event was during November 28th – December 25th.
Christmas Market at Red Brick Warehouse(Japanese)

I felt happy atmosphere.

On the way to Minato Mirai Station.
Here is pedestrian bridge called “Circle Walk”.
These 2 circles looked like gear for me. With light track.

Red Brick Warehouse with light track from Circle Walk.

Cosmo Clock 21 and roller coaster at amusement park Yokohama Cosmo World.　Yokohama Cosmo World (English, Chinese, Korean, Thai)

Minato Mirai is full of lights. There is easy to find photogenic places if only to take a little walk!

My article is in the point of taking photographs.
But Minato Mirai 21 area has many activity. For example, Cup Noodle Museum or Yamashita Park.
China Town is also near. Please enjoy Yokohama!

Information
Nearest station for Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse : Bashamichi Station / Minato Mirai Line
Nearest station for Osanbashi Pier : Nihon-Odori Station / Minato Mirai Line

Yokohama Official Visitor’s Guide(English, Chinese, Korean, Thai)