Minatomirai Bridge, Rigid-frame bridge in Minatomirai, Japan.
The Minatomirai Bridge is a rigid-frame bridge on the Eihonmachi Line (Minatomirai-dori) that crosses the lower Katabira River where it meets the Nittama River, linking the Minatomirai redevelopment area with the Portside district. It carries a roadway, wide sidewalks and a bicycle lane, and the boundary between Nishi and Kanagawa wards runs across its middle. From the Minatomirai side, the Takashima Waterfront Deck connects it to the Music Terrace.
The bridge's name was chosen through a public competition in 1996, and the structure was completed in June 1997, opening to traffic the following month. It was built as part of the Eihonmachi Line, a planned arterial road linking Yokohama Station's east exit with the Minatomirai redevelopment area.
The bridge links different sections of the Minatomirai district, making it easy for visitors and residents to move between shopping areas and neighborhoods. It stands as a visible symbol of how Yokohama transformed its waterfront from an industrial port into a modern urban destination.
The bridge has wide sidewalks and a dedicated bicycle lane, so crossing on foot or by bike is straightforward. On the Minatomirai side, the Takashima Waterfront Deck links the bridge to Music Terrace and K Arena Yokohama. Under the bridge, a pedestrian tunnel on the Portside side connects Portside Park with the Sea Bass terminal at Yokohama Bay Quarter and is open from 6:30 to 21:00.
On the west side of the bridge, part of the steel frame has been left exposed since construction, prepared for a planned branch line (Eihonmachi Line Branch No. 1) that would connect toward the Yokohama Station east exit area. The bridge's name was chosen in 1996 through a public competition, and it opened in July 1997.
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