Yokohama Arena, Indoor arena in Shin-Yokohama, Japan
Yokohama Arena is a multipurpose hall in Shin-Yokohama, Japan, accommodating up to 17,000 spectators for concerts and sporting events. The building features several seating tiers arranged around a central event floor, with access to adjoining facilities and public transport links.
The facility opened on April 1, 1989, with a performance by singer Yumi Matsutoya and was designed by Takenaka Corporation. It has since become one of the main venues for national and international artists in the region.
Locals shorten the name to "Yokoari", and the arena's mascot, Yokoari-kun, is a blue ant born on 1 April 1989, the opening day. Every year on Coming of Age Day the city holds its ceremony for more than 20,000 new adults here, and nearby hotels fill early with kimono-dressing appointments.
The arena is a five-minute walk from Shin-Yokohama Station, served by JR and the Yokohama Municipal Subway. The main entrance faces a paved plaza, and the letters "YOKOHAMA ARENA" run along the glazing above it. Expect queues at the entrances around major events.
Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, the hall temporarily served as an emergency shelter for people who had lost their homes. The transformation from event venue to refuge showed how large spaces can adapt during crises.
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