Welcome to Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal or Osanbashi Pier (大さん橋国際客船ターミナル, Ōsanbashi Kokusai Kyakusen Terminal) in Japanese.

Osanbashi Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan

(in the photo above, you can see the waterfront Yamashita park area that runs along from the left of the pier and the Yokohama Marine Tower far left)

Yokohama is a popular city just a short train ride from Tokyo. Cruise ships that visit Japan from international ports stop at Osanbashi Cruise terminal in Yokohama. The cruise terminal is one of unique design and is ideally located for cruise passengers wanting to see lots of Yokohama without having to take an organised tour.

Osanbashi Cruise Terminal Yokohama, Japan (1)

Day trips to Tokyo from here are easily arranged if the cruise passenger wishes, but with Yokohama offering plenty to see and experience, you really don’t need to go elsewhere.

The Osnabashi pier is located between Minato Mirai and Yamashita Park which are within walking distance. If you are looking for the best things to see and do in Yokohama when arriving by cruise ship then plan ahead and make the best of your time.

Osanbashi Cruise Terminal Yokohama, Japan

The Osanbashi terminal is on two levels. Inside the terminal are a few shops, restaurants, and rooms to hold events and exhibit, and not forgetting the cruise boarding facilities. Above this area and outside is where the 400-meter pier really shines.

The rooftop plaza is one of the best locations to soak up the scenery of Yokohama from the waterfront giving you amazing city views both day and night.

Osanbashi Pier Rooftop Plaza in Yokohama, Japan

The rooftop of the Yokohama international passenger terminal is designed to resemble waves of the sea with the entire deck of wooden curved floor boards and patches of grass along the walkways. A perfect spot for a picnic on a warm day where you can enjoy views of the Red Brick Warehouse, Landmark Tower the tallest of the city skyscrapers in the Minato Mirai 21 area and in the other direction you can see the Yokohama Bay Bridge and the long waterfront Yamashita park area.

Yokohama waterfront in Yokohama, Japan

The pier is open to the public even when cruise ships are docked, which his is quite unusual as most ports close off the area when ships are in for security reasons. We enjoyed this experience when waving goodbye to our friends on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth who continued their voyage.

On days when cruise ships are in the port of Yokohama expect the Osanbashi cruise terminal area to be very busy.