Yokohama Marine Tower

Completed in 1961 at 106 metres, this slender white tower near Yamashita Park was once certified as the world's tallest lighthouse. After a major renovation in 2022, it continues to serve as one of Yokohama's most recognisable landmarks.

Use

Office tower

Area

Naka Ward, Yokohama

Completed

1961

Height

106 m

Architect

Shimizu Corporation

A White Tower Standing Watch Over Yokohama Port

In Yamashita-cho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, the Yokohama Marine Tower has stood beside Yamashita Park since its opening in 1961. Rising 106 metres above the waterfront, the slender tower was registered in the Guinness Book of Records shortly after completion as the world’s tallest lighthouse — a distinction that made it famous well beyond the city. Designed and constructed by Shimizu Corporation, the structure features a white exterior that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding red-brick warehouses, the Osanbashi Pier, and the green expanse of Yamashita Park.

In its early years the tower functioned as a working lighthouse, guiding ships into Yokohama Port. For sailors returning from ocean voyages, the white spire was the first familiar shape to appear on the horizon. As the port modernised, the lighthouse role gradually gave way to tourism, and the tower became one of the most photographed vantage points in the city. Even now, with the high-rise clusters of the Minato Mirai district rising nearby, the slender profile of Marine Tower stands out as a direct line to Yokohama’s maritime past.

Closure, Revival, and the 2022 Renewal

The tower closed temporarily in 2008 due to the need for structural upgrades and renovation, prompting an outpouring of public support for its preservation. After years of planning and refurbishment work, it reopened in 2022 following a comprehensive renovation that refreshed the interiors, exhibits, and entrance areas while preserving the tower’s iconic silhouette. The observation floor now offers panoramic views across Yokohama Port, the bay stretching towards Daikoku Futo, and the skyline of Minato Mirai — a sweep of scenery that draws visitors from across Japan and beyond.

Summary

Completed in 1961 at a height of 106 metres, the Yokohama Marine Tower has spent more than six decades as a defining feature of the Yokohama waterfront. Its 2022 renovation gave the Guinness-certified former lighthouse a new chapter as a contemporary observation facility. Walking along Yamashita Park with the white tower overhead remains one of the quintessential Yokohama experiences — and the view from the top makes the detour more than worthwhile.