Yokohama Mitsui Building

Completed in 2012 in Minato Mirai's block 67. A 30-floor, 152 m office tower designed by Nikken Sekkei. Notable for its sail-like facade and the world-class railway model museum on its second floor.

Use

Office tower

Area

Nishi-ku, Yokohama

Completed

2012

Floors

30 above ground, 2 below

Height

152.2 m

Developer

Mitsui Fudosan

Architect

Nikken Sekkei

The closest Mitsui building to Yokohama Station

Minato Mirai District, Block 67, Nishi-ku, Yokohama — almost directly connected to Yokohama Station. In February 2012, a 30-storey office tower rising 152.20 metres was completed here. This is the Yokohama Mitsui Building, developed by Mitsui Fudosan and designed by Nikken Sekkei. It was positioned as the largest-scale office building Mitsui Fudosan had built in the Yokohama Station area, and the first “Mitsui Building” in that district. Its distinctive exterior — a form described as evoking a sailing ship — gives it a recognisable profile within Minato Mirai’s skyline, facing the sea that inspired the design.

The tower opened its doors in May 2012. Among its tenants, one stands out beyond the office floors: the second floor is home to the Hara Model Railway Museum, considered one of the world’s largest exhibitions of model trains. The museum’s collection and scale make the building a destination far beyond the business community.

Vibration control and a hint of timber

The Yokohama Mitsui Building incorporates vibration-control technology — an important engineering choice for a high-rise on Yokohama’s coastal reclaimed land, where wind loads and seismic demands are pronounced. The building is also noted for experimenting with wood-based materials in its damping system, a relatively unusual approach in a large office tower, and one that reflects an attention to environmental performance.

Summary

The Yokohama Mitsui Building was completed in February 2012, with 30 floors above ground, 2 below, and a height of 152.20 metres. Developed by Mitsui Fudosan and designed by Nikken Sekkei, it stands at Minato Mirai’s Block 67, virtually at the gates of Yokohama Station. A sail-shaped facade, a world-class railway model museum on the second floor, and forward-looking structural engineering make it one of the more characterful additions to the district’s skyline.