Lifestyle
Places and Events for enjoying the moment of Minato-ku.
A New Area Opens in Toranomon Hills! Discover the Multi-Use Complex, Glass Rock
May 2, 2025
A new area, Glass Rock, has opened in Toranomon Hills—a vibrant complex in Minato City's Toranomon district that draws a steady stream of visitors, from tourists to businesspeople. Glass Rock rises approximately 30 meters with four stories above ground and three levels below. Its construction began ...
Delving Into the Evolution of Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa, an Urban Aquarium That Invites You Into a Fantastical World
Apr 11, 2025
Located in the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Takanawa, Minato City, Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa is a modern urban aquarium that offers a breathtaking underwater world right in the heart of Tokyo. With immersive exhibits that combine marine life with light, sound and video, the aquarium changes from day t...
Spring in Full Bloom: Discovering Cherry Blossoms at Popular Spots in Minato City, Tokyo
Mar 25, 2025
As spring breezes begin to blow, cherry blossom season is just around the corner. Minato City—where modern elegance meets rich historical charm—is home to some of Tokyo’s most iconic hanami (flower viewing) spots. Tokyo officially announced the start of the cherry blossom season on March 24. Whether...
Spectacular views over the city during day, evening, and nighttime! Awe-inspiring vistas from Tokyo Tower
Jan 21, 2025
Tokyo Tower conveys the diverse charms of Tokyo throughout the day; from the magnificent panoramas of the morning and afternoon to the harmonious relationship between sky and city during the evening and the sparkling jewelry box-like beauty that characterizes the nighttime. The views of the Tokyo ci...
Hamamatsucho's future is shining bright! A close look at the World Trade Center Building reconstruction project
Jan 14, 2025
Once lined with the mansions of feudal lords and bustling with activity as the area before the gates of Zojoji Temple, Hamamatsucho became part of Minato City in 1947 and was renamed Shiba-Hamamatsucho, before changing to its current name in 1972. And in 1970, the World Trade Center Building - which...
Explore Minato City’s Hidden Gems with Yamato Delivery Drivers!
Dec 4, 2024
Known for its Kuroneko Yamato brand, Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. operates approximately 2,800 offices across Japan, with around 60,000 delivery drivers providing services primarily through their TA-Q-BIN delivery network. Delivery drivers, who crisscross cities transporting packages for both individu...
New in Minami-Aoyama: Explore the History and Allure of Makeup at the Cosmetic Culture Gallery
Nov 14, 2024
The cosmetics company POLA ORBIS HOLDINGS INC. (then known as POLA Cosmetics Headquarters) established the POLA Research Institute of Beauty and Culture on May 15, 1976, with the aim of academically researching cosmetics. Since then, the institute has continued to collect, preserve, research, and pr...
The 22nd Minato City Tourism Photo Contest 2024—Special Feature! Minato City, A Tale of Then and Now
Oct 31, 2024
The Minato City Travel & Tourism Association is currently accepting submissions for the 22nd Minato City Tourism Photo Contest 2024, seeking exceptional photos capturing landmarks and natural scenes within Minato City. Minato City was established in 1947 when the former Shiba, Azabu, and Akasaka dis...
Transfixed by Minato-ku’s Night Spots! Video Contest “Minato, Ugoku (Minato, Moving) Open for Entry
Oct 17, 2024
Location: The Prince Park Tower Tokyo / Shinmei “Minato, Ugoku,” a video contest looking for Minato-ku’s most “Instaworthy” nighttime spots, was opened to applicants on October 15, 2024 and welcomes submissions from entrants both within Japan and from overseas. The contest organizers are looking for...
Whole Host of Events to Celebrate 60th Anniversary! History of Tokyo Monorail; a Line Connecting Minato-ku to Haneda Airport
Oct 9, 2024
In September 2024, the Tokyo Monorail Line, which connects Monorail Hamamatsucho Station to Haneda Airport Terminal 2 Station, celebrated its 60th anniversary. Tokyo Monorail, which first began its passenger service on September 17, 1964, just prior the hosting of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games...
Getting to Know the Minato City Waterfront! Early-Riser Activities with an 8:00 a.m. Morning Cruisees with a morning cruise at 8 a.m.
Oct 2, 2024
Minato City is engaged in a variety of initiatives that seek to leverage the diverse tourism opportunities presented by its waterfront area, including the Shibaura Canal and Tokyo Bay. As part of these initiatives, 8:00 a.m. morning cruises along the Shibaura Canal and around other areas of the wate...
Experience and Learn with Animals! A Rich Time at the Animeal Odaiba Shop
Aug 29, 2024
Located within the Dex Tokyo Beach shopping mall in Odaiba, the Animeal Odaiba Shop, a forest for animals, is one of Japan's largest urban petting zoos, having celebrated its grand opening in October 2022. Following the success of its Shinsaibashi location in Osaka, this is Animeal's second shop. At...
Welcome to "Model Swamp"! The excitement at Tamiya's new base never stops
Aug 7, 2024
Tamiya, a comprehensive model manufacturer that sells a wide variety of models, from plastic models, R/C cars to Mini 4WDs, has opened a corporate-owned fracility "TAMIYA PLAMODEL FACTORY TOKYO" in the Shinbashi/Toranomon area. The facility stocks approximately 6,000 Tamiya products, and also has a ...
Learn Proper Temple Etiquette with Detailed Explanations from a Buddhist Monk!
Jul 5, 2024
Minato-ku is home to a variety of temples, including Zojoji Temple, known as the family temple of Tokugawa Ieyasu. There are approximately 280 temples in the area. Recently, due to the influence of inbound tourism, many people from both inside and outside Japan have been visiting these temples. Ther...
History and Tradition of the Shiba Centennial Society: Reforms by Long-Established Shops in Shibadaimon and Shimbashi
May 31, 2024
In 2016, businesses in the Shiba district of Minato-ku with more than a century of history came together to form the "Shiba Centennial Society." Amid ongoing redevelopment and a changing urban landscape, these time-honored businesses have woven their history and traditions into the local fabric. Wha...
Experience “Dialogue in the Dark”! Shrouded in Darkness, the KiHa 40 Train Departs
May 11, 2024
Dialogue in the Dark (DID) is entertainment in complete darkness” in which visually impaired guides lead participants through an adventure in the dark. To date, DID has been held in more than 47 countries around the globe, at which more than 9 million participants have partaken in the experience. Th...
From Minato-ku to the Entire Nation! The Fascination and Future of the New Olympic Discipline Lacrosse
May 9, 2024
Lacrosse is a sport in which players use sticks called "crosse" with a net attached to one end to try and shoot a ball with a diameter of about 6 cm into the goal of the other team. As a ball game that fascinates with its high level of strategy and dynamic game development, the number of players in ...
New banknotes are coming! Visit places connected to the people on them: Shibusawa Eiichi, Tsuda Umeko, and Kitasato Shibasaburo
Mar 22, 2024
New banknotes featuring new designs are coming out on July 3, 2024. These are the first new banknotes in 20 years since the ones issued in 2004, and will portray industrialist and “the father of modern Japanese economics,” Shibusawa Eiichi, on the 10,000 yen bill, the educator and founder of Tsuda U...
Take on the challenge of climbing! Build physical strength and promote health at our bouldering gym in Minato-ku
Mar 15, 2024
In Minato-ku, all elementary schools and kindergartens in the area had bouldering equipment installed by March 2023 as an initiative to improve the physical fitness of children. Bouldering, which was first adopted as a sports climbing event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, does not require any equipment ...
Minato-ku Tourism Ambassador Kaoru Yumi shares her 'beauty secrets' and the 'appeal of Minato-ku'
Mar 10, 2024
Making her debut in the entertainment industry in 1966, Kaoru Yumi has appeared in numerous dramas, movies, and television programs. In the historical drama 'Mito Komon,' she gained popularity in households nationwide for her roles as Kagero Ogin and Shippu no Oen. Since April 2023, she has served a...
Experience Japanese tea ceremony and hand-rolled sushi. A special moment to interact with "Japanese culture" at Happo-en.
Jan 25, 2024
Happo-en, with its vast Japanese garden of about 33,000 square meters, celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2023. The Japanese garden, dating back to the Edo period, is open to everyone to explore and enjoy the changing scenery throughout the seasons. Continuing its tradition of conveying Japanese bea...
Brush up your lifestyle at the Sangetsu Shinagawa Showroom!
Nov 16, 2023
Sangetsu, which trades in a wide range of interior décor materials such as wallpaper, flooring, curtains, and upholstery fabrics, has eight showrooms located throughout Japan. One of thse showrooms, the Sangetsu Shinagawa Showroom, is one of the largest showrooms in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and ...
Japan's Largest Indoor Theme Park! All the ways to enjoy Tokyo Joypolis
Nov 7, 2023
Located within Odaiba shopping mall DECKS Tokyo Beach, Tokyo Joypolis, the largest indoor theme park in Japan, celebrated its 27th anniversary on July 7th, 2023. Its greatest feature is an entirely indoor experience that remains temperate, allowing you to enjoy its over 20 attractions whatever the w...
"The 21st Minato City Tourism Photo Contest 2023" Notice of Acceptance of Submissions
Sep 28, 2023
The Minato City Tourism Photo Contest is held every year with the aim of rediscovering the charm of Minato City through photography, from famous places and old sites in Minato Ward to seasonal traditions and hidden spots. From November 1, 2023, we will start accepting entries for the "21st Minato Ci...