Public Service Announcement for Yokohama City

28th May 2025

This week’s edition is on the ‘44th Yokohama Port Opening Festival’.

Yokohama was pioneering in the opening up of Japan to the outside world. It opened its port in 1859, and the city has since developed as a hub of cultural and economic exchange. It is now a metropolis with a population of around 3.77 million.

The main theme of the Yokohama Port Opening Festival is “Thanks to the Port”.

It’s a festival that celebrates the opening of the port on 2nd June, in effect the birthday of Yokohama, a city that has developed along with its port.

A variety of lively events will be held with the aim of revitalizing the city’s development and tourism.

This year’s Yokohama Port Opening Festival has the sub-theme ‘OPEN×HEART OPEN×WORLD’, and will take place over three days: 31st May and 1st & 2nd June.

The venues will be Rinko Park and the MinatoMirai 21 district and surrounding areas.

Popular annual events will be held, such as “Dream of Harmony,” in which 300 Yokohama citizens gathered from the public sing in chorus on a special stage in Rinko Park with the sea in the background, and “Beam Spectacle in Harbor,” a light and sound performance including fireworks.

This year's festival will also feature an array of fun new events, such as the Yokohama Port Opening Festival Fountain Show, which combines light and sound with the attraction of water; ‘SASSENN’, a digital chanbara (swordfight) using LED swords with built-in sensors, and the Yokohama Port Opening Festival Children's Career Experience.

Traffic restrictions will be enforced on surrounding roads on 2nd June due to the fireworks display.

For details, please see the ‘Yokohama Port Opening Festival’ homepage.