★★★★★ 5.0
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Port Opening Memorial Hall
Thirty-six meters of red brick tower stretch above you like 18 giraffes stacked up! You're standing exactly where Commodore Perry's ships docked in 1854, and this whole building was built with regular citizens' pocket money in 1917 to throw their port a 50th birthday party. Hunt inside for secret stained glass windows showing Perry's actual flagship - they survived the massive earthquake that burned everything else to ashes! This tower's nickname is "Jack" like a sailor, and legend says spotting all three of Yokohama's towers in one day makes wishes come true!
Did You Know?
- Built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Yokohama’s opening to the world in 1859, the Port Opening Memorial Hall (nicknamed 'Jack’s Tower') is not just a beautiful building—it marks the very spot where the Japan-American Friendship Treaty was signed, a pivotal moment that ended Japan’s centuries of isolation and launched Yokohama as a gateway to global trade.
- The hall is renowned for its stunning stained glass windows, especially those on the second floor and central staircase, which were crafted by the Unozawa-gumi Stained Glass Factory and restored after the Great Kanto Earthquake. One window uniquely depicts the USS Powhatan, Commodore Perry’s flagship, symbolizing the historic encounter between Japan and the United States.
- Despite suffering major damage in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, the hall was faithfully rebuilt and remains one of Yokohama’s 'Three Towers'—a trio of iconic red-brick landmarks. Today, it doubles as a public meeting hall for Naka Ward and is lovingly illuminated at night, earning it a spot as a 'Japan Heritage Night View' attraction—perfect for family photos and sparking children’s curiosity about history and architecture.