Osanbashi Pier

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"Yokohama Pier" redirects here. For other piers in Yokohama, see Piers of Yokohama.

Osanbashi Pier (大さん橋, ōsanbashi^?, IPA: [oːsambaɕi]) is the main international pier at the Port of Yokohama, located in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan. Osanbashi is the oldest pier in Yokohama. And it was originally constructed between 1889 and 1896.

To meet modern demands, Osanbashi was reconstructed between 1987 and 2002. The newly reconstructed passenger terminal is named the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal. It can accommodate up to four 30,000-ton class ships or two 70,000-ton class ships at the same time. The departure/arrival lobby, ticketing booth, customs, immigration, shops and cafe are all on the 2nd floor of this terminal. There is limited parking on the 1st floor, and an observation deck open to the public, on the rooftop.

Major cruise ships such as the Queen Elizabeth 2 are embarked here.

[edit] History

The Port of Yokohama was opened in 1859 as a direct result of the Treaty of Kanagawa, signed by Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States and the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan. At the time, 2 wharfs were built in place of the present day Osanbashi. The wharfs were too shallow for the ships to dock, and so barges were used to carry passengers and freight to and from the ships.

In 1889, during the Meiji Era, the City of Yokohama was incorporated. And a succession of construction projects was initiated in 1889 by the Japanese government, to transform the Port of Yokohama into the main doorway to Japan. Osanbashi Pier was completed in 1894, and was called Yokohama Harbor Pier at the time.

In 1923, the port was badly damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake, and had to be rebuilt.

During World War II, the port was again badly damaged, this time by air raids. After World War II, the U.S. Military occupied the Port of Yokohama, and the Osanbashi Pier was under their jurisdiction until 1949.

In 1964, a reconstruction of Osanbashi Passenger Terminal was completed in time before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Between 1987 and 2002, Osanbashi Pier was again reconstructed. This was done by the Port and City of Yokohama and the architecture firm Foreign Office Architects. The Port and City of Yokohama developed other renovation and construction projects in the waterfront area, such as the Minato Mirai 21 project, in this time frame.

[edit] Reference

Sakamoto, Tomoko. The Yokohama Project. Actar (March 2003). ISBN 84-95951-18-5

[edit] External links

• Osanbashi Pier (Port and Harbor Bureau, City of Yokohama)
• History of the Port of Yokohama (Port and Harbor Bureau, City of Yokohama)
• (Japanese) Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal (Official website of the terminal)