The city of Yokohama will open a new seafront cable car system called Yokohama Air Cabin on April 22nd this year. The new ropeway provides a direct connection between JR Sakuragicho Station and the Minato Mirai district’s Shinko Pier. Although ropeways are common in mountainous areas this is Japan’s first permanent cable car system connecting urban districts over level ground.
Yokohama Air Cabin will provide a new way to view Minato Mirai’s seafront attractions
The ropeway is 630 meters long and will carry 36 cable cars to a maximum height of 40 meters. The French-made cars are of the gondola type with seating for 8 passengers and a one-way trip will take 5-minutes. The glass-walled gondolas will allow passengers to fully appreciate the Yokohama seafront view and as the ropeway will run till late in the evening Minato Mirai’s nighttime illuminations are also bound to be popular.
All gondolas are barrier-free and fully air-conditioned
Yokohama’s Shinko Pier is a large man-made island with attractions that include the Cosmoworld amusement park, the Cup Noodles Museum, and large-scale shopping and dining facilities which include the Akarenga Red Brick Warehouses and World Porters. Cable car passengers will be able to travel directly between Sakuragicho Station and the Canal Park in front of World Porters making the whole area much more accessible.
The ropeway links JR Sakuragicho Station with World Porters on Shinko Pier
Open between 10.00 and 22.00, the fare for a single trip on Yokohama Air Cabin is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children.
Article by Michael Lambe. Images courtesy of Yokohama Air Cabin. All rights reserved.
