Mitsui Fudosan and eight other companies will open BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai (1-1-1 Minato-machi, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), a large-scale multi-purpose district, on March 19. A joint press conference was held on March 12 in advance of the grand opening.
BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai is an urban complex consisting of a hotel (OMO5 Yokohama Bashamichi by Hoshino Resort), a live viewing arena, a 55-store retail area, and offices. Located in front of Yokohama Stadium and a one-minute walk from Kannai Station on the JR and Yokohama Municipal Subway lines, BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai will also have a connecting deck (Victory Road) to the Hamasta and Yokohama Park areas.
Mr. Shun Ueda, President and Representative Director of Mitsui Fudosan, gave an opening address. In developing this project, he said, “We have expressed our desire to be the starting point for the creation of new value and to be a bridge between the history and future of this city, between people and people, and between city and city.
Noting that Kannai developed along with the opening of the port of Yokohama and has been a symbolic area that has led the modern Japanese economy since the Meiji era, he said, “We would like to create a town that combines the old and new by adding new attractions and functions while paying respect to its history and culture. We will function as a catalyst for Kannai and transmit new values from Yokohama to Japan and to the world.
Tomoko Nanba, Chairman of DeNA, Yoshimichi Hoshino, President of Hoshino Resort, and Takanori Takebe, President of STELLAR SCIENCE FOUNDATION, joined President Ueda on the podium for the talk session.
Chairman Namba said, “The relationship between Yokohama and DeNA began about 15 years ago. Looking back, he said, “The warmth and openness to new things that only a port-opening city can offer made it easy for us to blend in at that time,” and that he feels that Yokohama is his second home and more than that.
In addition, although 2.36 million people visit the stadium annually, home games are held 70 days a year, and there are no games on 290 days, so “we want to provide a new experience that will make this place a destination along with stadium games,” he said.
Mr. Hoshino, representative of Hoshino Resort, commented, “It is very important to preserve buildings designed by modernist architects who represent Japan and the world. I believe that we have been given the “challenge” of utilizing the city hall building as a hotel. It is a difficult task, but I am sure that the project will be historically valuable.
He also pointed out that “Yokohama is too close to Tokyo, and therefore, although about 37 million people visit the city annually, many of them are day-trippers. In managing the “OMO5 Yokohama Bashamichi by Hoshino Resort” hotel, he considered how to attract guests to stay overnight, and mentioned his commitment to morning service as one of the attractions.
STELLAR SCIENCE FOUNDATION Representative Mr. Takebe introduced the new center, which will be one of the largest new industry creation centers in Yokohama. We want to bring science closer to people. We would like to connect science that makes people happier and more energetic to the world from here.
© Source travel watch