Minato Mirai Line
The Minato Mirai Line is a new underground railway line from Yokohama Station to Motomachi-Chukagai Station, serving central Yokohama. It was opened to the public on February 1, 2004.
As its name suggests, the new line serves the recently redeveloped city district of Minato Mirai 21, which had previously lacked convenient, central access by public transportation. Running as far as Motomachi-Chukagai, the new line also improves access to Yokohama Chinatown, Yamashita Park and the Yamate/Motomachi district.
To integrate the short new line into the existing railway network, the Minato Mirai Line has effectively become an extension of the Tokyu Toyoko Line, which connects Tokyo's Shibuya Station with Yokohama. Trains on the Toyoko Line now run all the way from Shibuya via Yokohama Station to Motomachi-Chukagai, while service to the previous terminal station of Sakuragicho has been discontinued.
As a result, it is now possible to conveniently travel from Shibuya Station to the center of Minato Mirai in 30 minutes and to Yokohama Chinatown in about 35 minutes (using a limited express) without changing trains.
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Note, that fares are calculated separately for the Minato Mirai Line and Toyoko Line, resulting in the fact that a transfer ticket has to be purchased when using both lines (even though no transfer of trains is necessary) and that there is a noticeable jump in the ticket price when crossing from one line to the other.
