It’s very clean, with lots of shiny, new skyscrapers and I am quite invisible with lots of young families here enjoying the theme park built among the road system. It’s a very young culture, with everything geared for fun and entertainment, such as designer sweet stalls and fast food stalls sitting alongside global retailers.
The Minato Mirai area seems to be a homage to shopping, with the Landmark Tower and Plaza just a few steps from my hotel door, and World Porters the big draw for couples on their day off. I was expecting vending but not quite so much – it’s on every street corner, and a different electronic tune is played as each product is dispensed, urging consumers to buy more.
There is a respect here for old buildings, with The Red Brick Warehouse, a food hall and shopping mall, the big tourist centre (rather like London’s Covent Garden) right on the waterfront. The 500-metre boardwalk was remodelled using a port railroad and incorporates an old bridge.
The place was packed yesterday with pop-up-style kiosks. Innovation in ice creams and dairy desserts abound, with blueberry and passionfruit looking very tame beside the myriad flavours on offer. I’m aiming to try some over the next few days so will keep you posted.
See my pictures here.
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