Kannai (関内) is a district inNaka Ward,Yokohama,Japan, bounded by theŌoka River,JR Negishi Line,Nakamura River, and Yokohama waterfront. "Kannai" is not an official name of the area, but the common term of reference has been in use for over a century.
Kannai is the heart of administrative and commercial Yokohama, with theKanagawa Prefectural Government offices, the Yokohama Municipal Government offices, Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters, other governmental offices as well as major business offices within its borders.
Kannai encompasses the old districts ofBashamichi,Chinatown, andYamashita Park, making Kannai a major tourist destination in Yokohama, rivaling the adjacentMinato Mirai 21.
The Kannai region was part of the ocean until theEdo period whenYoshida Shinden wasreclaimed in 1667. Upon reclamation, the streets were lined up according to agrid plan. And towns (町,machi) in the region were auspiciously named after individuals involved with the reclamation,Noh songs, andHyakunin Isshu, rather than any ancient names.
During theEdo period,Yokohama-mura (横浜村,lit. side beach village) was a remote village adjacent to theKanagawa-juku (神奈川宿), one of the 53 stations ofTōkaidō. Upon being demanded by theUnited States, theTokugawa shogunate declaredYokohama-mura to be a part ofKanagawa and then opened its port. The Tokugawa government chose the remotely locatedYokohama-mura, to prevent foreigners from entering the bustlingKanagawa-juku.
Upon the opening of the Port of Yokohama in 1859, Kannai became the commercial center of theforeign settlement and home ofinternational trading companies anddiplomatic missions, similar toDejima inNagasaki. As the foreign settlement rapidly expanded, further residential areas, churches, a cemetery and schools were added on the nearby elevatedYamateBluff overlooking the harbour. The historicOsanbashi Pier was built adjacent to Kannai in 1894, and has been the internationalpier of the Port of Yokohama ever since.
Since the opening of the Port of Yokohama, Kannai saw a sudden influx ofWestern culture. According to the Yokohama Municipal Government, the Kannai region boasts many "firsts in Japan", such asice cream,beer, andgas lamps.
A road was built fromKanagawa-juku toYokohama-mura. And on this road, theYoshida Bridge was built across Yoshida River, a branch of the Ōoka River. There was aKanmon (関門), a "checkpoint", on thisYoshida Bridge. The area inside theKanmon (theYokohama side) was calledKannai (Kannai meant "inside theKanmon"). Within Kannai, the current location of the Kanagawa prefectural office marked the boundary between the Japanese settlement area on the west, and the foreign settlement area on the east.
In 1860, canals were built in addition to the existing rivers, so that Kannai was completely surrounded by water. There was aKanmon placed on each bridge, to restrict access, and to prevent contact betweensamurai and foreigners. The samurai were not allowed into Kannai.
After subsequent modernizations over the years, theKanmon lost its significance, and was eventually removed. However, even after the abolishment of theKanmon, the nameKannai (which originally meant "inside theKanmon") remains popular to this day.
Examples ofmodern western architecture built in the 1920s and 1930s still remain in Kannai. Buildings of note include:
Today,Shuto Expressway and Ōdōri Park occupy the former location of the Yoshida River. The bridge has become part of the road. And a stone monument is all that remains to show the location of the bridge and the river.
Today, Bashamichi Street adjoins Yoshida Bridge with the former settlement area of Kannai. On the other side of Yoshida Bridge isIsezakichō. The vicinity of Isezakicho was outside theKanmon, and was calledKangai (関外) (meaning "outside theKanmon"). Today, the name "Kangai" has lost its currency, while "Kannai" remains in popular use. The JRKannai Station is based on this name.
The Kannai district has seen a revival after the inauguration of theMinatomirai Line in 2004, with better connections to the popularYokohama Station andMinato Mirai 21 regions.
In recent years, due to a change in societal and economic conditions, old office and store buildings are being torn down, in favor of new condominiums; and this has presented challenges forcity planning.
