The , commonly known as the , is a subway

Rapid transit

A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...

 line of the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway Company

Yokohama Minatomirai Railway Company

The is a third-sector railway company funded by the city of Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture and Tokyu Corporation.The company oversees the Minatomirai Line and the Kodomonokuni Line...

 connecting Yokohama Station

Yokohama Station

is a main interchange station located in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. It is the busiest station in Kanagawa Prefecture and the 5th busiest in Japan as of 2004, serving 2.05 million passengers daily.-Lines:Yokohama Station is served by the following lines:...

 to Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama Chinatown is located in Yokohama, Japan, which is located just south of Tokyo. Its history is about 150 years long...

 through the Minato Mirai 21

Minato Mirai 21

, often shortened to Minato Mirai or MM is a large urban development in Yokohama, Japan. Minato Mirai 21 area is designated for new urban center planned to connect city's traditional center of Kannai and Yokohama Station area....

 development.

Service

Fares on the line range from ¥180 to ¥200. With the exception of the first early-morning train which departs from Yokohama, all Minatomirai Line trains inter-run with the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line, and most offer direct service to/from Shibuya Station

Shibuya Station

is a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /...

. Limited express trains from Shibuya Station to Motomachi-Chūkagai Station

Motomachi-Chukagai Station

is an underground terminus of the Minatomirai Line subway located in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is 4.1 kilometers from the opposite terminus of the Minatomirai Line at Yokohama Station. Its official name, as shown on signage in the station, is with the sub-name in...

 take a minimum of 33 minutes.

On special occasions, typically around holidays, the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

The is a metro line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro located in Tokyo, Japan. The line was named after the district of Hibiya, under which it passes.-Overview:The Hibiya Line runs between in Meguro and in Adachi...

 and Namboku Line

Tokyo Metro Namboku Line

The is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. Its name literally means South-North Line. The line runs between Meguro in Shinagawa and Akabane-Iwabuchi in Kita...

 operate special , formerly known as , direct through services to the Minatomirai Line. From 2012, the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line will also inter-run to/from the Minatomirai Line.

Although the Minatomirai Line runs entirely underground, it is separate from the Yokohama Municipal Subway

Yokohama Municipal Subway

is the metro network in the city of Yokohama, Japan, south of Tokyo In Kanagawa pref. It is operated by Yokohama City Transportation Bureau, and is operated as two lines, though 3 continuous lines exist.-Lines:Line 1 and 3 are operated as a single line...

, which is operated by the Yokohama City Transportation Bureau

Yokohama City Transportation Bureau

The is the administrative agency in charge of public transportation services in the city of Yokohama, Japan.-Subway operations:The Yokohama Municipal Subway consists of the following lines:...

.

Stations

Station Name		| Local 各停		| Express 急行		| Commuter Express 通勤特急		| Limited Express 特急		| Transfers
Continues to/from Tōkyū Tōyoko Line, through service to Shibuya Station Shibuya Station is a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /...
Yokohama Station Yokohama Station is a main interchange station located in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. It is the busiest station in Kanagawa Prefecture and the 5th busiest in Japan as of 2004, serving 2.05 million passengers daily.-Lines:Yokohama Station is served by the following lines:...	X	X	X	X	Tōkyū Tōyoko Line (through service to Shibuya Station Shibuya Station is a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /... ) Tōkaidō Main Line Tokaido Main Line The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities... , Yokosuka Line Yokosuka Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company .The Yokosuka Line connects in Chūō, Tokyo and in Yokosuka, Kanagawa... , Keihin-Tōhoku Line Keihin-Tohoku Line The , is a railway line in Japan which connects the cities of Saitama, Kawaguchi, Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Yokohama. It is part of the East Japan Railway Company network. The line's name is derived from the characters for , and the... , Negishi Line Negishi Line The is a Japanese railway line which runs between Yokohama and Ōfuna stations. It is operated by East Japan Railway Company . Freight trains also run on this line, and it is essential for the southern Keihin region.... , Keikyū Main Line, Sagami Railway Main Line, Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line Blue Line (Yokohama) The is a line in the Yokohama Municipal Subway system of Yokohama, Japan, operated by Yokohama City Transportation Bureau. Line 3 runs from Azamino to Kannai, and Line 1 runs from Kannai to Shōnandai. All the trains join these two lines.-History:...
Shin-Takashima Station Shin-Takashima Station is an underground metro station located in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan operated by the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway’s Minatomirai Line. It is 0.8 kilometers from the terminus of the Minatomirai Line at Yokohama Station...	X
Minato Mirai Station Minato Mirai Station is an underground metro station located in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan operated by the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway.-Lines:Minatomirai Station is served by the Minatomirai Line, and is located 1.7 kilometers from the terminus of the Minatomirai Line at Yokohama Station...	X	X	X	X
Bashamichi Station Bashamichi Station is an underground metro station located in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan operated by the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway’s Minatomirai Line. It is 2.6 kilometers from the terminus of the Minatomirai Line at Yokohama Station...	X	X	X
Nihon-ōdōri Station Nihon-odori Station , is an underground metro station located in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan operated by the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway’s Minatomirai Line. It is 3.2 kilometers from the terminus of the Minatomirai Line at Yokohama Station. Its official name is , including the sub-name in parentheses... (Kenchō-Ōsanbashi)	X	X	X
Motomachi-Chūkagai Station Motomachi-Chukagai Station is an underground terminus of the Minatomirai Line subway located in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is 4.1 kilometers from the opposite terminus of the Minatomirai Line at Yokohama Station. Its official name, as shown on signage in the station, is with the sub-name in... (Yamashita-kōen)	X	X	X	X

History

Construction of the line started in 1993, but due to the need to extensively rework Yokohama station and other difficulties, it took 11 years and 260 billion yen (2.5 billion USD) to complete the line. The line was finally opened to the public on February 1, 2004.

External links

• Naka Ward Office guide to the Minatomirai Line
• Minatomirai Line Official Website
• http://www.urbanrail.net/as/yoko/yokohama.htm