Construction of the nation’s first superyacht marina is set to begin as early as 2027 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The redevelopment project centers on the former site of Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd.’s Uraga shipyard, an iconic site that once symbolized Japan’s status as a global shipbuilding powerhouse. The project is slated to be completed in stages from 2029.
The Yokosuka city government and Sumitomo Heavy Industries, the landowners, signed a partnership agreement on March 30 with and Index Inc. regarding the Uraga Station area revitalization project, a massive undertaking with total costs exceeding ¥100 billion.
Index, based in Minato Ward, Tokyo, represents the preferred negotiator Team Perry’s in the deal involving the city and Sumitomo Heavy Industries.
At a signing ceremony held at the Yokosuka city hall, Mayor Katsuaki Kamiji, Sumitomo Heavy Industries President Toshiro Watanabe and Index President Koichi Uemura were in attendance.
“This plan embodies what I consider to be the ‘second opening of the country,’” Kamiji said in his address.
The master plan presented at the ceremony targets wealthy individuals from Japan and abroad, featuring a superyacht marina capable of mooring 60-meter-long luxury vessels. The project also features twin hotels that will serve as a symbolic gateway to the area, alongside residential condominium towers.
The site is envisioned as a hub for marine-related matters, hosting international meetings and providing opportunities for historical and cultural learning.
Architect Kengo Kuma, who formulated the plan, stressed that the project is environmentally friendly. “Multiple streets arranged within the district will connect the sea and the land, playing a role in linking the history of Uraga,” Kuma added.
