Kannai

Upon being demanded by the United States, the Tokugawa shogunate declared Yokohama-mura to be a part of Kanagawa and then opened its port.

Upon the opening of the Port of Yokohama in 1859, Kannai became the commercial center of the foreign settlement and home of international trading companies and diplomatic missions, similar to Dejima in Nagasaki.

As the foreign settlement rapidly expanded, further residential areas, churches, a cemetery and schools were added on the nearby elevated Yamate Bluff overlooking the harbour.

According to the Yokohama Municipal Government, the Kannai region boasts many "firsts in Japan", such as ice cream, beer, and gas lamps.

Buildings of note include: Today, Shuto Expressway and Ōdōri Park occupy the former location of the Yoshida River.

The Kannai district has seen a revival after the inauguration of the Minatomirai Line in 2004, with better connections to the popular Yokohama Station and Minato 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 for city planning.