Landmark Tower, in Yokohama, at 70 stories, is Japan's tallest building, built to withstand earthquakes. Hokule'a will be docking nearby, at Pukari pier, Minato Mirai 21, a futuristic new development.

Yokohama, the capital of Kanagawa prefecture, is Japan's second largest city (3.5 million people), after Tokyo (12.2 million people). It was a small fishing village until Japan was forced open for commerce with the west in 1854 by a fleet of American warships until Commodore Perry. The port opened in 1859 and became the base of foreign trade with Japan.