{"id":5047,"date":"2026-01-15T14:12:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T05:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.guidoor.jp\/yokosuka\/?post_type=news&p=5047"},"modified":"2026-01-15T14:17:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T05:17:41","slug":"uraga-brick-dock-yokosuka","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.guidoor.jp\/yokosuka\/new-and-now\/uraga-brick-dock-yokosuka\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Uraga Brick Dock? – Japan\u2019s Only Surviving Brick Dry Dock in Uraga, Yokosuka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you exit Uraga Station and head downhill, you\u2019ll spot the vast remains of a former shipyard\u2014massive structures and cranes (some partially dismantled) stretching across the waterfront. This area is the former Uraga Works of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, a place that supported shipbuilding for more than a century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of the site is the Uraga Brick Dock (\u6d66\u8cc0\u30ec\u30f3\u30ac\u30c9\u30c3\u30af) \u2014 also known as the Uraga Dock\u2014completed in 1899 (Meiji 32). Until the yard closed in 2003 (Heisei 15), it supported the construction and repair of more than 1,000 vessels. The Uraga Brick Dock is regarded as the only surviving brick-built dry dock in Japan, and is recognized as a valuable industrial heritage site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: The dock is not open to the public on a daily basis. Visits are offered on designated dates through limited guided tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights of the Uraga Brick Dock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Rare Brick Dry Dock Still Standing Today<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What makes the Uraga Brick Dock remarkable is that a brick-built dry dock constructed in the Meiji era has survived to the present day. Surviving examples of brick dry docks are extremely limited in Japan, which is why the site is valued as a rare piece of the nation\u2019s industrial history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Landmark That Still Feels Like a Shipyard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the dock itself, the surrounding area still includes remnants that evoke the shipyard in its working years. One notable example is a surviving dockside crane,, a striking reminder of the industrial landscape of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uraga: A Shipbuilding Town with Deep Roots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Uraga is often described as a \u201cgateway to the sea,\u201d but it also has deep ties to shipbuilding. Near the mouth of the Nagakawa River (now largely covered and turned into an underground channel), local tradition connects the area to the construction of Ho-o Maru\u2014a Western-style sailing ship often cited as an early milestone in Japan\u2019s modern shipbuilding history, with key contributions associated with Saburosuke Nakajima, a retainer of the Uraga Magistrate\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kanrin Maru, known for its historic Pacific voyage, is also said to have been repaired in this vicinity before departure. Together, these stories have long been passed down as part of Uraga\u2019s role in the origins of modern shipbuilding in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In later years, shipbuilding in Uraga became formally organized as a company enterprise. Historical materials describe the business as founded in 1896 (Meiji 29) and formally registered in 1897 (Meiji 30). Then, in 1899 (Meiji 32), the brick dry dock was completed, and the site operated for many years as a base for ship construction and repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until the shipyard closed in 2003 (Heisei 15), a wide range of vessels\u2014such as the training ships Nippon Maru and Kaio Maru, Seikan ferries, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force escort ships\u2014were built here, and the surrounding town was shaped by the people who worked at the yard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Visit (Guided Tour Information)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Uraga Brick Dock is not open to the public at all times. Visits are available through limited guided tours held on designated dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For tour dates and how to apply, please check the official website of the NPO Yokosuka City Guide Association.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tour inquiries \/ applications
<\/strong>NPO Yokosuka City Guide Association (Office)
TEL: 046-822-8256
FAX: 046-827-1682<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tour status on the day (held \/ canceled)<\/strong>
You can also confirm via the Yokosuka Calendar<\/a> or the Yokosuka City Call Center.
Call Center: 046-822-2500 (7:15\u201320:00)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Uraga Brick Dock is a rare industrial heritage site where a Meiji-era brick-built dry dock still remains today. Because visits are limited to designated public-opening dates and guided tours, please check the latest information on availability and application details before you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n