Yokohama Cosmo Clock issue you should avoid...

During my trip to Japan, I had planned to visit Yokohama for just one day. On my first visit, I explored Chinatown, went to the zoo, visited the Red Brick Warehouse, and saw a yacht tour near the bay—which I didn’t join because I hadn’t known you needed to book in advance.

One of the biggest reasons I wanted to visit Yokohama was to ride the Cosmo Clock 21, the giant Ferris wheel in Minato Mirai. As a fan of the anime Bungou Stray Dogs, this spot meant a lot to me—it appears in the anime multiple times, and I really wanted to experience it in person.

Unfortunately, I came on a Thursday—the only day the Cosmo Clock doesn’t operate. I didn’t know that ahead of time and was really disappointed. Because it meant so much to me, I even changed my entire Japan travel plan and added one more day just to return to Yokohama for the ride.

That Saturday, I came back, bought my ticket online in advance, and arrived around 6:00 p.m.—but then it started raining and soon after, it snowed. I was shocked because it was already the first week of March. When I finally got to the Cosmo Clock, it had already closed early due to the weather. Staff told me that no rides were available and they couldn’t offer a refund. The ticket website also refused to reimburse me, saying there was a system error.

I was really sad because riding the Cosmo Clock was the only reason I came back to Yokohama the second time, and I missed it again.

Trying to lift my mood, I went to Yokohama World Porters, the shopping mall nearby, and spent time there. I found lots of capsule toy (gacha) machines and played with those. I got some nice figures that I liked, which helped cheer me up a little.

At least, on my first visit, I did go to the Sky Garden Observatory—which offers a great view of the whole area, including the Cosmo Clock. That was still a good memory.

My advice:

Double-check the Cosmo Clock’s operating schedule (closed on Thursdays).
Be aware that rides may stop early due to weather, especially rain or snow.
Try to book flexible or refundable tickets, or check the policy before purchasing.
If you're really looking forward to it, consider going earlier in the day to avoid missing your chance.

Even though I didn’t get to ride the Cosmo Clock, I still found other small joys in Yokohama. But I hope this helps you avoid the same disappointment.

Post by aliona_pi | Jun 24, 2025