International Cargo Seaport: Port of Tokyo

As befitting Tokyo’s status as one of the most important urban economy hubs globally, the Port of Tokyo also occupies the place as one of the most important seaports in Asia because of that reason. Because of that, the port continues to be a significant seaport for marine trade routes in the entire Pacific Ocean.

About Port of Tokyo

It, colloquially known as Tokyo Port or Tokyo Harbor, is located in Koto City, Ariake District, Tokyo. The port itself is situated on the north side of Tokyo Bay, an important bay in the southern parts of the Kanto region of Japan.

Compared to Yokohama and Kawasaki, other equally important seaports in the heart of Japan, Tokyo Port is located in their northeast. These ports are aligned from north to south, with Yokohama lying in the southern part of the Tokyo Bay and Tokyo Harbor located on the northern side of the bay, with Kawasaki in the center.

The History

The port’s long history began with the foundation of a small fishing village called Edo in the location that will become the modern Tokyo Port. Approximately 1392, the fishing village slowly grew into a major seaport, with the Tokugawa Shogunate constructing additional berths and port facilities in 1612 to expand the port’s operational levels.

The port’s significant modernization began during the Meiji period, when Japan’s gradual exposure to the outside world provided the opportunity for the United States to have Japan open new ports for foreign trade, including Tokyo Harbor itself.

Severely damaged in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and constant Allied bombing air raids during World War II, the port was completely reconstructed post-war to accommodate domestic economic reconstruction and extensive foreign trade.

Volume of Transaction in Port of Tokyo

In 2020, the total number of containers handled by Tokyo Port was 4.75 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 5.2% decrease from the total number of containers in 2019. In terms of exports, the total volume of foreign cargo increased by 93.5% thanks to exports to Vietnam and Taiwan and a decrease in exports to China and the United States.

In the same year, the volume of handled domestic cargo decreased by 12.3% due to increased water sediments and oil contents in the port.

As for the year 2021, the total of oceangoing cargo TEUs decreased by 5.4% to 3.133.486 TEUs, which illustrates a slower cargo volume growth in all types of delivered materials in the port.

Interesting Facts

Considering that Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan city globally, almost every part of Tokyo is filled with interesting landmarks, including those that are close to Tokyo Port. In terms of tourism sports, the port is close to the internationally famous Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea and other spots such as Wakasu Seaside Park, Jonanjima Seaside Park, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and other locations.

The Port of Tokyo is also very close to Haneda Airport, one of Tokyo’s primary airports and the world’s third-busiest city airports after New York City and London.