The Port of Yokohama is part of the largest urban area in Japan, the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area. The Port of Yokohama is on the western edge of Tokyo Bay. Port History In 1859, the nearby town of Kanagawa was made Japan's port for foreigners to live and trade when Yokohama was only a small fishing village. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the City of Yokohama was established in 1889 when it was amalgamated with Kanagawa. Port Commerce Yokohama and Kawasaki are the center of the Keihin Industrial Zone. Much heavy manufacturing is centered here, including shipbuilding and production of machinery, chemicals, petroleum products, primary metals, fabricated metal goods, and automobiles. The Port of Yokohama is one of Japan's largest, and it handles imports of raw materials for the industrial zone as well as a wide variety of exports. Cruising and Travel Blessed with ample water depth, a spacious water area on the eastern side, and undulated hills on the northern, western, and southern sides, the Port of Yokohama is equipped with many maritime facilities like inner and outer breakwaters protecting the Port of Yokohama from winds and tides. The Port of Yokohama opened in June 1859, and it has a long-standing 140-year history as a leading international trade port. In 2006, it welcomed over 42 thousand incoming vessels and handled over 138 million tons of cargo. The same year, it was responsible for over 11 trillion yen in trade value. In 2002, the Port of Yokohama completed a state-of-the-art International Passenger Terminal with easy access to roads and airports. The Terminal can accommodate most cruise ships and meets their demands eagerly and efficiently. The terminal was built to meet the 21st Century cruise industry. |