JP Prefix and Three Characters
Japan uses the ISO country prefix JP followed by a three-character location identifier. Examples include JPTYO for Tokyo, JPYOK for Yokohama and JPNGO for Nagoya.
Seaports in Japan: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Japan has 1330 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting one of Asia’s most developed maritime manufacturing, container and energy-trade networks.
Use this guide to compare Japan port codes, major gateway locations, regional cargo roles and current freight-planning considerations.
Japan Port Overview
Japan’s port system combines large container gateways, industrial bulk terminals, ferry ports and regional facilities serving the Pacific coast, the Sea of Japan and the Okinawa island chain. Indexed coverage and international TEU rankings are separate measures.
1330
Japan ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
3.3bn t
Japan port cargo throughput, 2025; approximately +1.0% YoY
MLIT Port Statistics 2025
23.5m TEU
Container throughput, 2025; approximately +2.5% YoY
MLIT Port Statistics 2025
—
Major port berths, 2025; YoY change not consolidated in the cited national bulletin
MLIT Port Statistics 2025
How many seaports does Japan have?
Japan has 1330 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Oct 2026 database snapshot; this is an indexed-coverage figure rather than a statutory count of every Japanese port facility.
Which are Japan’s busiest container gateways?
Tokyo (JPTYO), Yokohama (JPYOK), Nagoya (JPNGO), Kobe (JPUKB) and Osaka (JPOSA) are among Japan’s leading container gateways, although annual rankings vary by port authority and reporting scope.
Which regions handle most Japan freight?
The Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay and Osaka Bay industrial clusters handle a substantial share of Japan’s container and manufactured-goods flows, while ports such as Moji (JPMOJ), Mizushima (JPMIZ) and Hakata (JPHKA) support western Japan and regional distribution.
Top Japan Ports by Container Throughput
The following indicative league table uses publicly reported 2025 port-authority and national-statistics figures where available. World rank is a global container-port position and should not be confused with the 1330 facilities indexed by Ecer Freight.
Selected Japan container gateways, 2025 throughput
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Tokyo | JPTYO | 4.78 | +2.4% | Tokyo Bay |
| — | Yokohama | JPYOK | 3.09 | +3.1% | Tokyo Bay |
| — | Nagoya | JPNGO | 2.96 | +1.8% | Ise Bay |
| — | Kobe | JPUKB | 2.91 | +2.0% | Osaka Bay |
| — | Osaka | JPOSA | 2.42 | +1.6% | Osaka Bay |
| — | Hakata | JPHKA | 1.06 | +4.2% | Kyushu |
| — | Sendai | JPSEN | 0.68 | +3.5% | Tohoku |
| — | Moji | JPMOJ | 0.62 | +1.2% | Kanmon Strait |
Japan Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Tokyo Bay and Eastern Japan
Tokyo Bay is a principal consumer-market and industrial gateway for Kanto. It handles containers, machinery, vehicles, food products and distribution cargo.
Selected Tokyo Bay and eastern gateways
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yokohama | JPYOK | Yokohama / — | Containers, automobiles, machinery and general cargo |
| Tokyo | JPTYO | Tokyo / — | Containers, consumer goods and metropolitan distribution |
| Sendai | JPSEN | Sendai / — | Containers, food products and Tohoku regional cargo |
| Akita | JPAKI | — / — | Bulk, energy and Sea of Japan regional cargo |
| Tomakomai | JPTOM | Tomakomai / — | Ferries, food, agricultural and industrial cargo |
Ise Bay and Chubu Industrial Belt
The Chubu cluster serves automotive manufacturing, machinery, chemicals and project cargo around the Nagoya industrial region.
Selected Chubu and central Japan gateways
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nagoya | JPNGO | Nagoya / — | Automobiles, containers, machinery and bulk |
| Kanazawa | JPKNZ | Kanazawa / — | Containers, machinery and regional manufacturing cargo |
| Shimizu | JPSZU | — / — | Containers, paper, food and industrial products |
| Toyama | JPTYA | Toyama / — | General cargo, chemicals and regional distribution |
| Tsuruga | JPTGA | Tsuruga / — | Ferries, containers and Sea of Japan trade |
Osaka Bay and Seto Inland Sea
Osaka Bay and the Seto Inland Sea connect dense manufacturing areas with international container services, steel, chemicals, automobiles and short-sea distribution.
Selected Kansai and Seto Inland Sea gateways
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kobe | JPUKB | Kobe / — | Containers, food, machinery and automobiles |
| Osaka | JPOSA | Osaka / — | Containers, consumer goods and industrial cargo |
| Mizushima | JPMIZ | Mizushima / — | Steel, chemicals, energy and project cargo |
| Fukuyama | JPFKY | Fukuyama / — | Steel, machinery and industrial bulk |
| Takamatsu | JPTKU | Takamatsu / — | Ferries, containers and Shikoku distribution |
| Iyomishima | JPIYM | Iyomishima / — | Paper, pulp and industrial cargo |
Kyushu, Chugoku and Southwestern Japan
Western and southwestern gateways support manufacturing, agricultural products, ferries, regional containers and connections with Northeast and Southeast Asia.
Selected western and southwestern gateways
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moji | JPMOJ | Kitakyushu / — | Containers, ferries, vehicles and regional distribution |
| Hakata | JPHKA | Hakata / — | Containers, food products and Asian short-sea trade |
| Oita | JPOIT | Oita / — | Steel, energy, bulk and industrial cargo |
| Shibushi | JPSBS | Shibushi / — | Food, agricultural products and ferries |
| Naha | JPNAH | Naha / — | Okinawa distribution, containers and regional services |
| Nagasaki | JPNGS | Nagasaki / — | Regional containers, ferries and ship-related cargo |
Japan Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
City and Terminal-Level Differences
A UN/LOCODE may identify a port city, a port complex or a separately recorded facility. Similar names can therefore appear with different codes, and the code should be matched to the actual bill of lading location.
How to Verify a Code
Cross-check the location against the UNECE UN/LOCODE directory and the Ecer Freight port-code database before booking or preparing shipping documents.
Shipping from Japan: Main Trade Lanes
Japan to North America
Container services connect Japan’s Pacific gateways with the US West Coast, Canada and inland North American distribution points.
Japan to Europe
Asia–North Europe and Mediterranean services carry machinery, automotive products, chemicals and consumer cargo, generally via major transshipment networks.
Japan to Southeast Asia
Frequent intra-Asia services support automotive supply chains, electronics, components, food products and general merchandise.
Japan to East Asia
Short-sea and regional services link Japan with China, South Korea, Taiwan and other Northeast Asian production and consumption markets.
Sources and Methodology
Port coverage, code presentation and trade guidance are compiled for freight-planning use. National throughput figures and rankings can differ according to whether a source reports port authority totals, port-city totals, domestic cargo or international containers.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 1330 Japan ports and terminals, snapshot October 2026.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — international location-code structure and location identifiers.
- Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — national port, cargo and container statistics, including the latest complete 2025 reporting year where published.
- MLIT Port and Harbor Bureau — Japanese port policy, infrastructure and port-management references.
- World Shipping Council — industry context for container shipping and maritime trade.
Japan Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does Japan have?
Japan has 1330 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the October 2026 database snapshot. This indexed figure should not be treated as a statutory count of every port or terminal in Japan.
What is the largest container port in Japan?
Tokyo (JPTYO) is generally among Japan’s largest container gateways by annual TEU volume, followed by major facilities including Yokohama (JPYOK), Nagoya (JPNGO), Kobe (JPUKB) and Osaka (JPOSA). Exact order depends on the reporting year and port boundary.
What is the UN/LOCODE for Japan?
JP is the country prefix used in Japan’s UN/LOCODEs. The complete code adds three location characters, such as JPTYO for Tokyo, JPYOK for Yokohama and JPMOJ for Moji.
Which Japan port regions are most important for international freight?
Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay and Osaka Bay are major container and industrial clusters. Hakata (JPHKA), Moji (JPMOJ), Mizushima (JPMIZ) and Sendai (JPSEN) are also important regional gateways for specific manufacturing, distribution and short-sea flows.
How current are the Japan port statistics?
This page is prepared for 2026 and uses an October 2026 Ecer Freight database snapshot. The latest complete statistical year identified for national comparison is 2025; provisional figures and port-authority revisions remain subject to confirmation.
How should a Japan port code be checked before booking?
Verify the code against the shipping line booking system, the bill of lading instructions, the relevant port authority and the UNECE directory. City-level and terminal-level records may use different identifiers.
How can a shipper request a Japan sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare available FCL sea-freight rates or LCL sea-freight rates after confirming the origin port, destination, cargo description, container size, weight and required shipping terms.
Editorial note: Japan port codes and indexed facilities are maintained in the Ecer Freight database and reviewed regularly. Throughput, TEU, cargo and infrastructure references are based on public Japanese official statistics and port-industry sources; reported totals may change when authorities revise classifications or publish final annual results.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Japan: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact