Japan has 1330 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting a highly developed maritime trade network across East Asia and the Pacific.
Explore Japanese port codes, container gateways, regional cargo clusters and indicative shipping lanes.
Japan is a major maritime trading nation with container, automobile, bulk, energy and ferry gateways distributed across Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa. The indexed port count is an Ecer Freight database measure and should not be confused with national administrative port classifications or global container-port rankings.
How many seaports does Japan have?
Japan has 1330 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its November 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure, not a claim about Japan’s statutory port count.
What are Japan’s largest container gateways?
Tokyo (JPTYO), Yokohama (JPYOK), Nagoya (JPNGO), Kobe (JPUKB) and Osaka (JPOSA) are among Japan’s principal container gateways by published port activity and international connectivity.
Which regions handle the main cargo flows?
The Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay and Osaka Bay clusters handle major container and industrial flows, while Kitakyushu, Hiroshima, Hakata and ports on the Seto Inland Sea support western Japan’s manufacturing and distribution network.
The following indicative 2025 table uses publicly reported container-port league-table figures where available. World ranks can vary by source methodology, terminal scope and publication timing; final carrier schedules and port statistics should be confirmed before shipment planning.
Selected Japanese container gateways, 2025 indicative figures
Japan’s port system is best understood through regional manufacturing, consumption and feeder networks. The sample below highlights active records in the Ecer Freight database; it is not a complete list of the 1330 indexed locations.
Tokyo Bay serves the Kanto consumption and distribution market, while Ise Bay connects Nagoya’s automotive, machinery and industrial base to international services.
Selected ports in eastern and central Japan
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yokohama | JPYOK | Yokohama | Containers, automobiles and general cargo |
| Tokyo | JPTYO | Tokyo | Containers, consumer goods and distribution cargo |
| Nagoya | JPNGO | Nagoya | Automobiles, machinery and containers |
| Kanazawa | JPKNZ | Kanazawa | Regional containers and general cargo |
| Shimizu | JPSZU | — | Containers, paper and bulk cargo |
| Niigata | JPKIJ | Niigata | Northwest Japan regional gateway |
Osaka Bay and the Seto Inland Sea support dense manufacturing, chemical, steel, machinery and distribution corridors with short-sea links between industrial ports.
Selected ports in western Honshu and the Seto Inland Sea
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osaka | JPOSA | Osaka | Containers, consumer goods and machinery |
| Kobe | JPUKB | Kobe | Containers, food products and general cargo |
| Mizushima | JPMIZ | Mizushima | Steel, chemicals and industrial bulk |
| Fukuyama | JPFKY | Fukuyama | Steel, machinery and project cargo |
| Hiroshima | JPHIJ | Hiroshima | Containers, automobiles and general cargo |
| Takamatsu | JPTKU | Takamatsu | Regional containers, ferries and distribution |
| Tokuyama | JPTOA | Shunan | Chemicals, energy and industrial cargo |
Kyushu and western Japan provide gateways to Korea, China and Southeast Asia, with strong automobile, agricultural, ferry, energy and regional container activity.
Selected ports in Kyushu and western Japan
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moji | JPMOJ | Kitakyushu | Containers, ferries and western Japan distribution |
| Hakata | JPHKA | Hakata | Containers, Korea services and consumer cargo |
| Oita | JPOIT | Oita | Energy, chemicals and industrial cargo |
| Shibushi | JPSBS | Shibushi | Food, agricultural and regional cargo |
| Kumamoto | JPKMJ | Kumamoto | Regional general cargo and containers |
| Nagasaki | JPNGS | Nagasaki | Regional containers, ferries and general cargo |
| Naha | JPNAH | Naha | Okinawa distribution and island logistics |
Northern gateways connect Hokkaido and the Tohoku region with domestic coastal shipping, food supply chains, energy cargo and selected international services.
Selected ports in Hokkaido and northern Japan
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomakomai | JPTOM | Tomakomai | Ferries, containers, food and energy |
| Kushiro | JPKUS | Kushiro | Food, agricultural and bulk cargo |
| Sendai | JPSEN | Sendai | Containers, automobiles and general cargo |
| Akita | JPAKI | — | Bulk, energy and regional cargo |
| Hachinohe | JPHHE | Hachinohe | Food, bulk and industrial cargo |
| Ishikari | JPSHJ | Ishikari | Hokkaido distribution and bulk cargo |
Japanese port identifiers generally use the country prefix JP followed by a three-character location designator. The same city or port name can appear under more than one record where separate facilities, locations or database conventions apply.
A Japanese UN/LOCODE begins with JP. For example, JPYOK identifies Yokohama, JPTYO identifies Tokyo and JPNGO identifies Nagoya. The complete five-character code should be used in shipping documentation and system searches.
A port-city record may cover a wider harbor area, while a terminal or facility record can support more precise routing and operational matching. Always compare the code, facility name, city and carrier booking instructions.
Verify the location against the UNECE UN/LOCODE resource and cross-check available records through the Ecer Freight port directory before preparing a bill of lading or quotation.
Transit times are indicative port-to-port ranges and depend on the selected service, transshipment, season, equipment availability, customs procedures and final delivery location.
Regular transpacific services connect Japan’s main container gateways with the United States and Canada.
Asia–Europe services generally use direct or transshipment networks linking Japan with northern and Mediterranean European gateways.
Short-sea and regional services support frequent trade between Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan and other Northeast Asian markets.
Manufacturing and automotive supply chains use direct and hub-based services to Southeast Asian markets.
Port coverage, code availability and editorial descriptions are maintained separately from official national statistics and global container-port league tables.
Editorial note: Port records and code coverage are maintained in the Ecer Freight database and reviewed on a scheduled basis. Official throughput, container and infrastructure figures are presented separately and may follow different publication calendars; carrier schedules, terminal cut-offs and local operational conditions remain subject to confirmation.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Japan: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact
