The Port of Kitakyushu is located in east of Asia, near to other
Asian countries and keeps close relations with them in history.
There is only 230km from Pusan in Korea, and Chinese principal
trade ports, such as Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian, are within
the radius of 1000km, same distance as Kanto area.
Domestically the port is in the centre of Kyushu and Chugoku
region, since old times it has been thriving on the important
geographic location as a vital link between Kyushu and Honshu.
History and Role of the Port of
Kitakyushu
 The
port of Kitakyushu acted as a node connecting Japan with Asian
continent in the old days and played a great role in Japanese
modern industrialization.
Today as the largest international trading port in west Japan
and domestic physical distribution base, it continues to contribute
herself to the industry and economic development of Kyushu and
Yamaguchi area other than Kitakyushu city only. Furthermore,
with the geographic benefits of proximity to the Asian continent
it has become a main port to connect the daily developing Asian
countries.
The city of Kitakyushu was the product of the
merger of five independent municipalities which were Moji,
Kokura, Yahata, Wakamatsu, Tobata in 1963, and the port of
Kitakyushu is called by a joint name of the port of Moji-famous
for international trade, the port of Kokura- mostly for domestic
physical distribution and the port of Doukai- famous for industry
in the new city.
In correspondence with the earliest containerization ( Tanoura
container terminal built in 1971), today the port of Kitakyushu
has been grown to a base of international physical distribution
in west Japan centered on Tachinoura container terminal.
In 2003, with the opening of Hibiki container terminal, further
services will be provided.
Nationwide Transportation Network
The port of Kitakyushu which has the most foreign container
services in the area west to Kobe, also offers sufficient
services to domestic lines.
There are two feeder services one day between the port of
Kobe and our port. The ferry terminal is now consolidated
in Shinmoji area. Ferries offer services between Kansai region
and Kitakyushu five times a day, and one service between Tokyo
and Kitakyushu every day.
There is also ferry service available one time a day between
Kokura and Matsuyama.
The role played by the Port of Kitakyushu as a connecting
point between Honshu and Kyushu is getting more and more important
with the completion of the East Kyushu Expressway in 2005.
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