On the First of January,1868, 21 salute cannon from the foreign ships, British and others’ at anchor in the harbor,echoed through the Mountains of Rokko and celebrated the opening of the Port of Kobe to the world. Since this moment, the Port of Kobe has been a gateway of Japan that attracts people and goods from all over the world and such international exchanges have built up the unique, open, bright and so-called Haikara culture of Kobe. Through the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei and Reiwa Era, the Ports has overcome disasters like war and earthquake and prospread as today, thanks to the tremendous efforts by the predecessor and the affection attached to Kobe by the present people and companies.
HISTORY OF KOBE PORT
1868
Opening of Port of Kobe(Hyogo Port)
1908
The first Brazil immigration ship “Kasatomaru” departed.
1921
50th anniversary of the opening of the Port.
(This celebration was held three years later due to World War I.)
1941
The Pacific War started.
1945
With the end of World War II, the Allied Forces seized major port facilities of the Port of Kobe.
1951
Kobe City Government became the port authority.
The port was designated a special port.
1952
1st International Port & Harbor Conference (predecessor of the current IAPH) held in Kobe.
1959
Seizure of port facilities lifted.
1963
Kobe Port Tower was built.
1966
Reclamation of Port Island started (completed 1981).
1967
100th anniversary of the opening of the Port.
Sister-port agreement relations with Seattle and Rotterdam Ports was concluded.
The first container ship ,”Hawaiian Planter’’.entered the Port
1970
Complettion of Kobe Port Termainal and Kobe Ohashi Bridge was concluded.
1980
Friendly port agreement with Tianjin Port(China).
1981
“Portopia ‘81” expo was held to commemorate the completion of Port Island.
1983
Construction of Meriken Park started (completed 1987).
1987
Meriken Park opened.
Kobe Maritime Museum opened to commemorate the Port's 120th Anniversary.
1993
Harbor Highway fully opened.
1995
Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occured.
1996
PC-14 and PC-15, Japan's first large-depth, high-standard container berths, began operation.
1997
Reconstruction works after the earthquake completed.
130th anniversary of the opening of the Port.
2003
Kobe was designated International Port and Harbor Economic Special Zone.
2006
Kobe Airport opened.
The Kobe-Kanku Bay Shuttle started operation.
2007
140th anniversary of the opening of the port.
Harbors in Osaka Bay were integrated into a single harbor (Hanshin Harbor) under the Port Regulations Law.Port Island Shiosai Park opened.
2010
Hanshin Port was selected as a Strategic Port for International Container Ships.
2014
Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation, the first port management company in Japan, was established.
2017
Commemorative events were held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Kobe.
2020
Cruise operations were suspended due to COVID-19
2023
International Cruise operation is resumed
2025
Start to operate Kobe Airport Terminal 2, opened international charter flights
CRUISE SHIP
ASUKAIII
| gross ton: | 52,265 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2025 |
ASUKAII
| gross ton: | 50,444 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2006 |
NIPPON MARU
| gross ton: | 22,472 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 1990 |
MITSUI OCEAN FUJI
| gross ton: | 32,477 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2024 |
ZHAO SHANG YI DUN
| gross ton: | 47,842 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2023 |
SPECTRUM OF THE SEAS
| gross ton: | 169,379 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2019 |
SILVER WHISPER
| gross ton: | 28,258 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2009 |
EUROPA 2
| gross ton: | 42,830 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2019 |
WESTERDAM
| gross ton: | 82,862 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2019 |
NORWEGIAN JEWEL
| gross ton: | 93,502 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2018 |
SEABOURN ENCORE
| gross ton: | 41,865 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2025 |
DIAMOND PRINCESS
| gross ton: | 115,906 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2014 |
CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM
| gross ton: | 91,011 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2013 |
SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER
| gross ton: | 55,254 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2023 |
AZAMARA PURSUIT
| gross ton: | 30,277 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2025 |
NAUTICA
| gross ton: | 30,277 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2016 |
MSC BELLISSIMA
| gross ton: | 171,598 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2023 |
LE SOLEAL
| gross ton: | 10,992 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2023 |
COSTA SERENA
| gross ton: | 114,147 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2024 |
PACIFIC WORLD
| gross ton: | 77,441 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2023 |
QUEEN ELIZABETH
| gross ton: | 90,901 |
|---|---|
| Year of first port call: | 2014 |