UN/LOCODE: JPHKD📍 Japan

Port of Hakodate (UN/LOCODE JPHKD)

❖ Coordinates: 41.7688°N, 140.7288°E

❖ Time Zone: Asia/Tokyo

❖ UN/LOCODE: JPHKD

## About the Port ### Location and Identity Hakodate Port (UN/LOCODE: JPHKD) is situated at 41.7687933° N, 140.7288103° E on the southern tip of Hokkaido, Japan, bordering the Tsugaru Strait which separates Hokkaido from Honshu. Operating in the Asia/Tokyo timezone (UTC+9), the port serves as a pivotal maritime node linking northern Japan with the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. Administered by the Hokkaido Prefectural Government and the City of Hakodate, it is classified as a Major Port under Japan’s Port and Harbour Law. The port complex encompasses a natural deep-water bay sheltered by volcanic landforms, with the active volcanic Mount E (Esan) to the east and the Hakodate mountain range to the west. For official administrative data, refer to the Hakodate City Maritime Portal↗. ### Physical Characteristics The harbour is a semi-enclosed bay with entrance channels dredged to maintain navigational depths of 12–14 meters, accommodating vessels up to 50,000 GT in the outer anchorages and 30,000 DWT at principal berths. The port timezone aligns with Japanese Standard Time, facilitating synchronous operations with the Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka hubs. Its coordinates place it roughly 720 km north of Tokyo by sea and 110 km east of Aomori across the strait. Tidal range is microtidal (≤1.2 m), reducing lock requirements. ## History ### Early Development Hakodate’s maritime heritage traces to the Edo period, when the Matsumae Domain controlled trade with the Ainu and conducted limited exchange with Dutch and Russian merchants at the nearby Fukuyama (today’s Matsumae). Following Commodore Perry’s 1854 expedition, the Treaty of Shimoda designated Hakodate as one of the first Japanese ports opened to American vessels for provisioning. By 1859, under the Ansei Five-Power Treaties, Hakodate became a full international treaty port, alongside Yokohama and Nagasaki, hosting foreign consulates and a trading settlement. ### Modernization and Conflict The port witnessed the Boshin War’s final chapter, the 1868–1869 Battle of Hakodate, where the short-lived Republic of Ezo used the bay as a naval stronghold. In the Meiji era, the Hokkaido Development Commission expanded wharves and installed Japan’s first western-style breakwaters (completed 1881). The 1934 Tsugaru Strait shipping lane upgrade cemented Hakodate as the principal rail-sea interface for Hokkaido. Post-1945 reconstruction introduced reinforced concrete quays and dedicated fishing terminals. The port was designated a “Core International Port” in the 1990s, with cruise berths added in 2000. ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths and Terminals Hakodate Port comprises three main basins: the West International Basin, the Central Commercial Basin, and the East Fisheries Basin. The West Basin features three container berths (total length 900 m) with alongside depths of 12 m, serviced by three post-Panamax gantry cranes. The Central Basin includes multi-purpose berths for Roll-on/Roll-off ferries and general cargo, with a 14 m depth ferry terminal capable of handling 20,000 GT vessels. The East Basin is the largest squid-landing facility in Japan, offering 18 dedicated fishing piers, refrigerated warehouses with 45,000 tonnes capacity, and an auction hall. ### Supporting Logistics The port integrates with the JR Hokkaido Hakodate Main Line via dedicated spur tracks, enabling intermodal transfer of containers to the Sapporo distribution centres. An adjacent coastal expressway (Route 278) links to the Hokkaido Expressway. Facilities include a 50,000 m² container yard, 12,000 m² transit shed, and a bonded warehouse operated by the Hakodate Customs. Navigation aids: a VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) centre monitors the Tsugaru Strait approach, with a pilot station mandatory for vessels >10,000 GT. ## Economic Importance ### Regional Gateway Hakodate is the southern logistical gateway for Hokkaido, handling approximately 15 million tonnes of cargo annually (2022 statistics), representing 8% of Hokkaido’s seaborne trade. The port sustains over 7,000 direct jobs in stevedoring, cold chain, and ferry operations, and indirectly supports 22,000 positions in processing and tourism. Its fisheries cluster contributes ¥60 billion to regional GDP via landings of squid, Alaska pollack, and scallop. ### Tourism and Cruise The port’s cruise terminal welcomed 120 calls and 180,000 passengers in 2019, before pandemic curbs. Vessels from Silversea, Princess, and domestic operators dock at the Yunokawa cruise pier, injecting ¥4.5 billion yearly into local retail and transport. The seamless ferry connection to Aomori makes Hakodate a critical node in the “Japan Sea Rim” tourism arc. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Domestic and International Connections Primary shipping lanes link Hakodate to Aomori (Seikan Ferry, 4-hr crossing), Oma, and Okushiri Island. Coastal feeders connect to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe with container services by Mitsui O.S.K. and Hapag-Lloyd charters. Internationally, periodic feeder services to Busan and Vladivostok handle transshipment, though volume remains below 5% of total throughput. The port is also a designated point of entry for the UN/LOCODE system↗ ensuring standardized cargo manifest processing. ### Commodity Profile Major export cargo includes frozen squid (38% of tonnage), dairy powder, potato starch, and fabricated metal goods. Imports are dominated by petroleum products (22%), containerized machinery, and construction aggregates. Ferry traffic conveys 1.2 million passengers and 600,000 trucks annually, balancing Hokkaido’s food deficit in raw materials. Seasonal crab and herring runs cause throughput spikes of 30% in Q4. The port’s cold chain infrastructure supports just-in-time delivery to the Tokyo metropolitan market within 18 hours by combined sea-rail.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

JPHKD

Country

Japan

Province / Region

Hokkaidô [Hokkaido]

Latitude

41.768793

Longitude

140.728810

Timezone

Asia/Tokyo

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Hakodate?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Hakodate is JPHKD.

Where is Port of Hakodate located?

The Port of Hakodate is located in Japan, Hokkaidô [Hokkaido]. Its coordinates are 41.7688°N, 140.7288°E.

What time zone is Port of Hakodate in?

Port of Hakodate operates in the Asia/Tokyo time zone.

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height0.96 m

Wave Direction153°

Swell Height0.48 m

Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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