The Port of Nagoya is the capital of Aichi prefecture in central Honshu, Japan. Located at the head of Ise Bay, it's one of Japan's leading industrial cities.
Port History
The powerful Tokugawa shogun built a great castle there in 1610. After the fall of the shogunal government with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the Port of Nagoya continued to be an important commercial center.
Port Commerce
Especially after World War II, the development of the Port of Nagoya and abundant hydroelectric power stimulated growing heavy industry. Traditional manufacturing of timepieces, sewing machines, and bicycles was soon joined by automobile, aviation, and shipbuilding. And the new industries stimulated production of steel, chemicals, oil, and petrochemicals. The Port of Nagoya links Japan to other countries, making it a central transportation center.
Nagoya Port is the largest port in Japan for international trade value (12.3 trillion yen in 2005). Toyota Motor Corporation uses Nagoya Port for export of their products. The Port of Nagoya is the center of the Greater Nagoya, earning 70% of Japan's trade surplus. It handles all types of cargo, reaching 187 million tons in 2005, and it's one of the five largest ports in Japan.
The area around the Port of Nagoya hosts Japan's automobile industry. It's the largest auto exporting port in Japan, shipping over one million completed automobiles every year. The Port of Nagoya is a major point of entry to Japan, with connections to about 150 countries around the world.
Cruising and Travel
The Port of Nagoya is a great travel destination. Nagoya is the fourth largest city in Japan with a thriving porcelain industry and textile and lacquer crafts. Both Nagoya Castle and Atsuta Jingu shrine are impressive site for visitors. The Meiji Mura outdoor museum offers buildings characteristic of the Meiji period. And the Ise Grand Shrine near the Port of Nagoya is Japan's premiere Shinto shrine. Many small pearl fishing villages line the Ise Shima National Park that protects scenic coastal areas. The Mikimoto Pearl Island delights tourists with demonstrations of the techniques used in the pearl industry.