The Port of Sakaiminato is on the southwestern shores of Japan’s main island, Honshu. It faces the Sea of Japan from the northern tip of the Yumigahama Peninsula. The Port of Sakaiminato is one of Japan’s most famous fishery ports and the major port for the Tottori Prefecture.

The Port of Sakaiminato also serves the city of Yonago about 15 kilometers away on the Yumigahama Peninsula. In fact, the cities make up an urban agglomerate that is an important commercial center for southwestern Japan. While the Port of Sakaiminato has a population over 35 thousand, the urban area including Yonago is home to over 1.1 million people.

The City of Sakaiminato was founded in 1956. Citizens of the Port of Sakaiminato recently voted not to merge politically or administratively with Yonago; therefore, the Port of Sakaiminato remains an autonomous municipality.

The Port of Sakaiminato is home to the creator of GeGeGe no Kitaro, Shigeru Mizuki. The character is popular throughout Japan, and there is a street in the Port of Sakaiminato dedicated to him with a hundred bronze statues of all the characters from Mizuki’s stories. The famous photographer Shōji Ueda was also from Sakaiminato.

With an excellent natural port, the Port of Sakaiminato is protected from monsoons and rough waves and winds by the Shimane Peninsula. The central government designated it a port of foreign trade in 1896. In 1902, it became a terminal for the Sanin region railroad for the transport of cargo. During the 1930s, shipping services began to the Port of Dalian in China as well as Busan, Incheon, Chongzin, Pohang in Korea.

By 1951, the Port of Sakaiminato was designated a key national port. Its foreign trade performance and strategic geographic location lent to this recognition as well as its excellent infrastructure. That infrastructure derives from outer harbor reclamation and the construction of piers capable of serving the latest ultra-large freight-carrying vessels.

In 1995, the Sakaiminato Free Access Zone (FAZ) Plan was approved and container services with China and Korea began. In 2004, vessels of 50 thousand DWT were able to start using the Port of Sakaiminato as the result of additions of heavy-lift gantry crane equipment.

The Sakaiminato Port Authority is the port authority for the Port of Sakaiminato. With a geographic advantage facing the Sea of Japan and East Asia, the Port of Sakaiminato offers regular container services that will continue to grow and expand. In 2000, the Port of Sakaiminato handled over 2 million tons of imports.

The Port of Sakaiminato’s Free Access Zone integrates import-related business by providing core facilities that include:

• processing facilities for imported goods
• cargo-handling and –storage facilities
• common distribution and wholesale center
• exhibition and trade fair facilities
• import-related information center
• support facilities for importing procedures
• import-related business offices
• central cargo information management
• direct sale shipping center

The Port of Sakaiminato is a well-established fishing port. Designated a Special Fish Port of the Third Category in 1973, the Port of Sakaiminato was the most productive fishing port in Japan for five consecutive years (1992-1996) for fish volume on landing. This performance continues today. The major species landed by the fishermen of the Port of Sakaiminato are sardine, mackerel, and saurel. The Port of Sakai is Japan’s leader in landings of snow crabs and red snow crabs that are processed and sold throughout Japan.

The City of Sakaiminato has long been a prosperous city popular for both foreign trade and travel, particularly with East Asia countries. Visitors to the Port of Sakaiminato will want to check out these interesting and entertaining attractions.

The 1863 Sakaiminato Lighthouse was built by the Tottori Clan when Japan was still an isolated nation. This Port of Sakaiminato gunnery site defended the port against foreign ships. Restored by the city in 1991, it is the Sanin’s oldest wooden lighthouse. The surrounding Daiba Park, with 350 wonderful cherry trees, was designated a national historic site in 1988.

The Port of Sakaiminato’s Yume Minato Tower is 43 meters tall. From the tower, you can see Mount Daisen, Miho Bay, and the Nakaumi Inland Sea as you scan the panoramic 360-degree view. The tower is also a site for meetings and events.

The popular Minatomachi shopping street in the Port of Sakaiminato is a favorite for residents and visitors who want to find fresh local products and imported goods from countries bordering the Sea of Japan.

The Port of Sakaiminato’s Minato Hot Spring Bath House is a great place to relax and rejuvenate while also gazing upon the Sea of Japan and Mount Daisen.

The Sea and Life Museum is a great waterless aquarium build from the renovated sake brewery. This Port of Sakaiminato museum presents fascinating displays about the equipment and techniques involved in fishing and the lives of the people who were fishermen in the old days.

Marine sports are readily available in the Port of Sakaiminato. The public marina offers sailing and other water sports equipment. With green pine trees and white sands, and the beautiful beach at the Port of Sakaiminato is the site for national beach volleyball tournaments.

Each July, the Port Festival starts with prayer rituals seeking success and safety for the fishers and prosperity for the Port of Sakaiminato. The two-day festival ends with fireworks, a dancing parade, and a variety of other events. The Sea Parade is a favorite event where over 100 decorated fishing ships run through the Sakai Channel.

Every October, the Marine Products Festival takes place at the Port of Sakaiminato’s Fish Market and surrounding sites. Visitors can sample fresh fish and processed seafood delights and watch traditional performances. In addition to these treats, prices are lower than regular markets during the festival.