Port of Wakkanai

Port of Wakkanai
Port of Wakkanai
	View of Wakkanai Port from Wakkanai Park
	Click on the map for a fullscreen view
Location
Country	Japan
Location	Wakkanai, Hokkaido Prefecture
Coordinates	45°24′55″N 141°40′59″E / 45.415156°N 141.682957°E
Details
Opened	1948
Owned by	Wakkanai
Type of harbour	Seaport
Size	1,800 ha
No. of wharfs	5
Statistics
Vessel arrivals	6,260
Annual cargo tonnage	1,577,538
Passenger traffic	333,716
	Website; Port of Wakkanai

The Port of Wakkanai (稚内港) is a major port located in the Municipality of Wakkanai, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. Sakhalin lies about 62.81 kilometers (39.03 mi) to the north. Many ferries that go/come to/from Rishiri Island, Rebun Island and stop in Sakhalin in Russia. It is also a distribution center for industrial materials and essential items for residents in the North of Hokkaido. Otherwise, the port is a base for inshore and offshore fisheries, and the port plays a role in Sakhalin-III.^[1] In 2007, the port was registered as Minato Oasis (みなとオアシス), and it was named "Minato Oasis Wakkanai" (みなとオアシスわっかない) by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.^[2]^[3]

Lanes

These lanes depart from Wakkanai International Ferry Terminal (also known as Wakkanai Ferry Terminal).^[4] It is located in the Port of Wakkanai.

Domestic lanes
Lane Name	Via	Destination	Company
Wakkanai-Oshidomari Line^[5]	Nonstop	Rishiri Island	Heart Land Ferry
Wakkanai-Kafuka Line^[6]	Nonstop	Rebun Island	Heart Land Ferry

International lanes
Lane Name	Via	Destination	Company	Note
Sakhalin Line^[7]	Nonstop	Korsakov, Sakhalin Oblast	Sakhalin Shipping Company	Suspended in 2019

History

Wakkanai Port originated when the Matsumae Domain Lords established facilities for paying taxes during the Edo era of Japan.^[8] In the Meiji era, the port was regarded as an example of the cultivation of Hokkaido. Moreover, the port helped in developing the neighboring city of Wakkanai, which provided access to Karafuto after the Russo-Japanese War.^[9]

Sakhalin lane

In 1989, the lanes, was commenced operating for the first time after World War II,^[10] were bound for Kholmsk where is known as "Maoka" (真岡) in Japanese. In 1991, the lanes exclusively for tourists departed for Korsakov, known as "Ōtomari" (大泊) in Japanese.^[11] However, the lanes have not been operated since 1995, and was discontinued in 2015. A new public-private sector ferry company was established by Wakkanai and the Sakhalin Shipping Company in 2016.^[12] That ferry lane has been operated between August and September.

International ferry services across the Soya Strait between the two towns were suspended since 2019.^[7] Efforts to reintroduce such services ended in 2022.^[7]

Ground transportation

There is a bus stop located in front of the Wakkanai Ferry Terminal, connecting it to the rest of Hokkaido.^[13]

Bus routes
Name	Via	Destination	Company	Note
Hamanasu & Wakkanai (express bus)^[14]^[15]	Non stop	Sapporo Station	Hokuto Kotsu Soya Bus
Airport bus^[16]^[17]	Wakkanai Station	Wakkanai Airport	Soya Bus	Get on the bus at 700 yen once
Soya Misaki·Kuko Line^[18]	Wakkanai Station·Cape Soya	Wakkanai Airport	Soya Bus	Runs only during Summer

Surrounding area

Wakkanai Station

It takes about 7 minutes to travel from the port to Wakkanai Station on foot.

References

^ "Sakhalin-I". Wakkanai. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
^ "Minato Oasis Wakkanai". Hokkaido Development Agency. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
^ "みなとオアシス「わっかない」". Wakkanai. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
^ Wakkanai International Ferry Terminal
^ Timetable
^ Timetable
^ ^a ^b ^c Timetable
^ 沿革・概要, pp. 1–2.
^ 沿革・概要, p. 2.
^ "The lanes which were exclusively for tourists departed from here go to Sakhalin at first after World War II" (PDF). MLIT. 22 May 1989. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
^ "reborn Chihaku Lane". Photo Hokkaido. Hokkaido News. 2 May 1991. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
^ "about reborning regular lane". 北海道新聞社. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
^ Ferry Terminal
^ Express bus Hamanasu
^ Express bus Wakkanai
^ Bus Terminal
^ Airport bus
^ Timetable

External links

[1] "Sakhalin-I". Wakkanai. Retrieved 27 July 2017.

[2] "Minato Oasis Wakkanai". Hokkaido Development Agency. Retrieved 27 July 2017.

[3] "みなとオアシス「わっかない」". Wakkanai. Retrieved 27 July 2017.

[4] Wakkanai International Ferry Terminal

[5] Timetable

[6] Timetable

[:0-7] Timetable

[FOOTNOTE沿革・概要1–2-8] 沿革・概要, pp. 1–2.

[FOOTNOTE沿革・概要2-9] 沿革・概要, p. 2.

[10] "The lanes which were exclusively for tourists departed from here go to Sakhalin at first after World War II" (PDF). MLIT. 22 May 1989. Retrieved 27 July 2017.

[11] "reborn Chihaku Lane". Photo Hokkaido. Hokkaido News. 2 May 1991. Retrieved 27 July 2017.

[12] "about reborning regular lane". 北海道新聞社. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2017.

[13] Ferry Terminal

[14] Express bus Hamanasu

[15] Express bus Wakkanai

[16] Bus Terminal

[17] Airport bus

[18] Timetable

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