Port of Wakkanai

Port in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

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 / 45.415156; 141.682957
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

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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
International lanes  Lane Name | Via | Destination | Company | Note

|
|
|
|

Sakhalin Line[7] | Nonstop  | Korsakov, Sakhalin Oblast | Sakhalin Shipping Company | Suspensed in 2019

## History

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Wakkanai Port and Ferry in front of North Breakwater Dome Aerial photo overlooking the Port of Wakkanai taken in 1977

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

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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

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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 | Runs only during Summer

## Surrounding area

[edit]

* Wakkanai Station

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

## References

[edit]

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
7. ^ a b c Timetable
8. ^ 沿革・概要, pp. 1–2. sfn error: no target: CITEREF沿革・概要 (help)
9. ^ 沿革・概要, p. 2. sfn error: no target: CITEREF沿革・概要 (help)
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

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port of Wakkanai.

* Wakkanai-ferry-terminal
* Ferry Terminal

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

|

*[No.]: Number