Surrounded by the sea, Japan has long depended on ports for travel, trade, fishing, and everyday life. Today, historic port towns offer visitors a chance to experience this maritime heritage through old streets, warehouses, harbors, and local food.
Tomonoura in Hiroshima Prefecture has flourished as a port since the late 7th century. Located near the center of the Seto Inland Sea, it became an important place where ships waited for favorable winds and tides. Its narrow streets and historic harbor still preserve the atmosphere of an old Japanese port town.
Far to the north, Otaru in Hokkaido developed into an important center of trade and business during the Meiji and Taisho periods (1868–1926). Today, visitors can walk beside Otaru Canal and see former warehouses and commercial buildings that have been transformed into restaurants, shops, and galleries.
Historic port towns show how closely Japanese communities have lived with the sea. For many visitors in Japan, walking through these towns is a way to enjoy local seafood, architecture, and scenery while discovering how maritime trade shaped everyday life.
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