According to early estimates released by Fukuoka City, approximately 846,000 international passengers passed through Hakata Port last year, the second highest number after 2010’s 873,000 mark. This translates to a 27.3 % increase over 2011 (664,000) when passenger numbers plummeted in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. These figures will likely keep Hakata Port in first place in international passengers handled for the 20th consecutive year.
The port primarily handles regularly scheduled ferries to and from Busan, Korea and non-regular cruises from China. Foreign cruise ships made 91 ports of call in 2012, up from 32 in 2011. The outlook for 2013 remains unclear, however, since several scheduled cruises from China have been cancelled in the wake of the Senkaku Islands spat.Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Feb. 15
