Yokohama North Dock (Mizuho Wharf)

Yokohama North Dock occupies the Mizuho Wharf (瑞穂埠頭) in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama, on reclaimed land jutting into Yokohama Harbor. Construction began in 1925 (Taisho 14) as part of the Port of Yokohama's third major expansion, driven by soaring trade volumes from the World War I economic boom. The 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake severely damaged the port and forced authorities to prioritize reconstruction, delaying completion of the new wharf.

By 1935 (Showa 10), the first phase of Mizuho Wharf was operational, complete with a dedicated rail spur branching from the Tokaido Main Line's harbor line. Mizuho Station opened on 15 July 1935 as a specialized freight terminal for foreign trade cargo. As Japan's military expansion intensified through the late 1930s and into the Pacific War, the port's strategic importance grew enormously. The wharf handled massive volumes of military supplies, munitions, and equipment bound for theaters across the Pacific, making it one of Japan's principal embarkation ports for military supplies (軍需物資積出港).

The wharf's full construction was completed in 1945, just as the war ended. On September 2, 1945 — the very day the Instrument of Surrender was signed aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay — US forces entered Yokohama and requisitioned the port facilities. The 1st Cavalry Regiment secured the area, preceded by a mine-sweeping operation under Rear Admiral A.D. Struble that cleared Yokohama, Yokosuka, and Tokyo harbors in seven days.

The Yokohama Base Port Command assumed operations at Center Pier on September 17, 1945, and North Pier (the newly completed Mizuho Wharf) became a key logistics hub. In June 1946, port activities transferred to the 2nd Port of Embarkation, which managed passenger terminals, general cargo, mail distribution, and privately owned vehicle shipments through North Pier.

During the Korean War (1950-1953), Yokohama North Dock became indispensable for resupplying UN forces in Korea. The "Red Ball Express" rail service launched on July 23, 1950, carrying high-priority cargo from Yokohama to Sasebo in about 30 hours, reaching Pusan in approximately 53 hours. The port provided maintenance support for Harbor Craft units and moved enormous cargo tonnage to sustain the war effort.

On May 4, 1956, new Army facilities at North Pier were inaugurated in a two-day celebration, featuring breakbulk, bulk petroleum, and passenger terminal capabilities. At its peak, the Yokohama US Army Port employed over 1,400 Americans and 11,000 Japanese workers, handling more than 3.2 million tons of cargo and 82,677 passengers annually. During the Vietnam War era, an average of six military ships per day used North Pier facilities.

The facility was redesignated as the 836th US Army Transportation Battalion on October 1, 1997. Today, Yokohama North Dock (FAC 3067) comprises two zones: the wharf district managed by the US Army for offloading supplies destined for Sagami General Depot and Yokota Air Base, and a postal district managed by the US Navy housing the Fleet Military Mail Center. The seven berths at Mizuho Wharf are exclusively for US military vessels. In April 2023, a new small landing craft unit (5th Transportation Company) with permanently stationed personnel was established, marking an increased US military presence. The facility also serves as headquarters for Military Sealift Command Japan and the 836th Transportation Battalion.