The 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake diminished much of the port city 's prominence when it destroyed and halted much of the facilities and services there , causing approximately ten trillion yen or $ 102.5 billion in damage , 2.5 % of Japan 's GDP at the time . Most of the losses were uninsured , as only 3 % of property in the Kobe area was covered by earthquake insurance , compared to 16 % in Tokyo . Kobe was one of the world 's busiest ports prior to the earthquake , but despite the repair and rebuilding , it has never regained its former status as Japan 's principal shipping port . It remains Japan 's fourth busiest container port
Great Hanshin earthquake
Great Hanshin earthquake
Port of Kobe