In the Muromachi period, Hyogo no tsu became the base for the trade between Japan and the Ming Dynasty in China by Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA, flourished as the arrival and departure port for Kenminsen (envoy ships dispatched to Ming China), the ships from Yi Dynasty Korea and The Ryukyu Kingdom came there and again got the status of an international port.
室町時代にはいると、兵庫津は足利義満による日明貿易の拠点となり、遣明船の発着港としてにぎわったほか、李氏朝鮮や琉球王国の船も来航して再び国際貿易港としての地位を得た。