Many caisson type quay walls were damaged in Kobe Port during 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake.These caisson type quay walls moved towards seaside about Sm at maximum and 3m on average and settled around 1m. To investigate the mechanism of quay wall damage, we conducted geotechnical investigations and large scale underwater shaking table tests. The results suggested that the big shear shear deformation in the foundation soil underneath the caisson due to excess pore water pressure increased caused seaward displacement of the caisson walls and settlement. The performance of the caisson type quay wall during the earthquake which was applied as an equivalent magnitude of design code showed no damage.