Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has launched a dedicated webpage, in collaboration with Japanese cruise lines, to showcase their respective vessels. Amid growing interest in these ships, driven by developments such as the launch of new vessels, the site introduces overseas audiences to basic ship details and features of onboard facilities like cabins and restaurants, aiming to raise awareness and boost the uptake of Japan-based cruise travels.
Featured vessels include NYK Cruises’ ‘Asuka III’ and ‘Asuka II,’ Mitsui Ocean Cruises’ ‘MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA’ and ‘MITSUI OCEAN FUJI’; R-Yacht’s ‘SEFU’ and Tsuneishi Land & Sea’s ‘guntû.’ The page also provides information on cruise ship reception and port calls across Japan in English and Chinese.
According to data compiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the number of Japanese cruise passengers is projected to reach 243,000 annually in 2025. The Ministry has set a target of one million annual passengers by 2030, anticipating that 70% will use Japanese-operated ships, and 30% will use foreign-operated ships.
Additionally, the Ministry announced that the number of foreign passengers entering Japan via cruise ship stood at 1,767,000 in 2025, while international fly&cruise travelers in Japan were 181,000.
