Japan’s cruise industry in 2022
First in a series of blog posts on luxury cruising, cruise ships, and cruise ports in Japan in 2022. In early summer 2022, I had the chance to cruise up…
Japanese luxury cruise ships
Overview of Japan’s luxury cruise ships. On this page: Japan’s three major cruise ships are (largest to smallest) Asuka II, Pacific Venus, and Nippon Maru homeported in Yokohama, Osaka, and…
Asuka II cruise ship
Japan’s largest luxury cruise ship. Asuka II (飛鳥Ⅱ Asuka 2) is the only cruise ship owned and operated by NYK Cruises Co., Ltd. based in Yokohama and a wholly owned…
Pacific Venus cruise ship
Update: Sadly, Pacific Venus will stop sailing after its final voyage ends on Jan. 4, 2023. Ship owner Japan Cruise Line announced on Nov. 1, 2022 that it will pull…
Nippon Maru cruise ship
Distinctive look, famous name, and food. Built in 1990, Nippon Maru (にっぽん丸) is the smallest Japanese luxury cruise ship, but with the most distinctive paint job. Navy blue (almost black)…
Cruise ship ports in Japan
Overview of Japan’s cruise ship ports. Being a stretched-out archipelago with a long coastline (34,600 km or 21,500 mi.) and hundreds of inhabited islands, Japan has many sea ports and…
Port of Yokohama (横浜港)
Japan’s most historic and popular cruise ship departure port. Located on the west side of Tokyo Bay, Port of Yokohama is Japan’s most historic and storied port since it opened…
Port of Kobe (神戸港)
Historic port and Western Japan’s most popular cruise ship departure port. Port of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture (western Japan or Kansai Region) is one of Japan’s most historic ports and…
Port of Tokyo (東京港)
Centrally located in Tokyo Bay and being at the mouth of multiple major rivers, Tokyo has been a busy port town for centuries. However, it did not open up to…
Port of Hakodate (函館港)
Facing the northern end of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Hakodate has long been Hokkaido’s main gateway by the sea and everyone’s favorite port town. The city has many tourist…