By
Rebecca Gibson |
Japan’s new Tokyo International Cruise Terminal opened on 10 September 2020, welcoming Mitsui OSK Passenger Line’s Nippon Maru as its first visitor.
To be managed by the Port of Tokyo, the terminal was originally scheduled to open on 14 July to coincide with the Tokyo Olympics, which were due to begin on 22 July. However, both events were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Boasting a 430-metre-long berth that is 30 metres wide and 11.5 metres deep, the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal was built outside of Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge to enable it to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships. The four-storey building spans 19,000 square metres.
“The terminal has been designed as a “gateway to the capital” and it features a roof inspired by the waves of the sea and the sails of a ship,” said Hirohito Ito, general manager of the Cruise Research Division at Central Consultant. “The use of Tokyo-grown wood gives the building a relaxed feel and the entrance looks like a cool luxury hotel. What’s more noteworthy is that it provides good transportation access to the centre of Tokyo, which is only a 20-minute drive away. Cruise guests can also walk to the Yurikamome station, the new transportation system.
Ito added: “After Covid-19, the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal will not only be a leader in the Japanese cruise market, but it will also be a leader in the northeast Asia cruise market.”