178 Initiatives to develop more diverse onshore experiences and build both new terminals and ships is driving greater demand for cruising in Japan, with estimates suggesting the country’s cruise market capacity will be five times higher in 2029 than in 2023 FOCUS ON: JAPAN Japan’s cruise market is set to expand as more Japanese companies place orders for new ships, which are all expected to enter service before 2029. NYK Cruises will debut the 744-guest Asuka III in 2025 and Ryobi Holdings will deliver Japan’s first 120-guest, yacht-style cruise ship in 2027. Meanwhile, MOL Cruises, which purchased a second-hand ship from Seabourn in March 2023 and began operating it as the 458-guest Mitsui Ocean Fuji in December 2024, plans to build two new 600-guest vessels in 2027 and 2028. In addition, Oriental Land Company, which operates Tokyo Disneyland, has signed a Japan-based licence agreement with Disney Enterprises and ordered a new 4,000-guest ship, aiming to begin service in 2029. If all these ships enter service as planned alongside existing vessels, the total passenger capacity for Japan-based cruise lines will be five times higher in 2029 than it was in 2023. Why are so many Japanese companies investing in the cruise industry? The reason is simple: supply has driven demand. This demand emergence process is unique to the cruise sector. In most other industries, demand comes first, followed by supply. For example, in the marine container logistics sector, growth in the production activities of companies located behind ports increases cargo demand, DR. HIROHITO ITO General manager of transportation and logistics for the cruise research division at Central Consultant Will Japan become Asia’s cruise hub by 2029? Okinawa prefecture, which is made up of 160 islands, has eight cruise ports and hosts both day and homeporting calls from international and Asia-based lines Photo: Aoi
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