In 2013, cruise passengers visiting Japan were just 170,000. Last year, in 2015, the number had dramatically grown to 1 million, a 488% increase in just 2 years.

For 2015, worldwide visitors to Japan were up 47% to 19,737,400. This is just under the target of 20 million that the Japanese Government set for the Tokyo Olympics year, 2020. UK visitors to the country were a record high of 258,500, a 17.5% increase on British visitors in 2014.

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is optimistic that the cruise sector will boost UK visitor numbers even higher in 2016. The number of cruise products featuring the country has increased from 71 in 2015 to 256 in 2016. The amount of cruise companies featuring it in their itineraries now stands at 13. Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean offer the largest number of Japan cruises. Princess Cruises has gone from 23 itineraries featuring Japan in 2015, to 80 in 2016; and Royal Caribbean from 10 in 2015, to 117 in 2016.
Tony Roberts, vice president of Princess Cruises UK, said: “Over the last couple of years we have seen strong demand from the UK market for Asia cruises. Because of this Asia is now our second most popular destination.
We offer a wide variety of choice across our Asia cruise itineraries, designed to appeal to both the local Japanese market as well as international travellers. These comprise cruises that sail solely around Japanese ports or voyages that visit Japan as well as other countries in Asia.
This year we have had a large increase in short voyages around Japan, which allow UK guests to combine a cruise with a land holiday. There are also the longer 14 to 20 night cruises, which allow for a more immersive experience as guests explore the region.”

On February 12, JNTO held its first ever Japan Cruise Seminar at the Embassy of Japan in London. The Japanese port destinations of Aomori, Kanazawa, Sakai, Kita-Kyushu and Kobe each gave a presentation about their port and nearby tourist attractions as cruise destinations. The seminar was attended by over 50 Japan specialist tour operators and travel agents and reps from cruise companies, including Noble Caledonia, Silversea Cruises, Princess Cruises and Carnival.

Travel industry clients can sign up for Japan Tourism’s free online training programme to become a registered Japan expert and to join JNTO’s mailing list for invitations to Japan training events.

Visit seejapan.co.uk for details or email Yumi Takakubo, Travel Trade Partnerships Manager on [email protected].

For more on Japan’s ports, visit ‘Cruise Port Guide of Japan’ (http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/), where you can find information on ports including: major airports (for fly & cruise), access by public transport and local tourist attractions. The site was launched in March 2014 and covers Japan’s 72 ports.

For more information about the ports that participated in the seminar please visit:

* Kobe http://www.kobe-meriken.or.jp/english/index.html
* Kita-Kyushu http://www.kitaqport.or.jp/index_e.html
* Aomori http://www.apic-aomori.jp/english/index.html
* Sakai http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/detail/036/index.html
* Kanazawa http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/detail/022/index.html