Mitsui Ocean Cruises launches new ship as Japan promotes cruise tourism

Mitsui Ocean Cruises has launched its new cruise ship, ‘MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA’, departing from Yokohama Port on September 19. The vessel is designed to offer a compact, all-inclusive experience, allowing access to smaller ports and remote islands in Hokkaido and Okinawa that larger ships cannot reach. The company plans to operate 29 debut cruises through December 2026 and a total of 61 cruises through September 2027.

In conjunction with the growth of the domestic cruise sector, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has launched a dedicated website in English and Traditional Chinese to promote Japan-based cruises to international travelers. The site features information on various vessels, including Mitsui Ocean Sakura, Mitsui Ocean Fuji, and Asuka II.

This initiative aligns with the Japanese government's goal to increase the annual cruise passenger population to 1 million by 2030. Current data indicates a cruise population of approximately 243,000 Japanese citizens, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism aiming for a mix of 70% domestic ship users and 30% foreign ship users.