When the Diamond Princess was quarantined off Yokohama in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Japan’s cruise industry ground to a halt, its future clouded by fear and uncertainty.
Today, that industry is roaring back. Demand for maritime journeys with swimming pools among a host of luxury amenities and entertainment has surged due to pent-up wanderlust and a wave of new investments.
Japanese ports are seeing record domestic passenger numbers, signalling not just a revival in leisure travel, but a broader boost to local economies that rely on tourism.
Japan, an archipelago of over 14,000 islands and one of the largest economies in the world, has a relatively small cruise industry and modest vessels compared to the US, home of giants like Carnival Cruise Line.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, however, the Japanese cruise market grew significantly in 2024, increasing by 14.2 per cent year on year to 224,100 passengers.
The number of international visitors entering Japan by cruise ship quadrupled to 1.4 million, nearly 60 per cent of the record set in 2017.
AloJapan.com