At this point, it feels like every Aussie and their dog is visiting Japan.
For the first time ever, Japan has overthrown Indonesia as the most-visited Asian country for Aussie tourists.
And for good reason! It’s a stunning country packed with amazing experiences, epic food, great beaches and skiing, friendly locals, and plenty to see and do.
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Japan is beautiful – but its busy. (Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images)
But more tourists mean more crowds, pricier accommodation, long queues at attractions, and frustrated locals.
So if you want to avoid the ‘classic’ route followed by the majority of travellers, perhaps it’s time to consider a cruise.
Cruising in Japan is taking off in a big way – Travel Associates reports bookings for Japan cruises were up 62 per cent from 2024 to 2025.
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Cruising expert from Travel Associates, Adam Townson, who is gearing up for his 16th trip to Japan this year, says cruising offers a calmer, more seamless way to explore the country – without sacrificing the iconic attractions travellers still want to see.
Adam says that hands-down, the best part of cruising in Japan is the access you get to obscure parts of the country where Aussie tourists rarely venture.
“Cruising gives travellers direct access to unique regions that you can’t as easily see by land,” he tells nine.com.au.
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Cruising is a great way to see Japan. (Getty)
“You get to visit small towns that rarely see tourists, whose locals are so excited to see cruise passengers and often welcome you with a traditional performance.”
Why now is the best time to book a cruise
Travel is a little fraught right now. Rising fuel costs are seeing airlines slash flights, while airspace closures around conflict zones make international connections dicey.
Even classic road trips at home are becoming too expensive thanks to petrol prices.
Meanwhile, cruising is one travel sector that is largely unaffected by current world events.
Cruise prices rarely fluctuate the way flight prices do, as cruise lines tend to want to keep loyal passengers happy.
It’s also easy to book your cruise well in advance – lock in the prices now just in case future events trigger price increases or fuel surcharges.
Princess Cruises is about to have its biggest-ever Japan season. (Supplied)
Matthew Rutherford, Vice President Asia Pacific, Princess Cruises, told nine.com.au that value is front of mind for travellers right now.
“Guests can explore multiple destinations, enjoy accommodation, dining and entertainment all in one, and avoid the complexity and cost of organising land travel between cities. That combination is driving strong demand.”
Japan cruises are taking off. Princess Cruises just announced its largest-ever Japan summer season for 2028.
“The growth we’re seeing in Japan isn’t just about popularity,” says Matthew.
“It reflects a shift in how people want to travel. Australians are increasingly looking for depth, ease and value in one experience, and cruising in Japan delivers on all three.”
Now is a good time to cruise. (Supplied)Where to cruise in Japan
Your itinerary could include Naoshima, a renowned art island or the quirky town of Shimonoseki, the puffer fish capital of the world.
“The best hidden gem I have visited through cruising is Miyajima island – a UNESCO heritage site famous for its floating shrine, and wild deer that roam the island,” he says.
It’s not something that many travellers get to see when they visit Japan.
You can access Miyajima by train, then a scheduled ferry from Hiroshima, but ultimate access is a zodiac boat from your ship, straight to the shore, he says.
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Get access to places you might normally not see on a trip. (Getty)
If you choose the right cruise, you can also get some great insight into the local culture.
“Cruise lines often have local Japanese guides come onboard, guest performers and guest chefs – who can give travellers amazing insight into local Japanese culture.”
In fact, Adam has now been on 15 cruises through Japan and says he still has a different experience every time.
Another major plus, he says, is being able to retreat from the hustle and bustle each night.
“As peaceful as Japan is, it can also be chaotic and fast-moving, hence why it is so nice to return to a luxury ship that may only have 200 passengers.”
Shirakawago is a Japanese traditional village. (Getty)
Thinking of planning a cruise trip to Japan? Adam says that one of his biggest highlights you should look for on an itinerary is a visit to Shirakawa-go.
It’s a unique UNESCO site famous for its traditional Japanese thatched roof villages, and its local food. “Japanese cuisine is truly amazing and unique with each Japanese city and region you visit.”
“Another truly special experience unique to cruising, was when arriving in one small town, the local fishing boats came out nice and early to welcome us in, waving flags and banners as we arrived into their town.”
“You could see how excited and grateful they were for the visit and adding to the economy of their small town.”
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AloJapan.com