List of cruise ships coming to Japan

Key points of this page

  • You can compare cruise ships commonly seen in Japanese ports with 32 cruise ships that you can board from Japan (including one popular ship that you can board overseas).
  • Ships can be broadly categorized into "Japanese ships," "foreign ships that depart from and arrive in Japan," "foreign ships that call at Japanese ports," and "small ships/exploration vessels."
  • Clicking on a ship's name will allow you to view basic information about each ship, highlights on board, major ports of call in Japan, and videos.
  • Which ships will arrive at Japanese ports and when?Cruise ship arrivals scheduled for this week and next week.You can check it there.

Last verified: September 29, 2026

Cruise ship comparison chart

Gross tonnage is an indicator of the ship's size. Passenger capacity is primarily based on two people sharing a cabin. You can scroll the table horizontally on your smartphone.

Ship name type Gross tonnage (tons) Passenger capacity (people) How to board from Japan / Port of call
Asuka III Japanese ships and luxury 52,265 680 Departures and arrivals in Japan from Yokohama and other locations.
Asuka II Japanese ships and luxury 50,444 872 Departures and arrivals in Japan from Yokohama and other locations.
Mitsui Ocean Fuji Japanese ships and luxury 32,477 458 Flights to and from Japan
Mitsui Ocean Sakura Japanese ships and luxury 34,138 458 Departing from and returning to Japan (primarily domestic cruises of 1-3 nights)
Diamond Princess Foreign ships/Premium 115,875 2,706 Departing from/arriving in Yokohama
MSC Bellissima Foreign ships / Casual 171,598 Approximately 4,500 Departures and arrivals from Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, and Naha.
Costa Serena Foreign ships / Casual 114,147 Approximately 3,700 Flights departing from and arriving in Yokohama, Hakata, Naha, etc.
Celebrity Millennium Foreign ships/Premium 90,963 2,138 Departing from/arriving in Yokohama (Tokyo)
Westerdam Foreign ships/Premium Approximately 82,500 1,964 Departing from/arriving in Yokohama (Tokyo) (Spring/Autumn)
Eastern Venus Foreign ship/medium size 26,594 up to 720 Short cruises connecting Hiroshima, Hakata, Kanazawa, Busan, and other cities.
Queen Elizabeth Foreign ships/Premium 90,901 2,092 There will be no flights to or from Japan in 2026 (there will be a trans-Pacific flight departing from Yokohama in March 2028).
Spectrum of the Seas Foreign ships - Casual (large) 169,379 Approximately 4,200 Flights departing from and arriving in Hong Kong and Shanghai, calling at various ports throughout Japan.
Star Navigator Foreign ships / Casual 75,338 1,856 Flights departing from and arriving in Keelung, Taiwan, will call at Okinawa.
Norwegian Jade Foreign ships / Casual 93,558 2,402 Port calls on cruises departing from and arriving overseas
Azamara Pursuit Foreign ships - Premium (medium-sized) 30,277 up to 777 Port calls on cruises departing from and arriving overseas
Silver Moon Foreign ships and luxury 40,700 596 Port of call on Asian cruises
Seaborn Encore Foreign ships and luxury 41,865 604 Port of call on Asian cruises
Star Seeker Foreign ships - Luxury (small) 9,315 224 A trip around Japan from Tokyo to Osaka (Autumn 2026)
National Geographic Resolution small exploration ship 12,786 138 Departing from and returning to Osaka, including the Seto Inland Sea, etc.
Minerva (SH Minerva) small exploration ship Approximately 10,500 152 Hiroshima to Otaru and other areas along the Sea of Japan
Pacific World Foreign ship - Casual (Participation in Japanese) 77,441 1,950–2,419 Round-the-world tours departing from and returning to Yokohama, Kobe, etc. (Peace Boat)
Luminara Foreign ships - Luxury (small) ― max 452 A tour of Japan departing from and returning to Tokyo (2026)
Royal Princess Foreign ships - Premium (large) 142,714 Approximately 3,600 Port of call on Asian cruises
Navigator of the Seas Foreign ships - Casual (large) 139,999 3,386 Port of call on Asian cruises
Carnival Luminosa Foreign ships / Casual Approximately 92,600 2,260 Ports of call on Asia-Pacific cruises
Seven Seas Explorer Foreign ships and luxury 55,254 750 Port of call on Asian cruises
Viking Orion Foreign ships - Premium (adults only) 47,842 930 Port calls along the long voyage
Viking Venus Foreign ships - Premium (adults only) Approximately 47,800 930 Port calls along the long voyage
Star Voyager Foreign ships / Casual 77,441 1,998 Port calls in Okinawa from Taiwan and other locations.
Adora Magic City Foreign ships - Casual (large) 136,201 5,246 Flights departing from and arriving in China make port calls in Okinawa and other locations.
Adora Mediterranea Foreign ships / Casual 85,619 2,114 Flights departing from and arriving in China make port calls in Nagasaki and other locations.
Piano Land Foreign ships / Casual 69,153 1,822 Flights departing from and arriving in China make port calls in Okinawa and other locations.
Disney Adventure Foreign vessels / Family (large) 208,108 Approximately 6,700 Departing from and arriving in Singapore (no stops in Japan)

View by type

Japanese ship (Japanese spoken on board)

These cruises are operated by Japanese companies, and onboard announcements and meals are in Japanese and geared towards Japanese passengers. Tipping is not required, and some cruises only visit ports within Japan.

  • Asuka IIIDeparting from and arriving in Japan, including Yokohama.
  • Asuka IIDeparting from and arriving in Japan, including Yokohama.
  • Mitsui Ocean FujiDeparting from/arriving in Japan
  • Mitsui Ocean Sakura: Departing from and returning to Japan (primarily domestic cruises of 1-3 nights)

Foreign ships that depart from and arrive in Japan

These are foreign ships that depart from and return to Japanese ports. You can enjoy the atmosphere of a foreign ship without having to take a plane. Even though they depart from and return to Japan, they always call at overseas ports (such as Busan or Taiwan), so a passport is required.

  • Diamond PrincessDeparting from/arriving in Yokohama
  • MSC BellissimaDeparting from/arriving in Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, and Naha.
  • Costa SerenaFlights departing from/arriving in Yokohama, Hakata, Naha, etc.
  • Celebrity MillenniumDeparting from/arriving in Yokohama (Tokyo)
  • WesterdamDeparting from/arriving in Yokohama (Tokyo) (Spring/Autumn)
  • Eastern VenusShort cruises connecting Hiroshima, Hakata, Kanazawa, Busan, and other cities.
  • Queen Elizabeth: No flights to or from Japan in 2026 (There will be a trans-Pacific flight departing from Yokohama in March 2028)
  • Pacific World: Round-the-world tours departing from and returning to Yokohama, Kobe, etc. (Peace Boat)
  • Luminara: Japan tour departing from and returning to Tokyo (2026)

Foreign ships calling at Japanese ports (departing from and arriving overseas)

These ships depart from and return to ports such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taiwan, making stops at Japanese ports along the way. To board, you will need to use a tour package that includes air travel to the departure/arrival point.

Small boats and exploration vessels

This is a small ship with fewer than a few hundred passengers. It calls at small ports and islands that larger ships cannot access, allowing you to enjoy the ports of call in depth while listening to expert commentary. English is the primary language on board.

A popular ship to ride overseas

  • Disney Adventure: Departing from and arriving in Singapore (no stops in Japan)

How to choose a boat

  • If language is a concern: I recommend a Japanese ship or the Diamond Princess, which offers extensive Japanese-language guidance.
  • If you want to have a lively and fun time with your family, large ships such as the MSC Bellissima, Costa Serena, and Spectrum of the Seas, which have many pools, shows, and attractions, are a good choice.
  • For a relaxing cruise: Premium ships such as the Celebrity Millennium and Westerdam, or luxury ships with all-suite accommodations, are suitable.
  • If you're looking for a cruise during a short break: Look for ships like the Mitsui Ocean Sakura, which mainly offers 1-3 night cruises, or ships that offer shorter cruises of 2-4 nights.

What are the estimated prices and the best times to go?Estimated cruise fares and best time to visitSo, how to spend your time at each port of callPort of Call GuideIt is introduced there.

FAQ

Q1What ship would you recommend for a first cruise?

If you want to spend your time speaking Japanese, Japanese ships such as Asuka III, Asuka II, Mitsui Ocean Fuji, and Mitsui Ocean Sakura are a safe choice. If you prefer a foreign ship, the Diamond Princess, which was built in Japan and has large public baths and Japanese cuisine, is a popular choice for first-time cruisers.

Q2What are the differences between Japanese ships and foreign ships?

Japanese ships often have Japanese as the onboard language, tipping is usually not required, and offer cruises that only visit domestic ports. Foreign ships, on the other hand, tend to be more affordable, but English is the primary language on board, and even cruises departing from and returning to Japan always call at overseas ports.

Q3Do I need a passport for a cruise departing from or returning to Japan?

Foreign-flagged ships, even those departing from and returning to Japan, call at overseas ports such as those in South Korea and Taiwan, so a passport is required. However, a passport is not required for cruises on Japanese ships that only visit domestic ports.

Q4Which ship visits Japan most often?

According to the port call schedule for July-October 2026, ships such as Asuka II, Asuka III, Celebrity Millennium, Mitsui Ocean Fuji, and Diamond Princess frequently call at ports throughout Japan. You can check the main ports of call and the number of calls for each ship on their respective pages.

Source/Reference Information

The figures and information for each ship are based on the official websites of each shipping company, etc. (Sources are listed on each ship's page). The port call trends are as follows:WEB CRUISE "Cruise Ship Port Arrival Calendar"This data was compiled based on scheduled port calls from July to October 2026. Last updated: September 29, 2026. Information is subject to change.