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Japan Cruise Ships Complete Guide — Quick Answer Asuka II, Nippon Maru, Diamond Princess Budgets
⚡ 30-Second Answer: 5 main categories of Japan cruises = ①Domestic luxury cruise (Asuka II, ¥200-500K / 7-14 days) ②Domestic mid-range cruise (Nippon Maru, ¥150-300K) ③International cruise (Diamond Princess, ¥150-400K) ④Costa Cruises (Costa Venezia, ¥100-250K) ⑤Short cruises (Tokyo Bay, ¥1-5K). For tourists, beginner-friendly short cruises are recommended.
Quick reference
Value
Asuka II
¥200-500K
Nippon Maru
¥150-300K
Diamond Princess
¥150-400K
Costa
¥100-250K
Tokyo Bay short cruise
¥1-5K
Last verified
June 2026
✓ Last verified: Jun 2026
📖4 min read
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Contents
30-Second Answer
Japan's cruises offer world-class service and facilities. Tourists can choose from beginner-friendly short cruises, international cruises, and luxury domestic cruises.
🚢 Top 5 Major Cruise Ships
1️⃣ Asuka II (Japan Luxury)
Operator: NYK Cruises
Gross tonnage: 50,142 tons
Cabins: 436
Feature: Japan's most luxurious
Fare: ¥200,000-500,000 / 7-14 days
Launched: 1991
2️⃣ Nippon Maru
Operator: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Gross tonnage: 22,472 tons
Cabins: 202
Fare: ¥150,000-300,000
Launched: 1990
3️⃣ Diamond Princess
Operator: Princess Cruises
Gross tonnage: 115,875 tons
Cabins: 1,337
Feature: International cruise
Fare: ¥150,000-400,000
4️⃣ Costa Venezia
Operator: Costa Cruises
Gross tonnage: 135,500 tons
Feature: Chinese + Italian cuisine
Fare: ¥100,000-250,000
5️⃣ Pacific Venus
Operator: Japan Cruise Line
Gross tonnage: 26,594 tons
Fare: ¥100,000-250,000
⏱ Cruise Length
Short (1-3 days)
Tokyo Bay: ¥1,000-5,000 / half-day
Yokohama Port: ¥5,000-15,000
Mid (3-7 days)
Domestic routes: ¥100,000-200,000
Tokyo - Kobe: Many
Long (7-14 days)
Japan loop: ¥300,000-500,000
Asia tour: ¥150,000-400,000
World Cruise (90-130 days)
Asuka II: ¥3M-15M
💰 Cabin Types
Standard
Inside: ¥150K-250K
Ocean view: ¥200K-350K
Mid
Balcony: ¥250K-400K
Mini suite: ¥350K-600K
Suite
Suite: ¥500K-1M
Royal suite: ¥1M-3M
🍽 Dining & Activities
Included in standard fare
3 meal restaurant
Buffet
24h room service
Theme nights
Extra charge
Specialty restaurants: ¥5,000-15,000 / meal
Premium drinks: ¥1,000-5,000
Spa: ¥10,000-30,000
Shore excursions: ¥10,000-30,000 / port
Entertainment
Shows: Free
Pool + gym: Free
Casino: On some ships
Club: Free
🌐 Major Ports of Call
Domestic
Tokyo Port / Yokohama Port
Kobe Port
Hakata Port
Nagasaki Port
Kanazawa Port
Hiroshima Port
Naha Port
Otaru Port
Overseas
Korea: Busan, Jeju
China: Shanghai, Tianjin
Taiwan: Keelung, Kaohsiung
Hong Kong
Vietnam: Ha Long Bay
Singapore
🛂 Tourist Procedures
International cruise
Tourist visa: Check each country
Customs: At each port
Quarantine: When required
Domestic cruise
Passport: Not required (Japanese nationals)
Tourists: Passport + residence card
Vaccines: Not required
Required documents
Passport
Cruise ticket
Insurance documents
Credit card
🌐 Tourist-Friendly Services
Multilingual
International cruises: Full English/Chinese/Korean
Japanese cruises: English support growing
Apps: Multilingual
How to book
Klook: Tourist-focused
Official sites: Multilingual
JTB / HIS: For Japanese travelers
Pricing structure
Early booking discount: -10-20%
Companion discount: 2nd person -20-30%
Seasonal range: ±30-50%
📅 Best Season
Spring (Mar-May)
Cherry blossom cruises: Limited
Tokyo Bay yakatabune (traditional Japanese houseboat)
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Fireworks festival cruises
Evening cooling on the water
Autumn (Oct-Nov)
Autumn foliage cruises: Port sightseeing
Comfortable weather
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Aurora: Hokkaido
Winter seascapes
💰 One-Week Cruise Budget
Budget (Costa / major international)
Cabin (inside): ¥150,000
Meals included
Extras: ¥10,000-30,000
Port tax: ¥10,000
Total: ¥170,000-200,000
Mid (Nippon Maru)
Cabin (balcony): ¥250,000
Meals included
Extras: ¥30,000-50,000
Port tax: ¥10,000
Total: ¥290,000-310,000
Luxury (Asuka II)
Cabin (suite): ¥600,000
Meals included
Extras: ¥50,000-100,000
Port tax: ¥10,000
Total: ¥660,000-710,000
🌐 Short Cruises (Half-day - 1 day)
Tokyo Bay yakatabune (traditional Japanese houseboat)
¥10,000-25,000 / person
3-5 hours
Meal + all-you-can-drink
Symphony
Tokyo Bay: ¥3,500-12,000
2-3 hours
Lunch / dinner
Sunset cruise (Yokohama)
¥2,500-5,000
1-2 hours
Photogenic
Osaka Bay cruise
¥1,000-3,500
1 hour
Sightseeing route
🌐 Popular Cruises by Nationality
🇺🇸 Americans
Diamond Princess: Full English support
Asuka II World Cruise: Luxury
🇨🇳 Chinese
Costa Cruises: Chinese menu
Asia tours
🇰🇷 Koreans
Busan departures: Good access
To Tokyo / Osaka
🇪🇺 Europeans
Asuka II: Japanese cultural experience
Long-haul tours
🇸🇬 Singaporeans
Tokyo Bay departures: Short
Combined with Tokyo sightseeing
🏖 Shore Excursions
Standard pattern
6-12 hours ashore
Sightseeing tour
Meal
Souvenirs
Official tours
¥10,000-30,000 / port
Multilingual guides
Independent sightseeing
Taxi / rental car: ¥5,000-15,000
High flexibility
⚠️ Cruise Cautions
Seasickness
Bring motion sickness medication
Choose window-side cabins
Communications
WiFi: Paid ¥1,000-3,000 / day
Use SIM at ports
Dress code
Formal night: Suit
Casual: Regular clothes
Safety
Location of life jackets
Evacuation routes
💳 Payment Methods
Onboard
Credit card: Standard
Cash: Limited
Cruise card: Onboard use
Ports
Local currency
Credit card
PayPay etc.
🌐 Multilingual Support
International cruises
English/Chinese/Korean: Full support
Spanish / French: Available
Multilingual staff
Japanese cruises
Japanese-centric
English: Growing
5 Common Tourist Mistakes
Couldn't enjoy due to seasickness → Prepare medication
Expensive WiFi → Use at ports
No formal wear
Overlooked extra charges
Shore excursion budget overrun
Pre-Departure Checklist
Cruise booking
Passport + visa
Insurance
Motion sickness medicine
Formal wear
WiFi plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Recommended for beginners?
A: 3-5 day short cruise, Costa Cruises is Chinese-friendly.
Q: OK for solo travelers?
A: Yes, single cabins available, single supplement +25-50%.
Q: With children?
A: 3+ years old OK, rich kids programs.
Q: Dietary restrictions?
A: Allergy support, vegetarian, halal available on many cruises.
Q: Tourist discounts?
A: Early booking discounts, honeymoon discounts, senior discounts etc.
Editorial info: Yen Finder Editorial / Last verified June 2026. Fares and schedules vary; please check each cruise company's official site for the latest information.