Kobe Keizai News — The City of Kobe announced on the 5th that the number of cruise ships calling at Kobe Port in 2025 reached 143, surpassing the previous record of 141 set in 2018 and marking the highest total in seven years. The increase reflects a rise in the number of cruise ships operating in Japan, including the maiden call of the newly built Asuka III, owned by a passenger shipping company within the Nippon Yusen (9101) group. Globally, a boom in travel to Japan—buoyed by the weak yen—has also supported demand in the cruise market. Efforts by the City of Kobe and related organizations to attract cruise ships appear to have contributed as well. Looking ahead, port calls are being scheduled at a pace that would again set a new record in 2026.

Cruise ships—often referred to as “luxury liners”—are vessels designed for leisure travel of one night or longer with onboard accommodation. Each call at Kobe Port is counted as one ship, even if made by the same vessel. In 2025, the number of Japanese-flagged cruise ships increased by eight from the previous year to 35, while foreign-flagged ships rose sharply by 40 to 108. One factor behind the growth is the recovery of China-origin cruises calling at Japanese ports following the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic. At Kobe Port in particular, calls by European and North American vessels have increased. “The results of our efforts to attract cruise ships—especially from Europe and North America—are becoming evident,” said the Port and Harbor Bureau’s Promotion Division.

The schedule for 2026 is also taking shape at a pace that suggests another record year. According to the City of Kobe, 42 cruise ships are scheduled to call at Kobe Port between January and March, about 20 percent more than the 35 calls in the same period a year earlier. Vessels operated by Japanese cruise lines, including Asuka II, Asuka III, and Mitsui Ocean Fuji, are slated to arrive in succession. In addition, AIDAvita operated by Germany’s AIDA Cruises is scheduled to make its first call on the 17th, while Luminara, operated by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection of the United States, is set for its inaugural call on March 18.