Tokyo handled 83 cruise calls in 2025, and the Port of Tokyo expects to top that number this season, with further growth forecast for 2027. Behind the numbers is a deliberate strategy: keep the cruise lines happy enough to keep coming back.
Ikuma Okubo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's director of cruise ship promotion, says the rise in repeat calls is the clearest sign of progress. In his view, each returning ship reflects a relationship built on reliability — and the port actively solicits feedback from cruise companies to shape everything from facility upgrades to day-to-day operations.
Some of that investment is already visible. The Harumi Cruise Terminal reopened in 2025 after an expansion aimed at small and medium-sized ships. The Celebrity Millennium has been making regular calls since 2026, and the Sapphire Princess will join it in 2027. Next on the wish list: a second berth at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, which would let the port welcome two large ships at the same time — a meaningful upgrade during peak season when turnarounds and port calls pile up.
The port is also leaning on technology, using AI to monitor passenger flows and smooth out bottlenecks on busy days. And Okubo is clear about the bigger picture: safe, efficient operations matter, but a call only succeeds if passengers actually enjoy their time in Tokyo and leave wanting to return.
For travellers, this is good news on several fronts. More calls mean more ways to start or end a Japan cruise in the capital, with easy rail links to the city from the terminals. Regular deployments by lines like Celebrity and Princess make Tokyo a realistic homeport rather than a one-off stop, and competition between ships tends to keep itineraries and pricing interesting. If the second berth goes ahead, expect even more large-ship options calling here in the years ahead.
Who it's for: anyone eyeing a Japan cruise — especially first-timers who want the convenience of embarking in a major city with world-class food, hotels and transport either side of the sailing. With Japanese cruise deployment expanding and new ships entering the market, Tokyo is positioning itself as the anchor port, and the 2027 schedule looks set to reflect that.
