Travel

Oriental Land to Launch Cruise Business in 2028

TOKYO, Jul 10 (News On Japan) - Oriental Land, the operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, revealed plans to launch Japan's first Disney cruise in the 2028 fiscal year.

Since its inception in 1998 in the United States, Disney Cruise Line has expanded its routes to Canada, Europe, and other global destinations.

The new ship being built by Oriental Land for the Japan debut will feature approximately 1,250 cabins and accommodate about 4,000 passengers, making it the largest cruise ship under the Japanese flag.

The cruise will offer various entertainment options, including interactions with characters dressed in original Disney Cruise Line costumes.

Planned itineraries include 2- to 4-night cruises departing from and returning to ports in the Tokyo metropolitan area, with an estimated 400,000 passengers annually.

The investment is projected to be 330 billion yen, equivalent to the cost of the recently opened "Fantasy Springs" area at Tokyo DisneySea.

Following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the full-scale resumption of cruises in Japan signals potential market expansion.

Source: ANN

Chinese Tourists Plunge as Travel Warning Takes Effect in Japan

Chinese tourists are disappearing from major destinations across the Kansai region as diplomatic tensions between Japan and China continue to deepen on the heels of comments by Prime Minister Takaichi regarding a potential Taiwan contingency, prompting Beijing to urge its citizens to refrain from traveling or studying in Japan.

Tokyo Quake Scenario Projects Up to 18,000 Deaths

The Japanese government is preparing to release a new damage projection for a major earthquake striking directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area by the end of the year, and interviews with officials familiar with the assessment indicate that in the worst-case scenario the death toll could reach 18,000, while economic losses are estimated at 83 trillion yen.

Toyota Launches First New Supercar in 17 Years

Toyota unveiled its new GR GT supercar on December 5th at Woven City, the next-generation technology testbed located in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, marking the model’s world debut as the automaker targets a release around 2027, positioning the vehicle as the pinnacle of its GR sports-car lineup and its first true supercar since the Lexus LFA launched in 2010.

Eel Regulation Dropped After Japan Opposition

The proposal to strengthen regulations on international eel trade has been formally shelved, marking a result in line with the position pushed by Japan and several other countries.
EU member states and others had called for tighter controls on all eel transactions under the Washington Convention, citing global resource depletion and the need for stronger international oversight. However, Japan countered that the Japanese eel faces no imminent risk of extinction and opposed the measure.

Tsukiji Outer Market Urges Tourists to Stay Away in December

Tokyo’s Tsukiji Outer Market has taken the unusual step of asking tourists not to visit in December as operators move to prevent crowd-related accidents during the busy year-end shopping season, with local officials also confirming that Shibuya’s New Year’s Eve countdown will be canceled for the sixth consecutive year.

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MORE Travel NEWS

Car Troubles Surge During Autumn Foliage Season

Autumn travel to Nikko, which draws visitors from across Japan for its bright foliage, is seeing an unexpected wave of vehicle troubles on mountain roads, with everything from flat tires and sudden breakdowns to off-road mishaps and stranded foreign tourists prompting repeated calls for roadside assistance during busy weekends in November.

Chinese Airlines Extend Free Cancellation Period for Japan-Bound Flights

China’s major airlines have extended the period during which Japan-bound tickets can be cancelled free of charge, with carriers announcing by today that the deadline—initially set to run through the end of this year—will now continue until March 28th 2026.

Osaka Launches Cleanup Cart to Tackle Mounting Trash

Osaka’s Minami district, one of the busiest entertainment areas in Kansai, is grappling with a worsening garbage problem as the sharp increase in foreign visitors coincides with a rise in litter throughout the area, and when the reporting team walked through the neighborhood last week they found trash piling up in abandoned bicycle baskets and food containers tossed into alleyways just off the main shopping streets.

Sapporo Roads Freeze Over

A mass of cold air on December 4th brought midwinter-level temperatures across Hokkaido, sending the entire region below freezing and prompting warnings of heavy snow and blizzard conditions along the Sea of Japan coast.

Tsukiji Outer Market Urges Tourists to Stay Away in December

New Waterfront Park, Arena Transforms Kobe’s Coastline

Kobe welcomed a new waterfront destination this year as the redevelopment of the former Shinko No. 2 Pier area gave rise to TOTTEI, a spacious coastal district designed to connect the city more closely with the sea while offering visitors a range of leisure attractions that highlight the port city’s unique blend of ocean and mountains.

Riverside Hot Spring Opens in Wakayama

The annual winter-only Sennin Bath opened along the riverbed of Kawayu Onsen in Tanabe, Wakayama, on December 1st, drawing visitors with its open-air pools heated by hot spring water bubbling up naturally from beneath the river.

Kotatsu Boats Begin Winter Cruises in Yanagawa

The winter tradition of kotatsu-equipped boats has begun in Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, where small hibachi braziers are placed beneath the tables on shared boats as the seasonal service gets underway.

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