Travel

Inside Japan’s Flagship Cruise Liner

OSAKA, Dec 27 (News On Japan) - Japan’s flagship luxury cruise ship Asuka II, measuring 241 meters in length and featuring 436 guest rooms, made a port call at Osaka Port, offering a rare glimpse inside one of the world’s most acclaimed cruise liners. The vessel has been ranked first for 31 consecutive years in the Cruise Ship of the Year reader poll conducted by Cruise magazine, standing out among roughly 300 ships worldwide.

Asuka II is among the largest cruise ships operated in Japan, with 12 decks and facilities comparable to a luxury high-rise hotel. Upon boarding, visitors are greeted by a soaring atrium with high ceilings and seasonal decorations, including a towering Christmas tree during the winter period. The interior atmosphere is closer to that of an upscale hotel than a ship, with spacious lounges and refined design throughout.

One highlight is the piano bar, where guests can enjoy live music while sipping drinks in a relaxed, adult-oriented setting. The appeal of cruising, Nakamura explained, lies not only in traveling between destinations but in the comfort of private cabins, attentive service, and a dining experience that changes daily. Guests can choose from full-course meals or buffet-style dining available from breakfast through late night, offering a level of convenience rarely matched on land.

The ship also features a sushi restaurant serving freshly prepared nigiri at the counter, as well as large communal baths. In addition to private in-room showers, passengers can unwind in a panoramic public bath complete with an open-air section, allowing guests to soak while gazing at the night sky and ocean beyond.

On deck, visitors can enjoy an open-air pool filled with heated water, making it usable even during winter. With ocean breezes and sweeping views, the deck area offers a sense of escape that quickly makes daily stresses fade away. Entertainment options extend further inside, including a casino, a full-scale theater showing various productions, and the Galaxy Lounge, which hosts events and performances throughout the voyage.

One of the most striking spaces is the Vista Lounge, located high above the sea and offering a 270-degree panoramic view. From this vantage point, guests can relax with tea while watching the ocean stretch endlessly below, a view comparable to that from a 10-story building. As the sun sets, the combination of sea and sky creates a scene many describe as the essence of cruise travel.

Asuka II offers what its operators describe as a fully immersive, extraordinary experience at sea. Travelers interested in boarding can receive discounted fares by registering as members through the official website. Viewers were also informed of a special viewer giveaway related to the cruise, with details to be announced separately.

Source: YOMIURI

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Cormorant Fishing Marks Arrival of Early Summer in Southern Japan

Traditional ukai cormorant fishing, a seasonal custom signaling the arrival of early summer, began on May 20th along the Chikugo River in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, following the opening of ayu sweetfish fishing on the river that flows through southern Fukuoka.

Historic Walk Through Miyama’s Thatched-Roof Village

Surrounded by mountains in Kyoto Prefecture, Miyama’s Kitamura district preserves one of Japan’s most iconic rural landscapes, where rows of traditional thatched-roof houses have been maintained for generations through strong community cooperation and deeply rooted village traditions.

Japan Releases Six Rules to Avoid Bear Encounters

The Japanese government has released a set of guidelines titled "Six Rules to Avoid Encountering Bears" as bear sightings across the country continue to rise sharply compared to the same period in previous years.

Foreigners Suspected of Rampant Graffiti at Fushimi Inari Shrine

Video footage appears to show graffiti being carved into bamboo at Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha, with witnesses claiming two foreign visitors were involved in the vandalism.

Fukuoka's Dazaifu Tenmangu Restored to Original Brilliance

Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka Prefecture, which enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning, opened its restored main shrine to the media on May 18th after completing its first major renovation in 124 years.

Elderly Hokkaido Man Punches Bear in the Nose

A 78-year-old man who drove off a brown bear by punching it in the nose has recounted the terrifying ordeal, as an unusual surge in spring bear sightings continues across Japan, including in the Kanto region and Tokyo.

Bear Appears Near Tokyo Homes and Schools

A bear sighting in a residential area of Hachioji, western Tokyo, at the end of April has heightened concerns among local residents as encounters involving bears continue to increase across Japan.

Russian Hiker Seriously Injured in Bear Attack in Western Tokyo

A Russian man in his 30s suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a bear while hiking on Mount Mutsuishi in Okutama Town, western Tokyo, at around 12:10 p.m. on May 17th, according to the Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo Fire Department.

< 2 3 4 5 >