Japan is experiencing a significant increase in Australian tourists, with the country on track to break its record for visitor numbers for the second consecutive year. This surge in popularity has led major cruise line Princess Cruises to double its capacity on routes between Australia and Japan.
Data indicates that the number of Australians traveling to Japan has been steadily rising. In 2025, Japan recorded 1,058,300 Australian visitors. More recent figures show that even higher numbers have visited so far this year, with only one month falling short of the previous year's totals. In February, Japan briefly surpassed Indonesia to become the second most visited country by Australian tourists, trailing only New Zealand.
Princess Cruises is responding to this growing demand by launching its most extensive Southeast Asia program to date. For the 2027 and 2028 seasons, the cruise line will homeport two ships, Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess, in Japan. This marks the first time the company will have two ships operating from Japan, offering 96 departures across 61 itineraries covering nine countries.
"This is the most immersive Japan season we've ever introduced and one that reflects how our guests want to experience the destination today," said Jim Berra, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer. He highlighted features like late-night stays timed to summer festivals, sailings that visit all four main islands during cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons, and unprecedented access to Japanese culture, cuisine, and traditions. The program also includes longer voyages connecting multiple Southeast Asian countries.
The Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess, each capable of carrying over 2,600 guests, were built in Japan and feature region-specific amenities, including the Izumi Japanese Bath on the Diamond Princess, described as the largest onsen-style bathhouse at sea.
Princess Cruises anticipates continued growth in Australian tourism to Japan. "Australia is a key source market for our Japan program, with strong and growing demand from travellers seeking culturally rich, immersive experiences," stated Matthew Rutherford, Princess Cruises Vice President Asia Pacific. He noted an expected increase in interest in visiting regional Japan, which Princess Cruises aims to facilitate by offering access to more than 50 unique ports and year-round operations.
Princess Cruises emphasizes providing immersive cultural experiences both onboard and ashore. "Our Local Connections program in Japan is something special. It's built on long-standing relationships and trust with local communities, which allows us to offer experiences that guests simply wouldn't be able to access elsewhere," said Director of Destination Management Michael Mihajlov. These experiences include interactions with local artists, craftspeople, and chefs.
Key destinations on Princess' Japan itineraries include Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Himeji Castle, and Mount Fuji. Bookings for the 2027 and 2028 seasons are now open. Global travel instability in regions such as the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and unpredictable situations in places like the US, are cited as factors contributing to travelers opting for more established destinations like Japan.