Kenta Inaba forecasts positive growth for the superyachts sector in Japan

One of the largest producers of trading vessels globally, Japan boasts a thriving maritime industry, including shipbuilding and marine engineering. The waters around the country have become more popular as a cruising destination, where it’s possible to cruise all year round – an alluring prospect for superyacht owners.

From a stunning coastline with diverse natural beauty to indulging in incredible cuisine and discovering a blend of traditional culture and modern innovation – including fishing ports, castles, shrines and temples, Japan offers a range of experiences for superyacht owners and charter visitors.

The Japanese government has taken significant steps to make visiting superyachts feel welcome. It has eased regulations on immigration, customs and quarantine for foreign-flagged vessels and provides services and dockage for superyachts of any size. Upgrades are planned for ports to accommodate additional superyacht berths, reflecting a commitment to support the industry.

Whilst currently, we can accommodate visiting superyachts, we need to keep up with the appropriate infrastructure for the bigger yachts.

Government overhauling rules for foreign-registered superyachts has brought significant changes in Japan, and removed some of the red tape, to put the country on a level playing field with many other destinations.

Japan’s coastlines stretch more than 35,000km, and land offers many cultural treasures to explore

Three key recent changes opened the door for growth in the Japanese superyacht sector: a Naikosen cruising permit for visiting yachts, the removal of any time limit for a superyacht to stay and cruise in Japan, and an Eligible Crew Pass – valid as long as the yacht is in Japan, expiring only when a crew member leaves Japan.

Superyacht owners are increasingly drawn to Japan, as proven by a recent extended yacht visit – originally planned for three weeks but eventually a seven-month-plus stay, cruising 66 ports.

Globally, cruise ships stock provisions in main centres, whilst a superyacht does so in local communities while cruising around coastlines and contribute substantial revenue and create significant job opportunities. Studies show that one superyacht with 12 guests will spend more in a local community than a large cruise ship with its all-inclusive onboard packages.

Captains and owners want a significant comfort level when cruising in new territories. It is important that visiting superyachts are confident they will receive support to be managed through the regulatory process, can be provisioned with their specific requirements and are provided with tailored itineraries that align with the owners’ preferences.

The team at SYL have made sure these services are in place and are getting the tick of approval from visiting superyachts – the sector is looking positive.

Information shared in this post is based on a presentation Inaba gave at a recent Global Marine Business Advisors (GMBA) conference in Singapore.

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