With its vast coastline and abundant marine resources, Japan is becoming a major destination for superyachts. It is often referred to as the maritime nation. Surrounded by the sea, Japan's coastline stretches for more than 35,000 kilometers. The availability of infrastructure (ports, airports, railway stations and shipyards) is as extensive as its heritage. From ancient temples to majestic castles to traditional fishing ports full of life, each place carries a deep historical and cultural connotation.
Kenta Inarba
Kenta Inarba, from Japan's GMBA, believes that Japan's year-round cruising conditions are a major attraction for superyacht owners. Although "the situation in the Japanese yachting industry is changing," he said. Ownership of small yachts has declined. But the number of 20- to 30-meter motor yachts is growing steadily. This trend indicates that the Japanese yachting industry is moving towards a more high-end and professional direction. ”
In addition, Inarba said that the Japanese government is also actively taking measures to provide more attentive services to visiting superyachts.
"They have relaxed immigration, customs and quarantine rules for foreign-flagged vessels, providing convenient services and marina facilities for all types of superyachts. At the same time, the government is also planning to upgrade the port to add more superyacht berths to meet the growing market demand. These initiatives demonstrate the Japanese government's strong determination and commitment to supporting the yachting industry. ”
Rules for superyachts visiting Japan
The Japanese government has overhauled the regulations for foreign-registered superyachts. Inarba said this has undoubtedly injected a strong impetus into Japan's superyacht industry. These new regulations not only simplify cumbersome administrative processes and reduce bureaucratic constraints, but also make Japan stand out from the crowd of superyacht destinations and stand on a level playing field.
Three notable changes are particularly noticeable: first, the introduction of the "Naikosen" cruise license, a new licensing model that gives superyachts more autonomy and allows them to move freely within Japan without having to worry about customs clearance from one port to another; Secondly, Japan has removed restrictions on the length of stay and cruise time for superyachts, allowing yacht owners to enjoy the infinite scenery of this sea. Finally, superyacht crews can also obtain a multi-landing permit as needed, known as a 'crew pass', which is valid for as long as the yacht stays in Japan and only expires if the crew chooses to leave Japan by plane or on another superyacht.
These three major changes have undoubtedly opened the door for the Japanese superyacht industry to flourish. Inarba said that more and more superyacht owners are attracted to Japan, and that a yacht that was originally planned to stay for only three weeks ended up cruising the waters for more than seven months in 66 ports, which is enough to prove the country's appeal to superyachts.
In addition, the government has also actively encouraged major cruise lines to carry out cruise business in Japan, further enriching the local tourism market. Inarba pointed out that research shows that a superyacht with 12 guests on board tends to have more spending power in the local community than a large cruise ship, which undoubtedly injects new energy into the local economy. At the same time, compared with cruise ships, which mainly provide services in cities, superyachts are more able to penetrate into local communities near the coastline, bringing more tourism resources and economic benefits to these communities.
Superyacht charter market in Japan
Inarba emphasised that once the government appreciates the enormous economic value of the superyacht industry and the many positive effects it has for coastal communities, they will recognise the urgency of revising the charter regulations. She further elaborated that the charter market is undoubtedly a golden opportunity to drive the development of Japan's superyacht industry, which is undoubtedly the government's vision.
There are many success stories that the Japanese government can learn from, and these are vivid examples of the boom in the yacht charter industry following regulatory changes. New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Tahiti, for example, have been heavily lobbied by the industry to open up their charter markets for foreign-flagged yachts, a move that has greatly contributed to the growth of private investment in yacht service infrastructure. The yacht not only provides financial support to many small local businesses, such as supply and maintenance, but also contributes considerable income to the economy and creates a large number of jobs.
"Captains and owners alike expect the ultimate in comfort when exploring new cruising areas." "It is therefore crucial to ensure that visiting superyachts have the confidence that they are being managed through the regulatory process, that they are able to meet their individual needs and that they can provide a bespoke itinerary that meets the owner's preferences. ”