A delegation of officials from the port, airport and tourism departments are currently on a trade mission to UK and Germany visiting some cruise line operators to try and tempt them to visit.
International customers include calls from Costa, Princess, Celebrity, Ponant, Silversea and Seabourn plus Japenese ships Asuka II, Nippon Maru and Pacific Venus.
Cruise ships are currently handled at the dedicated city centre Shin-Chuo Wharf which has a 295mtr quay length and is undergoing an 80mtr long extension, which when completed in March 2018, will offer 375mtr of continuous berthing.
When operational ships up to 220,000gt will be handled here. At the same time the port is shortening the western breakwater by 150mtr which will be completed during the upcoming fiscal year to expand the approach channel opening width from 166 to 316mtr.
On busy days cruise ships can also be accommodated at Okidate cargo berth.
Kiyoko Nakui, senior chief at Amori government department of land, infrastructure, ports, harbors and airport points out that Amori is very competitive on port fees claiming it is the lowest of eight ports located in Northern Japan.
Surrounded by water on three sides and within close proximity to Hakodate across the Tsugaru Strait, Aomori is well placed to receive ships sailing from Tokyo and Yokohama north to Hokkaido.
Renowned for its cherry blossoms, followed by apple blossoms(the city is the largest apple producer in Japan) and World Heritage Sites, Aomori’s history dates back to 5,500 year ago. Surrounded by three seas, fresh seafood is a popular cuisine for visitors. Hot springs are also high on the tourist tips.
During the first week of August each year, Aomori City comes to life during the Neputa Festival which draws 3m visitors and when enormous illuminated washi floats parade through the streets accompanied by musicians, dancers and street vendors. The Museum of Art, the largest bronze statue of Buddha in Japan, the fresh fish market and A-factory, for locally produced apple cider tasting are all highlights within a 30 minute walk of the port.
Shunsuke Temma, deputy director of the port and promotion supervisor believes Aomori can increase its cruise business on the back of a rising number of ships sailing in and around Japanese waters. He told Seatrade Cruise News, ‘the government has a desire to grow overall cruise ships to Japanese ports five-fold by 2020. We have had two successive years of 21 calls and this is rising to 23 in 2017 and whilst I believe the five times multiplier is a challenge we are striving to attain around 100 calls in the short-term future which is why we planned this trade mission to Europe.’
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