Kubo related how over the last five years there has been dramatic increase in the number of cruise ships calling Kanazawa, located on the western coast of Japan roughly opposite Tokyo on the east. From just six calls in 2012 the total has risen to an expected 30 in 2016, with seven are by international cruise lines (versus two in 2012).
Japan’s appetite as a source market for cruising is also on the increase, with the current national total of around 215,000 outbound passengers annually predicted to rise to nearer 1m within eight years. Previously restricted to mainly just the luxury category, Japanese customers’ choice is now expanding to casual cruising as well, he added.
Kanazawa City, which has a population of nearly half a million, is positioning itself as strategically located in the centre of the west coast of Japan, affording easy access to nearby ports in other countries bordering the Sea of Japan such as Shanghai (plus Tianjin and Dalian) in China, Busan in Korea, and Vladivostok in Russia.
A new 400mtr Ohama Wharf located near the harbour entrance—with water depth of 13mtr and able to accommodate vessels of up to 350mtr—was completed in late 2015. Early callers have included Costa Victoria, The World, Amsterdam and Sea Princess.
A major factor in the port’s success has been the opening in March 2015 of a Shinkansen (‘bullet’ train) link to Tokyo, cutting that journey time to 2.5 hours and making full-day shore excursions to the capital possible. Kanazawa also offers a wide range of cultural and scenic tours, including to temples, hot springs, gardens and beautifully preserved old buildings dating from the Edo Period (1603-1886) of samurai fame, explained Shigeaki Yamashita, md of the Kanazawa Port Promotion Association.
The port also has a Cruise Welcome Club with around 5,000 local citizens as members, who greet vessels with colourful displays of ceremonial dance and geisha rituals.
KPPA is jointly run by the port and by the city of Kanazawa, whose director of the marketing strategy division, Hiroyasu Eguchi, also took part in the delegation, accompanied by Tokyo-based Global Marketing & Travel’s Joshi Ohkuma.
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