Mitsui O.S.K. Lines’ cruise subsidiary has unveiled its new Japan-registered cruise ship, Mitsui Ocean Sakura, ahead of its scheduled entry into service on September 19th. The vessel will replace Nippon Maru, which was retired in May.
Mitsui Ocean Sakura measures 198.15 metres in length and 26 metres in beam, with a gross tonnage of 34,138. Its relatively compact dimensions are expected to allow the ship to access smaller regional ports and destinations on remote Japanese islands that may be less accessible to larger cruise vessels.
The ship has 229 guest rooms and can accommodate up to 458 passengers. Approximately 90% of the accommodations feature private balconies. The onboard dining programme will retain signature dishes associated with Nippon Maru, including roast beef and curry, while the sushi bar has been redesigned. A new foot bath has also been added.
MOL Cruises President Tsunemichi Mukai said the market for cruises departing from and returning to Japan was continuing to expand and that demand could potentially exceed available capacity. He indicated that the company would continue to assess market conditions and determine the appropriate timing for further fleet development.
Mitsui Ocean Sakura will become the second vessel in the MOL Cruises fleet, joining Mitsui Ocean Fuji, which entered service in December 2024 as the company’s first newly built cruise ship in 34 years.
The fleet expansion comes as Japan seeks to increase domestic cruise participation. The Japanese government has set a target of one million Japanese cruise passengers by 2030. In 2025, ~243,000 Japanese passengers travelled on domestic and international cruises, compared with 356,000 in 2019 before the COVID crisis.
At the same time, the number of calls by international cruise ships at Japanese ports has continued to increase, providing additional capacity and destinations for the country’s cruise market.