R Yacht SEFU

The 2027-built R Yacht SEFU cruise ship is an ultra-luxury expedition-style vessel scheduled for delivery in 2027-H1. The 10,000 GT ship represents Japan's first purpose-built "yacht-style" coastal cruiser, combining the intimacy of a private superyacht with the amenities of a boutique hotel ship.

SEFU was designed specifically for navigation along the intricate Japanese coastline, archipelagos, and smaller ports inaccessible to larger ships.

With SEFU, R YACHT established an entirely new premium cruise segment in the Japanese market, offering upscale amenities and one of Asia's highest crew-to-passenger ratios (100-to-120).

At present, SEFU is R YACHT's only announced cruise vessel.

History - Ownership, Project Development, Design, Construction

R YACHT's SEFU project originated as a strategic diversification initiative by Ryobi Holdings Group, one of Japan's largest transportation and logistics conglomerates. The company identified growing demand for high-end domestic cruising, particularly emphasizing Japan's coastal scenery, gastronomy, and island culture.

Ryobi Group operates under two main entities with distinct origins: Ryobi Ltd (the manufacturer of die castings and power tools, 1943-founded as Ryobi Seisakusho Co Ltd) and Ryobi Holdings (the conglomerate encompassing transportation, real estate, and consumer services, 1910-founded as Saidaiji Railway Company).

Unlike traditional cruise ships focused on onboard entertainment, SEFU has been conceived around the philosophy of "Yacht Style Cruising," prioritizing personalized service, flexible itineraries, marina-based water activities, and destination immersion.

The vessel's name combines SE (representing Setouchi/Seto Inland Sea) and FU (meaning "wind").

The exterior and interior designs were created by the French designer Gwenael Nicolas, founder of the Tokyo-based design studio Curiosity.

The overall ISLAND design philosophy draws inspiration from Japan's numerous Seto Inland Sea islands. Circular architectural forms, natural materials, soft lighting, and unobstructed sea views are integrated throughout the ship to blur the boundary between interior and exterior spaces.

Rather than emphasizing conventional grandeur, SEFU's design seeks to create the atmosphere of a contemporary superyacht or boutique waterfront resort.

The shipbuilder is WestSea Shipyard (West Sea - Estaleiros Navais) in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, ranked one of Europe's leading builders of specialized passenger and expedition ships with advanced custom designs for niche operators. The construction is based on modular block assembly (65 total blocks).

Major ship construction milestones include:

• The shipbuilding contract between WestSea and Ryobi Holdings was signed in December 2023.
• R Yacht Co Ltd, as a cruise operator company, was established in January 2024.
• On November 10, 2025, the vessel's name, SEFU, was officially announced.
• In March 2026, R YACHT contracted CruisePAL for using its reservation (CRS) and ship management (SMS) systems, and also the IssuTrax Lite - a mobile-friendly module that handles unplanned hotel maintenance tasks, optimizes guest interactions, and streamlines internal and external communication for the crew.
• In June 2026, SEFU's complete exterior and interior designs were unveiled, and the R YACHT cruise brand was officially launched.

The shipowner, R Yacht Co Ltd (founded in January 2024 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ryobi Holdings) was established exclusively to develop and operate cruises around Japan and neighboring Asian waters. As a travel brand, R YACHT specializes in luxury small-ship cruising, boutique yacht-style experiences, destination-focused voyages, premium Japanese hospitality, and culinary experiences emphasizing regional cuisine.

The 1910-established parent company, Ryobi Holdings, is one of western Japan's largest diversified transport groups, whose businesses include railways, buses, ferries, logistics, tourism, aviation support, hospitality, and urban developments. Ryobi Holdings' extensive maritime experience through regional ferry operations provides an operational foundation for its luxury cruise line venture.

SEFU's Master will be Captain Katsuya Matsui (Asuka III's Master), while Ryosuke Gunji will be its first Hotel Director.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

SEFU features a sleek yacht-inspired profile rather than the box-like superstructure typical of mainstream vessels. Large expanses of glass maximize natural light while extensive open deck areas reinforce the yacht-like atmosphere.

The relatively shallow draft (4,7 m/~16 ft) enables access to numerous smaller Japanese ports and anchorages unavailable to larger ships.

One of SEFU's signature features is the integrated Aft Marina - the first purpose-built Marina (recreational) platform on a newbuild Japanese cruise ship. The platform supports direct sea access, tender boat operations (embarkation/debarkation), beach landings, kayaking and scuba diving, water sports, and coastal cruise excursions.

Adjacent to the Marina is the Beach Club (an indoor-outdoor bar lounge venue), allowing guests to enjoy a close connection with the sea. The Beach Club opens directly onto the sea through large shell doors, creating a waterfront environment rarely found on Japanese ships.

The ship's culinary program emphasizes regional traditional Japanese and Western cuisine prepared with locally sourced (supplied at the ports of call) and the freshest ingredients based on the current itinerary.

The dining room (main restaurant) features open-seating service rather than fixed dining schedules. Food menus were developed in partnership with celebrity chef Masamitsu Kawai.

The SORA LOUNGE & BAR is a circularly shaped venue with wraparound floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows and contemporary furniture. It is served by a dedicated Bar and has a grand piano for live musical performances. At SORA guest can enjoy their morning coffee and afternoon tea in a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.

The KAZE BAR is an outdoor-indoor venue serving a variety of cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.

All lounges and bars have wall-to-ceiling windows and are designed as intimate gathering spaces rather than entertainment venues.

Wellness facilities include a treatment room (for massages), a sauna, a fitness center (gym room), and several relaxation areas. The ship also has an Ofuro (お風呂) room housing a traditional deep soaking bathtub. Unlike Western tubs designed for cleaning while lying down, ofuro are compact and deep, meant for sitting upright in hot water to relax and warm the body after washing. All wellness facilities have windows with unobstructed views.

Open-air decks emphasize quiet relaxation, ocean views, and casual social spaces.

The top-deck swimming pool is a glass-walled infinity pool.

Detailed specifications and deck plans are yet to be announced and published.

Decks and Cabins

R YACHT SEFU has a total of 60 staterooms, all of which are in suite categories and accommodating 120 guests.

The cabins' interior design, developed by Gwenael Nicolas, emphasizes minimalist Japanese aesthetics, circular architectural motifs, panoramic glazing, warm natural materials, and residential luxury.

Standard cabin amenities include King-size bedding, large en-suite bathrooms, luxury hotel amenities, contemporary Japanese furnishings, generous storage space, and infotainment TV systems.

Owner's Suites (130 m2/1400 ft2) and Grand Suites (106 m2/1140 ft2) are aft-facing. Located at the stern, they feature wraparound terraces with a private sundeck and a Jacuzzi and sofa.

Veranda Suites are sized 31-62 m2 (270-580 ft2) and feature private step-out balconies.

SEFU Suites are sized 25-54 m2 (270-580 ft2) and have French balconies - a drop-down window opens to a railing, transforming the indoor lounge space into a covered balcony.

Deck Suites are sized 24-37 m2 (260-400 ft2) and have floor-to-ceiling, non-opening windows.

Itineraries

R YACHT SEFU operates year-round cruises around Japan. The planned regions include Seto Inland Sea (numerous small islands, historic ports, scenic anchorages) and Southwest Islands (Okinawa, Yaeyama Islands, Miyako Islands), and various Japanese coastlines.

R Yacht also plans selected SEFU cruises to visit neighboring countries in East Asia, although specific ports have not yet been announced.