Japan has just celebrated a first as it opened its first new, Japan-flagged passenger cruise ship in 34 years—the Asuka III. In a ceremonial christening ceremony conducted on July 11, 2025, this gigantic ship with 52,265 gross tons is now Japan’s biggest ever cruise ship in gross tonnage. Owned and operated by NYK Cruises, Asuka III is set to revolutionize Japan’s domestic cruise market with a new standard in luxury, environmental soundness, as well as cutting-edge innovations.
Pioneering Sustainability with LNG Fuel
Just days following its naming, Asuka III set another first with being refueled with liquefied natural gas (LNG) at Hakata port.
LNG is a cleaner alternative fuel to traditional marine fuels, reducing dirty emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide. As a pioneer of green cruising in Japan, Asuka III conforms with world trends in environmental impact reduction resulting from the marine industry. The vessel’s engines can run on marine gas oil as well as heavy fuel oil as necessary, consequently retaining fuel choice flexibility.
Advanced Propulsion Technology with Enhanced Performance
The Asuka III is designed with state-of-the-art facilities in order to maximize its productivity as well as minimize its environmental impact. It is the first ever Japanese flagged cruise ship with both dynamic positioning (DP) as well as POD propulsion systems, considerably enhancing its maneuverability as well as operational sustainability.
Dynamic Positioning (DP): It allows Asuka III to stay in position and heading without an anchor. With its propellers and thrusters, the ship can avoid inflicting damage on sensitive marine environments, such as coral reefs, when it is going on port visits as well as at sea.
POD Propulsion Systems: Externally installed steerable POD propulsion units increase fuel efficiency of the ship, offer greater maneuverability, in addition to reduced noise and vibration levels. These minimize passenger discomfort as well as noise levels. It allows the ship to disengage its engines once it is docked in harbors with shore power installations, further reducing emissions as well as enhancing environmental soundness.
Luxury Afloat on Board
The Asuka III is 750 feet long and provides modern design with luxury combined with comfort. It is larger in gross tonnage than its sister, Asuka II, but is capable of transporting marginally fewer passengers, at 770, in comparison with Asuka II at 960. It is built with larger accommodations along with a first-class experience per passenger onboard.
The Asuka III has 381 staterooms with lovely sea views in addition to six top-class restaurants with diverse cuisines. Ship facilities at Asuka III focus on high-quality service standards as well as a relaxed luxury atmosphere onboard. Leisure or port exploration in Japan’s scenic ports, tourists can be sure of a memorable experience.
Maiden Voyage and Expanding Fleet
The Asuka III will embark on its inaugural voyage on 20 July 2025 with passengers being able to visit 30 Japanese ports. NYK Cruises can further bolster its product offerings as well as cater to the growing demand of Japanese domestic cruises with the addition of Asuka III in its fleet.
The two ships will operate simultaneously, with a wider variety of itineraries available to travelers as they discover Japan’s diverse scenery and cultural landmarks.
Shaping the Future of Japanese Cruising
The debut of Asuka III is a first in Japan’s cruise market, making it a state-of-the-art leader in luxury sustainable cruising. Equipped with state-of-the-art environmental systems, luxurious amenities, and emphasis on providing first-class passenger experiences, Asuka III is set to make a long-lasting impact on world markets. With Japan’s domestic cruise market continuing to grow further, Asuka III is a step towards a sustainable and futuristic future of sea travel. With first-of-their-kind technologies, emphasis on sustainability, along with luxurious amenities, Asuka III is going to be a symbol of Japan’s sea tourism market.
Tags: Japan, Luxury Afloat on Board, Asuka III, NYK Cruises
