Japanet Tourism Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; President and Representative Director: Tomonori Ibaraki, a group company of Japanet Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture; President, Representative Director and CEO: Asahito Takata) that plans, develops and operates travel businesses, and Viking® (Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland) will operate tours on full charters of Viking Neptune (47,800 gross tons; 930 guests) three times a year when the ship arrives in Japan for the first time in 2028.
The Japanet and Viking Partnership
Viking has won the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards every year since its ocean ships launched in 2015, and describes its voyages as cruises "For The Thinking Person™." Japanet Cruise has a customer satisfaction rating of 98%.¹ Together, the two companies will operate cruise tours designed specifically for Japanese guests. By combining Viking's world-class hospitality with the service quality Japanet Cruise has built through its commitment to anticipating every customer need, the partners will offer travel experiences that pair the extraordinary setting of a cruise ship with new discoveries across Japan, and contribute to the continued evolution of cruise culture in Japan.
¹ Based on Japanet Cruise charter sailings (as of July 2026)
Viking Neptune: Arriving in Japan for the First Time
Launched in 2022, Viking Neptune is a luxury-category ship known for its refined Scandinavian modern design. Every stateroom has a private veranda, and the ship's size gives direct access to attractive Japanese ports that larger ships cannot enter. Onboard, Viking will deploy the largest Japanese-speaking crew of any foreign cruise line, so guests can enjoy comfort and hospitality without a language barrier, including dining recognized among the top 10 cruises for onboard culinary experiences² and an authentic Nordic-style sauna and spa.
² FOOD & WINE GLOBAL TASTEMAKERS AWARDS 2023, "BEST CRUISE FOR ONBOARD CULINARY EXPERIENCES: Viking Cruises"
Comments from Company Representatives
Trey Hickey, Head of Business Development, Asia, Viking
Building on the strong partnership we have developed since launching our Japan cruises in 2024, we are delighted to partner with Japanet Cruise once again. Japanet Cruise has consistently exceeded our expectations through its port-focused itinerary planning and thoughtfully curated content. It has also shown an unwavering commitment to product quality and has successfully built a new community of fans who champion the Viking experience. In 2028, we will bring the Norwegian-flagged Viking Neptune to the Japanese market. With destination-focused travel, world-class hospitality and the largest Japanese-speaking staff of any foreign cruise line, we look forward to delivering an exceptional voyage that resonates deeply with every Japanet guest.
Tomonori Ibaraki, President and Representative Director, Japanet Tourism Co., Ltd.
We are very pleased to charter the entire Viking Neptune, a ship Viking is bringing to Japan with Japanese guests especially in mind. Under the partnership our two companies began in 2024, Viking's world-class hospitality combined with Japanet Cruise's service quality will deliver journeys that satisfy first-time cruisers and returning guests alike.
For these tours, we placed particular emphasis on shore excursions. Itineraries differ between spring and autumn, and with strong cooperation from local governments and communities, we have prepared special sightseeing programs and experiences exclusive to Japanet. These tours offer the true appeal of cruise travel: easy access to hidden gems that are difficult to reach overland. We hope to offer journeys through beautiful landscapes and cultures across Japan that are little known and quite different from the major tourist destinations. We will continue to deliver the ultimate cruise experience, combining a comfortable journey with the discovery of Japan's undiscovered charms.
Highlights of Japanet's Exclusive Viking Neptune Tours
Japanet will offer a Japan Circumnavigation Course in spring 2028 and a Western Japan Course in autumn 2028. Ports have been carefully selected from those where a smaller ship can call, and the lineup includes five ports new to Japanet: Tomakomai (Hokkaido), Shimizu (Shizuoka), Hososhima (Miyazaki), Iwakuni (Yamaguchi) and Hakata (Fukuoka).
Booking Details
Sales Start
Friday, September 18, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Itineraries
- Viking Neptune: 10-Day Spring Journey Through Japan (Japan Circumnavigation Course)
Sunday, April 2 to Tuesday, April 11, 2028 - Viking Neptune: 10-Day Autumn Journey Through Japan (Western Japan Course)
Wednesday, October 18 to Friday, October 27, 2028 / Friday, October 27 to Sunday, November 5, 2028
Cruise Fares
- Veranda (standard stateroom with veranda; Deck 3; approx. 25 m²): ¥798,000
- Deluxe Veranda (well-balanced stateroom with veranda; Decks 3 to 8; approx. 25 m²): ¥898,000
- Penthouse Veranda (upgraded stateroom for elegant relaxation; Decks 4 to 6; approx. 31 m²): ¥998,000
Bookings and Details (Japanet sales site)
https://www.japanet.co.jp/other/46312/
For more information, please see below.
