The ship features more than 130 artworks throughout its interior, including lacquer works connected to Living National Treasures, as well as Japanese paintings, calligraphy, photography, and acrylic works. Through the simple act of moving, dining, and spending time onboard, travelers can encounter Japanese aesthetics as part of the journey itself.

Highlights of This Experience

• A cultural cruise experience where travelers can encounter Japanese kogei and art onboard Asuka III
• Opportunities to view lacquer works connected to Living National Treasures, alongside works by leading Japanese artists
• A different kind of art experience: rather than visiting a museum, travelers spend time within spaces where craft and art are part of daily life onboard
• A cruise journey through Japan, with Yokohama as the ship’s home port
• An English-language inquiry and booking channel available for international travelers

Recommended For

• Travelers interested in Japanese traditional craft and art
• Those who want to experience culture not only through museums or studio visits, but through the atmosphere of the journey itself
• Repeat visitors to Japan seeking a deeper cultural experience beyond standard sightseeing routes
• Couples, families, and travelers planning a special journey or milestone trip
• International travelers who want to experience Japanese craft, art, cuisine, and regional culture in a single journey

Main Experiences Onboard

On Asuka III, artworks are placed throughout public spaces, restaurants, lounges, and other onboard areas, allowing travelers to encounter Japanese kogei and art naturally as they move through the ship.

• “Yōkō Yōei,” a large-scale lacquer wall work by Kazumi Murose, installed in Asuka Plaza
• “Kaiyu,” a collaborative work involving Kazumi Murose, Kazuo Yamagishi, and younger artists affiliated with the Japan Kogei Association
• Onboard artworks by Hiroshi Senju, Reiji Hiramatsu, Noriko Tamura, and other leading Japanese artists
• An art and kogei experience integrated into dining, relaxation, movement, and time spent onboard

How This Differs from a Typical Craft Experience

A typical craft experience often means visiting a studio, workshop, or museum and encountering works or techniques within a limited period of time. On Asuka III, the time spent onboard becomes the cultural experience itself.

You may encounter a work on the way to a lounge in the morning, see a painting while dining, and notice the changing expression of a craft object at night as sea and light shift around it. The appeal of this experience lies not in going somewhere to “see” art, but in spending time within spaces where art and kogei are already present.