Photo/Illutration The cruise ship Amadea enters Shimizu Port against the backdrop of a snow-capped Mount Fuji on March 1. (Koichiro Yoshida)

SHIZUOKA--For the first time in three years, a cruise ship from abroad docked at a Japanese port as the country reopened to international tourist vessels.

The Amadea arrived at Shimizu Port in Shizuoka on March 1 with 520 passengers from Europe.

The German ship stopped at the port for a half-day on its way from Saipan to Tokyo.

After health checks conducted by port officials, the passengers disembarked for day trips to local tourist spots, including Miho-no-Matsubara beach, which offers a great view of Mount Fuji.

Guenter Zwirner, 77, who came from Germany with his wife, said he thought the view of Mount Fuji from the ship was impressive and that he was excited to visit Japan for the first time.  

More than 200 cruise ships, about 60 percent of the pre-pandemic level, are expected to visit Japan by the end of 2023, according to the Japan International Cruise Committee.

Japan had closed its ports to tourist vessels since February 2020, when a cluster infection broke out on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama Port.

Thirteen people died and more than 700 passengers were infected with the novel coronavirus in that outbreak.

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