Tokyo International Cruise Terminal was officially due to open to the public on 10th September.
Designed to be part of the now delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics, the terminal will be able to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships.
The new four-level terminal was built in the Koto Ward of Tokyo, which is nearer to Tokyo Bay than the current Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal.
Located in the Chuo Ward, the Harumi terminal requires ships to pass under the Rainbow Bridge. However, most of the newer, larger cruise ships do not have sufficient clearance to pass under the bridge and instead have had to berth in Yokohama.
The new terminal features a longer 430 m quay with an 11.5 m water depth. Local port officials claimed that the terminal will be able to accommodate cruise ships of up to about 220,000 gt.
The four-story building is around 19,000 sq m in size and has facilities for immigration, customs, and quarantine, as well as passenger waiting areas and concessions. Also included is an open air observation deck with views of the Tokyo skyline and waterfront.
Planning for the new facility began in 2015 and construction was largely completed by June of this year at a cost of nearly $400 mill.
While cruise operations are suspended, the terminal was still due to open to the public on 10th September and local officials hoped that it might be used as an event space until cruise ships resume operations.
