AROUND JAPAN RALLY 2026

In 2026, Konpira Consulting will organize the inaugural Around Japan Rally (AJR). It will be a five-month, eight-stop event that allows participants to go around Japan’s four main islands, experiencing first-hand all the reasons that make Japan one of the world’s preeminent cruising destinations: gracious hospitality, rich history and culture, beautiful scenery, and delicious food and drink. In addition, they will experience a level of safety and security rarely found anywhere these days (in six years of cruising Japan full time, I never once locked my boat… and I couldn’t find the key when I sold her).

 Participants will spend three nights at each of the eight AJR stops and between those stops they will be free to cruise as they want. At each stop, there will be various activities, such as parties to interact with locals, meals to enjoy the local cuisine, bus tours, and “hands-on” opportunities (learn how to make soba noodles, blow glass, slice sashimi [raw fish], and so on). And AJR participants will receive information on moorage options and points of interest between each stop.

 Plans for AJR 2026 are still being finalized, but the attached map shows the likely route, and following is the preliminary itinerary.

·The initial rendezvous will be on May 8-11 at Iki Island, a beautiful island with a long history, including the place where Shintoism originated (perhaps), one of Japan’s oldest villages (dating back to 200BC), the birthplace of shochu liquor, and the victim of two Mongol invasions in the 13th century.

·About 500NMs away is Sado Island (May 29-31), another island with an interesting culture and history – Japan’s largest gold mine from the 16th to 18th centuries, the place where political dissidents were banished, Japan’s most famous taiko drumming troupe, and taraibune tub boats.

·Another 500NMs north is Otaru in Hokkaido (June 19-21). Hokkaido is “new” by Japanese standards (it only became part of Japan in the 1870s) and Otaru was one of its first ports. It is famous for colonial-era buildings, Nikka whiskey, and delicious seafood.

·A further 500NMs takes participants to Kushiro (July 10-16). The passage takes them around Japan’s northernmost point (Soya) and easternmost point (Nosappu) and past the rugged, UNESCO-recognized Shiretoko Peninsula. Kushiro itself is a bustling fishing port and famous for the extensive nearby Shitsugen Wetlands. (A one-week stay in Kushiro is planned to allow participants to make a quick trip to Korea to get new 90-day visas.)

·A 350NM passage takes participants to Kesennuma (July 31-Aug 2), one of the ports devastated by the 2011 tsunami. There they will learn about the events of that terrible day and what has been involved in rebuilding Kesennuma and other ports along that coast.

·350NMs down the Honshu coast takes participants past the entrance to Tokyo Bay and to the famous port town of Shimoda (August 18-20). Shimoda was put on the map by U.S. Commodore Perry, who visited Japan in 1853-54 and effectively ended Japan’s 250-year Isolation Period by signing the Shimoda Treaty with the Japanese government and making Shimoda and the Hokkaido port of Hakodate open to American (and, later, other foreign) ships.

·After a further 350NMs, participants arrive at the small fishing port of Tosa Shimizu (September 4-6). It is not actually famous for anything, but spending a few days there will give participants a good feel for what life is like in the thousands of fishing ports that dot the Japanese coastline.

·Going 250NMs around the south end of Kyushu takes participants to the town of Kushikino (Sept. 15-17). Near the small Kushikino marina there is a classic local hot-spring bath, and on the bus tour participants will visit an area of 18th century samurai homes, a samurai armor museum, and a museum dedicated to WWII “kamikaze” pilots.

·The final 150NMs take participants past Nagasaki and Hirado (both great places for sightseeing) and back to Iki Island for the AJR closing festivities (October 2-4).

By participating in the Around Japan Rally 2026, cruisers will have an in-depth, up-close-and-personal introduction to the people, culture, and history of Japan. They will get off the beaten track to places very rarely visited by foreigners. They will enjoy delicious meals and superb sake, shochu, beer, whiskey, and wine. They will take home memories to last a lifetime.

·￥20,000 (about US$130) Registration Fee

·￥500,000 ($3,250) Boat and Captain Fee

·￥150,000 ($975) per additional crew member (￥75,000 [$490] for children five and under)

·Up to 40 hours of personalized and emergency support during the AJR (time over that would be billed at ¥6,000/hour);

·A Japan courtesy flag, an AJR burgee, and AJR polo shirts for all participants;

·Advice on preparing oneself and one’s boat for cruising Japan;

·Detailed information on moorage options (primary and back-ups) along the AJR route;

·Information on weather, currents, tides, and locations of aquaculture areas as the participants head to each rendezvous point;

·Tours, dinners, and other activities at the rendezvous locations;

·Three nights of moorage at each rendezous location;

A discount on the support fee for the NewPecSmart digital charting app.

Notes

Although not covered by the Participation Fee, Konpira Consulting can provide assistance before and after the AJR, help with clearing into and out of Japan, arrange for the import/export of pets, and/or arrange repairs and haul-outs, at a rate of ￥8,000/hour.

Out-of-pocket expenses will be invoiced as incurred, plus a 10% administration fee.

For each boat, the Registration Fee is only assessed for participating in one rally organized by Konpira Consulting. It would be waived for subsequent rallies.

Supplementary moorage fees may be assessed for catamarans and boats of over 65’ LOA.

Members of the Ocean Cruising Club will be exempt from paying the Registration Fee and will receive up to 50 hours of personalized support.

All fees are subject to the 10% Japanese Consumption Tax.

In addition to the Around Japan Rally, Konpira Consulting organizes two other Japan rallies.

· Japan Yacht Rally, going from Okinawa to Hokkaido from mid-March to the end of May, positioning participants to go to Alaska in early June.

· Setouchi Yacht Rally, held every May to bring Japanese and foreign cruisers together to experience the wonders of the Seto Inland Sea.

And for those whose schedule or cruising style aren’t a good fit for these ralllies, Konpira Consulting can provide direct, customized support from clear-in to clear-out and everything in between.

However cruisers experience Japan and wherever they go, there is unanimous agreement that Japan is a great, memorable destination, one that often draws people back for repeat visits.

For more information about the Around Japan Rally or about cruising in Japan generally, please contact me at: kirk@konpira-consulting.com