The Superyacht Base has secured a contract for a new superyacht marina in Kobe City, Japan. This new facility, named Superyacht Base Kobe Marina, will be the largest superyacht facility in the Asia-Pacific region and is set to begin construction in April 2025.
Services for yachts will commence in 2026, while the surrounding infrastructure, which will include marine offices, restaurants, and the Kobe Yacht Club, is expected to be completed in 2027.
This facility is part of the Kobe Harbour regeneration program, which aims to redesign previously industrial areas near downtown Kobe for public enjoyment. The marina will boast over 1.4 kilometers of usable linear quays for superyachts, capable of accommodating “any size vessel.”
Two of the quays will be approximately 350 meters long, alongside three others measuring 100 meters each. Options for long-term leases, as well as annual and shorter-term docking options, will be available for yachts of all sizes. Stern-to docking will accommodate yachts measuring up to approximately 80 meters.
“It’s a very exciting day. We have spent over two years planning this marina with our consortium partners,” said Yukio Shintani, owner of Creation Marine and a marina investor. “We will have a superyacht marina in Japan that rivals those in Monaco, France, Italy, and South Florida—capable of accommodating any size yacht that has yet to be built or even imagined.”
The marina’s location in Kobe City situates it next to three major airports—two of which offer international and private jet services—as well as the Shinkansen (bullet trains). This will place superyacht owners right at the heart of Japan’s archipelago, which consists of over 14,000 islands.
Nigel Beatty, owner of SYL Monaco, emphasized the “incredible cruising potential in Japan,” noting that more international yachts are arriving each year. “Japan has 50 percent more coastline than the United States, providing a vast area to explore, with many undiscovered destinations. With a Mediterranean climate in many regions and sub-tropical conditions in others, winter cruising is exceptional—while swimming may be a bit chilly, world-class skiing is usually just a stone’s throw away from any yacht.”
Superyacht Base Kobe will now begin organizing events with international yacht industry partners, including conferences, shows, and other gatherings.
The consortium for Superyacht Base Kobe Marina comprises seven principal investors: GLION Group, Plan Do Sea, Horizon Yachts, Setouchi Brand Corporation, Creation Co., Ltd, SYL Monaco, and SYL Japan.