Contract signed for construction of largest superyacht facility in Asia-Pacific region

The construction of Superyacht Base Kobe Marina is scheduled to begin in April 2025. Service is expected to open in 2026, and there’s a plan to complete all the necessary infrastructure by 2027

Thanks to its convenient location in Osaka Bay on the island of Honshu, close to Kyoto and Osaka, it's been a long time since Kobo City became an important center of international trade. One of the main Japanese ports is located here, too, so the place for the future marina just could not be better. 

Two quays of 350 meters and three 100-metre ones will allow the marina to accommodate yachts without any restrictions in size. Overall, the usable linear superyacht quays will be over 1.4 km. Another 200 meters of dockage will be available by the breakwater digue, as well as by the floating dock providing space for yachts under 60 meters. 

The marina will offer a choice of both long and short-time dockage options for vessels of all sizes. One can definitely expect all the relevant infrastructure in place: security, shore power, water, bunkering, maintenance and repairs. 

Thanks to the convenient location, the marina in Kobe should attract visitors from all over the world: it is in the very centre of Japan, on an archipelago of over 14 000 islands stretching 3 000 km from north to south. Another interesting feature of the place is the fact that the city is connected to Awaji Island by the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, which is the world's longest suspended structure of this kind. 

“More and more international yachts are coming to Japan every year. There is 50% more coastline than the United States, so there is a massive area to explore with still many undiscovered cruising destinations. With a Mediterranean climate in many parts of the country, and sub-tropical in others, there is great winter cruising and while it might be a bit chilly to swim, there is world-class skiing usually just a stone’s throw away from any yacht”, said Nigel Beatty, one of the consortium investors. 

The marina will be within a five-minute walk from the centre of Kobe City with its elite boutiques and restaurants. Besides, there are three major airports, two of which are with international and private jet capabilities. There is also a Shinkansen station for bullet trains, which can deliver the guests and the crew anywhere in Japan in no time. 

There is a plan to build additional facilities on the quayside of the marina in 2026 and 2027, including various marine offices, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, as well as Kobe Yacht Club. 

The scale and timing of Superyacht Base Kobe Marina project are stunning and were made possible by the international consortium that consists of seven principal investors: GLION Group; Plan Do Sea; Horizon Yachts; Setouchi Brand Corporation; Creation Co., Ltd; SYL Monaco and SYL Japan.