Emerging Superyacht Destination
The number of visiting boats has increased significantly over the past few years. Japan has become a “hot” destination, not just because of its many attractive qualities but also because cruising regulations have been greatly relaxed.
Superyachts are an increasingly visible part of the Japanese cruising scene. More superyachts are coming every year and they are staying longer.
Our Services
Konpira Consulting provides comprehensive superyacht services to meet the needs of the owner, guests, captain, and crew.
As wonderful as Japan is, there are unique challenges to exploring the country by superyacht. Bureaucrats are often pedantic and inconsistent. Rules are opaque. There are few moorage facilitities suitable for superyachts, and so on. Konpira Consulting’s role is to therefore maximize the positives and minimize the negatives of cruising Japan, assuming the burdens on behalf of the client whenever possible.
Below are some of the services we provide to superyacht clients.
- Serve as the Clearance Agent, handling all the clear-in and clear-out paperwork, and that includes applying for crew visas and taking care of all bureaucratic requirements while the boat is in Japan.
- Prepare and periodically update a customized Japan Voyage Plan that satisfies the specific needs and interests of the owner and guests.
- Can assign a bilingual onboard assistant.
- Arrange for provisions and floral arrangements.
- Organize special events and activities.
- Make sightseeing recommendations and hire local guides.
- Make restaurant, museum, car/driver, transportation, and other reservations.
- Order SIM/eSIM cards.
- Recommend moorage locations and make moorage reservations.
- Arrange bunkering.
- Arrange for garbage disposal (a major challenge in Japan).
- Accept and forward mail/packages.
- Source parts and equipment.
- Help the captain register for and use Newpecsmart, Japan’s best digital charting app.
- Advise on the locations of aquaculture operations.
- Hire local mechanics.
- Provide interpretation services, in person or over the phone.
- Help deal with medical, mechanical, and other emergencies.
Why Konpira Consulting?
Konpira Consulting is a superyacht’s best partner for cruising Japan. We fully understand that serving a superyacht means:
- Providing the owner and guests with a wonderful, unique Japan experience (and that will be different for each client);
- Giving the best possible support to the captain so that he can take care of the owner/guests and of the crew;
- Working with the crew and helping ensure that they are healthy, happy, and valued.
Reasons Clients Trust Us
Clients appreciate Konpira Consulting’s support for the following reasons.
- We have a nationwide service network, with our Fukuoka head office supplemented by staff in Okinawa, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Osaka, Tokyo/Yokohama, and Hokkaido and by friends and contacts in dozens of locations around Japan.
- We help clients overcome linguistic and cultural differences.
- We anticipate clients’ needs and respond quickly and professionally.
- We are flexible. No matter how unusual or difficult a client request might be, we will never say “no” but rather we will say “we will do our best” – and we will.
- We are hard working.
- We give solid, well-informed, straightforward advice.
A Founder Who Knows Japan – By Sea and by Heart
Kirk Patterson, Konpira Consulting’s founder and president, knows Japan by sea and by heart.
- He cruised Japan, solo and full-time, on his own boat for six years, including doing the first and still-only full Japan circumnavigation by a foreigner, so he can help clients get off the beaten track to see the “real Japan.”
- He has lived in Japan for almost 40 years and speaks/reads Japanese fluently, so he can help the owner and captain deal with “awkward situations.”
- He has a Ph.D. in international relations, with a specialization in Japan, so he can provide the client with insights, information, and explanations about the historical and cultural sights they see in Japan.
Got Questions?
Contact us for information on how Konpira Consulting can help you have a wonderful Japan cruising experience.
Meeting Clients’ Needs
Wadaiko at Sea
The daughter of a superyacht owner was fascinated to read about traditional Japanese drumming (wadaiko) and so the captain asked if we could arrange for a wadaiko performance on the boat two days later. We contacted a friend in Matsuyama (the client’s next stop), and he contacted a friend who contacted the leader of a drumming troupe. With the special cooperation of the manager of a nearby dock (also a Konpira Consulting friend), the superyacht’s tender made two trips to pick up the drummers and drums and the guests were treated to a thrilling, private sunset drumming show.
Local Connections, Exceptional Cuisine
A superyacht client planned to anchor near an island in the Seto Inland Sea and so we contacted a friend living on the island and he called a local sushi chef. And a few days later the chef prepared a special onboard sushi dinner for the owner and guests, with a lot of leftovers for the crew.
Always There When It Matters Most
Sadly, we are often called upon to help superyacht guests and crew deal with medical emergencies.
- For one client, the captain called us at 06:00 and asked for a wheelchair for the owner’s wife, who had hurt her foot when she fell down the stairs. She didn’t want to miss that day’s sightseeing tour, so we had a wheelchair waiting on the dock when the tender pulled in at 09:00.
- A crew member had a severe allergic reaction to something, so we arranged for her to be treated by a nearby allergy specialist. They initially refused to see her but agreed after we offered to fill out all Japanese documents in advance, do telephone interpretation, and cover all costs.
- The same was true when we sought treatment for another boat’s crew member, who had a severe knee infection. In the end, his condition worsened so he was flown out of Japan and our employee in Hokkaido had to do the visa and other paperwork for a replacement crew to join the boat on short notice, just prior to their departure from Japan.
What Our Clients Say
Our clients say it best. From smooth operations to unforgettable experiences, these testimonials reflect Konpira Consulting’s dedication to making every visit to Japan effortless, enriching, and enjoyable.
Efficient, great communicators, proactive, knowledgeable. Kirk and his Team were absolute stars. 8 days into our cruise I fired the agent we had signed up with and shifted all ops over to Konpira. What a great decision. Suddenly everything was easy and our trip turned out to be a great success.
Christoph, Captain, M/V V6, 48m (2025)
I had the pleasure of working with Konpira Consulting during a recent visit to Japan, and the experience was exceptional. Their team is professional, efficient, and deeply knowledgeable about local maritime operations.
A major asset was their fluent Japanese-to-English translation, which made interactions with port authorities, suppliers, and service providers smooth and stress-free. Their provisioning service was also outstanding – everything was fresh, high quality, and delivered exactly as requested.
What truly sets them apart is that they’ve personally cruised many of these areas, so their local insight goes far beyond logistics. They offer practical advice and genuine local knowledge that only comes from firsthand experience.
From clearance to coordination, everything was handled with care and precision. I highly recommend Konpira Consulting to any yacht visiting Japan – their support makes all the difference.
Brad, Captain, M/V New Journey, 29m (2025)
Kirk and his team assisted us from start to finish, with all our logistics from local knowledge of cruising grounds and schedules, transfers, crew visas, clearances, cruising permits, onboard and shore-based guides, provisioning and boat parts...etc...etc
I can unreservedly recommend Konpira Consulting to any captain looking at cruising Japan.
Andy, Captain, M/V Tango 5, 35m (2024)
Kirk provided unique and dedicated service during our one-year stay in Japan. Our situation was, in many regards, extraordinary, especially having our two children in Japanese public schools. We put our trust in Kirk in many, many ways, such as arranging residence visas, registering the kids in local schools, booking long-term moorage for our yacht, renting cars, opening bank accounts, passage planning, organizing family trips throughout Japan...you name it. Kirk did all that in a timely and exceptional way. It was a really great experience and helped make Japan the best stop in our world tour.
Thierry, Owner, M/V Deo Juvante, 24m, (2022-2024)
Got Questions?
Contact us for information on how Konpira Consulting can help you have a wonderful Japan cruising experience.