Japan’s Osaka has lifted port charges for visiting cruise ships, informs the Port & Harbor Bureau, City of Osaka.

The exemption, which came into force last month covers various fees that the city had been charging for all cruise calls, regardless of vessel size, and includes entry, wharfage, water supply, passenger gangway and passenger terminal levies.

‘This decision is part of our effort to make Port of Osaka more convenient and attractive as a cruise port,’ Hiromu Yabuuchi, director of planning & construction division, Port & Harbor Bureau, City of Osaka told Seatrade Insider.

Costs charged by private sector companies still remain in place, including pilotage and tugs fees.

In 2013, Osaka welcomed 22 cruise ships -13 international and nine domestic. In the first six months of 2014, ten international cruise vessels and two domestic ships called.

Osaka’s cruise berth is located along the city’s bustling waterfront and popular attractions include Osaka Castle, Sitennouji-Temple and sampling local food. The city also provides access to tourist sites in Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital and Nara.