COMING UP Incoming State Visit #15: Japan

Emperor Naruhito & Empress Masako of Japan will make a state visit to Belgium.

On Saturday 20 June 2026 Crown Princess Elisabeth (23) will welcome the Emperor & Empress at the airport of Melsbroek.

The Japanese imperial couple will spend the weekend privately at the castle of Ciergnon, in the company of King Philippe & Queen Mathilde.

The official state visit starts on Tuesday 23 June 2026

Official welcome ceremony at the Place des palais in Brussels.

Visit to the Brussels town hall.

In the afternoon Emperor Naruhito visits the federal parliament and has a meeting with PM De Wever.

Gala banquet at the castle of Laeken. All four of Philippe & Mathilde's children will attend the banquet, which will be a first for all of them at an incoming state visit. (Prince Gabriel was previously present at the Belgian state visit to France in 2024 because he was at the time studying in Bretagne.)
Princess Astrid & Prince Lorenz and Prince Laurent & Princess Claire will also attend the banquet.

Wednesday 24 June 2026

The King and the Emperor visit the castle of Namur to discuss water management.

Then it's on to Leuven where they visit the IMEC installations. They also visit the University Library that Japan helped to rebuild after it was burnt down by the Germans in WWI. Japan donated 3.000 volumes, mainly from the Edo period (1600-1868).

The day ends at the royal domaine of Laeken, with a visit to the Japanese tower and the royal greenhouses.

Thursday 25 June 2026

Emperor Naruhito & Empress Masako leave Belgium.