Crown Prince Naruhito, the heir to the Japanese throne, arrived in Copenhagen on Thursday for a weeklong visit to Denmark to celebrate 150 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The crown prince's trip comes a week after Japan's parliament enacted a special law to allow his father, 83-year-old Emperor Akihito, to abdicate within three years after its promulgation.
On Friday, the crown prince is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of an exhibition focusing on the relationship between Japan and the Danish royal family.
The 57-year-old crown prince will visit a school for Japanese students on Saturday and have lunch with Queen Margrethe II on Sunday before moving to Odense, birthplace of author Hans Christian Andersen, where he will deliver a speech at a luncheon hosted by the city's mayor on Monday.
He is also scheduled to attend a dinner with Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary on Monday and meet with Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen the following day before returning to Japan on Wednesday.
The crown prince last visited Denmark in May 2004 for the wedding of the Danish crown prince and crown princess.
