TOKYO- Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito departed Tokyo International Airport at Haneda for Copenhagen aboard a government plane on Thursday morning to make an official visit to Denmark.

The Crown Prince will visit Denmark to further develop friendly bilateral ties as the two countries mark the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

He serves as honorary president on the Japanese side for the anniversary.

It marks the second overseas trip by the Crown Prince this year, following a visit to Malaysia in April, and the first since Japanese parliament passed special legislation on Emperor Akihito's abdication on Friday. The Crown Prince is the Emperor's eldest son and first in line to the throne.

At the Crown Prince's Togu Palace residence in Tokyo earlier on Thursday, his wife, Crown Princess Masako, had a conversation with him and sent him off together with Prince Hitachi, the younger brother of Emperor Akihito. (Jiji Press)