Tokyo’s Shinagawa district is making waves with new boat tours; Routes through Tokyo Bay, Meguro River and Keihin Canal offered

Pleasure boats and yakatabune boats will offer regular cruises along the waterfront in Tokyo’s Shinagawa district starting Saturday.

The local government’s initiative, called Shinagawa Cruise, will take passengers to tourist attractions in Shinagawa Ward, such as Odaiba, and is expected to become a new source of tourism.

Shinagawa Cruise is jointly managed by the district and an association that offers yakatabune experiences and other sightseeing programs. The cruises will be on and off for the rest of the year, a decision that came after the service proved popular during a trial run between November and December last year.

There are three itineraries available: the Tokyo Bay Cruise, the Meguro River Cruise, and the Keihin Canal Cruise.

The Tokyo Bay cruise departs from a pier on Tennozu Island and sails around Odaiba for approximately 70 minutes before returning to the starting point. The Meguro River Cruise takes place at dusk on the river between Tennozu and Gotanda. The Keihin Canal cruise connects Tennozu and Shinagawa Aquarium, offering views of the Tokyo Monorail and other popular sights. There are one-way and round-trip options available for cruises on the Meguro River and Keihin Canal.

All three cruises will take place from June 15 to 16 and July 13 to 14, with five to six services per day. The department is treating this year’s cruises as a trial and will take the number of customers into account when determining dates for August and subsequent operations.

“We hope to promote the cruise and the slogan ‘Shinagawa has a waterfront,’” said a Shinagawa district official.

Fares vary depending on the course and ticket type: one-way or return. The daily rate for the Tokyo Bay cruise is ¥1,500 for adults and ¥800 for children.