Sumida River Boat Tour - Tokyo Intro: Experience #40 of 55

The spaceship-looking Himiko or Hotaluna river boats tour between Odaiba and Asakusa.  These sleek boats seat hundreds and you get great views from their big windows.  You can go down to their offices at the waterfront to buy tickets.  A one way ride gives you a different view of Tokyo from the river.  You will also pass under the historic Nihonbashi bridge along the way which doesn't look anything like it did in the Edo Period (a life-size model is in the Edo Tokyo museum).  However, Kilometre Zero, is in the middle of this bridge and all distances in Japan are measured from this point.

Hotaluna

Front of Hotaluna

Going under the Rainbow Bridge

Tickets can be purchased at the boat dock just outside the Decks for a river boat cruise up the Sumida River towards Asakusa.  Tickets can also be purchased at the dock in Asakusa, not too far from Sensoji Temple, to go the other way. 

There are many interesting views of the shore, including views of great big floodgates, the Nihonbashi bridge, and the back side of Tsukiji Fish Market.  It is a nice relaxing trip up the river.  There is  comfortable bench or table seating and there is a snack bar on board.  Many Japanese families treat it like an outing and have beer and desserts along the way, both of which can be purchased on board.

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