Sumida River, Tokyo

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In Edo times, the Sumida river was crucial to survival. Now, with modern transportation it has lost its importance for the purposes of comerce. It does however, offer a different perspective on Tokyo's skyline and makes for a good tourist attraction. We took the water bus from Hama Detatched Palace Garden to Asakusa. It is a nice trip, passing under several bridges and providing some lovely views of the city and the cherry blossoms along the canal edge. Boats travel in both directions, so you can plan your day to suit your own itinerary. We were lucky enough to be in Tokyo during cherry blossom season and the river was full of people partying on boats. It made for a very friendly trip, with much waving and cheering back and forth!

Cruise the Sumida River and take a look at its 12 bridges all the way from Odaiba to Asakusa. All of them are different from each other, you won't see twice the same bridge. The cruise is less than an hour but it's very interesting.

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If you go to Asakusa than you should make one way buy train but the other one with the water bus! This short trip on the river gives you a great view of the city's bridges and bulidings. It is way nicer than the train! I took the Water Bus from Asakusa to the city and after a shor but very pleasant walk I was in Ginza ... It's a great trip!

The SUMIDA RIVER is one of these tributaries and the Edo culture is said to have grown along it.
Spring brings cherry blossoms,summer fireworks and winter snow to the SUMIDA. Boat tours of the Sumida start from a pier near Azuma Bridge.

takes a waterbus from Asakusa about 40 min to cruise down the Sumida River to Hama-rikyu Garden, and another 10 min to reach Hinode Pier. Embark at Azumabashi Bridge near subway Asakusa Stn. One or two boats per hour depart 9:50-19:00. The fare to Hama-rikyu is ¥620 plus ¥300 admission to the garden; to Hinode Pier, 660. To go the other way, embark at Hinode Pier or at Hama-rikyu. Hinode Pier is an 8 min walk from JR Hamamatsucho Stn. (Sunny/ 2002)

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this is a popular boat cruise especially to persons going to the Asakusa Area. The Assorted cruising boats owned by a company called suijobus takes persons on a 40 minute ride from Hinode Pier (its a 7 minute walk from the JR Hamammatsucho to Hinode Pier) to Asakusa for a price of 720 yen one way and one can see the Odaiba area and along the way are 12 unique bridges on the Sumida River: Azuma Bridge, Komagata Bridge, Umaya Bridge, Kuramae Bridge, Ryogoku Bridge, Shinohashi Bridge, Kiyosu Bridge, Sumidagawa ohashi Bridge, Eitai Bridge, Chuo-ohashi Bridge, Tsukuda-ohashi Bridge, Kachidoki Bridge. The boats stop near the Asahi Beer Building located near Asakusa Terminal. The shiny building resembles a glass of beer with a golden piece of excrement? also in the boats, they sell Sumida Asahi Beer Special for 400 yen a big glass, Kanpai!

One of the highlights of the Tokyo summer is the firework show over the Sumida river in August. The annual event attracts thousands, perhaps even millions, to the banks of the river. Old Cliffie was there, with a pretty girl and a can of Sapporo, to watch the soaring rockets and swirling showers of lights and colours. Perhaps Sydney did it better for the new millennium - but Tokyo does this every year.

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Himiko boat is the newest and the most fictional boad ..... It cost 1500 en around 17 dollars per person and 300en 4 dollars for kids.....
pros..... fastest way to go from asakusa to odaiba (one way) through river.
cons.... most expensive and closed , no outside lounge.

but tokyo cruise is a must... and their is plenty of boats to choose from

the boat stop is just from the other side of the asahi beer building.... in asakusa
The ticket counter at Asakusa opens at 9:30 AM, Odaiba at 10:30 AM

Take a look at Tokyo from the water. With this cruise you can go from Asakusa to Hamarikiyu and/or vice versa. At the garden of Hamarikiyu you'll have to pay an entrance fee (about 300 yen). The cruise lasts about 35 minutes.

Don't miss the Summer firework in Asakusa - Sumidagawa hanabi Daikai in July. Check internet for exact date, the event usually starts from 7pm.

See how the 20,000 fireworks light up the whole sky along the Sumida river.