Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal (晴海客船ターミナル) is the Tokyo terminal for international cruise ships. It is located in Tokyo Bay at the southern tip of Harumi Island. It has one of the best views on Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge in the city. There is a viewing platform on the 6th floor but it was closed when I was there.
From Asakusa, an alternative to walking for reaching Tokyo Bay is to take the Tokyo Cruise Ship water bus. It follows the Sumida River southwards until Hamarikyu Garden and Hinode Pier. It is then possible to switch boat to pass under the Rainbow Bridge and reach Odaiba.
Takeshiba Pier is a combination of ferry terminal and promenade. This is where the ferries to the Izu and Ogasawara islands depart from. It also has a great view on the Rainbow Bridge and the mouth of the Sumida River.
Kasai Rinkai Park (葛西臨海公園) is a park built on reclaimed land in Edogawa City, Tokyo. The park includes an aquarium (Tokyo Sealife Park), a bird sanctuary, two manmade islands, a viewing tower and a ferris wheel.
The Rainbow Bridge is a 798-meter long bridge crossing Tokyo Bay between Shibaura and Odaiba. It is accessible to pedestrians and can be used to cross the Bay on foot, all the way to Odaiba.
Last week, I went back to the city of Futtsu in Chiba Prefecture, but this time in the Sanukimachi area. This is where the Tokyo Wan Kannon, a 56m-high statue of Kannon, the buddhist Goddess of Mercy, is erected. I had a glimpse at it from the ferry when I went to Mount Nokogiri, wondering what that was. After I learnt more, I had to go!
The inside of the statue can be visited and there are stairs to an observatory at the top, which offers a great view on Tokyo Bay and the surrounding area. On a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Fuji. There are a also hiking trails and beaches nearby.
Tokyo Gate Bridge (aka “Dinosaur Bridge”) is a 2,618-meter long bridge completed in 2012. It crossesTokyo Bay from Wakasu Island to Chuo Bohatei (“Central Breakwater”). Interestingly, both sites are artificial islands made out of trash, although only Chuo Bohatei is still active and serves as the final disposal site of waste from all of Tokyo. The bridge then leads to a tunnel emerging in Jonanjima Seaside Park, near Haneda Airport and the Port of Tokyo.
It is possible to walk on the bridge, starting from a tower in Wakasu Park (map). However, the tower on the other side is closed, so you have to double back. Access to the bridge is free but it closes at 5pm.
