Tokyo Water Bus Returns 17 October 2026: Times and Fares
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government press release on the Tokyo Mizube Line restart, published on 2 October 2026, sets out the dates, fares and timetable. The Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association runs the boats. A short hop between Asakusa and Ryogoku costs 600 yen for adults.
What is coming back on 17 October
The Tokyo Mizube Line has been suspended since January 2026. The GO TOKYO cruise ships and water buses guide gives the stop date as 18 January 2026 and names aging boats as the reason. The city has since built two new disaster-response boats, and the park association will use them to restart the line.
The timeline below shows how the line went from suspension to restart.
Two courses return. The Asakusa–Odaiba Cruise, the line’s best-known route, comes back with stops at Asakusa, Ryogoku and Odaiba. The old Ichinichi Yurari Tabi route gets a partly new course and a new name, the Sumida River Yurari Cruise. It runs up the Sumida River toward Kamiya and down to Odaiba.
Most sailings will use the Raiden, the larger of the two new boats. It carries about 140 passengers, measures 29.8 metres long and travels at about 19 km per hour. Its smaller partner, the Shiranui, carries about 30 people and works the narrow canals of the Koto area. In an emergency, both boats check rivers and piers and carry supplies and people when Tokyo’s disaster headquarters asks.
The photo below shows a passenger water bus on the Sumida River, the same water the Raiden will sail from 17 October.
On Japanese pages, the line appears as 東京水辺ライン (Tokyo Mizube Rain), which means Tokyo Waterside Line. The Asakusa pier is 二天門 (Nitenmon), named after a gate of Senso-ji Temple.
Asakusa to Odaiba water bus timetable and fares
Each Asakusa–Odaiba Cruise trip leaves Nitenmon pier and stops at Ryogoku. It then crosses to Odaiba and comes back the same way. Nitenmon to Ryogoku takes 10 minutes, and Ryogoku to Odaiba takes 45 minutes on every trip. The table lists the three trips from the press release.
| Trip | Outbound: Nitenmon → Ryogoku → Odaiba | Return: Odaiba → Ryogoku → Nitenmon |
|---|---|---|
| Trip 1 | 10:40 → 11:00 → 11:45 | 12:00 → 12:55 → 13:05 |
| Trip 2 | 13:20 → 13:40 → 14:25 | 14:40 → 15:35 → 15:45 |
| Trip 3 | 16:00 → 16:20 → 17:05 | 17:20 → 18:10 → 18:20 |
Fares are one way and set by section:
- Asakusa to Ryogoku: 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for children.
- Asakusa or Ryogoku to Odaiba: 2,000 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for children.
- Children: the child fare covers age 1 to the end of elementary school. Each adult can bring one preschool child free, and babies under 1 ride free.
For a while after the restart, the Asakusa–Odaiba Cruise is 10% off when you pay cashless. The Tokyo Mizube Line website lists which payment brands count and how to buy a ticket.
The Sumida River Yurari Cruise runs two trips, both from Ryogoku. The first leaves at 9:30 and heads upriver via Azumabashi, Nitenmon, Senju and Arakawa Yuen to Kamiya, then returns to Ryogoku at 12:20. The second leaves at 12:45 and goes down to Etchujima, Akashicho and Odaiba. It then turns upriver to Kamiya and ends at Ryogoku at 17:25. Fares and sailing days for this cruise appear on the Tokyo Mizube Line website.
The screenshot below is the city’s press release. Every boat time in this article comes from its timetable.
Who should take the boat (and who should not)
The boat suits you if you want to see Asakusa and Odaiba on the same day. It also suits anyone who wants Sumida River views without booking a dinner cruise. The Ryogoku stop gives you a cheap 600 yen ride if you only want a taste of the river.
Private boats cover the same water. The GO TOKYO guide lists Tokyo Cruise’s Himiko Line from Asakusa to Odaiba Marine Park at 2,000 yen for adults. It has about 2 departures a day, and the trip takes about 50 minutes. The Mizube Line charges the same adult fare, runs three trips a day and adds a stop at Ryogoku.
Skip the boat in these cases:
- You are in Tokyo only on a Monday or Tuesday. The press release says the boats sail mainly Wednesday to Sunday. GO TOKYO’s guide says boats also sail on national holidays, so check the operator’s calendar for a holiday Monday.
- The weather looks poor. The city says weather can change the sailing days. Check on the morning you plan to ride.
- You want to reach Odaiba late. The last boat arrives at Odaiba at 17:05.
- You only care about speed. The boat is a sightseeing ride as much as transport, with three trips a day each way.
How to plan a day with the water bus
You board at one of two river piers: Sensoji Nitemmon in Asakusa or Ryogoku River Center. GO TOKYO uses these names in English. The map below shows the piers, Odaiba and Haneda Airport.
A simple one-way day works like this. Spend the morning around Senso-ji, then catch the 13:20 boat from Nitenmon. You reach Odaiba at 14:25 and have the rest of the afternoon there. If you start early, the 10:40 boat gets you to Odaiba at 11:45, in time for lunch.
Going the other way, boats leave Odaiba at 12:00, 14:40 and 17:20. The last one reaches Nitenmon at 18:20, which works well for dinner in Asakusa. You can also ride the same boat both ways, since each trip waits 15 minutes at Odaiba before heading back.
To reach the Asakusa pier, ride the Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa. Welcome Suica works on Tokyo’s trains, subways and buses, and our guide to IC cards in Tokyo lists where to buy one. For boat tickets and payment brands, check the Tokyo Mizube Line website before you go.
The photo below shows Azumabashi Bridge at Asakusa. The Yurari Cruise also calls at the Azumabashi pier.
If the boat is part of a longer stay, our Tokyo in October guide covers the weather, what to wear and what else is on in the city.
Getting to Asakusa and Odaiba from the airport
Our airport transfer data shows that both ends of the boat route link to Haneda without a change. That means you can start the boat at either end on the day you land.
- Haneda to Asakusa: the Keikyu Line and Toei Asakusa Line take 41 minutes for 610 yen, and some trains run through without a change. The Airport Limousine bus takes 80 minutes and costs 1,300 yen. See Haneda Airport to Asakusa.
- Haneda to Odaiba: the Airport Limousine bus takes 35 minutes for 1,000 yen. It runs 8 times a day from Terminal 3, between 08:35 and 17:25. See Haneda Airport to Odaiba.
Here is how to choose. If your hotel is in Asakusa, take the train, drop your bags and catch the 13:20 or 16:00 boat to Odaiba. If you stay in Odaiba, take the bus straight there and ride the boat to Asakusa on another day. The bus stops at the Odaiba hotels, Tokyo Big Sight and Ariake.
The chart compares the adult fares. The full boat ride to Odaiba costs twice the bus from Haneda, while the short Asakusa–Ryogoku hop costs less than the train from the airport.
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Boat: Asakusa to Ryogoku | 600 yen | |
| Train: Haneda to Asakusa | 610 yen | Keikyu Line and Toei Asakusa Line |
| Bus: Haneda to Odaiba | 1000 yen | Airport Limousine bus |
| Boat: Asakusa or Ryogoku to Odaiba | 2000 yen |
From Narita, the Airport Limousine bus runs to both areas. Check Narita Airport to Asakusa and Narita Airport to Odaiba for times and fares. Narita sits further from the city, so the boat fits better on your second day.
Tokyo water bus FAQ
When does the Tokyo Mizube Line water bus restart?
It restarts on Saturday 17 October 2026. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced the date on 2 October 2026. The line had been suspended since January 2026.
How much is the water bus from Asakusa to Odaiba?
Adults pay 2,000 yen one way, and children pay 1,000 yen. The same fare applies from Ryogoku. Asakusa to Ryogoku alone costs 600 yen for adults.
Does the Tokyo water bus run every day?
The Asakusa–Odaiba Cruise sails mainly Wednesday to Sunday, and weather can change the days. Check the Tokyo Mizube Line website before you head to the pier.
About the author
Photo: Tokyo Mizube Line water taxi – Sumida River, Tokyo, Japan – DSC06293.jpg by Daderot (CC0 1.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
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