Last Updated on November 30, 2025
The beginning of precious autumn
Back in late September, the cool north wind was blowing, making it very pleasant, so I invited my mother to join a lunch cruise in Tokyo Bay. This summer in Japan was filled with dangerously hot days, so a day this comfortable was extremely rare. I couldn’t let a day like this pass by.
Symphony Tokyo Bay Cruise
The meeting point for the Symphony Tokyo Bay Cruise is Hinode Station on the Yurikamome Line. The Yurikamome Line is a driverless train that runs on rubber tires, connecting Toyosu and Shimbashi. Since it mainly runs at an elevated level along the bay, you can enjoy great views just by riding it.
Waiting time
Waiting timeAbout a three-minute walk from the station, we found the waiting area. Inside, there was the Symphony Cruise reception counter, waiting setas, and a café.
We had to check in at least 15 minutes before the ship departed, and since we had some time to spare, we went to the café. I had homemade marmalade soda, and the flavor of real orange peel came through beautifully. When I hear something is made with homemade, I can’t help wanting to taste it. The sweetness was just right, and it was so refreshing.
In addition, I sampled the new truffle salt rusk at the café. It had a light, crisp texture with just the right amount of salt, and you could really taste the savory flavor of the truffle salt. They sell it as a souvenir on the ship, and I really wish I had bought some.
After a while, a group of Hato Bus tour customers arrived by bus. Hato Bus is a popular sightseeing bus service in Japan. It seems that the full-day Tokyo tour by Hato Bus — which includes the 50-minute coffee cruise — is available for English bookings on GetYourGuide. In addition, Klook offers an English-version booking option for a plan similar to the official one. So, I’ve included the information later in the post.
Time to board!
And now, our two-hour cruise is finally beginning—right on schedule at 11 a.m.! The white ship and fluffy clouds really pop against the blue sea and sky. We made our way across the gangway and onto the ship. All the staff were friendly and greeted us warmly. In the background of the photo, you can see the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba.
The inside of the ship
The inside of the shipThe gangway led directly to the second floor of the ship. On that floor was our reserved restaurant, Four Seasons, and in front of it was a staircase that led up to the third floor. The handrail of the staircase was a lovely gold and had been polished to a bright, glossy finish. Holding back our urge to explore the ship, we first headed to the restaurant.
Cruise Info
Price: The Italian lunch course with boarding – 57.46 USD / 49.85 EUR
(approximate conversion from JPY)
Access: 250 m / 820 ft from Hinode Station
Symphony Cruise Official website
Klook
GET YOUR GUIDE
All info is current as of my visit.
