Tokyo Cherry Blossom Cruise: Sukiyaki/Tea ceremony&Shamisen
Description
Step aboard a traditional yakatabune houseboat and experience a cultural journey rooted in Japanese history. Beautifully decorated with seasonal cherry blossoms and elegant Japanese interiors,the boat offers a perfect setting for memorable photos. Originating in the Heian period and later popular among merchants and townspeople in the Edo period, the yakatabune remains a unique way to explore Japan from the water. Enjoy a live shamisen performance, a traditional Japanese string instrument known for its rich, expressive sound and deep cultural heritage. As you cruise through Tokyo Bay near Odaiba, you may also witness the Tokyo Aqua Symphony fountain show (approx. 10 minutes, subject to conditions), featuring synchronized water jets, music, and lighting effects. This experience combines traditional culture, live performance, and modern Tokyo waterfront scenery for an unforgettable journey. Please collect your Tokyo Tower ticket from the onboard guide. The ticket is valid for six months.
Tour Options
Itinerary
1-chōme-3-23 Etchūjima, Koto City, Tokyo (This is the drop-off point for taxis; you can accurately locate it on Google Maps). Final boarding point: 1-chōme-3-3 Etchūjima. Please go to the meeting point by yourself, arrive 15 minutes early. Late arrivals will not be accommodated 1：Enjoy professional performances of Japanese instruments for an immersive experience of the rich national culture. 2：Choose from a variety of authentic Japanese experiences, including a sushi and sake, a sukiyaki beef dinner, or a tea ceremony with traditional sweets. 3：Enjoy the cherry blossoms along the riverbanks (blooming is highly weather-dependent; we schedule the cruise during the approximate peak season, but full bloom cannot be guaranteed). 4：Sumida River Route passing by landmarks such as Sumida River Bridge, Ryogoku Bridge, Komagata Bridge, Azuma Bridge, and Sakura Bridge.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not accepted: infants under 3 years old, pregnant women, individuals with severe leg or back conditions, and those in wheelchairs
- Cabin seating is allocated at random and may be either traditional Japanese tatami seating or Western-style chairs.
- You will need to remove your shoes for this experience.
- Due to limited seating on the yakatabune, shared tables may be required.
Reviews(31)
The dinner was excellent and the guide very pleasant. It was an enjoyable time. The boat was lovely.
Thank you for your nice feedback! So happy you loved the delicious dinner, pleasant service and lovely boat. Glad you had a wonderful enjoyable time, looking forward to your next visit!
Excellent trip! We enjoyed the sukiyaki, the water, and the entertainment. Karen did a great job, plus the singer and shamisen player were a lot of fun.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the sukiyaki, the beautiful views on the water, and the entertainment onboard. Karen will be very happy to hear your kind words, and we’ll be sure to share your compliments with the singer and shamisen performer as well. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you again soon! ⛴️✨
This was a short cruise that included a tea ceremony and musical entertainment. It was a very small group and the staff made us feel welcome. The price was right and we had a great time. We got to see some of Tokyo we had not yet seen.
Thank you so much for your kind review! 😊 We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tea ceremony, musical performance, and the warm hospitality from our staff. It’s wonderful to know that you had a great time and were able to discover a different side of Tokyo during the cruise. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! ⛴️✨
Sheila is amazing! This was a totally different wonderful experience! I highly recommend it. Making the match tea, going to the second floor the sightseeing is amazing. The Japanese music so elegant and pretty. I would repeat it again but next time I will do it in the night, it would be very romantic time to delight with your couple
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you had such a unique and enjoyable experience with us. It’s especially lovely to know that Sheila made such a great impression. We’re very happy that you enjoyed making matcha, the sightseeing from the upper deck, and the elegance of the traditional Japanese music. Your idea of coming back for an evening cruise sounds perfect—it's indeed a very romantic atmosphere. Thank you for your kind recommendation, and we truly look forward to welcoming you again in the future.
Staff were wonderful, food was much better than expected, great views at the stopping point, and entertainment throughout.
Thank you so much for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our team’s service, the food, the views at the stop, and the entertainment throughout the experience. It truly means a lot to us. We hope to welcome you again in the future.
It was an awesome experience! Yo-yo was great! She gave us an overview of history of Tokyo & she helped us to take picture. The boat ride was full of activities from delicious dinner, sightseeing, pictures taken, listen to both cultural instruments & songs! 👍 I would recommend this tour to my other friends.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you had such an awesome experience with us. It’s great to know that Yo-yo made a positive impression, from sharing the history of Tokyo to helping you capture special moments. We’re also very happy that you enjoyed the full range of activities, including the delicious dinner, sightseeing, photos, and the cultural music and performances. Thank you for your kind recommendation, and we hope to welcome you and your friends in the future.
The music was wonderful, as was the food and experience. Highly recommended this tour. Karen was a great host
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the music, the food, and the overall experience. It’s especially lovely to know that Karen made a great impression as your host. Thank you for your kind recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again in the future.
Taxi, locals, and google can’t find the meeting point, expect to arrive over an hour early just to find the spot. They send a video on how to find the spot with a day less to go, so pray your WiFi works or you’re out of luck. Especially if the weather is bad, and there is no way to contact them efficiently.
Thank you for your feedback, and we are sorry to hear about the difficulty you experienced finding the meeting point. We would like to clarify that the detailed meeting instructions, exact address, and contact information are provided on the booking page, as well as in the pre-departure messages and again on the day of the tour. We also share a guidance video to help guests locate the meeting point more easily. We kindly recommend ensuring that your phone and internet connection are available before departure, as this allows you to access the directions and contact our team if needed. In case of any difficulty, guests are always encouraged to reach out to the on-site guide using the contact number provided, so we can assist you promptly. We truly appreciate your comments and will continue working to make the meeting process as smooth as possible for all guests. Thank you again for joining us.
I had a great time and met some good people on this tour (shout-out to Jasmine and David!) 😆. Our tour guide Karen was excellent and very helpful with answering any questions. I also enjoyed the food, the music and the musician/singer.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you had a great time and even made new friends during the tour—special shout-out to Jasmine and David 😊 It’s also lovely to know that Karen took great care of you and that you enjoyed the food, music, and performance. We truly appreciate your kind support and hope to welcome you again in the future.
The meeting point is a bit out of the way ( we were staying in Shibuya) but it was fun! Cute boat, decorated with lanterns, cherry blossoms etc. the staff was very friendly, accommodating, and patient as my kids are young and my youngest bad a hard time staying still. Tea ceremony with snacks, photo “shoot” on the roof, then traditional music. There were extra free drinks if one wants more than the matcha tea. All in all very lovely!! We were there early April.
Thank you so much for your lovely and detailed review. We are delighted to hear that you and your family had such a nice time on board and enjoyed the decorations, tea ceremony, photo stop, and traditional music. We truly appreciate your kind words about our team being friendly and patient, especially with your young children—it means a lot to us. We also understand that the meeting point may feel a bit far depending on where you stay, and we’re grateful for your understanding. Thank you again for your support, and we hope to welcome you and your family again in the future.
