- Duration
- 2 to 2.5 hours on board
- Group size
- 20–300 pax
- Cities
- Tokyo
Two formats are available. A yakatabune is a traditional wooden boat with a single room on tatami or with backed seating, where tempura is cooked on board and served with sashimi and seasonal dishes, plus free-flow drinks. Boats usually depart from piers in Shinagawa, Tsukishima or Asakusa, and a whole boat can be reserved for 20 to around 100 people depending on its size. A modern restaurant boat, departing from Hinode or Takeshiba piers, offers Western or fusion dining, outdoor decks and a larger capacity.
For a company, the cruise gathers the whole group in a single space, with no dispersal or transfer between venues, and a backdrop that changes throughout the evening. It works well for a leadership speech, an awards ceremony or an incentive closing dinner.
Yakatabune date back to the Edo period, when merchants and nobles held parties on the Sumida River. They are still associated with celebrations, summer fireworks and Japanese company evenings today.
Objectives
- Bring the whole group together in a single private setting
- Provide a moment of celebration or recognition
- Show Tokyo from a different angle
- Connect Edo tradition with the modern skyline
How it works
- 1Choice of format (yakatabune or modern boat) based on numbers and desired atmosphere.
- 2Coach transfer from the hotel to the pier, welcome by our staff.
- 3Boarding and departure; dinner served while cruising.
- 4Passing Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba; time for speeches or awards.
- 5Return to the pier and transfer to the hotel or an after-party.
Good to know
- Yakatabune: shoes off on board; many boats now offer backed seating or horigotatsu.
- In strong wind or storm warnings, the captain may cancel the outing; a shore-side backup dinner is planned, and some yakatabune can stay moored.
- No powerful sound system on yakatabune; a microphone for speeches is available on most boats.
- Dietary needs should reach us two weeks ahead (fried food and seafood dominate).
- Book 2 to 3 months ahead, more for December and the summer fireworks season.
Indicative budget
Indicative: from ~€130 per person on a private yakatabune (dinner, free-flow drinks), more on a modern boat or in peak season. Transfers extra.
Frequently asked questions
Yakatabune or modern boat: which should we choose?
A yakatabune offers a more authentic and intimate Japanese experience, ideal for up to about 100 people. A modern boat suits large groups, Western-style seated dinners and evenings with entertainment.
What happens in bad weather?
Rain alone does not usually stop the cruise, as the dining rooms are enclosed. In strong wind or a warning, the captain may cancel; we then switch to a shore-side backup dinner held on option.
Can we charter several yakatabune?
Yes. For 150 to 300 people, several boats can cruise in convoy. Speeches are then given boat by boat or during a shared moment at the pier.
