Living in a mega metropolis means your bucket list is always refilling. One experience on mine & my wife's bucket list was a dinner cruise in Tokyo bay. Recently we decided to check that one off our list, enter Tokyo Bay Symphony Cruise.
Located about 30min from Shinjuku, Tokyo Symphony Cruise is one of the only bay cruise companies left operating in the bay.
Even so their prices, from $32 - $150, are very reasonable. You can choose between a Lunch Cruise, Afternoon Cruise, Sunset Cruise or Dinner Cruise. We opted for a Sunset Cruise with all you can drink & appetizers for $58.
The route to the port is lined with skyscrapers & buildings offering cool views
A short two minute walk from the station and you arrive the cruise departure building.
The red carpet waiting room prepares you for your departure.
As the sun begins to set the excitement builds as you board the ship Moderna for the Sunset Cruise.
Moderna has 3 main dining floors with an observation deck on the 3rd floor as well as a rooftop observation deck above.
Seating was randomly assigned for our cruise. We were lucky to get a window seat
We ordered our first drink and made our way outside to take in the scenery.
The exit to the observation decks is port side.
The first observation deck is on the third dining floor.
The rooftop deck is a short flight of stairs from the lower observation deck. The best views were from the rooftop deck, but the blowing winds kept us from spending a lot of time there.
A look aft to Shiodome station.
Apparently you can purchase a "love lock" to leave behind on the rooftop deck to ensure your love lasts.
This is a common practice for various types of wishes all over Japan.
Back inside our appetizers had arrived.
These were perfect as I would be taking my wife to an A5 beef dinner over in Shibuya later in the evening.
Hers...
And his.
Careful enjoying your food & drink though, or you might miss out on some of the spectacular views.
As the ship moves out into the bay, past the stevedores, the majestic Mt. Fuji comes into view aft side.
One of the reasons we chose the Sunset Cruise was because we weren't sure how the views would be at night only. The Sunset Cruise gives you a chance to see both what the Lunch, Sunset and Dinner Cruises would be like. We both agreed when we come back it will definitely be for another Sunset Cruise.
A plane passes Mt. Fuji and prepares to land at nearby Haneda International Airport.
One last look before dessert from the Tokyo Gate Bridge.
For reference, here is the cruise route.
(source - https://www.symphony-cruise.co.jp/en/cruising_plan/sunset/sunset_spr2021.html)
A small dessert is served about 45minutes from end of the cruise.
Then it's back out for the last leg of the journey back to port. The city lights are magical as day turns into night.
For me the highlight of the evening approached as we neared the Rainbow Bridge.
While sometimes the city can be brutalist, cold and an offensive, it is just as often a work of art and testament to human engineering and design.
Now I know why there are so many tower mansions(condo/apt.) down here at the port, the views are spectacular at night.
20 minutes before returning there is a small concert on the second deck.
While she was quite good, I spent the final minutes of the cruise outside amongst the lights.
Moderna's smaller, sister ship Classica.
After a very fast two hours your cruise comes to an end.... that is until next time!
Here are some final pictures. First is one of the dining rooms for the more expensive plans.
The exit/entry to the ship.
A final look back at our ship, the Moderna.
In closing, there are smaller, all you can eat and drink traditional Japanese boats you can cruise the bay on, but Symphony's Moderna is one of the only large cruise ships left. It was an awesome experience and my wife and I are already looking forward to go again later this spring or summer for dinner.
I would definitely recommend this cruise line if you are in Tokyo. Symphony offers many different meal plans for lunch, afternoon, sunset & dinner cruises. You need to make reservations though so keep that in mind. You can find them at their website here: https://www.symphony-cruise.co.jp/en/cruising_plan/index.html
You can find all of my Tokyo Travel's on pinmapple.com here: https://www.pinmapple.com/@rt395
Thanks for reading!
All images taken with my iPhone 11.
