Hotaluna Cruise
Tokyo’s Edgy Boat With a Promenade Deck Roof
Hotaluna Cruise is a water route traveling between Asakusa district, Tokyo Bay and the polder of Odaiba in Japan. Hotaluna is also a ship with an eye-catching futuristic design imagined by Japanese mangaka Leiji Matsumoto and featuring an open-air promenade deck on its roof.
Tokyo Cruise Ship, a river transport company, provides touristic cruises in the heart of the old Edo’s former lower city Shitamachi, departing from Asakusa ferry ⛴️ terminal, at a stone’s throw away from Senso-ji temple. Several daily shuttle run the Sumida-gawa river and connect with Tokyo Bay and Odaiba.
The company owns about a dozen of vessels, of which 3 are water-bus imagined by Leiji Matsumoto (1938 – 2023), famous Japanese illustrator and author of manga such as Space Pirate Captain Harlock or Galaxy Express 999. The ships are named accordingly:
- Himiko (ヒミコ), launched in 2004;
- Hotaluna (ホタルナ), operating since 2012; and,
- Emeraldas (エメラルダス), launched in 2018.
The glass and metal futuristic design of these ships, with curves and gull-wing doors, is directly inspired by Leiji Matsumoto’s science fictional universe. The Hotaluna is gliding over the water of the Sumida river like a spaceship during the day, and a dancing firefly at night.
The largest ship designed by Leiji Matsumoto
Hotaluna is distinguishable from the 2 other ships by her promenade deck located on her roof, that lets passengers out as soon as the ship enters Tokyo Bay, for them to enjoy the marine breeze and the amazing cityscape:
- Old and new skyscrapers of the surrounding neighborhoods (Tsukishima, Shiodome, Harumi, Toyosu and Odaiba) that successively appear by the water; then,
- The Rainbow Bridge unfolding gracefully; and,
- Odaiba seaside and the iconic building of Fuji TV headquarters and its spherical observatory.
Hotaluna can board up to 120 passengers, and she is the largest boat of the Leiji Matsumoto fleet. Inside (1F) benches are provided for passengers who would like to sit, as well as about a dozen of tables. A bar is available for a drink or a snack during the cruise.
She operates on Tokyo Cruise Ship's 2 main touristic river cruises between Asakusa and Odaiba, namely:
- Asakusa - Hinode Pier: Hinode Pier is located in Minato Ward, on the Yurikamome Line, near Takeshiba port, from where ferries for Ogasawara Islands and Izu Archipelago depart, as well as near the Japanese garden Kyu Shiba Rikyu; and,
- Asakusa - Odaiba Seaside Park, where the landing pier is located in front of Decks and Aqua City shopping malls and Fuji TV, close to the artificial beach and Odaiba’s Statue of Liberty.
The Hotaluna cruise is pleasant at any time of the day or night and allows the combination of transportation and contemplative urban discovery. Additional perk during the sakura 🌸 season: the view on Sumida Park’s cherry trees blooming above the water.