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Updated: February 13, 2023

Your portal to Tokyo central and its waterways and islands

About 20 minutes by monorail from Haneda Airport, for many people Hamamatsucho is the gateway to Tokyo and beyond, offering a multitude of hotels and convenient bus, rail and ferry connections. Nearby Tokyo Tower dominates the skyline, glowing orange at night or decked out in colored lights for special occasions. The thriving business district comes alive at night as its many small bars and bistros open. By day, the area's wide streets are perfect for strolling to the traditional Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens and Hama-rikyu Gardens, or even down to Tokyo Bay. You can catch a ferry to Asakusa or Odaiba from Hinode Pier, or venture further out to Tokyo's Izu Islands from the Takeshiba Passenger Ship Terminal.

How to Get There

Access the area from Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku Lines, or the Tokyo Monorail.
From Haneda Airport: About 20 minutes by monorail.
From Narita Airport: One hour fifty minutes by train.
From Shinjuku: Take the JR Yamanote Line to Hamamatsucho Station. Travel time: 30 minutes.
From Tokyo: Take the JR Yamanote Line to Hamamatsucho Station. Travel time: 10 minutes.

Modern city views and remnants of old Edo

Both the Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Gardens and the Hama-rikyu Gardens are typical gardens built during the Edo period (1603-1868). Although modern office towers and luxury hotels dominate Hamamatsucho's skyline, these beautiful landscaped gardens are clear reminders that this area was once a favorite of feudal lords. The contrast between their gentle hills, ornamental trees and koi-filled ponds and the modern metropolis is a classic Tokyo cultural mashup. For a panoramic view from above, ascend to the top observation deck of Tokyo Tower at a height of 250 meters.

During the Edo period, visitors could see the ocean from the second level of Zojoji Temple's grand gate. Those views are long gone, but from the temple grounds you get an up-close view of Tokyo Tower.

Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens
A lake in Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens
Cherry blossoms in the Hama-rikyu Gardens
Fall colors in the Hama-rikyu Gardens
Tokyo Bay
Zojoji Temple and Tokyo TowerPhoto courtesy of Zojoji Temple

Next to Tokyo Tower and right behind Zojoji Temple, you’ll find Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai, a tofu restaurant in a beautiful old sake brewery. Stroll around the ornamental gardens as kimono-clad staff scurry about, and you're transported back to Edo... until you look up at the looming orange tower.

The interior of Tofuya Ukai©TOKYO SHIBA TOFUYA UKAI
Food at Tofuya Ukai©TOKYO SHIBA TOFUYA UKAI

 

You choose—relaxing city bay cruise or island adventure

Situated right on Tokyo Bay, Hamamatsucho is the starting point for many marine excursions. From Hinode Pier, for example, you can take the anime-inspired waterbus to historic Asakusa, futuristic Odaiba, or enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise around the bay. From Takeshiba Passenger Ship Terminal, you can board a high-speed ferry or slower passenger vessel to one of Tokyo's 11 islands. Oshima is under two hours away, while Chichijima, one of the subtropical Ogasawara Islands, is 24 hours away.

Hinode Pier
A cruise through Tokyo Bay

Hotels

 

Cruising

 

Parks & Gardens

 

Nearby Attractions