My Tokyo Guide
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Updated: August 28, 2024
Located within a well-protected bay, Tokyo and the neighboring city of Yokohama are major shipping destinations. While much of the waterfront has been developed for industrial use, numerous parks offer convenient seaside recreation such as water play, bird-watching and barbecuing.
Though many of the region’s most pristine beaches are an hour or two away in Chiba and Kamakura, Tokyo Bay also offers several recreational beach areas, including Kasai Kaihin Park, Shiokaze Park, Odaiba Seaside Park, and Jonanjima Seaside Park. Take a day off and journey to any of these destinations to enjoy grilling, bird-watching, and other recreational activities. During the hot and humid summer months, these parks abound with children playing in the water and local residents looking to enjoy the cool sea breeze and pleasant views.
Grill up your favorite meats and veggies without any prep by renting a spot at the SONA Area Tokyo BBQ Garden in Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park. Reserve for a party of two or more, then receive all the necessary food, equipment, and cookware on site. Closer to central Tokyo in Toyosu is THE BBQ BEACH in TOYOSU, where you can barbecue on a comfortable wooden deck overlooking Rainbow Bridge.
As Tokyo Bay’s water quality is not as pristine as that of the nearby Shonan Coast and Miura Peninsula, swimming within the bay is generally off-limits, with the exception of Kasai Kaihin Park Beach. Located near Tokyo Disney Resort, this beach allows summer swimming depending on the water quality. For additional swimming and surfing, consider a trip to the beaches of Kamakura, Enoshima, Zushi, or Morito, located within an hour or two of central Tokyo.
Both Odaiba Beach and Kasai Kaihin Park Beach offer toilets and showers or foot washing stations to freshen up after a day in the sand. Kasai Kaihin Park Beach also provides changing rooms to facilitate water play. Be aware that the facilities and attractions around the beach areas are highly seasonal, so don't expect the full range to be available outside of summer. However, the beaches are a great place to wander around in any season, and offer great views of the Tokyo cityscape from across the bay—a good choice, especially if you are traveling with children.
In addition to beachside barbecues and recreation, each oceanside park boasts its own unique appeal and attractions. The expansive grounds of Kasai Rinkai Park include an enormous Ferris wheel, aquarium, and numerous bird-watching areas perfect for a day of Tokyo birding. Jonanjima Seaside Park is located near Haneda Airport, providing vantage points of planes taking off and landing. Odaiba Seaside Park is conveniently located adjacent to the numerous restaurants, shops, and attractions of Odaiba, so you can enjoy all the metropolitan amenities of Tokyo along with outdoor recreation. From Odaiba to Asakusa, you can also depart on several different pleasure cruises taking you through the channels of Tokyo Bay.