Tokyo’s Next-Generation Mobility: Boats and Vehicles Enhanced by the Latest Technology

Tokyo’s transportation systems are an exciting part of the sightseeing experience, from navigating the subway lines, to driverless waterfront train rides and river cruises through historic areas of the city. In 2026, two new next-generation services bring this idea firmly into the electric age.
In Odaiba, PALETTE RIDE lets you cross the bay area's broad parkland aboard Toyota's futuristic e-Palette vehicle, while PALETTE MARCHÉ transforms the same vehicle into a mobile shop. Across town, Have Fun Nihonbashi e-LINER offers a fully electric boat journey between Nihonbashi and Toyosu.
Together, they reveal a new side of Tokyo where traveling across the city can be as memorable as the destination itself.

Experience New Mobility in Odaiba – PALETTE RIDE and PALETTE MARCHÉ

Odaiba is a spacious seaside area of Tokyo – certainly part of its appeal – but its plazas, bridges and entertainment districts can involve more walking than expected. PALETTE RIDE offers a more relaxed way to get around the area. Launched in October 2025 and currently free of charge, the service uses Toyota's e-Palette vehicle to connect Tokyo Teleport Station with stops across Odaiba and Ariake. It travels through Symbol Promenade Park, following a green route edged with lawns, trees and carefully shaped bonsai. Large windows onboard give you the chance to take in the waterfront landscape during the relatively short ride.

The e-Palette is a battery-electric vehicle designed for a wide range of mobility services developed by Toyota. PALETTE RIDE accommodates up to 11 people, including the driver, and is manually operated at a gentle, safe pace. The low floor, wide sliding door and electric ramp make boarding easy with a wheelchair or stroller. Similar e-Palette vehicles have appeared elsewhere, including a limited service in Yokohama, but Odaiba is a great place to experience the electric vehicle on a day of sightseeing.

Stops include Deaibashi Station, around three minutes on foot from DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. The Tokyo Teleport Station stop is near TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO, which opened in October 2025, while Ariake Station places you near Dream Bridge and Tokyo Dream Park. Routes vary depending on events and crowd conditions, but the service helps visitors get around the Odaiba and Ariake areas. These areas include attractions such as Odaiba Marine Park and Tokyo Aqua Symphony, where Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower create a spectacular backdrop. Zepp DiverCity (TOKYO) and other entertainment venues are also accessible within the wider area.

The same e-Palette vehicle powers PALETTE MARCHÉ, a mobile store that appears at different locations around the promenade. Special promotions featuring collaboration goods are held at various locations around Symbol Promenade Park. Check the official website before your visit, as routes, operating times and PALETTE MARCHÉ locations change often.

The boarding stop near Tokyo Teleport Station

Cross Tokyo's Evolving Waterfront – Have Fun Nihonbashi e-LINER

During the Edo period (1603–1867), Tokyo's waterways carried people and goods through the heart of the city. Have Fun Nihonbashi e-LINER – hailed as "The Future of Water Transport from Nihonbashi" – brings that role into the present with a fully electric passenger service linking Nihonbashi and Toyosu. The one-way journey takes about 25 minutes, providing a quick and convenient connection between two districts, and a fresh view of the city between them.

The silver, 17-meter vessel is powered by two electric motors and carries up to 62 people, including crew. Without the roar of an engine or fuel smell, the experience is very calm and minimizes environmental impact in efforts to coexist with nature. The vessel is barrier-free / wheelchair accessible and can also carry two bicycles. Free Wi-Fi and power outlets let you stay connected, while the fact that the ship is electric means it can become a power supply itself in case of emergency. The ride also offers a 10-minute window when you can take in the view from the ship's deck. You can board at Nihonbashi Pier or the pier beside Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, with advance online booking recommended.

Starting your journey at Nihonbashi gives your trip historical depth. During the Edo period, Nihonbashi was the center of water transport and commerce, and also the location of Tokyo's original fish market. Before boarding, you can explore shops around COREDO Muromachi, visit Fukutoku Shrine or check out Nihonbashi's famous bridge with its impressive kirin statues. The compact streets mix department stores and dining with businesses that have traded here for generations, connecting the modern boat ride with the district's history.

From Nihonbashi, the e-LINER arrives at Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, where shops and restaurants open onto a broad promenade. From there, the trip continue towards Toyosu Park, TeamLab Planets or Toyosu Market, Tokyo's major fish market and home to many amazing sushi restaurants and exciting shops. The e-LINER connects Edo period waterway heritage with Toyosu's open spaces and modern towers, offering a clear view of how Tokyo Bay continues to evolve.

On your trip to Tokyo, take the e-LINER to traverse the city's waterfront, passing bridges and buildings at a pace that adds experiential value to urban daily life. In a city shaped by transportation throughout history, the e-LINER offers expanded options for waterfront mobility and living, and space to watch Tokyo unfold. Services can be affected by weather and schedules may change seasonally, so check the latest operating information before setting out.

A boat cruising leisurely along the Sumida River

TOYOTA e-Palette: PALETTE RIDE

Address	In front of Tokyo Teleport Station, 1-2-1 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo
URL	TOYOTA e-Palette: PALETTE RIDE (JPN)

Have Fun Nihonbashi e-LINER

Address	1-9 Nihonbashi, Chuo City, Tokyo
URL	Have Fun Nihonbashi e-LINER

For updated information on opening hours, days closed, prices, and more, please check the official website.