Kasai Rinkai Park first opened to the public in 1989 and is the largest park in Tokyo’s 23 wards. Lovely grassy areas, a barbeque and picnic area and great views of Tokyo Bay from the “Crystal View” structure (pictured above) that was built in 1995 can be enjoyed by everyone who visits.  Tokyo Sea Life Park, housed in partially in it’s signature glass dome, is one of the best aquariums in the Tokyo area and is home to over 530 different species of fish and other aquatic life. 

One of the most impressive features at the aquarium is the Deep Sea Theater where visitors can sit in the center of a huge, 2,200 ton, donut-shaped tank filled with Blue-fin Tuna and watch, enthralled, as these large fish, some as long as three meters, swim rounds swiftly before their eyes.  The museum also offers a variety of interesting exhibits on fish and other aquatic life native to Tokyo Bay, as well as rare fish from tropical, coral filled waters and those from the frigid waters of the Antarctic.  Kids will have a great time at the tidal pool area where they can observe, and even touch, starfish and other creatures that make tidal areas their home.  Tokyo Sea Life park  is open 9:30AM -5 PM daily except Wednesdays (closed Thursday if Wednesday is a public holiday – last tickets sold at 4PM). Admission is Y700 for adults, Y350 for seniors, Y250 for children and free for the disabled and children under 12. (Tokyo Sea Life Park Map – PDF)

Also located in the park is a 27.1 ha bird sanctuary that incorporates a forest, marshlands, and both brackish and freshwater ponds.  A two-story observatory and a paved walking trail with access to a number of watching windows offer visitors a chance to see and photograph native birds in a beautiful natural environment.  Bird lovers and those looking for a relaxing walk away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo will enjoy a stroll through this area of Kasai Rinkai Park.

Finish the day off with a ride on one of Japan’s largest Ferris Wheels.  The Diamond & Flowers Ferris Wheel is 117 meters tall, rotates once every 17 minutes and includes 68 six-seat gondolas.  Views of Tokyo Disneyland, Odaiba and if you visit on a clear day, Mount Fuji can be seen from this Ferris Wheel that is named after the beautiful patterns that can been seen in it’s lights after sunset.  The wheel operates daily from 10AM -8PM (one hour later on weekends and holidays) with admission priced at Y700 (ages 3-69), Y400 (age 70+), Y350 (physically disabled with two wheelchair accessible gondolas). Spend a few hours, or a full day, exploring all that Kasai Rinkai Park has to offer.  The entrance to the park is located just outside of Kasai-Rinkai Koen Station on the JR Keiyo Line and is only 15 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.

Image Credit: Flickr, 大洋の航海者, Ferris Wheel & Personal Collection

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

The Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu has 480 guest rooms and suites and is situated in the Minato Mirai District of Yokohama, just minutes away from The Landmark Tower, Japan’s tallest building, where you can take in the view of the bay from the 69th floor Sky Garden. Some of the other things to do and see in the Minato Mirai District include Yokohama Cosmo World, an amusement park with one of the largest Ferris Wheels in the World, the Kishamichi Promenade that stretches 500 meters over the ocean and the world famous Yokohama Chinatown.

The Captain Adventure Plan runs from July 19th to August 31st, excluding July 20th and August 1st, and prices start from ¥37,000 for two adults and one child. The plan also includes a breakfast buffet at the hotel’s Cafe Tosca. 

The Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu is located about 40 minutes by train from Tokyo Station, followed by a one-minute walk from Minato-Mirai Station in Yokohama (access map).  For more information on The Captain Adventure Plan, call (045) 682-2222.

If your travel dates don’t coincide with the Captain Adventure Plan you can book your own cruise of Yokohama Bay and still enjoy all of the other great things that Yokohama has to offer.

Source: Japan Times, Sake in Osaka, cruising in Yokohama
Photo Credit:  Flickr, yokohama at twilight

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

Kachidoki station is the closest and from there it’s a 20 minute walk to Harumi Pier or you could take a taxi for approximately Y1,000 from the station.(area map)

An alternate route would be to take the water taxi from Hinode Pier to Harumi Pier at a cost of Y200.  The Hinode Pier is a 2 minute walk from the Hinode Station or an 8 minute walk from the Hamamatsucho Station (map).

To get some help planning your route use the Tokyo Transfer Guide – it’s a handy resource that’s always at your fingertips in the right sidebar.

Photo Credit: Flickr, 4174

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

My hubby and I decide to make a day trip to Odaiba , a futuristic area of Tokyo constructed on reclaimed land. The area boasts unique architecture, many shopping and dining options and a number of high tech game centers. It’s proximity to Tokyo makes it a great place to get away from the city for the afternoon and it’s just a nice area to walk around.

The Giant Sky Wheel opened in 1999, has 64 carriages and is 115 meters (377 Feet) tall. You have an option to ride in an enclosed carriage or one of four open carriages that opened in April of this year.

You can’t miss the Giant Sky Wheel on the horizon as you exit the train station. I commented to my husband on how much I don’t like ferris wheels and how odd that is since I love a good roller coater and he replied by saying that he wasn’t much of a fan either. Great, I thought until we approached the Giant Sky Wheel and my husband said “lets go!” and walked up to the ticket booth before my brain kicked in to say “Wait, I’m not so sure…”

We got on the Giant Sky Wheel and were heading for heights that I wasn’t so sure that I wanted to attain. I spent most of the next 16 minutes hanging on to the rails for dear life despite the fact the ride was very stable and slow moving. I did peek out at the view a couple of times and it is really spectacular. You can see the Tokyo Tower on the horizon, the Rainbow bridge in the foreground along with all of the ultra modern buildings of Odaiba and some of the shipping activities going on out in Tokyo Bay.

I’m sort of glad that I went on the Giant Sky Wheel but I don’t think that I’ll be doing it again anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go and claim your 16 minutes of terror, or should I say, memories!

Ride Information & Access:

The Giant Sky Wheel in Odaiba is open from 10AM to 10PM daily (weather permitting). Tickets cost Y900 per person or Y3000 for a 6 person carriage. Commemorative photos are taken before you embark and can be purchased for Y800 when you get off the ride. Odaiba can be accessed via a number of train lines and a completely automated monorail (details here).

Photo Credit: Personal Collection

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler