By JIN NISHIOKA/ Staff Writer
October 26, 2023 at 14:12 JST
Instead of traveling underground, commuters in central Tokyo can now enjoy fresh air and a night view of the city aboard a new ferry that set sail on Oct. 25.
This new ferry service connects Nihonbashi in Tokyo's Chuo Ward and Toyosu in Koto Ward in around 20 minutes, about the same time commuting from Nihonbashi Station to Toyosu Station on the Tokyo Metro subway line.
“I enjoyed seeing the scenery from a different perspective," said a 31-year-old company employee working in Toyosu. "I would like to ride the ferry once a month for a change of pace.”
A total of five round trips will be made in the evenings every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Fares are 500 yen ($3.30) each way for passengers in junior high school or older and 250 yen for elementary school students. Adult passengers can also take up to the same number of preschoolers aboard for free.
If there is room on the ferry, passengers can ride without a reservation.
According to the Tokyo metropolitan government, officials conducted an experiment last year by offering a ferry service along a different route. It proved to be so popular that they decided to establish this regularly scheduled commuter ferry operated by a private business.
The metropolitan government will subsidize half of the operating costs for up to 100,000 yen per day for three years and has been soliciting business operators.
The Tokyo metropolitan government hopes that the ferry will enliven the popular waterfront area.
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Passengers enjoy the night view on board a ferry that started service in central Tokyo between Nihonbashi and Toyosu on Oct. 25. (Jin Nishioka)
