When we visited Japan in May, I planned a surprise for my husband’s birthday. I secretly booked a dinner cruise on a traditional Japanese yakatabune*.
I found that there are many yakatabune cruises departing from places like Asakusa, Shinagawa, and the Edogawa area.
Each one offers different sightseeing routes and meals. We chose Funasei, because it is easy to reach from Shinagawa Station.
I didn’t tell my husband where we were going. When we arrived at the pier and he saw the beautiful boat, he looked at me and said, “We’re getting on this?!”
He was completely surprised and so happy.
When we got to our reserved seats, there were appetizers and name tags already prepared, which made it feel extra special 😆✨
The boat set off at a slow pace, and as the scenery changed, we passed under all kinds of bridges on our way toward the Skytree area.
The seasonal dishes and tempura were absolutely delicious, and there was so much food that we could barely finish it all. Since we had an all-you-can-drink plan, we were able to enjoy plenty of drinks too.
With the windows open, we could feel a little of the sea breeze as we passed under the bridges.
There were so many different shapes, and I was amazed by their designs and even by how old some of them were.
Once we reached the spot where the Skytree could be seen beautifully, the boat stopped for a while.
We had a 15-minute break here and could enjoy the view from the boat’s observation deck. The illuminated Skytree was absolutely stunning!
On the opposite side of the Skytree, we could also see trains crossing the bridge, and it felt like we were watching a movie.
After that, we made a short stop in Odaiba.
I heard there’s a fountain show held there at night, and luckily the timing worked out perfectly, so we were able to see the beautifully lit fountain.
There were about 20 people on board, and by the end of the cruise, there was a celebration for someone celebrating a birthday.
Led by the boatman, everyone sang “Happy Birthday” together, and my husband received a small gift from the restaurant.
There was also someone celebrating their 60th birthday, and they were wearing a red hanten jacket for a commemorative photo.
From the food to the service, everything was wonderful, and my husband was so happy to be able to celebrate his birthday together with everyone on board, saying, “This became the best memory—thank you!”
A yakatabune has long been part of Japanese tradition, and it’s an experience that’s hard to come by in the U.S., so if you ever return to Japan, I highly recommend trying it. It was a very satisfying day, and we were able to spend a lovely time together as a family.
It became a birthday we’ll always remember.
Funasei
a yakatabune departing from Shinagawa, Tokyo, that conveys the atmosphere of old Edo.
https://www.funasei.com/
Report by Azusa Kondo-Zelenka
U.S.-Certified Health & Life Coach
IG @azusa_soul_free