I took Tokyo's public water bus instead of a cruise. The $13 ticket was a cheaper, no-frills way to see the city.
In April, I explored Tokyo on a public water bus.
The ticket cost $13 and I thought it was a refreshing break from the city's subways and trains.
It was also much cheaper than other day cruise options — I saved $35.
The first thing I did when I landed in Tokyo after a 12-hour flight was hop on a train and head to my hotel.
And for the next five days of the 12-day trip, I navigated the world's largest city by trains and subways.
But by day six, I was itching to see the city from a new perspective, so I headed to the water.
Up until this point, I hadn't seen much water in Tokyo. But I learned that the city was built around four major rivers: Arakawa, Sumidagawa, Edogawa, and Tamagawa.
And on those rivers, tourists and locals can find dozens of boating options ranging from public transit ferries to leisure cruises.
Major cruise lines like Norwegian, Princess Cruises, and Windstar Cruises offer multi-day sailings out of Tokyo Bay, where the Tamagawa and Sumidagawa Rivers empty, according to Cruise Critic.
Source: Cruise Critic
But I didn't want to spend my limited time in Tokyo on a lengthy cruise, so I turned to shorter options.
I first considered day cruises, but most were expensive. For example, Tokyo's Urban Launch is a luxury afternoon cruise for $640 (85,800 yen), according to Live Japan. I could also take the Symphony Bay Cruise, but that would set me back $48 (6,400 yen), according to the same source.
Source: Live Japan
Tokyo also has private water taxis, but according to Live Japan, they start at $38 (5,000 yen) for 15 minutes.
Source: Live Japan
Then I found Tokyo's public water buses, or suijo bus in Japanese. Operated by Tokyo Cruise, the water buses offer a handful of routes on numerous ships.
Source: Tokyo Cruise
And they were my cheapest option. The routes, which varied in sailing length and port locations, cost $15 or less.
The closest pier for me was in the Asakusa neighborhood in northeast Tokyo. I opted for an hour-long route on the company's Hotaluna boat, which would drop me off at Tokyo's Odaiba Seaside Park at the edge of Tokyo Bay.
Since I was visiting during the popular cherry blossom season, day-of tickets were hard to book, so I reserved my spot a few days ahead of time. The one-way ticket cost about $13 (1,720 yen).
On the day of the cruise, I headed to Asakusa. It's a bustling Tokyo neighborhood near the Sensō-ji temple, which is Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, according to Go Tokyo.
Source: Go Tokyo
After pinballing through crowds, I made it to the pier. Here, my ticket was scanned and I walked to the water where the Hotaluna boat was docked.
It was unlike any boat I've been on. Designed by Japan's manga and anime artist Leiji Matsumoto, the boat was crafted to look like a futuristic spaceship, according to Chugoku + Shikoku x Tokyo.
Source: Chugoku + Shikoku x Tokyo
The boat was encapsulated by windows. Its metallic window frames glittered in the bright sun, and a door opened vertically to let passengers onboard.
I stepped inside and thought the futuristic exterior matched the interior. Black couches lined the ship and domed windows let in bluish-tinted light.
As the boat set off, it felt like I was floating in the water instead of above it. My eye level hovered at the water's surface, and other boats passing by towered above the Hotaluna ship.
At the front of the ship, captains navigated the boat from a glass capsule. Along the way, they shared stories and information about the sights we were passing in Japanese.
Inside, I noticed that people filled every bench, chair, and table. At the back of the boat was a bar, but it wasn't open during my ride. In another area, I spotted bathrooms.
From the domed windows, I could spot famous landmarks like the Tokyo Skytree observation deck and the city's famous bridges.
About halfway through the ride, the rooftop area opened and passengers flocked to the fresh air outdoors.
The views from the top deck were unlike anything I had seen yet in Tokyo. Before the boat ride, it had been challenging to see the outline of Tokyo's cityscape since there were constantly skyscrapers towering above me.
But with 360-degree views of the city, I gained a whole new perspective of just how large Tokyo truly is. During the one-hour trip, the boat made a stop at the Hinode Pier.
And its final destination was Odaiba Seaside Park. The area is home to a manmade beach, a replica of the Statue of Liberty, the city's aquarium, and other attractions.
It was a place I would've wanted to visit whether or not I arrived by boat, but I was happy to splurge a few extra dollars to arrive by water instead of by subway. Not only did I enjoy the fresh air, but I gained a new perspective on Tokyo.
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