Sumida River: Japanese Traditional Yakatabune Dinner Cruise

This was a particularly fun experience since it combined so many things: sightseeing on the river, a ride on a yakatabune, a traditional Japanese multicourse dinner, and an opportunity to mingle with other guests. The attendees seemed to be a mix of foreign and Japanese tourists, and so announcements were spoken in English and Japanese. The two of us sat at a table for six, so we were placed between two other couples and loved getting to know them. While sitting at the tables didn’t offer the best view (it was dark out and some seats had their backs to the windows), the boat made two stops so we could go on the roof and marvel at the view. The all-you-can-drink package is worth it—great choices of sake, sours, and traditional cocktails!

Really fun way to end our vacation. Don’t worry about language issues, one it’s not really needed, but also, the staff spoke English very well, so as long as either Japanese or English work, it’s totally fine.