Wasen Tomo no Kai

Throughout the Edo period (1603-1868), traditional Japanese wooden boats known as wasen
were used to transport goods and passengers along Tokyo’s many rivers and canals. In order to preserve the wasen and its unique rowing techniques, members of the Wasen Tomo no Kai association provide free rides on these boats once or twice a week. No booking is required: just make your way to the Yokojukken-gawa Shinsui Park in Koto to enjoy a ride (roughly 20 minutes) on the canal. If you’re lucky, the boat operator might even wear a shirushi-banten (traditional indigo-blue jacket) complete with a suge-gasa conical hat, perfect for your Instagram shot. The staff will also be delighted to teach you how to use the ro, a wooden propulsion tool more effective than the regular oar.