Walk Across Tokyo Bay! Take a Stroll in the Sky on the Rainbow Bridge Walkway
The Rainbow Bridge, approximately 800 meters long, connects the Shibaura and Odaiba areas in Minato Ward. Since its opening in 1993, this magnificent suspension bridge has been used by countless people, but did you know that, in addition to cars and the Yurikamome train, you can actually walk across it? The Rainbow Bridge features the Rainbow Promenade, a pedestrian walkway that’s not only popular for strolling but also a hidden gem as a jogging route and photo spot. In this article, we’ll take a walk along the Rainbow Promenade ourselves to share its many charms.
The massive Shibaura Anchorage that really gets you pumped up
If you’re walking across the Rainbow Bridge from the Shibaura side, the nearest station is Shibaura-Futo Station on the Yurikamome New Transit System. As soon as I stepped out of the station, the Rainbow Bridge came into view. Just as its official name, “Tokyo Port Link Bridge,” suggests, it’s amazing to be able to walk across this iconic bridge spanning Tokyo Bay.
After about a 5-minute walk, I arrived right underneath the Rainbow Bridge. There are signs pointing the way, so it doesn't look like I'll get lost.
A rare glimpse of the underside of the Rainbow Bridge—something you don’t usually get to see. Viewing the underside of the bridge from the ground, rather than from a water bus or a traditional Japanese pleasure boat, might be a rare treat.
Nearby is Shibaura Minami Pier Park, a beloved gathering place for residents and workers alike, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Rainbow Bridge from various angles.
We have arrived at the Shibaura Anchorage, which serves as the starting point on the Shibaura side. An anchorage is a structure used to secure the main cables of a suspension bridge, and the Shibaura Anchorage also serves as the entrance and exit to the Rainbow Promenade.
As you'd expect from a structure designed to secure the cables of a massive bridge, the Shibaura Anchorage has a solid, imposing exterior. When you get up close, you'll be overwhelmed by its sheer size. You can pass through it to access the Rainbow Promenade.
Walk up the ramp at the front to enter Shibaura Anchorage. The second-floor entrance has restrooms, benches, and vending machines, so you can get ready for your walk. There is no admission fee, nor is there a toll to walk along the Rainbow Promenade. You can walk there for free.
The entrance features a scale model of the Shibaura Anchorage, informational panels depicting the scenery, and even a comparison chart with the Yokohama Bay Bridge, all of which help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the Rainbow Bridge they are about to walk across. Incidentally, although it is currently closed, there used to be an observation deck on the 6th floor of the Odaiba Anchorage, located on the opposite side from the Shibaura Anchorage.
Take the elevator from the entrance up to the 7th floor, and you’ll finally arrive at the Rainbow Promenade. The Rainbow Promenade consists of two routes: the South Route (South Promenade) on the south side and the North Route (North Promenade) on the north side, and you can start your walk from either one. This time, we’ll take a round-trip route, starting on the South Route and returning via the North Route. If you’re starting from the Shibaura side, the South Route—which offers views of Odaiba—might be the best choice.
You can feel the history in the ruins left behind in Odaiba
The 7th floor of Shibaura Anchorage, the starting point of the Rainbow Promenade, is 47 meters above sea level. Because the bridge curves like a bow, the elevation increases as you move toward the center. Also, since the sea breeze is strong, be careful not to let your belongings blow away.
The Rainbow Bridge has a dual-deck structure; the upper deck carries the Metropolitan Expressway Route 11 (Daiba Line), while the lower deck accommodates the Yurikamome railway tracks, the Rinkai Road, and the Rainbow Promenade. The Rinkai Road runs on both sides of the train tracks, which are located in the center of the lower deck, and the Rainbow Promenade’s South Route and North Route flank the Rinkai Road. Since both routes face the Rinkai Road, please be very careful of cars, even though there are guardrails in place.
A few minutes after setting out, we arrived at the main tower. The Rainbow Promenade features a detour path designed to go around the main tower, making it a nice little spot to take a break. Here, people with cameras were taking photos as they pleased.
The main tower stands 52 meters above sea level. Looking back toward Shibaura from the main tower, I could see the Shibaura Loop Bridge across the Shibaura Anchorage. The Shibaura Loop Bridge is a loop-shaped bridge that allows cars and the Yurikamome train to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
The Shibaura industrial complex and, in the distance ahead, the tourist attractions of Odaiba. After capturing the spectacular view in a photo, it’s time to hit the road again.
After walking about 330 meters from the starting point at Shibaura Anchorage, you’ll reach the central section of the Rainbow Bridge. This central section is the highest point of the Rainbow Promenade, at 58 meters above sea level. There were signs along the path indicating “To Odaiba” and “To Shibaura.”
From here on, the path slopes gently downward. Along the way, I passed a few joggers; with its moderate ups and downs, this might just be the perfect course. After a while, I arrived at the detour area near the main tower on the Odaiba side. From here, you can see not only Odaiba’s popular tourist spots but also the Sixth Battery up close. The Sixth Battery, which is currently off-limits, is the site of a cannon emplacement built during the Edo period. It was striking to see so many birds flying around the area—perhaps it has become a nesting ground.
It takes just a few minutes to reach the Odaiba Anchorage from the main tower on the Odaiba side. Unlike the Shibaura Anchorage, which is located on land, the Odaiba Anchorage is built over the water, so you can’t go downstairs. You simply walk through the building and continue along the Rainbow Promenade.
The structures and piers of the Rainbow Bridge are each assigned a number, such as P22 for the Shibaura Anchorage, P23 for the main tower on the Shibaura side, P24 for the main tower on the Odaiba side, and P25 for the Odaiba Anchorage. The last pier on the Odaiba side is P33, and you’ll continue walking past the Odaiba Anchorage, but actually, just before that—at pier P31—there’s a crosswalk under the bridge leading to the North Route.
As you approach the entrance on the Odaiba side, the fence gives way to a low railing, so you can enjoy the view without being obstructed by the fence.
We have arrived at the entrance on the Odaiba side. Right next door is Odaiba Park, which was developed on the site of a battery—established during the Edo period, just like the Sixth Battery—and the remains of the battery can still be seen today.
The bridge itself is about 800 meters long, but the actual distance walked from the Shibaura Anchorage entrance to the Odaiba exit is about 1.7 kilometers. If you walk at a leisurely pace, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes one way. Foreign tourists—including families and groups of women who appeared to be friends—were enjoying their stroll high above the ground. Now, it’s time for the return trip.
You can sense the future along the waterfront lined with skyscrapers
This time, we’ll take the North Route from the Odaiba side back to the Shibaura side. When approaching from the Odaiba side, the North Route is on the right and the South Route is on the left.
The North Route offers panoramic views of waterfront areas such as Toyosu, Harumi, and Takeshiba. Since the route gradually approaches the bridge from directly the side, you can see the full view of the Rainbow Bridge. Odaiba Anchorage, built out in the ocean, is truly impressive, and you can even see Tokyo Tower in the distance.
Further in the distance, I could see the Tokyo Skytree and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, among other landmarks. I was able to enjoy these symbols of Tokyo as I walked.
We passed through Odaiba Anchorage once again and headed to the detour area located in the main tower section on the Odaiba side of the North Route. The site where the Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal once stood has been developed into Harumi Pier Park.
We passed through the central section of the Rainbow Bridge and the main tower on the Shibaura side, and returned to the finish line at Shibaura Anchorage.
Below us, as is typical of the Shibaura waterfront area, containers are lined up in rows. The Tokyo Tower also looks closer than it did a moment ago.
That wraps up this walk. The round-trip route was about 3.4 km, but perhaps because I was strolling leisurely in the sea breeze, I wasn’t as tired as I expected. One thing to keep in mind when walking is the opening hours: from April through October (summer), the bridge is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and from November through March (winter), it’s open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.Also, be sure to check the closure dates and other important information for both Anchorage locations in advance. Even just gazing at the Rainbow Bridge from afar is enough to be captivated by its grandeur, but I also highly recommend taking a leisurely stroll across it. Why not enjoy the dynamic bayfront scenery from the bridge?
Click here
for closure dates and other important information https://www.kouwan.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kanko/road/rainbowbridge
Click here
for closure dates and other important information https://www.kouwan.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kanko/road/rainbowbridge
Rainbow Promenade
