The 800-meter-long Rainbow Bridge connects the Shibaura and Odaiba areas of Minato City. Since its opening in 1993, this magnificent suspension bridge has been used by many travelers. While most people know it for cars and the Yurikamome transit line, few realize you can actually walk across it. The Rainbow Bridge features the Rainbow Promenade - a pedestrian walkway that’s not just ideal for a stroll, but also popular as a jogging route and a hidden gem for photos. In this article, we’ll walk the Promenade ourselves and share its many charms.

If you’re starting your walk from the Shibaura side, the nearest station is Shibaura-futo Station on the Yurikamome Line. As soon as you exit, you’ll see the Rainbow Bridge right in front of you. Officially known as the Tokyo Port Connecting Bridge, it’s amazing that this iconic symbol of Tokyo Bay is something you can actually cross on foot.

After about five minutes on foot, we arrived directly beneath the Rainbow Bridge. There are clear signs along the way, so it’s unlikely you’ll get lost.

It’s not every day you get to see the underside of the Rainbow Bridge. Seeing it from the ground is a rare perspective different from the view from a waterbus or a yakatabune (house) boat.

Nearby is Shibaura Minami-futo Park, a beloved spot for local residents and workers to relax. From here, you can enjoy dynamic views of the Rainbow Bridge from multiple angles.

We arrived at the Shibaura Anchorage, the starting point on the Shibaura side. An anchorage is a structure that secures the main cables of a suspension bridge, and here it also serves as the entrance to the Rainbow Promenade.

As you’d expect from a structure that anchors massive bridge cables, the Shibaura Anchorage has a solid, commanding presence. Up close, its sheer size is overwhelming. You’ll pass through it to access the Rainbow Promenade.

Head up the front slope and into the Shibaura Anchorage. On the second floor, you’ll find restrooms, benches, and vending machines - everything you need to get ready for the walk. Admission is free, and there’s no charge to access the Rainbow Promenade.

Inside the entrance, you’ll find a model of the Shibaura Anchorage, informational displays about the scenery, and even a comparison chart with the Yokohama Bay Bridge - helping you better understand the structure you’re about to walk across. Incidentally, although it’s currently closed, there used to be an observation deck on the 6th floor of the Daiba Anchorage on the opposite end.

Take the elevator from the entrance up to the 7th floor, and you’re ready to begin your walk on the Rainbow Promenade. There are two routes: the South Route (southern walkway) and the North Route (northern walkway), and you can start from either side. For this walk, we’ll begin on the South Route and return via the North Route. If you’re starting from the Shibaura side, the South Route is ideal for enjoying views of Odaiba.

The 7th floor of the Shibaura Anchorage - the starting point of the Rainbow Promenade - is 47 meters above sea level. Since the bridge arches upward, the elevation increases as you head toward the center. Be aware that strong sea breezes are common here, so take care not to lose any loose items.

The Rainbow Bridge has a double-deck structure. The upper level carries the Metropolitan Expressway Route 11, while the lower level features the Yurikamome train tracks, a coastal road, and the Rainbow Promenade. The tracks run through the center of the lower level, with lanes of the coastal road on either side, and the South and North Routes of the Promenade flanking both sides of the road. Since both walkways are adjacent to vehicle lanes, please be careful - even with guardrails in place.

A few minutes into the walk, you’ll reach the bridge’s main tower. To bypass the tower, the promenade includes a detour area that doubles as a rest spot. Here, visitors with cameras were capturing the view from every angle.

The main tower stands at 52 meters above sea level. Looking back toward the Shibaura side from this point, you can see the Shibaura Anchorage and the Shibaura Loop Bridge beyond it. This looped structure allows cars and the Yurikamome train to access the Rainbow Bridge.

From here, you can also glimpse the Shibaura industrial zone and, in the distance ahead, popular destinations in Odaiba. After taking in the scenery, it's time to continue the walk.

About 330 meters from the starting point at the Shibaura Anchorage, you’ll reach the central section of the Rainbow Bridge. This is the highest point of the Rainbow Promenade, standing 58 meters above sea level. Directional signs on the path point the way to either Odaiba or Shibaura.

From here, the path slopes gently downward. Along the way, we passed several joggers, suggesting the route offers just the right amount of incline for a pleasant run. After a short walk, we reached the detour area near the main tower on the Odaiba side. From this point, not only can you enjoy views of Odaiba’s attractions, but you can also see Daiba No. 6 up close—a former gun battery from the Edo period that is now off-limits to the public. It seems to be a nesting ground, as many birds were flying around the area.

A few minutes from the main tower on the Odaiba side brings you to the Daiba Anchorage. Unlike the ground-level Shibaura Anchorage, this one is built over the water, so you can’t descend to a lower level. Instead, you simply pass through the building and continue walking along the Rainbow Promenade.

Each structural element and pier of the Rainbow Bridge is labeled with a number - P22 refers to the Shibaura Anchorage, P23 to the Shibaura-side main tower, P24 to the Odaiba-side main tower, and P25 to the Daiba Anchorage. The final pier on the Odaiba side is P33, so even after passing through the Daiba Anchorage, the walk continues. Just before reaching P33, at pier P31, there’s a crossover path beneath the bridge that connects to the North Route.

As you approach the Odaiba-side entrance, the fence changes to a low railing, allowing you to enjoy the view unobstructed.

We arrived at the Odaiba-side exit. Right next door is Daiba Park, a park developed on the site of a gun battery also established during the Edo period, just like Daiba No. 6. Traces of the battery remain there today.

While the bridge itself is about 800 meters long, the actual walk from the Shibaura Anchorage to the Odaiba-side exit is approximately 1.7 km. At a leisurely pace, it's a 20 to 30-minute walk one way. We saw families of international tourists and groups of women, seemingly friends, enjoying their skywalk. Now, let’s head back!

This time, we’ll return to the Shibaura side via the North Route from Odaiba. When starting from the Odaiba side, the North Route will be on your right and the South Route on your left.

The North Route offers panoramic views of waterfront areas like Toyosu, Harumi, and Takeshiba. As you gradually approach the bridge from the side, you’ll get a full view of the Rainbow Bridge. The Daiba Anchorage, standing impressively in the sea, is a sight to behold, and in the distance, you can even spot Tokyo Tower.

Even further in the distance, you can see the Tokyo Skytree and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. It was a great walk, enjoying Tokyo's iconic landmarks along the way.

Passing through the Daiba Anchorage again, we headed to the detour area near the main tower on the Odaiba side of the North Route. The former Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal has been redeveloped into Harumi Wharf Park.

We’ve now returned to our starting point, the Shibaura Anchorage, having passed through the central section of the Rainbow Bridge and the main tower on the Shibaura side.

We’ve now returned to our starting point, the Shibaura Anchorage, having passed through the central section of the Rainbow Bridge and the main tower on the Shibaura side.

Our skywalk has come to an end. The round trip was about 3.4 km, but perhaps because we walked at a relaxed pace with the sea breeze, it wasn't as tiring as expected. When planning your visit, be sure to note the operating hours. From April to October (summer), the promenade is open from 9 AM to 9 PM. From November to March (winter), it’s open from 10 AM to 6 PM. Also, check the closure days and any other important notices for both anchorages in advance. While the Rainbow Bridge is captivating even from a distance, we highly recommend an leisurely skywalk across it. Why not enjoy the dynamic waterfront scenery from high above?

For closure days and important notices, click here.
https://www.kouwan.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kanko/road/rainbowbridge