Information checked: November 7, 2026 · Option 1 is a pier I’ve fished from myself; Options 2 and 3 are based on their booking pages — I haven’t joined these tours. Written by Shohei.
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You don’t need a car to go fishing near Tokyo. But the options are very different in price, effort and how much help you get. Here are three ways to do it, from “do it yourself” to “everything arranged”.
At a Glance
| Fishing pier | River tour | Boat trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example | Takahashi Yusen’s pier (Edogawa Floodway, Chiba) | Micro & river fishing (Nihonbashi) | Fishing + fresh-catch lunch |
| Driving required? | No | No | No |
| Getting there | Subway + walk | Subway + short walk | Hotel pickup included |
| Cost | ¥1,500 per adult + ¥300 rental rod | From ¥11,000 per person | From ¥70,000 per person |
| Time | Half a day | About 6 hours | About 9.5 hours |
| Guide | None | Yes | Yes, plus lunch |
Getting There and Back
The three options differ most in how you travel. Here’s the route, the time it takes on the day and how you get back.
Pier (Edogawa Floodway)
- Start from: Myoden Station (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)
- Getting there: about 20 min from Otemachi on the Tozai Line, then a walk to the river
- Time on the day: as long as you like—the pier is open 6:00-16:00
- Getting back: walk back to Myoden Station; leave the pier by 16:00
River tour (Nihonbashi)
- Start from: Hamacho Station (Toei Shinjuku Line) or Ningyocho Station (Hibiya Line)
- Getting there: about 4 min on foot from Hamacho, 5 min from Ningyocho
- Time on the day: about 6 hours
- Getting back: by subway—check on the listing where the tour ends
Boat trip with hotel pickup
- Start from: your hotel (pickup in the listed areas)
- Getting there: pickup around 5:00 am on the regular plan; the boat leaves from Yokosuka (or Koshigoe on the Friday plan)
- Time on the day: about 9.5 hours
- Getting back: check on the listing whether a hotel drop-off is included
Train times are approximate—check a route planner for your train. For what each option includes and what you still need to bring, see Fishing in Japan Without Bringing Gear.
Option 1: A Fishing-Boat Shop’s Pier (Do It Yourself)
Example: Takahashi Yusen’s pier on the Edogawa Floodway, Ichikawa (Chiba)
According to Takahashi Yusen’s price list (checked November 7, 2026):
- Getting there: Tokyo Metro Tozai Line to Myoden Station, then walk to the river by the Tozai Line railway bridge
- Cost: pier ¥1,500 per adult for the day (junior & senior high ¥1,000, elementary ¥500), 6:00-16:00
- Gear: rental rod for goby ¥300
- What it’s like: relaxed goby fishing from a floating pier. You’re on your own and the shop is Japanese-speaking, but it’s an easy first try. I took a friend who had never fished before here
- Season: I’ve fished the floodway for goby from July to September
Source: Takahashi Yusen price list (in Japanese). Prices can change without notice.
Choose this if: you want the cheapest option, you don’t mind figuring things out, and you’re happy with simple, relaxed fishing. Full guide: Edogawa Floodway Goby Fishing by Train.
Option 2: A Guided River Fishing Tour in Central Tokyo
Example: Tokyo Traditional Japanese Micro and River Fishing Experience (Nihonbashi)
According to the Viator listing (checked November 7, 2026):
- Getting there: meet at Lampas OUTDOOR LIFE in Nihonbashi – about 4 minutes’ walk from Hamacho Station (Toei Shinjuku Line)
- Cost: from ¥11,000 per person, discounted rates for children
- Time: about 6 hours
- Included: rental gear, bait and insurance
- Language: offered in English
- Group size: up to 3 travellers
- Seasons: goby fishing on the Sumida River (July and September-November); small freshwater fish and tanago bitterling (April-June)
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before
Choose this if: you want a guide without the cost of a boat, and you’re curious about traditional Japanese small-fish angling.
Option 3: A Guided Boat Trip with Hotel Pickup
Example: Tokyo Fishing & Fresh Catch Japanese Cuisine (English Guide)
According to the Viator listing (checked November 7, 2026):
- Getting there: hotel pickup in Yokohama, Kawasaki and central Tokyo (including Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, Asakusa and Ikebukuro) and the Tokyo Disney area
- Where you fish: the regular plan leaves from Yokosuka; a Friday plan leaves from Koshigoe near Enoshima
- Cost: from ¥70,000 per person; the price changes with group size
- Time: about 9.5 hours, with an early-morning pickup (around 5:00 am on the regular plan)
- Included: boat, gear and a lunch made from your catch (full list on the listing)
- Language: English guide
- Other conditions: a private trip for your group only; ages 7 and up; runs rain or shine
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before
- Reviews: rated 5.0 from 29 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor at the time of checking
Choose this if: you want a full day on the sea with everything handled, and the cost fits a special trip.
How to Decide
- Budget first? The pier. You’ll spend a fraction of the tour prices.
- Want a guide but a modest budget? The Nihonbashi river tour.
- Want the classic “catch it, then eat it” day? The boat trip with lunch.
- Travelling with young children? Check the age rules: the boat trip is for ages 7 and up.
- Short on time? The pier or the river tour. The boat trip takes most of the day.
Before You Book
- Prices on booking sites are the lowest available and change with group size and date
- Weather can cancel boat trips. Check the cancellation and weather policy on each listing
- Bring some cash for the pier, and clothes for wind and sun for all three
Related Guides
Information checked: November 7, 2026.