Why go
Use road access for itineraries that continue beyond central Tokyo, and treat a ferry arrival as a port-to-hotel journey rather than an automatic city-center connection. Verify the current terminal, vehicle rules, and onward transit before departure. Use Arriving by Road or Ferry as the planning lens; details in Arriving by Road or Ferry connect each choice with concrete places and timing.
The full story
By car or boat While you can drive into the city, it's really not recommended as the city can be congested, signs may be confusing and parking fees are astronomical. Hitchhiking into Tokyo is pretty easy, but hitchhiking out is considerably more difficult. It's definitely possible for determined cheapskates though, see Hitchhiking in Japan for a detailed list of tested escape routes from the city. By boat One of the great ports of the world, Tokyo also has domestic ferry services to other points in Japan. However, none of the regular international ferries to Japan call at Tokyo. The main long-distance ferry terminal is Ariake Ferry Terminal , located on an artificial island adjacent to Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. The nearest station is Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon on the Yurikamome line, but it's still a bit of a hike. You can also take a direct bus from Shin-Kiba station on the Metro Yurakucho line. The main services from this terminal are: Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen , ☎ +81 3-3528-0718. This ferry has no passenger facilities, so it can only be used if you have a car fares for a car and driver start at ¥25,820. Ocean Tokyu Ferry (オーシャン東九フェリー), ☎ +81 3-5148-0109. Tokyo-Kitakyushu passenger fares are ¥16,420 for second class, ¥30,550 for first class. Ferries to the Izu and Ogasawara Islands leave from Takeshiba Terminal (竹芝客船ターミナル), adjacent to Takeshiba station on the Yurikamome line.
Useful to know
- Confirm current details from the relevant official operator before relying on this arriving by road or ferry advice.