Uncover one of Tokyo’s rare waterfront view spots for Mount Fuji at Wakasu Seaside Park. Learn how to reach this scenic coastal park, catch stunning sunset silhouettes framing the Tokyo Gate Bridge, and explore the elevated bridge walkway.
Look at any wood block prints, Ukiyoe from the Edo period of the Edo (Tokyo) City and chances are that you will find Mount Fuji in the distance. The iconic mountain, in absence of the skyscrapers was visible almost from anywhere in the city which unfortunately is no more the case. The most famous wood block print was that of the Nihonbashi Bridge, yes! Mt. Fuji was visible from the bridge too! These days you need to look out for open spaces and one of the spot near my home is the Wakasu Koen (Park) in the Koto Ward, eastern part of Tokyo
Lets first talk about the Wakasu Park. Wakasu Seaside Park rests on fascinating urban engineering and hidden design history. Built entirely on reclaimed land constructed from a base of incinerator bottom ash between 1965 and 1974, the island pioneered the "sandwich method"—layering soil and compressed waste to eliminate odors and pests—before being transformed into a green public space.
The Tokyo Gate Bridge is relatively new (2011) and connects the eastern part of Tokyo, Koto Ward to the central locations of Shingawa area. The Wakasu Koen Park areas has undergone development post this bridge being built up and continues to get extra investment funds with the location also on the list of venues for the Olympics water events in 2020. On a clear day, you can get beautiful views of Mount Fuji from this park.
Wakasu Seaside Park in Koto Ward is one of Tokyo’s best urban fishing spots, featuring a free 500-meter jetty along Tokyo Bay that yields seasonal catches like seabass, black seabream, and horse mackerel. An on-site shop offers rod rentals, bait, and basic gear, making it effortless to drop a line against the stunning backdrop of the Tokyo Gate Bridge and Mount Fuji., The park also doubles up as a camping space. Beautiful mountain, bridge in the forefront and peaceful fishing. Nice….
The sunset time is also wonderful where you can see a silhouette of the Mount Fuji with the waters in the front. Many Japanese blogs say this is a kind of dating spot and my imagination agrees. Sunset, Mount Fuji and waterfront, romantic at best. You can see Mount Fuji from different locations in Tokyo, but rare to get a waterfront attached to it.
The general understanding about tourism in Tokyo is that any spot is usually connected with trains. Unfortunately Wakasu Koen (Park) is far from a train station and the best way to reach this spot is on the Tokyo Bus which you can take from the Shin Kiba Station. You can take any one of the JR Keiyo Line, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line or the Rinkai Fukutoshin Line and reach Shin Kiba Station. From this stop take the Ki-11 Wakasu Camp Grounds Bus and get down at the last stop.
You can not only go to the park, but also take an elevator inside the Wakasu Park which will transport you to the top floor connecting to the Gate Bridge! YES you can walk on the bridge between 09:00 a.m. and 05:00 p.m. and the city views from the top are stunning. The below picture does not do enough justice to the overall ambiance, but satisfaction guaranteed. Today, this park is also home to one of Tokyo's early coastal wind power generation facilities and serves as a prime, low-key vantage point for plane spotters capturing low-altitude arrivals descending toward Haneda Airport.
Just a ship anchor rusting in the Wakasu Park lying by the wayside caught my attention. ITS HUGE. Nothing special, but you will find many such “used” marine equipment placed as decoration items across the Wakasu Park.
Apart from the Mount Fuji, you can watch large merchant ships pass below the bridge and every couple of minutes a plane either landing or taking off from the Haneda Airport in the close vicinity. Nippon Express trawler assign below the Tokyo Gate Bridge.
Capturing light trails of aircraft departing Haneda Airport requires a blend of precise timing, long exposures, and thoughtful composition. Prime vantage points like Wakasu Seaside Park offer a sweeping dark canvas across Tokyo Bay where low-flying departures weave through the night sky. By mounting a camera on a sturdy tripod along the seawall and setting a shutter speed of 15 to 30 seconds (or using Bulb mode with a remote trigger), you can trace the glowing navigation, strobe, and beacon lights of ascending jets. As larger aircraft bank over the illuminated frame of the Tokyo Gate Bridge, their flight paths etch brilliant, multi-colored ribbons of light across the exposure, creating a striking contrast between static industrial architecture and dynamic movement through the air.
A pink experience at Meguro River contrasted with the White experience at Chidorigafuchi offers two very different experiences in the heart of Tokyo
Wisteria creepers in the Ashikaga FLower Park, the Japanese taste for perfection and flower cultivation. Golden Week outings recommendation
Spring is also yellow and Hamarikyu Gardens provides for that "not only pink cherry blossoms" in the mid March season
In the upscale area of Roppongi, pink flowers around the Midtown area, with beautiful illuminations in Tokyo's spring season
