Boat Dock, Shinobazu Pond — Attraction in Tokyo

Swan Boat Serenity at Shinobazu Pond, Ueno

On a sunny Friday morning in Tokyo, we made a spontaneous stop at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno to rent the iconic swan boats—and it turned out to be one of the most delightful family moments of our trip. The pond is just steps from our hotel, making it an easy and scenic escape from the bustle of the city.

We arrived early enough to beat the heat and the crowds, and were lucky to hop right into two swan boats—one blue, one pink—for our group of five. There were already a few boats gliding across the water, adding to the peaceful, postcard-perfect vibe. The pond itself is a lush green, surrounded by beautiful old temples, towering lotus plants, and a mix of modern and traditional architecture that frames the scene like a painting.

While the water isn’t exactly inviting for a swim (definitely don’t fall in!), the experience was pure fun. Thirty minutes was just the right amount of time—especially with the sun starting to climb. My daughter loved the gentle pedaling and the novelty of the swan design, while the older kids enjoyed steering and racing each other across the pond.

Shinobazu Pond is part of Ueno Park, a historic and cultural hub that’s home to museums, shrines, and even a zoo. It’s a great place to unwind, people-watch, and soak in the slower side of Tokyo. If you’re staying nearby or just passing through, the swan boats are a whimsical way to enjoy the morning—and a perfect...

This was incredibly fun! Me and my girlfriend were wanting to take a simple swanboat ride while in Tokyo and what better place to go in Ueno park!

On the short walk to this lake from the entrance of the park, there are some lovely sights to see such as the lush greenery and flowers, plus when we visited, there were a few delightful street food vendors selling shaved ice, chicken skewers and similar food.

The entrance to the lake has a colourful temple and the two non-boating lakes next to it are filled with water plants which were very pretty when moving with the wind.

The boat dock has a good little selection of boats to choose from, swan, peddle and row. I would suggest the peddle as you get the ease of a swan boat without the large head and neck blocking your view of the amazing sights of Tokyo that surround you in this lake.

I would recommend coming here on a sunny day as it was gorgeous and a good...

Such a beautiful area and fun experience. The swan boats are only 800 yen (that includes 2 people in one boat) for 30 minutes which is more than enough time since your legs are bound to get tired from cycling. You can choose a regular cycle boat for 700 yen or even a canoe for 500 yen. The swan boats have a longer wait time. There was no wait time for the cycle boats, and there is more space for tall people in the regular cycle boats than the swan boats. My partner (5ft 10in) still had a few inches of space above his head in the regular cycle boat. Definitely would recommend as an adventure...