Rainbow Bridge
ExploreJapanDaily Editorial Team · Last updated: August 25, 2026 · Facts verified: August 25, 2026
Visiting Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge can be experienced three ways: driving across it on the upper-level expressway, viewing it from the Yurikamome train or a waterfront viewpoint, or walking it on foot via the Rainbow Promenade. This page covers walking it, the only way to cross Tokyo Bay here on foot.
The bridge's formal name is the Tokyo Port Connector Bridge (Tokyo Port Bridge); 'Rainbow Bridge' was chosen as its public nickname through a naming competition. Construction began in January 1987, and the bridge opened to traffic on August 26, 1993, connecting Shibaura in central Tokyo to the Odaiba waterfront.
The free, covered Rainbow Promenade runs along the bridge's lower level, split into a North Route (facing Tokyo Tower and the city skyline) and a South Route (facing Tokyo Bay, Odaiba, and occasionally Mount Fuji on clear days). The full walkway is about 1.7 km end to end, with benches and a small mid-point observation deck on the North Route.
The two entrances are not equally accessible: the Shibaura side has an elevator up to walkway level, while the Odaiba side has only a sloping ramp and no restroom. The walkway also closes well before true night, even though the bridge's famous illumination continues until midnight, so a nighttime illumination viewing is best done from a distance, not on the walkway itself.
Best paired with an Odaiba day itinerary rather than treated as a stand-alone trip, walking Rainbow Bridge is a free, photogenic way to see Tokyo Bay from a different angle, well suited to independent travelers, couples, and photographers.
Things to Do at Rainbow Bridge
How to Get to Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge's pedestrian walkway has two entrances, and they are not equally accessible, so the right approach depends on mobility needs and which direction you're starting from.
- •Nearest station: Shibaura-futo Station, Yurikamome Line (about 5 minutes walk, elevator access); Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station, Yurikamome Line (about 15 minutes walk)
- •IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA) are accepted on trains, subways, and buses throughout Japan. Tap in and out at every gate.
- •Avoid traveling during rush hour on weekdays: 7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm. Trains are significantly more crowded.
- •Google Maps provides accurate real-time transit directions in Tokyo. Download offline maps before you arrive.
For IC cards, tickets, and full transit basics for Tokyo, see the complete transportation guide.
See the Getting Around Tokyo guide →Map
Best Time to Visit Rainbow Bridge
Best time to visit Rainbow Bridge: Late afternoon into dusk, within seasonal open hours. Weekday mornings are generally quieter than weekends and public holidays.
- •Best time to visit: Late afternoon into dusk, within seasonal open hours
- •Arriving on a weekday morning avoids the largest crowds. Weekends and public holidays are significantly busier.
- •Spring (late March to early May) and autumn (October to November) are the most popular seasons for visiting Tokyo.
- •Golden Week (late April to early May) is the busiest week of the year in Japan. Book accommodation and tickets well in advance.
Entry Fee & Hours
- •The walkway closes the third Monday of every month, plus unscheduled closures for maintenance or strong wind.
- •A restroom is available only at the Shibaura-side entrance; there is none on the Odaiba side.
- •Riding a bicycle across is not permitted; bikes must be pushed on a provided cart.
Nearby Attractions
Combine with Rainbow Bridge on the same day
teamLab Planets
Toyosu Market
- •teamLab Planets (About 15-20 minutes by train from the Odaiba side): teamLab Planets is an immersive digital art museum in Toyosu where visitors walk barefoot through vast rooms of sensory light, water, and flower installations. It is one of Tokyo's most visually spectacular modern experiences.
- •Toyosu Market (About 15-20 minutes by train from the Odaiba side): Toyosu Market is Tokyo's modern wholesale seafood market in Koto, the successor to Tsukiji's wholesale trading and tuna auctions since 2018. Visitors can watch the tuna auction from an observation deck, eat at relocated Tsukiji-area sushi restaurants, and browse the Uogashi Yokocho shops.
Suggested Itinerary
Pair Rainbow Bridge with these nearby stops for a full day in Shibaura-Odaiba / Minato.
Frequently Asked Questions
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