Yakatabune parking at Yanagibashi

Close to Ryōgokubashi, the bridge crossing the Sumida River near the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Ryōgoku Kokugikan sumo stadium, in Taitō (on the west side of the river), there is a small neighborhood called Yanagibashi.

A channel that crosses the Asakusabashi district is located here and near the confluence of this channel and the Sumida River, there is a bridge, first built in 1698, called Yanagi - willow in Japanese - hence the name of the neighborhood. It is believed that the name comes from a willow tree which was located at the base of the bridge. The today's bridge, the arched green one in the background of this photo, was built in 1929.

The buildings in this area are modern, but the Yanagibashi area has a strong traditional feeling, because of the yakatabune "parking" near the bridge. The yakatabune, "roof-shaped boats", vivid colored and beautifully decorated with traditional paper lanterns, are actually floating Japanese traditional restaurants, with tatami mats and Japanese low tables.