The Sumida River meanders through the city of Tokyo from the Arakawa River to Tokyo Bay.
It is a river with a long history that has greatly influenced the development of Tokyo.
The Sumida River is crossed by more than 30 bridges of various sizes, some of which are illuminated at night.
This article introduces 12 such bridges that are beautifully illuminated at night.
12 beautifully illuminated bridges over the Sumida River
Let us begin by introducing 12 unique bridges that are beautifully illuminated over the Sumida River.
Shirahige Bridge
The 168-meter-long Shirahige Bridge with its beautiful center arch.
It became a new night view spot when it started to be illuminated for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The light-up color is white, as the name suggests.
From the bridge, an unobstructed view of the Tokyo Sky Tree is also possible.
- Address
- 2 Tsutsumidori, Sumida-ku, Tokyo ~ 2 Hashiba, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Azuma bridge
Azuma-bashi Bridge is a 150-meter-long upper-road arch bridge connecting the Sensoji and Tokyo Sky Tree areas.
It is a structure with a long history in Asakusa, and was repainted in vermilion at the beginning of the Heisei era to harmonize with Asakusa.
The illuminated color is the only vermilion among the 12 bridges.
The Tokyo Sky Tree and the headquarters building of Asahi Breweries can be seen from the bridge, and Komagata Bridge and Stable Bridge can also be seen from the south sidewalk.
- Address
- 2-1-16 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Komagata Bridge
Komagata Bridge was completed in 1927 as a reconstruction project after the Great Kanto Earthquake.
This 150-meter blue arch bridge, a combination of upper and middle channel tied arches, connects Taito and Sumida wards.
After sunset, the bridge is lit up in blue, making the blue color of the copper stand out even more.
From the parapet in the center of the bridge, visitors can enjoy a view of the Tokyo Sky Tree and Azuma Bridge.
- Address
- 1 Higashi-Komagata, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Umaya Bridge
The Umayabashi Bridge connects Kuramae and Komagata in Taito-ku and Honjo in Sumida-ku.
It is a 151-meter-long, three-span underpass-type tied arch bridge completed in 1929.
It is the only triple-arch bridge on the Sumida River, and its elegant silhouette can be enjoyed.
The illuminated colors are white and vermilion.
The triple-arch bridge over the Sumida River at night has a very elegant beauty.
- Address
- 2-15 Kasuga-dori, Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Kuramae Bridge
Kuramae Bridge connects Kuramae 1-chome, Taito-ku, Tokyo and Yokoami 1-chome, Sumida-ku, Tokyo.
The bridge is characterized by three arches, and the parapets on the bridge are playfully designed in the motif of sumo wrestlers.
At night, the bridge glows with a golden light, creating a very beautiful sight.
The view from the back of the bridge is also geometrically beautiful.
- Address
- 2-1 Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Shin-Ohashi
The 170-meter-long Shin-Ohashi Bridge connects Nihonbashi Hamacho 2-chome, Chuo-ku, and Shin-Ohashi 1-chome, Koto-ku, Tokyo.
It is a cable-stayed (harp-shaped) bridge with a small number of cables and a simple appearance. It is also a historic bridge mentioned in a haiku by Matsuo Basho.
The illuminated colors are yellow and green.
From the bridge, visitors can enjoy a powerful view of the illuminated Kiyosubashi Bridge and the Shin-Ohashi Apartments.
- Address
- 2 Nihonbashi Hamacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Kiyosu Bridge
Kiyosubashi Bridge spans the lower reaches of the Sumida River and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
It was completed in March 1928 as part of the reconstruction of the Imperial Capital after the Great Kanto Earthquake.
It is characterized by a delicate and feminine design intended to be a counterpart to the massive, grand, and masculine impression of the Eitai Bridge.
The bridge is also illuminated with pink lights from 15 minutes after sunset to 23:00, providing a beautiful night view.
- Address
- Nakasu, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Eitai Bridge
The Eitaibashi Bridge spans the lower reaches of the Sumida River and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
It was completed in December 1926 as part of the reconstruction project of the Imperial Capital after the Great Kanto Earthquake.
The bridge is characterized by its curved arches and is illuminated with cool blue-colored lights from 15 minutes after sunset to 23:00.
From the middle of the bridge, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of River City 21, a large condominium complex in the Tsukishima direction, providing a very powerful night view.
- Address
- 1 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Chuo Bridge
The Chuo Ohashi Bridge connects Shinkawa 2-chome and Tsukuda 1-chome in Chuo Ward.
It is the second newest bridge on the Sumida River, and was opened on the same day as the Rainbow Bridge in 1993.
The main tower is illuminated in white at night.
From the bridge, visitors can view the Eitai Bridge and the Sky Tree, as well as the nearby condominium towers of Tsukishima.
If you visit the area, be sure to cross the bridge to enjoy the night view that is typical of Tokyo.
- Address
- 2 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Tsukuda Bridge
The Tsukuda Bridge was built in 1964 when the Tokyo Olympics were held.
It is a large bridge with a total length of 476 meters connecting the Tsukiji area with the Tsukudo-jima and Tsukishima areas.
From the middle of the bridge, you can see the St. Luke’s Garden and other skyscrapers, as well as the illuminated Kachidoki Bridge.
After sunset, the Tsukuda Bridge is lit up in green and yellow.
- Address
- 1-3-9 Tsukishima, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Kachidoki Bridge
The Kachidokibashi Bridge was built in 1940, derived from the victory in the Russo-Japanese War.
After sunset, the bridge is illuminated in white.
The view from the promenade is also beautiful, and each side of the bridge offers a unique view of Tokyo.
During the summer season, visiting Kachidokibashi Bridge in the morning is also recommended.
The angle from which you can see the Tsukuda Bridge coincides with the rising sun, so if the conditions are right, you can enjoy a very beautiful view.
- Address
- 6 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
築地大橋
The modern form of the Tsukiji Ohashi Bridge was completed in 2018.
It is the most downstream bridge over the Sumida River, and the level of the night view is very high as it offers an unobstructed view of the buildings in Hamamatsucho and Shibaura areas, as well as Tokyo Tower.
The walkway is also built with ample width, so it is recommended for those who want to enjoy the night view of Tokyo while crossing the bridge.
- Address
- 5 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Charge
- Free
- Business Hours
- Open all day
Recommended hotel with a view of the beautifully illuminated bridge over the Sumida River
There are no observatories around the Sumida River that offer a bird’s-eye view of the illuminated bridge.
However, there are several hotels that offer Sumida River views.
Wing International Select Asakusa Komagata
Hotel Wing International Select Asakusa Komagata is located a short walk from Sensoji Temple.
On the 12th floor, an observation terrace is available exclusively for guests, offering a view of Komagata Bridge and Azuma Bridge to the south and Kuramae Bridge and Stable Bridge to the north.
The Tokyo Sky Tree View also adds to the night view, and we encourage you to stay at the hotel for a very gorgeous view.
Search for available rooms on Hotels.com
- Address
- 2-7-5 Komagata, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Check In
- 15:00
- Check Out
- 11:00
APA Hotel Ryogoku Station Tower
APA Hotel Ryogoku Station Tower is a 31-story hotel located near the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Guest rooms with river views of the Sumida River offer views of the illuminated Kuramae Bridge and Stable Bridge.
Please note that you cannot enjoy the view unless you stay in a room on a higher floor, so please be careful when staying for the night view.
- Address
- 1-10-10 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Check In
- 15:00
- Check Out
- 10:00
Ginza Creston
Creston Ginza occupies the 32nd to 38th floors of St. Luke’s Residence.
All guest rooms are located on the upper floors, and the Tsukiji Bridge and Kachidoki Bridge can be viewed from the large windows of the rooms.
The night view of the skyscrapers in the Tsukishima area is also very beautiful.
- Address
- St. Luke's Garden, 8 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Check In
- 15:00
- Check Out
- 12:00
Intercontinental Tokyo Bay
The InterContinental Tokyo Bay is a 24-story, five-star hotel that opened in 1995.
Rooms located on the north side of the hotel offer views of the Tsukiji and Kachidokibashi bridges and the Tsukuda Bridge.
The night view of the illuminated unique bridges and the towering skyscrapers behind them is extremely beautiful.
- Address
- 1-16-2 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Check In
- 15:00
- Check Out
- 12:00
List of bridges with beautiful lighting over the Sumida River (map)
We have compiled a Google Map of the locations of the bridges with beautiful lighting over the Sumida River introduced in this article.
Please use this map to get an idea of the location of each bridge!
