RAINBOW BRIDGE

Rainbow Bridge Tokyo General Information

The Rainbow Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Tokyo Port, located on the northernmost part of Tokyo Bay, connecting the Shibaura Wharf and the new waterfront development area, known as Odaiba in Minato-ku ward, Tokyo.

This new symbol of the bayside Tokyo, completed in 1993, is 570m (1870 ft.) in length and carries three lines of transportations; Metropolitan Expressway No. 11 Odaiba Route on the upper deck, Route 357, also known as "Rinkou Douro" (Portside Avenue) and the Yurikamome New Transit on the lower deck. It is also possible to walk across the bridge at times when the walkway is open.

The towers supporting the bridge are white in color, designed to harmonize with the skyline of central Tokyo seen from Odaiba. There are lamps placed on the wires supporting the bridge, which are illuminated into three different colors, red, white and green every night, using the solar energy obtained during the day.

There is no toll on the bridge.

Rainbow Bridge. Additional pictures of Rainbow Bridge.

Tokyo Rainbow Bridge Tourist / visitor information

An easy way to get to the bridge on foot is from the Tamachi stop on the Yamanote line. Walk Southwest from the station and you will eventually end up at the Shibaura anchorage of rainbow bridge.

Note that even recent maps (such as google earth as of August 2005) do not show all of the bridges which now exist in this area. But the walk from the station to the bridge is quite direct and easy.

On the north side of the Shibaura anchorage you can enter and take an elevator to the pedestrian walkways. There is no fee. The walkways are on the lower level of the bridge, but they are not necessarily protected from sun or rain. You can walk on either the north or south sides of the bridge. The north side gives a view of dense inner Tokyo Harbour with many skyscrapers and the Tokyo Tower. The South side gives a view of many shipping yards and Mount Fuji (on a clear day). The walkways have several outcroppings which are ideal for photography. The walkways are approximately one and a half kilometres- stretching all the way to the shore on the Daiba side of the bridge.