Yakatabune Dining Boats

Parked near the bridge on the Sumida River at Asakusa, were these flat-bottom boats called yakatabune ("yakatabune" literally means "roof-shaped boat"). These boats are used for dinner party cruises in which people escape the heat of Tokyo summers on the Sumida River or Tokyo Bay while also dining.

Tokyoites have been doing this for centuries and food is served Japanese-style on floor-level tables on tatami mats. Today, many yakatabune boats now include karaoke and other entertainment.

This looks like fun and I wanted to give it a try during one of my Tokyo visits. Unfortunately, I didn't get around to it.