All aboard

There are nearly 40 companies that

service yakatabune in Tokyo and the cruises differ slightly in terms of service, fares, boat facilities, cruise routes and menus. The main difference is the size and boarding locations.
Choose from shared (kyokudo or noriai) or chartered (kashikiri) cruise options. The concept of shared cruises is just like boarding public transportation or eating at a restaurant, where you pay for your seats and eat at your table.
A large group cruise could have as many as 120 people, while chartered cruises can be booked for groups of 15 to 20 people, depending on the day. The boats have temperature control, toilets and an observation deck. Karaoke service, if you fancy, is normally reserved for chartered cruises.
The menu includes a selection of  nomihodai (all-you-can-drink) alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as freshly made tempura and even sashimi prepared from fish directly from one of the famous markets Tsukiji Fish Market.
A daytime cruise with lunch costs around ¥5,000, while dinner cruises start at ¥10,000.