Osaka Waterways Bus Co., Ltd. has started accepting reservations for various hanami cruises from February 1, 2022 (Tuesday).
Cherry Blossom Viewing Cruise
Osaka Castle Park, where cruise ships operate, Kema Sakuranomiya Park, and along the river in Minami-Tenma Park are known as some of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Osaka. Nearby is the Osaka Mint Bureau, famous for its “Cherry Blossom Passage,” which attracts a large number of cherry blossom viewers every year during the cherry blossom season.
This year, four cruises will be offered: the “Aqua Liner Osaka Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Cruise,” a special springtime course that is a standard cruise in the aquatic city of Osaka; the “Sunflower Cherry Blossom Special Cruise,” a cruise on the elegant cruise ship Himawari (Sunflower); the “Aqua Mini Osaka Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Cruise,” an open-air cruise without a roof; and the “Aqua Cielo Osaka Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Cruise,” a cruise with a retractable roof that can be enjoyed in any weather.
Details of each cruise
Aqua Liner Osaka Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Cruise
The Aqua Liner is a standard cruise in the aquatic city of Osaka. In spring, the Aqua Liner will operate a limited course that takes you along the cherry blossom trees along the Okawa River!
【Operation period】 Mar 25 (Fri) – Apr 10 (Sun), 2022
【Departure Time】 10:15 / 11:00 / 11:45 / 12:30 / 13:15 / 14:00 / 14:45 / 15:30 / 16:15
*Extra flights may be available.
【Boarding Location】 Osaka Castle Port (JR Osaka Loop Line, about 3 minutes walk from Osaka Castle Park Station)
【The Fare】 Adults (junior high school students and older): 1,800 yen / Children (elementary school students): 900 yen
【Time Required】 40 min
Himawari (Sunflower) Cherry Blossom Special Cruise
A spring cruise on the cruise ship Himawari, one of the most elegant cruise ships in the aqua city of Osaka. From the overhead deck, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the cherry blossom trees as far as the eye can see. There will also be musicians and other performers on board to liven up the cruise.
【Operation period】 Mar 25 (Fri) – Apr 10 (Sun), 2022
【Departure Time】 10:00 / 10:50 / 11:40 / 12:30 / 13:20 / 14:10 / 15:00 / 15:50 / 16:40
【Boarding Location】 Hachikenya-hama Pier (a short walk from Tenmabashi Station on the Keihan and Osaka Metrorail Tanimachi lines)
【The Fare】 Adults (junior high school students and older): 2,000 yen / Children (elementary school students): 1,000 yen
*Infants are free of charge as long as they are riding on an adult’s lap.
【Time Required】 40 min
Aqua mini Osaka Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Cruise
A 25-minute cherry blossom viewing cruise on the roofless open boat “Aqua mini”! You can see the cherry blossoms along the river in a relaxed and open atmosphere while avoiding the dense crowd.
【Operation period】 Mar 26 (Sat) – Apr 10 (Sun), 2022
【Departure Time】 Departs every hour at 20 minutes and 50 minutes between 10:20 and 16:20.
*There are no flights departing at 11:50 and 14:20.
【Boarding Location】 Osaka Castle Port (JR Osaka Loop Line, about 3 minutes walk from Osaka Castle Park Station)
【The Fare】 Adults (junior high school students and older): 1,200 yen / Children (elementary school students): 600 yen
*Infants are free of charge as long as they are riding on an adult’s lap.
【Time Required】 25 min
Aqua Cielo Osaka Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Cruise
This is a 25-minute cruise on the Aqua Cielo, a sightseeing boat with a roof that can be opened and closed. On sunny days, you can open the roof and enjoy the open-air cherry blossom viewing cruise.
【Operation period】 Mar 26 (Sat), 27 (Sun), Apr 1 (Fri), 2 (Sat), 3 (Sun), 2022
【Departure Time】 Departs every hour at 10:40 and 40 minutes between 10:40 and 16:40.
【Boarding Location】 Osaka Castle Port (JR Osaka Loop Line, about 3 minutes walk from Osaka Castle Park Station)
【The Fare】 Adults (junior high school students and older): 1,400 yen / Children (elementary school students): 700 yen
*Infants are free of charge as long as they are riding on an adult’s lap.
【Time Required】 25 min
Reservations and Inquiries
Web Reservation
If you use the web booking service on the Osaka Waterfront Bus official website, you can get a discount on the boarding fee. For more information about the discounted web booking, please visit the following URL or QR code. For more information about the discounted web booking, please visit the following URL or QR code to make a reservation.
*The reservation deadline is 12:00 p.m. on the day before the boarding date.
*The deadline for reservations is 12:00 p.m. on the day before boarding.
Phone reservations and inquiries
For Aqua Liner, Aqua mini, Aqua Cielo
【Osaka Water Bus Reservation Center】 06-6942-5511 or 0570-03-5551
For Himawari (Sunflower)
【Osaka Water Bus Himawari Reservation Center】 06-6942-6699 or 0570-07-5511
【Hour】 10:00 – 16:00
*From mid-March to early April, the phone lines will be very busy and difficult to reach. Please be forewarned.