[MOVIE] Of Shoguns and Jellyfish: A Trip on the Atakemaru
- Written by: Pamela Drobig
As soon as I stepped out on the Hinode Pier, the vermillion colored ship immediately caught my eye – never had I imagined it to be that huge! When I first heard about the authentic replication of a gozabune, the old, Japanese version of a yacht, I had thought of it as yet another sightseeing barge cruising to and fro Odaiba, beautiful but rather small, just like the many houseboats called yakatabune on Sumida River.
That couldn’t have been further from the truth, however. While the houseboats have their very own traditional charme, it is immediately clear that this royal yacht called Atakemaru is in a completely different league. My eyes jumped from the big sail swaying gently in the breeze to the many lanterns and other decorations of the huge ship – fit for a Shogun indeed.
Much More Than Just a Houseboat
While boat cruises are generally a great thing as there’s hardly a more relaxing way to get to know the waterfront of a city, the thought of riding this historic, beautiful boat really was an exciting one. I treaded almost solemnly along the pier with equally impressed Japanese guests; there was hardly a person who didn’t comment on Atakemaru’s magnificent and detailed look or its large size. “It can fit 500 people”, I was told by Murakami-san, who works for the cruise company that owns the gozabune, as he looked at the ship with a spark of pride in his eyes.
He didn’t exaggerate. As I finally entered the Atakemaru after being greeted by the crew in traditional garb, I immediately paused again as I stepped into what can only be called a noble foyer. Elegant stairs led up to the second floor, a big, traditional wall painting of Mount Fuji in the background. It seemed like a smaller, older Japanese version of the famous staircase of the Titanic! My initial amazement with the authenticity and beauty of this ship just seemed to grow the more I got to see of it.
Grimacing Masks and Free Wi-Fi
I promised myself that this wouldn’t be the last time I had seen this stage and that the next time I come here, it would be as an excited guest on an evening cruise but for now, it was time to head up to the deck. While the Japanese passengers had already found seats on the many benches on deck to enjoy the warm rays of sun – despite it being rainy season, the weather was amazing – I immediately headed to the very front to look out over Tokyo Bay.
What Hairstyle Does a Shogun Have?
I could see them all: Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, the Rainbow Bridge spanning the Bay right in front of me, even a plane landing at Haneda Airport in the distance! It felt pleasantly odd to stand on a ship right out of the Edo period, the time of swords and samurai, while looking over the modern cityscape of the metropolis. People like to bring up the wonderful contrast of traditions and modernity when talking about Japan and I felt like the Atakemaru was its very manifestation.
With a gentle rumbling, the motors of the ship came to life and we started to head out into the bay. My hands resting on the railing, I gazed upon the waters and couldn’t help but to imagine what the Shogun himself must have felt – and seen – when standing at the very spot that I stood right now. Had the wind ruffled his hair just like it ruffled mine now? Probably not.
Of the Beauty of Cranes and Cargo
There was no Skytree and no Rainbow Bridge during the times of Tokugawa Iemitsu, who ordered the Atakemaru to be made, as Murakami-san had told me earlier, and if me and the Shogun were to swap places, he would most likely be just as shocked seeing these massive structures with planes landing in the background as I would be, suddenly gazing upon old Edo sprawling in front of me.
While the beautiful, modern Odaiba was to my left, the many cranes and industrial ships of the harbor caught my eye on the right. Murakami-san joined me at the railing and told me what an amazing sight the harbor is at night. Not many people seem to be aware of how beautiful these sort of industrial sceneries can be but as Murakami-san described the soft orange lights that illuminated the cranes and ships after dark and their reflection on the waves, I nodded quietly and, once again, promised myself to board the Atakemaru at night the next time.
Making Memories on the Atakemaru
During the Edo period, there were no foreign ships allowed to land on Japan’s shores, except for one harbor called Dejima in Nagasaki. Now, Tokyo Bay is brimming with business and I wondered how the rulers of old would feel knowing that the country they tried so hard to keep secluded having become such an important global player. The slow pace with which the Atakemaru glides over the waves, from Hamamatsucho to Odaiba, takes away all the bustling and haste that one might usually feel in Tokyo.
The quiet cruise invites to really not only take in the scenery of Tokyo Bay but to genuinely pause and appreciate the many sights. Whether you think about the jellyfish that you’ve just spotted in the water below or the rulers of old Japan, the ride on this magnificent ship will make for an unforgettable experience.
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Gozabune Atakemaru御座船 安宅丸
- Address 2-7-104, Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0022, Japan
Having graduated in Japanese Studies in Berlin, she returned to Japan in 2014. She focuses on writing and translations from Japanese to English, contemporary culture and society, as well as history and lore of Japan.
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