Umihotaru at Night: Views, Opening Hours, Tolls and U-Turns

Umihotaru is a parking area on an artificial island where the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line's tunnel meets its bridge. The fifth-floor viewing deck is normally open 24 hours, with night views across Tokyo Bay and the lights of aircraft approaching Haneda Airport. Parking is free, and you can turn back towards either Kawasaki or Kisarazu.

Check before travelling: on 1 November 2026, the operator announced that both sides of Umihotaru PA might close that day. This was a warning of a possible closure, not confirmation that it had closed. Check the latest official notices and traffic information before setting off; normal opening hours do not guarantee access during a closure.

Umihotaru at a glance

Map and parking access

From Kawasaki, enter the Aqua-Line at Kawasaki-Ukishima Junction or Ukishima IC from the Shuto Expressway Bayshore Route or National Route 409. From Kisarazu, join at Kisarazu-Kaneda IC from the Aqua-Line connecting road or Route 409. The Aqua-Line is 15.1 km long, linking Kisarazu and Kawasaki in about 15 minutes in clear traffic.

The car parks are divided between the Kawasaki-bound side (Kisarazu → Kawasaki, signed “up”) and Kisarazu-bound side (Kawasaki → Kisarazu, signed “down”). You can walk between them, but cannot drive between them. The Kisarazu-bound car park has 191 spaces for small vehicles and 51 for large vehicles. The second- and third-floor ordinary-car parks have a 2.5 m height limit; taller vehicles use the first-floor large-vehicle parking. Rapid EV chargers are on the third floor if you arrive from Kawasaki and the second floor if you arrive from Kisarazu.

Renovation is scheduled to continue until spring 2027. From 17 August to late December 2026, part of the first-floor Kawasaki-bound large-vehicle car park and the northern half of the downward escalators and stairs between the third and fifth floors are unavailable. Use the lifts or indoor stairs. The work schedule may change.

Views and walking around

What you can see at night

The fifth-floor viewing deck is normally open 24 hours. Surrounded by water, it offers views across Tokyo Bay, including Mount Fuji and Tokyo Skytree when visibility allows, as well as aircraft and ships. It is a short walk after taking a lift up from the car park.

Taka's driving notes: When I visited at night in August 2025, I could see the lights of Yokohama's Minato Mirai and industrial areas across Tokyo Bay. Aircraft approaching Haneda moved slowly across the night sky. What also stayed with me was the ribbon of car lights stretching along the bridge from Umihotaru.

Taka's driving notes: The deck is out over the sea, and the wind was very strong even on an August night. I felt I would have been better off bringing a jacket.

Facilities open late

Umihotaru normally admits visitors around the clock, but individual shops have their own hours.

Many other food-court outlets and restaurants close between 20:30 and 22:00. Temporary changes are posted in the official notices. The 1 November 2026 possible-closure notice said shops other than the 24-hour outlets would close progressively if the PA closure was decided; it did not confirm access to the PA during a closure.

Taka's driving notes: On my August 2025 visit, most shops were closed late at night; the convenience store was about the only place I saw open. The car park was quiet on that weekday night, so I could enjoy the view in peace.

Access and restrictions

Strong winds can close the road

The Aqua-Line can close in strong winds. When strong winds are forecast, NEXCO East may issue advance warnings of a possible closure between Kawasaki-Ukishima Junction and Kisarazu-Kaneda IC. Check the weather and road conditions before leaving. Updates are available through NEXCO East Kanto's official X account (@e_nexco_kanto), its official LINE service and Drive Traffic.

Night-time gatherings can lead to PA closures

NEXCO East Kanto reported closures of the Kisarazu-bound Umihotaru PA from 0:25 on 10 January 2026 and from 22:40 on 24 April 2026 because of gatherings involving modified vehicles. These are historical examples, not the current closure status. NEXCO East prohibits unauthorised gatherings at its service and parking areas. Use Umihotaru quietly as a place to rest and enjoy the view, without revving engines or occupying spaces for extended periods. Plan another toilet stop and a way home so that you do not depend entirely on entering Umihotaru.

Taka's driving notes: I sometimes saw sports cars and modified cars gathered in the car park at night.

Seasons and traffic

Clear autumn and winter air can suit night viewing. Weekday nights can be quieter; Taka's August 2025 visit was one such occasion. Weekend and holiday daytime visits are busier, and Kawasaki-bound Aqua-Line traffic is particularly prone to congestion from 13:00 to 19:00. In that period, the weekend and holiday ETC toll for an ordinary car rises to ¥1,600; from 20:00 to midnight it falls to ¥400.

These time-based tolls are part of a trial running until 31 March 2027. The time band is determined when you pass the Kisarazu main-line tollgate or Kisarazu-Kaneda IC. If you arrive from Kawasaki and turn back at Umihotaru, it is determined when you pass the Umihotaru tollgate. On weekdays, the ordinary-car ETC toll is ¥800 regardless of time.

Getting there and fuel

Turning back at Umihotaru

You can return to the side you came from, whether Kawasaki or Kisarazu, for a one-way toll.

• With ETC: keep your ETC card inserted and follow the ETC lane.
• Without ETC, arriving from Kawasaki: follow the signs for Kawasaki and pay at the payment machine at the Umihotaru tollgate.
• Without ETC, arriving from Kisarazu: follow the signs for Kisarazu, collect a U-turn certificate from the ticket machine and hand it to the attendant at Kisarazu-Kaneda IC.

At weekends and on holidays, ETC U-turn trips use the Kawasaki-bound time-based toll regardless of which side you started from. There is no fuel station at Umihotaru, so check your fuel in Kawasaki or Kisarazu before joining the Aqua-Line.

Renting a car in Tokyo

If you are starting in Tokyo without a car, renting one is an option. Before booking, check whether an ETC card is available if you intend to use the discounted tolls. Car sharing may also suit a trip lasting only a few hours. Overseas visitors should first check the licence and IDP requirements for driving in Japan.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit at night?

Normally, yes: access is available 24 hours. The viewing deck, free rest area, Seven-Eleven and Soba Minatoya are open around the clock. Temporary PA or road closures override those normal hours, so check current notices.

Is there a parking charge?

No. You still pay the Aqua-Line toll: ¥800 for an ordinary car using ETC on a weekday.

Can I turn back at Umihotaru?

Yes, for a one-way toll. With ETC, use the ETC lane. Without ETC, the payment procedure differs depending on which side you came from.

How much does a night visit cost?

At weekends and on holidays, the Kawasaki-bound ordinary-car ETC toll is ¥400 from 20:00 to midnight. Between midnight and 4:00, it is ¥400 in both directions.

Can I drive there in strong winds?

Strong winds can close the Aqua-Line. Check NEXCO East's road information before setting off.

Related guides

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• Driving in Japan: licence and IDP requirements