1.
water bus; river bus; sightseeing ferry
A passenger boat that operates on a regular route along rivers or waterways, functioning like a bus on water. Used for both transportation and sightseeing.
Composed of 水上 (on the water) and バス (bus). A boat service that runs on scheduled routes along rivers or waterways, similar to how a bus runs on roads.
Common collocations
- 水上バスに乗る: to ride the water bus
- 水上バスの乗り場: water bus boarding point
- 水上バスの路線: water bus route
- 水上バスで観光する: to sightsee by water bus
Cultural note
In Tokyo, water buses operate on the 隅田川 (Sumida River), connecting spots like 浅草, 日の出桟橋, and お台場. They are popular for sightseeing, especially during 桜 season and fireworks festivals. Other cities like Osaka and Hiroshima also have water bus services.
Related words
- 遊覧船: pleasure boat / sightseeing cruise — a broader term for recreational boat trips
- 渡し船: ferryboat — a smaller boat for crossing a river
- 屋形船: houseboat / yakatabune — a traditional roofed pleasure boat for dining