Odaiba-Tokyo Travel Guide

One of the must-see places when visiting Tokyo is Odaiba, an artificial island located in Tokyo Bay. Odaiba has numerous attractions that justify spending a day there. Initially, the island was built as a defensive fortress against naval attacks in 1853. However, in the last decade of the 20th century, it expanded into a commercial, residential, and entertainment area. Initially, six fortresses were built on different islands, equipped with cannon batteries. In fact, the Japanese word “daiba” means a place (ba) for an artillery battery (dai). Because the islands were under the direct control of the shogunate, the honorific prefix “o-” was added to them. Over time, the islands were joined together by adding reclaimed land to form their present form.

What to see in Odaiba – Tokyo

Fuji TV headquarters

We recommend visiting the Fuji TV headquarters, whether you’ve seen any of the programs before or not, as its distinctive shape is sure to capture your attention. This 25-story building was designed by Japanese architect Tange Kenzo, who is also known for creating the impressive Tokyo Metropolitan Government buildings and the famous National Stadium in Yoyogi. Upon entering the Fuji TV headquarters, you can learn more about the channel and its programs. The construction of this Fuji TV headquarters took three years to complete, and its distinctive aluminum-clad silhouette is easily recognizable even from afar as you approach Odaiba. It’s truly worth a visit, especially considering that admission is free, unless you want to climb the building’s Hachitama observation deck, which costs extra. However, we recommend going up and simply enjoying the excellent views from there. For us, this is one of our favorite observation decks due to the beautiful views it offers, despite not being very high. From there, you can take in the bay, the Rainbow Bridge, and Tokyo Tower.

Decks

Another well-known shopping center is Decks, located next to the previous one. Decks features Tokyo Joypolis and a Legoland Discovery Center, among many other attractions. Tokyo Joypolis is a kind of SEGA theme park with indoor rides, simulation games, and more, making it the perfect place to have a good time if it’s raining, for example.

Aqua City

One of the best things to do in Odaiba is to stroll and shop at Odaiba’s shopping malls, such as the aforementioned Aqua City, right by the bay. Here, in addition to shopping or grabbing a burger at Kua’Aina, you can enjoy ramen in a kind of themed ramen restaurant area on the fifth floor. There, you can try Sapporo ramen or Hakata ramen. It’s not as spectacular as the Yokohama Ramen Museum, but it’s closer, and if you’re in Odaiba, it might be just the ticket. In fact, we also tried a restaurant in this mall that served Kobe beef (but the real deal), and it was an amazing experience.

Miraikan Museum

One of the most fascinating attractions to visit in Tokyo is Miraikan, also known as the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, whose name literally translates as Museum of the Future. Located on the artificial island of Odaiba, this museum is an interesting option for a day trip, even if you’re not particularly interested in shopping. In 2012, the museum celebrated its 20th anniversary. Miraikan features a permanent exhibition and a special exhibition that changes every few months. The permanent exhibition features the impressive Geo-Cosmos sphere, which hangs at the entrance. This enormous sphere, composed of over 10 million pixels, shows our planet in incredible detail from various perspectives, such as the view from space, CO2 concentrations in the past and present, and even as a form of art. Miraikan also hosts several daily events, including demonstrations featuring ASIMO, which are sure to wow the public. These demonstrations take place every day at 11:00 and 14:00 for approximately 10 minutes, although please note that some dates may be canceled due to maintenance. We recommend checking the Miraikan website to ensure the demonstration has not been canceled. In addition, the museum offers demonstrations related to superconductors, scientific talks, virtual reality films, and other activities. You’ll also find a broad display of Japanese robotics and environmental topics. The permanent exhibition includes sections dedicated to the brain, the genome, extreme habitats, space and time, the International Space Station (ISS), and robotics. The robotics section, in particular, features another of the museum’s stars: Honda’s ASIMO robot. Like any good museum, Miraikan has a gift shop and a cafe where you can enjoy a meal. Additionally, on July 2, 2014, the museum opened a fun and interactive exhibition titled “Toilet?” – Human Waste and the Future of Earth, which was filled with toilets and representations of feces. In this exhibition, visitors were taken on a tour of the digestive system and sewage systems of modern Japan. The exhibition was open until October 5, 2014. This fun but somewhat scatological exhibition at Miraikan could almost be considered a tribute to the toilet and feces. In fact, upon entering the exhibition, you were welcomed by a huge toilet reminiscent of the many amenities offered by modern toilets in Japan, such as bidets and water jets with pressure and temperature control, seat heating, lids that open and close automatically, music, and more. From there, other characters were introduced who accompanied visitors throughout the exhibition, such as Buritto-kun, a yellow poop; Purittonii-chan, a pink poop; Professor Bender, a roll of toilet paper; and Mitsuura, a pooping flight attendant. They all stressed the importance of the toilet and feces. In fact, at that time, the ancient term for the toilet was introduced: benjo, which literally means “place where information is received,” referring to the data that can be obtained about our health and the state of our bodies based on the smell, color, and texture of our feces. It was explained that the traditional Japanese squatting toilet was designed to allow for daily observation of this information before flushing. Naturally, the importance of understanding our own physiology and the relationship between our diet and our feces was emphasized, as the shape and texture can indicate whether we have a healthy digestive system. After creating a sculpture of our own feces with modeling clay, museum staff provided advice on nutrition and lifestyle habits to the children and their families. At the end of the visit, the children received a poop-shaped hat and descended a giant toilet with a slide, following the path of the feces to learn about the Japanese sewage system and wastewater treatment, one of the great challenges of our time. The children were also shown a prototype toilet for future space travel that would be capable of recycling 100% of human feces. Of course, the exhibit featured a friendly poop as its official mascot, dancing alongside a dozen dancing talking toilets to a song that cheerfully repeated “arigatoire,” a combination of the words arigato (thank you) and toire (toilet).

Divercity

In recent years, one of the highlights of a visit to Odaiba has been the DiverCity shopping mall, especially known for its life-size Gundams. Since 2017, a new Gundam has been located in Odaiba: the Gundam Unicorn. So, even if you’re not interested in shopping, we recommend visiting the mall anyway, even if it’s just to see the Gundam, which also moves, albeit slightly. Sadly, in November 2021, it was announced that the Odaiba Gundam Cafe, along with other cafes in the franchise, would be closing permanently in January 2022. It is another victim of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gundam

In recent years, one of the highlights of a visit to Odaiba has been the DiverCity shopping mall, especially known for its life-size Gundams. Since 2017, a new Gundam has been located in Odaiba: the Gundam Unicorn. So, even if you’re not interested in shopping, we recommend visiting the mall anyway, even if it’s just to see the Gundam, which also moves, albeit slightly. Sadly, in November 2021, it was announced that the Odaiba Gundam Cafe, along with other cafes in the franchise, would be closing permanently in January 2022. It is another victim of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Puente Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge is one of Odaiba’s attractions and serves as the main access route to this artificial island in Tokyo Bay. It’s a beautiful suspension bridge that opened in 1993 and connects the Odaiba area with the Shibaura area, between Shinagawa and Hamamatsucho. An excellent way to get to Odaiba is by train on the Yurikamome Line, an automated, driverless line. If you take the train from Shinbashi, you can enjoy breathtaking views as you approach the bridge and cross it to reach Odaiba. It’s a fascinating experience! However, if you prefer, you can always cross the bridge on foot for a more leisurely view. The pedestrian path spans the distance between Shibaura-futo and Kaihin-koen stations and takes approximately one hour to complete. However, it’s important to note that the pedestrian path closes at night and in bad weather or during the Odaiba fireworks display. The bridge is illuminated at night, creating a spectacular atmosphere. We recommend taking a stroll along the Odaiba Marine Park promenade and relaxing in the sun or admiring the sunset from Odaiba Beach, one of only two beaches in Tokyo. Make the most of the wonderful views!

Daiba Park

The name Odaiba, or more specifically “daiba” without the honorific “o,” means defense battery or fort, and refers to the defense batteries that were installed on the islets in the bay in 1853 by the Tokugawa shogunate. These forts were intended to protect old Edo from a possible attack by Commodore Perry and his imposing black ships. In 1928, Defense Battery No. 3, known as Dai-San Daiba, was opened to the public as Daiba Park. From this park, you can enjoy beautiful close-up views of the Rainbow Bridge, which connects Odaiba to central Tokyo. You can also appreciate the entire Odaiba waterfront, with its impressive shopping malls and iconic landmarks like the Fuji TV building. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore this area steeped in history and beauty, where the former defense has been transformed into a vibrant entertainment and leisure district. Enjoy the panoramic views and immerse yourself in Odaiba’s modernity!

Odaiba

One of the must-see places when visiting Tokyo is Odaiba, an artificial island located in Tokyo Bay. Odaiba has numerous attractions that justify spending a day there. Initially, the island was built as a defensive fortress against naval attacks in 1853. However, in the last decade of the 20th century, it expanded into a commercial, residential, and entertainment area. Initially, six fortresses were built on different islands, equipped with cannon batteries. In fact, the Japanese word “daiba” means a place (ba) for an artillery battery (dai). Because the islands were under the direct control of the shogunate, the honorific prefix “o-” was added to them. Over time, the islands were joined together by adding reclaimed land, eventually reaching their current form. These fortresses were built to prevent foreign invasions by naval means, coinciding with the arrival of Commodore Perry’s ships. However, thereafter, it became unnecessary to defend against any threats, as the opening of Japan and Western cultural influence became inevitable. Today, in Japan, Daiba refers to one of the districts that are part of the Minato Ward, while Odaiba also includes adjacent neighborhood districts where some of the aforementioned tourist attractions are located. During the 1990s, Odaiba experienced difficulties at the height of Japan’s economic bubble. What was supposed to be a showcase of futuristic Japanese lifestyle, with an expensive and extravagant project, came to nothing despite multimillion-dollar investments. However, at the end of the decade, with improvements in public transportation and the arrival of companies that relocated their headquarters to the island, along with the opening of hotels and convention centers, Odaiba began to recover. Since then, it has become one of the most popular spots, especially after the opening of one of only two beaches in all of Tokyo (although swimming is not permitted). Recently, it was announced that Odaiba’s Palette Town shopping mall will close at the end of December 2021. Additionally, the live music venue Zepp Tokyo will close on January 1, 2022, and the VenusFort shopping mall will close on March 27, 2022. Palette Town opened in March 1999 as part of the Tokyo Waterfront City revitalization project on Tokyo Bay. Development in the area had stalled following the collapse of the asset bubble in the early 1990s, but restarted several years later. This entertainment complex includes the VenusFort shopping mall, a Ferris wheel, Mega Web Toyota City Showcase, Zepp Tokyo, and teamLab Borderless.

Sumida Cruise on the Himiko

Water ferries, or suijo basu, are a unique way to explore Tokyo from a different perspective. The Himiko, owned by the Tokyo Cruise Ship Company, is a futuristic boat designed by the famous cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto. Since March 2004, it connects Asakusa with Odaiba Island on a 50-minute journey. The boat’s futuristic design is reflected both inside and out, with panoramic windows and figures of Ginga Tetsudō and characters from Galaxy Railways 999. The tour offers a different view of Tokyo, passing under bridges, residential areas, and elevated highways. While not everything you see is pretty, it offers a unique perspective of the city. The boat seats up to 90 people and has a small bar/café at the rear.

Odaiba, Tokyo Travel Guide

What Tourist Road Guides offers for your travel guide through Odaiba, Tokyo

Tourist Road Guides is a mobile app designed to facilitate travel planning and exploration. It offers predefined routes covering the main points of interest in each destination, integrating an audio guide that provides historical details, interesting facts, and recommendations as the user explores each location. Additionally, the app includes a personalized “What to See” list, highlighting the most relevant points in each location. This structure allows travelers to organize their itinerary efficiently, ensuring they don’t miss any important aspects of the destination.