Description

Essentials about Odaiba in brief

The artificial island of Odaiba at the northern end of Tokyo Bay is one of Tokyo’s most popular shopping, leisure and entertainment areas. Here you can spend a whole day (and longer) shopping in malls, educating yourself in museums, gaming fun in arcades, walking in parks, relaxing in spa facilities, and sunbathing on the beach.

The history of Odaiba

Odaiba was originally created to protect the city of Tokyo from the threat of naval attack. In response to the arrival of four American warships, the Tokugawa shogunate decided to build eleven gun emplacements (daiba) off the coast of Shinagawa to protect against invasion. In the end, only five of the daiba were realized, partly because of a treaty of friendship with the United States and partly because of lack of money.

Most of the gun batteries were removed in the 1930s, mainly so as not to obstruct shipping after the opening of Tokyo Harbor in 1941. By the 1970s, only two islands measuring about 100 by 100 meters remained. In 1979, Odaiba was finally completed in its present form as an artificial island. In the years that followed, the newly reclaimed land was used mainly for port facilities.

The redevelopment of Odaiba began after the success of the 1985 Expo in Tsukuba. The Japanese economy was at a peak and Odaiba was to become the model of futuristic living. In total, the construction of the island cost over 10 billion US dollars. In 1991, however, the so-called Japanese “bubble economy” burst and by 1995 Odaiba was virtually abandoned.

In 1996, the area was reoriented from a pure business district to an entertainment and shopping area. As a result, life came back to the area. Hotels and shopping streets opened, various large companies such as Fuji TV relocated their headquarters to the island, and transport links improved, especially with the extensions of the Rinkai and Yurikamome metro lines.

Attractions on Odaiba

Modern Odaiba is a popular shopping and sightseeing destination for tourists and Tokyoites alike. There are a variety of different attractions on Odaiba for all ages and tastes.

One of the main attractions on Odaiba is Palette Town, a huge shopping mall with an attached entertainment complex. Here you can find, among other things, the 115-meter-high Daikanransha Ferris wheel, Mega Web (an exhibition center of the car manufacturer Toyota), the Mori Building Digital Art Museum, Tokyo Leisure Land (an arcade with karaoke and bowling), VenusFort (a Venice-style shopping mall) and the Zepp Tokyo concert hall.

For those who like shopping, in addition to Palette Town, there are the other shopping areas of Aqua City, DiverCity Tokyo Plaza and Decks Tokyo Beach to fill your pockets. Decks Tokyo Beach is also home to the SEGA Joypolis, an arcade that makes gamers’ hearts beat faster.

For those who prefer museums, Odaiba is home to Miraikan, Japan’s National Museum of Future Research and Innovation, and the Museum of Maritime Science. Tech fans should also stop by the Panasonic Center, which showcases the latest products and technologies from the Japanese electronics company. On the third floor of the center is the so-called “Risupia,” an interactive math and science museum.

People who want to unwind from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo with a little wellness will find the Ōedo-Onsen-Monogatari on Odaiba, a public bath with hot springs, some of which are up to 1,400 meters deep. If you prefer to lie on the beach instead, you can do so on one of the two city beaches in central Tokyo. Caution: swimming is prohibited here. And walkers can stretch their legs in Shiokaze Park and Higashi-Yahio Park.

Odaida is also exciting territory from an architectural point of view. An architectural eye-catcher is the Fuji Television building and the Telecom Center, whose observation deck offers a great view over Tokyo Bay. Equally interesting to look at is the Rainbow Bridge, which connects Odaiba with downtown Tokyo. And last but not least, there is even a replica of the Statue of Liberty on the island.

Website

Unavailable.

Opening hours

Opening hours Fuji TV building:

Opening hours Decks Tokyo Beach:

Opening hours Aqua City:

Opening hours DiverCity Tokyo Plaza:

Opening hours observation deck Telecom Center:

Opening hours Museum of Maritime Science:

Opening hours National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation:

Opening hours Oedo Onsen Monogatari:

Opening hours Venus Fort:

Opening hours Toyota Mega Web:

Opening hours ferris wheel:

Opening hours Panasonic Center:

Admission fees

Admission fees Fuji TV building:

Admission fees Decks Tokyo Beach:

Admission fees Aqua City:

Admission fees DiverCity Tokyo Plaza:

Admission fees observation deck Telecom Center:

Admission fees Museum of Maritime Science:

Admission fees National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation:

Admission fees Oedo Onsen Monogatari:

Admission fees Venus Fort:

Admission fees Toyota Mega Web:

Admission fees ferris wheel:

Admission fees Panasonic Center:

None. Risupia: ¥500

Location

Getting there

By public transport:

Metro line Yurikamome: Stops Odaiba-kaihinkōen, Daiba, Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, Telecom Center, Aomi and Tokyo Big Sight

Metro line Rinkai: Stops Tokyo Teleport and Kokusai-tenjijō

By car:

On Odaiba there are a number of parking garages.