The waterfront area of Odaiba is full of large shopping malls and amusement parks. Here are 20 recommended tourist spots in this area that is packed with fun for both children and adults.
What Is Odaiba?
Odaiba, which was developed by reclaiming land from Tokyo Bay, is an attractive area that is constantly evolving with new spots continuing to open one after another. Interest in it has risen even further with its selection as the site for swimming, triathlon and beach volleyball in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It has many large commercial complexes such as AQUA CITY ODAIBA, DiverCity Tokyo Plaza and VenusFort, as well as popular entertainment spots like Tokyo Joypolis. It is easy to get to on New Transit Yurikamome from Shimbashi Station. It is also about 30 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.
1. Enjoy Onsen at Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari
Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari is Japan's leading onsen (hot spring) theme park where you can enjoy onsen, foot baths, rock salt sauna and great food in a building that recreates a town in Edo (historic Tokyo). The Big Common Bath with a stunning mural of Mt. Fuji colored red is filled with natural hot spring water with wonderful benefits bubbling up from 1,400m below ground. There are a total of 13 different types of baths, including a large in-door bath, open-air bath, and sauna. There are bath towels, shampoos and other amenities so you need worry about bringing them yourself. One of the pleasures of visiting is choosing a combination of yukata (light cotton kimono) and obi (sash) to wear in the facility from the wide selection that is available.
2. See Odaiba from the Sphere at Fuji TV Headquarters Building
The Fuji TV headquarter building is considered to be an Odaiba landmark. It is distinguished by a spherical observation room that gives the building a futuristic appearance. There is a 270-degree view of the waterfront of Odaiba from the 25th floor observation room, with views of Tokyo Tower and TOKYO SKYTREE beyond the sea and even Mt. Fuji on a clear day. The view after sunset that has a whole new look from the daytime is also not to be missed!
Admission: 700 JPY/Adult (high school and older), 450 JPY/elementary and junior high school
3. Learn About the Latest Technology and the History of Earth at Miraikan
Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) is filled with clever ways to stimulate the curiosity. The permanent exhibition consists of three zones: Explore the Frontiers to examine the mystery of space and life; Create Your Future to imagine a future society and lifestyle; and Discover Your Earth to consider your relationship with earth. Each zone is produced under the supervision of scientists and engineers working at the forefront of their respective fields and present information through interactive exhibits and video.
Admission: 630 JPY/adult, 210 JPY/age 18 and younger
[palette town]
The information from here on will be organized by location.The first few spots are in palette town, a multi-functional commercial complex that includes a shopping mall, car theme park, giant ferris wheel, and other facilities.
4. Feel the Art at Mori Building Digital Art Museum EPSON teamLab★Borderless
This is a new type of museum like no other in the world where you can physically experience the latest digital art. It has been a social media sensation since opening in June 2018 and is so popular that tickets are sold out every day. This is a place where you can enjoy astounding art spaces that challenge preconceived notions, such as Athletics Forest, where you explore a complex, three-dimensional world using your own body and the Forest of Resonating Lamps, where numerous lamps change colors in a room surrounded by mirrors on all sides.
5. Go Shopping in VenusFort
VenusFort is a shopping mall with approximately 170 shops including ones selling clothing, beauty products, furniture and miscellaneous items as well as cafes and restaurants. The first floor is filled with shops popular with families and the second and third floors, which are designed in the style of a medieval European town, have shops targeted primarily at women. It also houses Tokyo's first outlet mall where you can purchase famous brand name products at great prices. The fountain plaza on the second floor has a romantic touch with the sky reflected on the atrium ceiling changing depending on the time of day.
6. Look, Ride and Play at the Car Theme Park, MEGA WEB
MEGA WEB is an interactive theme park irresistible to car lovers where you can "see, ride, and feel" the cars. It is divided into three areas: Toyota City Showcase, where you can see the latest Toyota models and even test drive them; History Garage, with exhibitions of historic cars from around the world; and Ride Studio, where children can experience driving. There is also an attraction to feel like you are in a race or rally so it is packed with fun for both children and adults.
7. See the Bay Area from Giant Sky Wheel palette town
The giant ferris wheel that is 100m in diameter and 115m high is in palette town, right by Aomi Station. From the gondola that goes around in about 16 minutes, you can see Odaiba and the Bay Area and major Tokyo landmarks such as Tokyo Tower, TOKYO SKYTREE, Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Gate Bridge. There are four see-through gondolas with clear floors and walls that are recommended for those who want a thrilling ride in the air. The ferris wheel is a popular date spot to enjoy the night views.
Ticket: 1,000 JPY/adult (junior high and older), 500 JPY/child (elementary school and younger)
[Odaiba Marine Park]
Odaiba Marine Park is a park that spreads around the inlet facing Tokyo Bay, with Daiba Park as the starting point. It is a spot to enjoy marine sports, fishing and gathering shellfish and there is even a beach with artificial sand. It has been chosen as the site for swimming and triathlon in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
8. Row Out to Sea on a Trendy SUP
At Odaiba Marine Park, you can enjoy the trendy marine sport, Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), where you stand on a special board and move along using a paddle. The marine shop Odaiba Ehukai Beach rents out the board and all the necessary equipment. There is also a class (5,000 JPY) for beginners that includes a lecture so it is recommended for first-timers.
9. Take a Walk on the Beach
Odaiba Beach in Odaiba Marine Park is a 800m long beach with artificial sand. No swimming is allowed, but you can get in the resort mood just by taking a leisurely walk while enjoying views of Rainbow Bridge and the buildings on the opposing shore. There are showers in Marine House nearby so no need to worry about your feet getting dirty from the sand.
10. Take a Selfie with the Statue of Liberty
One of the most notable features of Odaiba Marine Park is the Statue of Liberty standing with Rainbow Bridge in the background. It is a bronze replica made with a mould of the Statue of Liberty in Paris, and was built as a symbol of friendship between France and Japan. It is 11m high and weighs approximately 9 tons. If you are in Odaiba, be sure to take a picture with it! You will get a wonderful photograph with Rainbow Bridge in the background.
[AQUA CITY ODAIBA]
AQUA CITY ODAIBA next to Odaiba Marine Park is a large shopping mall with approximately 60 shops selling primarily casual fashion items and a variety of restaurants and a cinema complex. Top spots in the mall are introduced below.
11. Enjoy the Views at Night from Aqua Garden
Aqua Garden on the seventh floor rooftop plaza of AQUA CITY ODAIBA is a fantastic spot to see the Odaiba night view, said to be one of the best in the city, with skyscrapers seen beyond the Statue of Liberty and Rainbow Bridge. There is a shrine, Aqua City Odaiba Shrine, on the rooftop with a red torii gate creating a strange and wonderful contrast with the night view.
12. Eat Fantastic Ramen at the Ramen Theme Park, Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai
Today, ramen is recognized as one of the most representative dishes of Japanese cuisine. Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai, which opened in AQUA CITY ODAIBA in 2005 and re-opened after renewals in 2016, is a ramen theme park with outlets by six popular ramen shops selected from around Japan. At the theme park, you can enjoy great ramen with unique touches of each shop, including the standard shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, miso ramen from Sapporo, rich tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen from Hakata, and tsukemen (dipping ramen) with a seafood broth.
[DECKS Tokyo Beach]
DECKS Tokyo Beach next to AQUA CITY ODAIBA is a shopping center in a building in the shape of a boat. In addition to shops, it includes amusement centers such as Tokyo Joypolis.
13. Enjoy a Takoyaki Lunch at Odaiba Takoyaki Museum
If you are going to have lunch at DECKS Tokyo Beach, go to Odaiba Takoyaki Museum, with branches of five popular takoyaki shops from Osaka, the home of takoyaki octopus dumplings. All five are famous takoyaki shops, such as Osaka Tamade Aizuya, which is said to be the originator of takoyaki, and Tennoji Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan, which is the most popular takoyaki shop in Osaka.
14. Enjoy the Showa Retro Atmosphere in Daiba 1-Chome Shoutengai
Daiba 1-Chome Shoutengai on the fourth floor of DECKS Tokyo Beach is a shopping area that recreates the feel of a Japanese town of about 60 years ago, during the Showa Era. There is a wide range of fun and unique shops, ranging from ones selling traditional candy and Japanese-style goods to an old-school haunted house. One step inside and you will feel as if you have travelled in time to Japan from the past.
15. Get a Thrill in the Haunted House, Daiba Kaiki Gakko
Daiba Kaiki Gakko, located in a particularly unique corner of Daiba 1-chome Shoutengai, is a new type of horror attraction that offers such a bone-chilling experience that it has been rated on social media as the scariest haunted house in Japan. With just a flashlight to light the way, you will be entering a haunted school that closed after a student hanged himself. The terrifying experiences that befall you one after another are sure to have you screaming! Groups of up to six people can enter together, so why not go with friends to share the fear?
Price: 800 JPY (incl. tax)
16. Enjoy Japan's Largest Indoor Theme Park, Tokyo Joypolis
Tokyo Joypolis is an indoor theme park where you can experience state-of-the-art entertainment that melds reality and digitally created images. There are more than 20 different attractions, including an original video show, VR experience using the latest technology, and the world's first roller coaster incorporating elements of rhythm games. It is indoors, so you can enjoy it without worrying about the weather.
Admission: 800 JPY/adult (age 18 and older), 500 JPY/elementary, junior high and high school student
17. Take Instagrammable Photos at Tokyo Trick Art Museum
A museum of trick art that uses optical illusions to draw you into a strange world of art has opened in Odaiba. Tokyo Trick Art Museum is unique in that it exhibits Edo-themed trick art including a ninja house full of contrivances that can only be experienced here. You can get Instagrammable photos by posing in front of a piece of artwork so it looks like you are a part of it!
Admission: 1,000 JPY/adult (high school student and older), 700 JPY/child (ages 4 - junior high school), free/age 3 and younger
[DiverCity Tokyo Plaza]
DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, located three minutes on foot from Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line, is famous for the life-size Gundam statue in a shopping mall consisting of approximately 150 shops including fashion boutiques, restaurants, and sport and VR entertainment spots. Below are three spots including ones to get a little exercise.
18. Photograph the Huge Gundam Statue
A life-sized statue of Unicorn Gundam that appears in the popular Japanese anime series, Gundam, is exhibited on the grounds of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. It is worth seeing for its sheer size of 19.7m in height, and also for the transformation it undergoes four times during the day. Any fan would be thrilled to see Gundam's face go through four mode changes while the body lights up and turn into Destroy Mode. There are even more spectacular exhibitions at night.
19. Have a VR Experience at TYFFONIUM ODAIBA
TYFFONIUM ODAIBA is a place where you can enjoy immersive experiential entertainment using MR (magic reality), the next-generation technology that goes beyond VR (virtual reality), through multiple storylines such as horror and fantasy. Reality is adopted into the world of virtual reality so that you and those accompanying you are reflected and feel senses, such as the wind blowing and the floor moving, in accordance with the scene being played out. It is an amazing new experience that feels even more real than traditional VR.
20. Learn While Playing! Enjoy Attractions That Combine Technology and Play at Little Planet × XFLAG DiverCity Tokyo Plaza
On the fifth floor of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, there is a digital theme park that draws on children's imaginations and the latest technology for children to learn while playing. It is full of attractions through which children can have new experiences, such as Paper Rikishi in which the sumo wrestler drawings that children color in have wrestling matches on the screen and Number Splash in which they can interact with numbers not just in their heads but by moving their bodies. Adults can also draw on their inner child and have just as much fun!
Odaiba is a place not just for shopping and entertainment, but also to see the views that a seaside city affords. Read this article and find just the right way for you to enjoy it!
*Please note that the information in this article is from the time of writing or publication and may differ from the latest information.
