Odaiba (お 台 場) is a district of the city of Tokyo which is part of Minato.
To know
It is a large man-made island in Tokyo, with many hypermodern or just plain weird buildings, the area is now a very popular shopping and entertainment destination.
Background
Odaiba was originally built in 1853 by the Tokugawa shogun as a series of 6 fortresses in order to protect Tokyo from an attack by sea, the main threat being the Black Navi of the Commodore Matthew Perry, which had arrived in the same year. Daiba in Japanese it refers to the cannon batteries placed on the islands.
In 1928, the 3to daiba was renovated and opened to the public as a park until today. The modern redevelopment of Odaiba began after the success of the 1985 Expo in Tsukuba. The Japanese economy was doing well, and Odaiba was to be a showcase of futuristic life, built at a cost of over $ 10 billion. Unfortunately, the "economic bubble" exploded in 1991, and in 1995 Odaiba became a virtual desert, underpopulated and full of abandoned lots.
In 1996, the area was redeveloped via business to allow for commercial and entertainment districts as well, and the area began to come back to life when Tokyo discovered the sea it never had. Hotels and shopping malls opened, several large companies (including Fuji TV) moved their headquarters to the island and improved transportation.
How to orient yourself
Odaiba: full screen map.How to get
By plane
From Narita Airport
From the airport of Narita, take the Keisei Skyliner to the station Ueno, then take the metro line 
for Shinbashi where you can move to 
to Odaiba (about 1 hour and 45 minutes total to Daiba station, ¥ 2,390).
Keisei's regular and potentially crowded trains tokkyu to Ueno station instead of the Skyliner they slightly increase the travel time, but reduce the fare to ¥ 1,470. A simpler alternative is to change ad Aoto by subway train 
for Shinbashi, where you take .
The owners of the Japan Rail Pass can take the JR Narita Express to Tokyo Station, then wait on the same platform and take a local train of the Yokosuka Line to reach the . It takes about 90 minutes to Daiba Station, and Rail Pass users only need to pay the fare (¥ 310 in this case). Users without a Rail Pass must pay a total of ¥ 3,420.
Buses rarely Airport Limousine (six per day) depart directly from the airport to major Odaiba hotels (approximately 70-75 minutes depending on traffic, ¥ 2,700).
From Haneda Airport
Take the Tokyo Monorail 
to Tennozu Island and switch to the Rinkai line for direct access to Odaiba. A transfer to the can be made at Tokyo Teleport or Kokusai-Tenjijo stations (25 minutes to the latter, ¥ 660).
For the longer but scenic route over Rainbow Bridge, take a Keikyu train, then the Toei Asakusa subway line and changing at Shinbashi for the (50 minutes to Daiba station, ¥ 920).
The buses Airport Limousine depart once an hour (2-4 times between 2pm and 4pm) for Tokyo Big Sight (approx. 25-30 minutes) and major Odaiba hotels (approx. 15-20 minutes, ¥ 500-600) . Departures from 8:00 to 23:30, depending on the location.
On the train
Most visitors arrive in Odaiba with the automated "new transport system" , an intersection between a train and a bus, from Shimbashi on the line 
(or the Shiodome station on the line 
). An attraction in itself, driverless elevated trains cross Rainbow Bridge with fantastic views of Tokyo Bay. One way from Shinbashi to Daiba station will cost ¥ 310 (any station further away will be ¥ 370), or you can buy a one day pass for ¥ 800. You can also buy the cheapest ticket from Shimbashi to Shiodome for ¥ 180 and go to the end of the line and go back without going out to see the island.
The other option is to take the Rapid Transit of the area Tokyo Waterfront Rinkai Line from Ōsaki on the or Shin-Kiba on the line 
. Many of the trains connect directly from Ōsaki to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ōmiya and Kawagoe through the 
. While it is a bit faster the train which travels mostly underground and doesn't offer much in the way of views.
- 1 Tokyo Teleport station. Line
- 2 Daiba Station (台 場 駅 Daiba-eki). Line
By bus
The Toei city buses they are cheaper (¥ 200 per ride) but access is slower.虹 01 connects with Hamamatsu-cho, 海 01 connects with Monzennaka-cho, 東 16 connects to Tokyo station from Tokyo Big Sight. Some special bus services to other destinations are only available on weekends. The private bus company Keikyu operates by bus to theHaneda airport[link previously not working] and with directions for Shinagawa is Yokohama.
The free shuttle bus Bay Shuttle travels a circular route within Odaiba (about 40 minutes round trip) connecting the parking lots and museums of the Aomi district with the shopping centers, hotels and the Fuji TV building. Unfortunately, stops are hard to find, so try asking at information desks in shopping malls, or at ticket offices.
Suijobus Ferries it also operates between Hinode Pier (on the Yurikamome Line) and several stops in Odaiba. 400 yen each way. Tokyo Mizube Line[link not working] offers general transport and special cruises.
Some of the boats connect to Asakusa along the Sumida River and Kasai Rinkai Park near Tokyo Disney Resort.
- 3 Palette town, ☎ 81 120-977-311. Connections with Hinode Pier and Tokyo Big Sight
- 4 Odaiba seaside park, 1-4-1 Daiba, Minato-ku. Connections with Toyosu, Asakusa and Hinode Pier
On foot
You can cross the Rainbow Bridge on foot, it takes about 30 minutes. If you come by bicycle, there is an obligation to push it along the bridge without pedaling. The view of the Tokyo harbor is pleasant especially around sunset, although in winter (November to March), you have to enter by 5:30 pm and leave by 6:00 pm. In the other months it is possible to access the pedestrian part of the street from 9 am to 8.30 pm (30 minutes before the exit). Closed on the 3rd Monday of each month and on Dec 29-31.
The entrance on the Shibaura side can be difficult to find. The north side is the most recommended if you want to look at the buildings in the city center from the top of the harbor. The south side is the most recommended.
| Connections |
Shibuya ← verse  ← Ōsaki ← Tennōzu Isle ← | OR  IS | → Shin Kiba |
| Shinbashi ← Shiodome ←Takeshiba ← | OR  S. | → Toyosu |
to  ← Shibaura ← | No.  S. | → end |
| Yokohama ← Kawasaki ← Tokyo Haneda Airport ← | S.  IS | → Kasai → Urayasu → Chidoricho |
| Tokyo Haneda Airport ← Ōi Horse Race Course ← | S.  IS | → Urayasu → Ichikawa → Chiba |
How to get around
While the center can be covered on foot, there is also the free bus Tokyo Bay Shuttle, with runs every 15 ~ 20 minutes from 11am to 8pm.
- 5 Fune no Kagakukan station (船 の 科学館 駅 Rope no Kagakukan-eki). Line
- 6 Telecom Center Station. Line
- 7 Aomi station. Line
What see
- 1 Fuji TV building, 2-4 Daiba, Minato-ku (Daiba Station or Tokyo Teleport line station ).
¥ 500. A landmark of Odaiba that appears to be built with toy blocks. The studio tour is of little interest unless you speak Japanese and / or are familiar with Fuji programming, but you can visit the second highest part for free with some nice views. The giant ball suspended in the structure has an expensive Chinese restaurant. - 2 Giant Gundam robot (In front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza shopping center, Daiba Station or Tokyo Teleport line station ). free. An impressive 1: 1 scale robot of Gundam, a must if you are in the area.
¥ 500. A landmark of Odaiba that appears to be built with toy blocks. The studio tour is of little interest unless you speak Japanese and / or are familiar with Fuji programming, but you can visit the second highest part for free with some nice views. The giant ball suspended in the structure has an expensive Chinese restaurant.
- 3 Toyota MEGA WEB, 1 Aomi, Koto-ku (Palette Town, Tokyo Teleport Line station o Aomi ), ☎ 81 3-3599-0808. Free.
11:00-18:00. A showcase of Toyota automotive technology that will fascinate car enthusiasts.
11:00-18:00. A showcase of Toyota automotive technology that will fascinate car enthusiasts.
- 4 Japan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (日本 科学 未来 館 Miraikan), 2-41 Aomi, Koto-ku ( Fune no kagakukan or Telecom Center stations), ☎ 81 3-3570-9151. Full ¥ 620, reduced ¥ 210, Dome theater: full ¥ 300, reduced ¥ 100 (Jun 2019). 10: 00-17: 00, later in the summer season. The museum, created by the Japanese science and technology agency, exhibits new technologies such as robots, space modules etc. Physical demonstrations and experiments are presented here. Here is the robot Asimo. The museum is covered by Wi-Fi.
- 5 [link not working]Tokyo Oceanographic Museum (船 の 科学館 Rope no kagakukan), 3-1 Higashi-Yashio, Koto-ku (Fune no kagakukan station ), ☎ 81 3-5500-1111. ¥ 700 for the museum but ¥ 1800 if you want to use the outdoor swimming pool (open only during the summer months). 10:00-17:00. A standard-sized ocean liner-shaped six-story museum, unsurprisingly, dedicated to ships. One of the main displays, a giant turbine engine, was actually installed first and the museum was built "around it". There are some historic ships on the adjacent dock; unfortunately the World War II flying craft "Emily" has been moved to Kagoshima. The museum only has explanations in Japanese though.
- 6 Statue of Liberty (自由 の 女神 像), Minato-ku, Daiba, 1 Chome − 4, 台 場 海 浜 公園 内 (Daiba Station ). a copy of the original French statue of liberty, today remembered more than anything else for that of New York.
- 7 Madame Tussaud Tokyo, 1-chōme-6-1 Daiba, ☎ 81 3-3599-5231. 2300 ¥, online 1800 ¥. Combined ticket with Legoland discovery 4700 ¥, online 3000 ¥ (May 2019). Mon-Fri 11: 00-19: 00, Sat-Sun 10: 00-19: 00. Famous museum that exhibits famous people reproduced with wax.
- 8 Legoland discovery, Daiba, 1-chōme − 6−1, デ ッ ク ス 東京 ビ ー チ ア イ ラ ン ド モ ー ル 3 階, ☎ 81 800-100-5346. 2400 ¥, online 1700 ¥. Combined ticket with Legoland discovery 4700 ¥, online 3000 ¥ (May 2019). Mon-Fri 10: 00-20: 00, Sat-Sun 10: 00-21: 00. Museum that exhibits Tokyo reproductions with the famous Lego bricks.
What to do
- 1 Daikanransha (大 観 覧 車), 1 Aomi, Koto-ku (Palette Town, Tokyo Teleport Line station o Aomi ), ☎ 81 3-5500-2655. ¥ 900 each, or rent an entire 6-person gondola for ¥ 3000. Mon-Sun 10: 00-22: 00. Slow rotating Ferris wheel that offers great views and is very popular with Japanese couples.
- 2 Ōedo-onsen-monogatari (大江 戸 温泉 物語), 2-57 Aomi, Koto-ku (Telecom Center station ), ☎ 81 3-5500-1126. ¥ 2827, discount at ¥ 1987 after 6pm, but watch out for the ¥ 1575 surcharge for late night after 2am. Mon-Sun 11: 00-08: 00. Tokyo's newest and largest (man-made) hot spring complex, built in the Edo style (1800s) and featuring an endless array of bathtubs of all temperatures and flavors, including: uchiyu (internal bathroom), iwa-buro (an outdoor rock bath), ashiyu (a foot bath) e suna-buro (sand bath). There are many restaurants, bars, souvenir shops inside and rest rooms for sleeping too. Unfortunately, there is no way in if you have a tattoo, no matter how small it is. You'll receive a wrist tag at the entrance, which acts as a wallet while you're inside, so anything you buy is paid for when you leave.
- 3 Odaiba marine park (お 台 場 海 浜 公園, Odaiba Kaihin Kōen), 1-4 Daiba, Minato-ku (Daiba station ), ☎ 81 3-5500-2455. It has one of two beaches on the mainland of Tokyo, but swimming is prohibited and not recommended in any case as the water is quite polluted. A couple-studded boardwalk runs along the beach, as it is considered to be the most romantic spot in Tokyo. The park also contains a copy of the Statue of Liberty, which is more popular than one might think. You can have a picnic on Dai-San Daiba (第三 台 場 No. 3 Battery ), located nearby and transformed into a pleasant park.
- 4 Shiokaze Park (潮 風 公園, Shiokaze Kōen), 1-2 Higashi-Yashio, Shinagawa-ku (Odaiba-kaihin-kōen station ), ☎ 81 3-5500-2455. Right next to the Nikkō and Le Meridien hotels this park is the largest in the area. The south corner, near the motorway ventilation tower, features a popular barbecue during the warmer season. Barbecue equipment and tools and ingredients available for rent, can be requested and reserved during the main seasons (see telephone number).
Shopping
The prices of shops and malls on the island are higher than in other areas of Tokyo.
- 1 Venus Fort, 1 Aomi, Koto-ku (Aomi (Yurikamome) and Tokyo Teleport (Rinkai) stations), ☎ 81 3-3599-0700. 11: 00-21: 00 (22:00 on Sat and holidays), restaurants 11: 00-23: 00 but some may have different opening hours. A Venetian-themed mall, complete with marble fountains, artificial sunsets every 30 minutes, and an Italian "mayor" reading speeches from a balcony. All the shops are geared up for women and generally quite expensive, but it's worth a visit just for the decoration.
- 2 Decks Tokyo Beach, 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku (Odaiba Kaihin Kōen Station (Yurikamome)), ☎ 81 3-3599-6500. 11: 00-21: 00, some restaurants until 23:00. There is the "Sega Joypolis" game center, a retro themed arcade, a 60's style shop, souvenir shops, second hand western clothing shops, home accessories.
- 3 Aqua City Odaiba, 1-7-1 Daiba, Minato-ku (Daiba Station (Yurikamome)), ☎ 81 3-3599-4700. 11: 00-21: 00, restaurants until 23:00, although some bars until early in the morning. Fashion for all ages, goods, etc. Restaurants on the 4th, 5th and 6th floors and a dining room on the 1st floor. There's also a ¥ 100 shop and Toys'R'Us (including baby food and merchandise, and kids can actually touch and play with toys!) On the 1st floor, and a small Shinto shrine on the 9th floor . The eastern part of the mall is occupied by the Sony ExploraScience[link not working] which houses a cinema and showcases Sony products.
- 4 Maruetsu supermarket, 1-5-3 Daiba, Minato-ku (It is located near Odaiba-kaihin-koen station), ☎ 81 3-5531-0781. 10:00-22:00.
How to have fun
- 1 Zepp Tokyo, 1 Aomi, Koto-ku (Palette Town, Aomi Station (Yurikamome)), ☎ 81 3-3599-0710. One of Tokyo's largest performance halls / night clubs, showcasing artists from across the country and the world.
- 2 Joypolis, 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku (Daiba Station ), ☎ 81 3-5500-1801. A giant game room.
Where to eat
There are many options for eating in Odaiba's malls and attractions, although prices are generally a bit higher than on the mainland.
Where stay
High prices
- 1 Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, 1-9-1 Daiba, Minato-ku (Daiba Yurikamome Station), ☎ 81 3-5500-5500. ¥ 24,000 for a single room, ¥ 36,000 for a triple room (depending on the season).. A new luxury seaside hotel popular for weddings and honeymoons.
- 2 Grand Pacific Le Daiba (グ ラ ン ド ニ ッ コ ー 東京 台 場), 2-6-1 Daiba, Minato-Ku (Daiba Yurikamome Station), ☎ 81 3-5500-6711. Another nice hotel located next to a huge shopping mall (Aqua City Odaiba) with many restaurants.
- Ōedo Onsen Monogatari. For details see the "What to do" section.
