How can I start describing Odaiba? Should I call it a neighborhood or a man-made island?
Futuristic, bustling, and full of temptations, Odaiba is one of the best places to visit in Tokyo to have you occupied for a day straight.
There is no shortage of Insta-worthy spots by the Seaside Ocean, a replica of the Statue of Liberty, great shopping opportunities, and lots of good eats to give your empty stomach a feast.
Getting to Odaiba is straightforward. You can board a train or even take a water bus directly from Tokyo. The entire complex is filled with lots of green spaces, with motorized and pedestrian traffic separated through elevated walkways.
Even though you can spend the whole day exploring Odaiba, I would recommend shrinking it down to half a day and saving the morning to visit Toyosu Market first. Since this fish auction market is only worth visiting from 6 am to 9 am, it’s better to start off with the market before taking a subway back to Odaiba after breakfast.
Now, read on to discover my 7 favorite things to do in Odaiba and how to get there.
How to Get to Odaiba?
By Train from Tokyo Station
take the JR Yamanote Line (from Track 5) or the Keihin Tohoku Line (from Track 6) to Shimbashi Station. Over there, switch to another line “New Transit Yurikamome” and get off at Daiba Station. Head out and start exploring.
By Water Bus from Asakusa
Buy tickets online or directly at the Asakusa Pier for the Asakusa-Odaiba line. The scenic cruise will traverse down the Sumida River before entering Tokyo Bay. The Asakusa-Odaiba Direct Line takes 50 minutes to complete, with 6 trips operated a day.
7 Best Things to Do in Odaiba
Walk the Scenic Odaiba Seaside Park
As soon as you get out of the Daiba Station, you’ll see the Fuji Television Network Building on the right and Aqua City Odaiba on the left. Start any way you want, or head straight to the beach first and walk the malls later.
This entire area is called Odaiba Seaside Park. Right along the scenic shoreline, you will be stunned at a majestic Statue of Liberty. Well yeah, it’s a replica that defines the reputation of this ever-bustling bay city. On any given day, rain or shine, you will see lots of people waiting for their turn to capture that winning shot of the famous statue. Standing at the foot of the statue, you’ll catch a glimpse of the far-flung suspension bridge, perched above the turquoise water where yachts and cruises traversings the waves.
Check out the Rainbow Bridge
The suspension bridge is known as Rainbow Bridge, putting on a dazzling light show at night, especially at Christmas. It connects the high-tech island of Odaiba to mainland Tokyo. As the bridge is further afield, you don’t really need to walk all the way there to feel the hype. If you come by this area in winter around Christmas time, you will surely be stunned by the impeccable light show and plan a date night ahead.
Conquer DECKS Tokyo Beach
Adjacent to the park is the ever-famous ship-themed shopping mall going by the name Decks. Decks are more than just a shopping mall, really. You will tell how big of a personality it has.
Decks are designed so that you can pretty much an entire day inside the complex without thinking about what to do for the day. The Decks mall itself offers a dramatic ocean view towards the Seaside Park.
Amongst many services to be found here, Joypolis is definitely a must-see. This futuristic venue offers some scream-worthy roller coasters and surreal rides inside.
Walk the Daiba 1-Chome Shopping Street
The authentic shopping street is open from noon until 9 pm. It’s a dark narrow alleyway steeped with a kitschy retro theme where you can find vintage displays, arcade games, and candies for sale.
I believe if you’re into the J-pop culture, you will be thrilled when walking in this area. There are also lots of families with kids chilling by the arcade station. This is probably one of the most colorful shopping and entertainment corners in Odaiba.
Head Into Aqua City Odaiba
If the Decks are not enough to fulfill your heart with joy, check out Aqua City Odaiba and complete your day.
Housing around 120 shops of all kinds along with other recreational services and food spots, Aqua City Odaiba is another absolutely wonderful attraction in the Odaiba complex. Shopping stores are not the only things to be found here. The beautiful night view of the Rainbow Bridge emerging from the darkness becomes a great hook if you want to blend into the surrounding area.
Right on the ground floor, you’ll see an information counter with a robotic receptionist standing behind the counter to help you with anything you need. Ironically, most people who really need help would come to the ‘real person’ counter close by.
Marvel at the Futuristic Fuji Television Building
For those who are here to soak in the majestic architectural beauty of Japan, don’t forget to marvel at the Fuji Television Building from the outside! The gigantic, iconic office building is dubbed as Japan’s largest commercial TV network, featuring an outstanding observatory sphere known as the “Hachitama” on the top. The unusual 125-meter TV building was designed by Kenzo Tange who is known as the one behind the restoration of Hiroshima after the American atomic bombing. The building was brought to life in 1997, sparkling attention with a massive titanium sphere reaching 38 meters in diameter. Today, the sphere serves as the observatory.
You can spend a few minutes checking out the observatory and soak in the sweeping wraparound vista of the vastness of Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Tower, and Rainbow Bridge. When the air is crisp during the day, chances are you would be able to see the symbolic Mount Fuji at a distance too.
Shop and Eat at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza
Beckoning attention with the Giant Gundam statue at the front, DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is a big shopping mall and entertainment complex. From Zara to H&M, from Armani to Lacoste – you name it. And if shopping is not where your heart is, head to the 7th floor which is dedicated to bowling, darts, and many more.
Best Place to Go from Odaiba: Toyosu Market
If you haven’t been to Toyosu before, it’s worth checking out this travel guide where I included all the tips, how to get there, a walking itinerary, and what to expect.
The train ride between Odaiba and Toyosu Market is about 20 minutes in total, starting at Daiba Station to Shijō-Mae Station. Get off here and walk for another 5 minutes to get to the entrance of Toyosu Market.
I recommend visiting Toyosu in the morning before fetching back to Odaiba later in the day. The main happenings take place around 6 am when Toyosu hosts the auction. You can also have some breakfast there before leaving around 9 am for Odaiba.
Dive into the World of Fresh Seafood: A Navigator’s Guide to Toyosu Fish Market
3 Major Attractions in Odaiba That Came to An End
There are some insanely cool attractions that once took the world by storm. Unfortunately, these areas have to come to an end, marking their closures a few months ago.
- TeamLab Borderless in Odaiba was closed on August 31, 2022.(Still, make sure to experience the nearby wonderland of teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu. It’s a must-visit destination that also promises an enchanting world of digital art.)
- VenusFort: the sensational European-style mall offering fashion boutiques, outlet stores, and a food court was closed for good in March 2022.
- Odaiba Ooedo Onsen Monogatari: The hot spring facility was shut down in September 2021.
More Tokyo Destinations to Explore: Shibuya｜Asakusa｜Akihabara｜Harajuku｜Ginza｜Shinjuku
Everything You Need to Know about Tokyo
Explore more of our adventures around Tokyo:
- Guide: A Comprehensive Tokyo Travel Guide
- Attractions: Best Places to Visit in Tokyo
- Food: Ultimate Tokyo Food Guide
- Hotel: Where to stay in Tokyo
- Tokyo Disneyland Planning Guide
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