TOKYO Odaiba A haven of shopping and entertainment on Tokyo Bay

The man-made island of Odaiba is a popular destination for Tokyo locals and international tourists alike, known for its shopping malls, dining, futuristic attractions, and museums, all easily accessible by foot.

A seaside escape without leaving Tokyo, Odaiba's beach and its surrounding attractions make for a fun, full day just outside the concrete jungle.

Odaiba is easily accessible from central Tokyo by train on the Yurikamome Line and the Rinkai Line.

Starting at the major transportation hub of Tokyo Station , take the JR Yamanote Line for three minutes to Shimbashi Station, and 16 minutes from Shimbashi to Odaiba Kaihin Koen Station on the Yurikamome Line. You can also ride the Saikyo Line from major stations such as Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya to Tokyo Teleport Station.

The name Odaiba means fort, referring to the cannon batteries which were constructed to defend the city after the arrival of the American "black ships" in the 19th century. These batteries were eventually converted into parks and landfill, but in the 1990s the mayor of Tokyo decided to redevelop the Odaiba area as a spot for future innovation and modern living.

Nowadays, Odaiba is an up-and-coming area popular with young people and families on a budget looking for a holiday without leaving the city. In 2021, Odaiba hosted beach volleyball and triathlon swimming during the Olympics.

Connecting the Odaiba waterfront to Shibaura Pier on the other side of Tokyo Bay, the 800-meter-long bridge is Odaiba's main symbol, and has brought life and development to the area since its completion in 1993.

From the bridge, which takes around 30 minutes to cross on foot, you can get panoramic views of the Odaiba area. At night, it lights up with its namesake colors and is visible throughout Tokyo.

At the center of Odaiba is the sprawling Aqua City Odaiba shopping mall complex. The boutique building runs for 300 meters along the waterside and offers everything from high-end fashion to quirky bargain buys. A futuristic multiplex cinema is the hub of entertainment in the area, which also features a Legoland Discovery Center and a virtual Sega theme park, Joypolis.

On the other side of the Fuji TV building and its iconic suspended globe is DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, another large shopping mall best known as the location of the giant Gundam robot installation. The mall itself houses tons of Japanese and international brand stores, as well as a Round One entertainment and sports center.

Visible from Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba Kaihin Koen is one of Tokyo's only open white-sand beach areas. While you are not permitted to swim in the water, other marine activities are available such as volleyball, paddle boarding, surfing, and windsurfing. Walk along the beach as you look at the Tokyo skyline and consider renting some gear. At one end of the park is an interesting, if somewhat perplexing, feature: a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

The Tokyo Water Bus stops here. It will take you back towards downtown Tokyo, and stops at Hamarikyu Gardens , Ryogoku Sumo Stadium , and Asakusa near Tokyo Skytree .

Odaiba has an incredibly high concentration of fun attractions, and you could easily spend several full days exploring its many offerings. These include Sony Explora Science, Tokyo's Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Shiokaze Park, the Miraikan (the Nation Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation), Trick Art Museum, Tokyo Sewerage Museum, Fuji TV Station, the Panasonic Center, the Big Sight Convention Center, and the School Ghost House.

For a great free event, check out the lantern festival in Odaiba Park held on Marine Day, on the third Monday in July.