Tokyo Odaiba

Odaiba is a city located within the limits of the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, on the main island of Honshu, in Japan. It is located on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay. It is renowned as a shopping and entertainment district. Odaiba is also known as the best place in Tokyo to arrange a date.

Odaiba was built during the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868) as a set of strong islands (the term daiba means “strong” in Japanese), in order to protect the city from possible attacks at sea. Arguably, the need for defense was inspired by the arrival of the American fleet that arrived under Commodore Perry, a man who basically forced the nation into international trade in the 1850s.

One hundred years later, in the 1980s, plans were in the works to connect these islands with larger ones, which would become a futuristic commercial and residential district on the outskirts of Tokyo. However, an economic recession during the 1990s left the island almost uninhabited.

In the late 1990s, hotels and shopping centers were erected in Odaiba, and the elevated train line, Yurikamome, made everything easy and an adventure. In the years since, Odaiba has become a popular tourist destination for both international and local travelers.

Tourist places

As time passed, the area became home to some of the largest developments in the city, including the Fuji TV Building, the Telecommunications Center, and Tokyo Big Sight.

Visitors can take advantage of their stay in Odaiba to appreciate its bold architecture. Rainbow Bridge, for example, is an iconic landmark that connects Odaiba to Tokyo via a highway, a train line, and pedestrian walkways. It is illuminated every night. From the bridge, you can also see the Statue of Liberty of Odaiba.

Anime fans will delight in the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Gundam. Meet a life-size Gundam, buy plastic models at Base Tokyo or enjoy other shopping experiences and its restaurants.

Expand your knowledge by visiting one or more of Odaiba’s museums. The Museum of Maritime Sciences is in the form of a cruise ship with free admission. You can also visit Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. This bilingual museum features exhibits on robots, technology, space exploration, and the environment.