What to Eat, Drink, and See in Odaiba, Tokyo

Odaiba is one of the most fun areas in Tokyo. A man-made island, it’s full of fun attractions, although devoid of any traditional sights. If you have kids or are a big kid, you’re going to want to spend a day here – and our Odaiba area guide explains everything you need to know when you do.

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Where is Odaiba?

Odaiba is located in East Tokyo and connected to the city by the Yurikamome monorail line which you can join at Shimbashi Station. It takes about 15 minutes to get to Daiba station from here, or 33 minutes to get to Toyosu at the end of the line.

Because most of the activities here are inside, Odaiba is a good place to come if it’s raining as you can spend the whole day hopping from area to area either on the monorail or via a short walk between the buildings. Although, as you can see from the picture, rain can sometimes lead to some pretty dramatic sunset pictures from the beach here.

5 Main Sights in Odaiba

There are a lot of things to do in Odaiba, including Tokyo’s mini Legoland, a small version of the Statue of Liberty, three main shopping malls that are full of restaurants, and fun attractions like art aquariums or mini museums alongside the shops, but, of all the fun things you can do in Odaiba, these are the ones I don’t think you should miss…

Small Worlds

I squealed with joy as I walked into the replica of Kansai Airport in this incredible display of miniature worlds – the planes in the airport area take off and it’s just fantastic. Everyone’s mouth just opens when they first see it and you’ll want to just sit on the seats above it for a little while and watch the planes come and go.

Every detail here is amazing – and you can even make a tiny figure of yourself to add to the display. If you want to do this go early in the day as it takes a little while.

There are special Sailor Moon and Evangelion areas and it’s just an absolute delight that hardly anyone talks about. Do not miss it (see our longer review of Small Worlds here, with lots more pictures).

You don’t need to book in advance, but if you want to, you can buy tickets here.

You can also buy a combination of the ticket and the one-day Yurikamome monorail pass on that link which saves you about 500 yen over buying the two separately.

Or see more details, and get the opening hours via the Small Worlds website. 

Maraikan

Tokyo’s modern science museum, it’s where you come to play with robots (including some very cute fluffy ones like Paro the robot seal below), understand exactly how the internet works, and much more.

There’s a lot of English in the displays so you won’t be baffled by the language and the science. Check opening hours and entrance fees here.

The Unicorn Gundam

As we explained in our guide to manga and anime, Gundam look like robots, but are technically piloted suits – and, here in Odaiba, 4 times a day ( at 11, 1, 3, and 5) – a giant one does a little show – it’s not quite as mindblowing as you might expect from the number of people who rave about it, but it’s fun.

There are also now nighttime transformations – check the Unicorn Gundam website for details and timings of these.

Unko Museum

Aka the Poop Museum! The Japanese have quite a staid image, but, once you step into the first part of this museum, which requires you to sit on a toilet and produce your souvenir poop and realize that the Japanese ladies in the twin sets are throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the task, that image will completely disappear.

There’s nothing educational about this museum. You won’t learn anything about the human digestive process – instead, you’ll take photos with pastel poops, see tiny furry poop pets, play poop-themed games, and become strangely attached to a giant plastic poo on a stick. Sensible people need not apply!

It’s on the ground floor of the DiverCity building. You don’t need to book in advance, but, you can via Klook.

Trick Art Museum

When I asked my friend, and Tokyo-based author, Jonelle to take me somewhere amazing in Japan a while back, I was expecting her to lead me off to some rabbit warren of tiny shops and restaurants where no English was spoken, instead, she brought me here. I was baffled at first, but, again, it’s not only really fun to do – it shows a side of the Japanese people you don’t expect.

They threw themselves wholeheartedly into making cute photos in these 3D images – I’ve been to other Trick Art Museums, but this one is the most fun because of the people you’re sharing it with. It’s located on the 4th floor of the Odaiba Decks Building.

Again, there’s no need to book in advance, just turn up – but you can if you want to.

As well as all of the above, just keep your eyes open. There’s always something fun and new happening in Odaiba. The last time I was there, there was a meet of cars doing drifting and I found a Wagyu beef vending machine that even local people were taking photos of. 

What to Eat in Odaiba

I need to prefix this by saying Odaiba is not the place to find tiny mom-and-pop restaurants. Many of the choices are chains or high-end hotel restaurants!

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you have some fussy eaters in your party or are hankering for a familiar food, you’ll probably find a version of it in Odaiba – there’s a Bills, a Red Lobster, Taco Bell – and I admit, I beelined to Carl’s Jnr on my visit as I can’t get that where I live! But there are still some fun places to eat with a bit more local flair…

The Takoyaki Museum

Takoyaki are balls of batter filled with small pieces of octopus, and on the 4th Floor of the Odaiba Decks building you’ll find a court full of stalls dedicated to the art of making them – and the different techniques they can use. These are branches of Japan’s most famous Takoyaki sellers so, it’s a good place to give it a try if you haven’t had it before. It opens at 11am.

Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai

Like the Takyoyaki Museum, this is a collection of some of Japan’s most popular ramen makers, all collected in one area. You can try different types of ramen from around Japan here – from the famous salt ramen from Tokyo’s Hirugao to the pork and soy sauce broth from Shinsen, which is famous in Kanazawa (find a list of the restaurants here). You’ll find it on the 5th floor of the Aqua City Mall.

GreenxGreen Dining

I tend to make a point of adding restaurants that serve salad and veggies in these posts just because it’s one thing people find quite hard to find in Japan. So, if you need a fresh vegetable fix during your trip, this salad bowl restaurant will sort you out. Find it on the 1st floor of the Aqua City Mall.

Decora Creamery

One of the biggest queues in Harajuku’s Takeshita Street is for the giant cotton candy as big as your head – but, you’ll also find a similar one here in the Diver City Mall with a fraction of the queuing time. It’s located on the ground floor close to the entrance by the Gundam. 

Gonpachi Odaiba

There are six branches of this chain in Tokyo, the most famous of which, their Nisha Azuba branch, was the model for the restaurant Uma Thurman fights in in Kill Bill. You won’t get that decor here, but you will find an old-school style look and a menu full of hearty soba sets including noodles and fried chicken, delicate tempura, and warming soups. It’s located on the fourth floor of the Aqua City Complex.

You can make advance reservations on their website.

Where to Drink in Odaiba

Odaiba isn’t a big drinking area, there’s no road of tiny izakaya tucked away here, so, you’ll mostly be looking a hotel bars – the benefit of these is that many of them have very pretty views or restaurants with a beer theme. If you’re looking for something a bit more authentic, Shimbashi is an easy journey from Odaiba and probably easier to visit if you’re heading back to your hotel.

But if for some reason, you do need a drink in Odaiba, you might want to try 

The Bar and Lounge

Located on the 30th floor of the Grand Nikko this has very pretty views over the bay – and across to Tokyo Tower. Here’s where to check the menu, and make a booking if you’d like to.

It’s open from 5.30pm – they have a dress code of no tank tops or flip flops.

View from the Bar & Lounge at the Grand Nikko Daiba. Image @Nikko Press Gallery

Schmatz Beer Dining

German beer halls are a thing in Japan, so, if you’re craving a glass of German lager and a plate of sausages this Ariake beer hall and restaurant will hit the spot. They don’t have a website, but are open 11am to 11pm – and you’ll find them in the Ariake Garden mall.

Kirin City Plus

Run by the beer company, it’s a good place for a quick lager at an okay price – and they also sell some craft beers. They’re also good for fussy eaters as you’ll find easy meals like spaghetti or pizza on the menu. It’s located in the Ariake Garden complex and again is open 11-11.

In summer keep an eye out for various beer gardens and BBQ gardens that pop up around Odaiba. These usually charge a flat fee for all you can eat and drink for a set number of hours.

Where to Stay in Odaiba

Because it doesn’t have the traditional Tokyo atmosphere, Odaiba wouldn’t be the first place I suggest someone stay in Tokyo – but, it can be a slightly cheaper option if you’re visiting Tokyo Disney and don’t want to stay in Tokyo Bay.

It’s also perfect if you want a hotel near Toyosu to visit the early morning fish auction, which starts before the trains start running.

It might also be a good place to stay with kids – partly because there is so much here for them to do, but it’s also one of the areas of Tokyo surrounded by green space where they can run and let off some steam.

If you are staying over here, some of the best choices include…

Sotetsu Grand Fresa Ariake  

I hadn’t realized how handy Odaiba was for Tokyo Disney until a member of my Japan planning group said she had booked to stay here on her trip – it only takes 30 minutes to get there.

This is one of my favorite chains in Japan, rooms are small but economical. There are a few restaurants nearby including a branch of the very family-friendly Saizeriya. See rooms and rates here.

Grand Nikko Tokyo Odaiba

If you’re looking for large rooms (they start at 33 sq meters) and a complex full of dining opportunities you’ll like it here. There’s also access to a large indoor pool and gym (for a fee). See more pictures and rates here.

Room at the Grand Nikko Daiba @nikko press gallery

Hilton Daiba

Big rooms (33 sq meters) with balconies and views over the bay and a pool complex with a spa and sauna (extra fee required) are the big selling points of this hotel. The Seascape restaurant is highly rated for the area, but you’re also right next to the Aqua City Mall which is full of dining opportunities. Check rates and availability here.

La Vista Tokyo Bay

Perfectly located if you’re going to the early morning tuna auction at Toyosu, this four-star hotel offers good value for money – and, many of the rooms have views over the bay.

It’s technically a non-smoking hotel – but some of the rooms do allow e-cigarettes – the first time I’ve ever seen that on a hotel site. See pictures, rooms and rates here.

Top Tips for Visiting Odaiba

So, now you know what you might want to do in Odaiba, here are a few extra tips to help with your visit…

Go on a Weekday

Odaiba is Tokyo’s family entertainment district, so it’s much busier at the weekend when both local families and tourists come to visit.

Consider a Monorail Pass

With fares ranging from 190 yen for a short hop to 390 to go from Shimbashi to Toyosu, the monorail is not the cheapest mode of transport, I always wonder where my money has gone after a day here.

If you’re going to be getting on and off the monorail a lot, you might want to try the one-day Yurikamome Line pass which costs 820 yen for adults, and 410 yen for children. You can buy this at Shimbashi or Toyosu Stations.

Get in the First Car of the Monorail

Because there’s no driver you get a great view.

Catch the Boat

If you’re traveling here from Asakusa, a nice way to arrive is the space-age-looking Tokyo Cruise boat which departs from the pier by Asakusa Station five times a day. The journey takes around 70 minutes and costs 2000 yen. Reservations are suggested.

Oh, and if you are staying in Asakusa, you might like our guide to that area too.

Consider the Bus to Toyosu

Toyosu market is a bit of a walk from the train station, but you can get a bus here from Shimbashi which is not only cheaper than the monorail, it stops closer to the market. This is how I went from Asakusa to Toyosu. The bus is very easy – the stop is located right outside the station entrance and clearly marked.

Check Out the Fireworks

If you’re traveling in December, Odaiba has fireworks each Saturday night as part of their Christmas celebrations.

Sorry, Adult Lego Lovers

Odaiba Legoland has a strange rule where adults are not allowed to go in without a child. If you want to visit, and don’t have any offspring to take with you, you can only visit on one of the adult nights that happen one Friday evening each month – contact them directly for the dates.  

So, that’s our guide to Odaiba (and a little bit about Toyosu), I hope it gave you some ideas of what to do in this fun area of Tokyo.

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