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Odaiba (‚¨‘äê) is a popular shopping and entertainment district on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. It originated as a set of small man-made fort islands (daiba literally means "fort"), which were built in the late Edo Period (1603-1868) to protect Tokyo against possible attacks from the sea and specifically in response to the gunboat diplomacy of Commodore Perry.

More than a century later, the small islands were joined into larger islands by massive landfills, and Tokyo began a spectacular development project aimed to turn the islands into a futuristic new city district during the extravagant 1980s. But development was critically slowed after the burst of the "bubble economy" in the early 1990s, leaving Odaiba nearly vacant.

It was not until the second half of the 1990s, when several hotels, shopping malls and the Yurikamome elevated train line were opened, that Odaiba developed into a popular tourist attraction and dating spot with a wide selection of shopping, dining and leisure options.

Despite the initial setbacks, several lavish development projects did materialize, including some of Tokyo's boldest architectural creations, such as the Fuji TV Building, Telecom Center and Tokyo Big Sight. Modern city planning furthermore provides Odaiba with plenty of green space and a pleasant division of motorized and pedestrian traffic using elevated walkways.

Fuji TV Area

Fuji TV Building

Hours: 10:00 to 18:00
Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday).
Admission: Free (observation deck: 700 yen)

Decks Tokyo Beach

Shops: 11:00 to 20:00 (weekdays), 10:00 to 21:00 (weekends)
Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00
Theme Parks: various hours
Admission: Free (separate admission fees for theme parks)

Aquacity Odaiba

Shops: 11:00 to 21:00
Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00

DiverCity Tokyo Plaza

Shops: 11:00 to 20:00 (weekdays), 10:00 to 21:00 (weekends)
Restaurants: 11:00 to 22:00

Rainbow Bridge

Telecom Center Area

Telecom Center

Observation Deck: 15:00 to 20:00 (from 11:00 on weekends)
Admission: 500 yen

Soya Icebreaker

Hours: 10:00 to 16:30
Closed: Mondays (or next day if Monday is a holiday) and Dec 28 to Jan 4
Admission: Free

National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Closed: Tuesdays (except national holidays) and Dec 28 to Jan 1
Admission: 630 yen

Big Sight Area

Tokyo Big Sight

Hours and admission fees depend on the specific events.

Panasonic Center

Hours: 10:00 to 17:00
Closed: Mondays, New Year holidays
Admission: Free (Akerue: 700 yen, requires advance reservations)

Ariake Garden

Shops: 10:00 to 21:00
Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00

Small Worlds Tokyo

Hours: 9:00 to 19:00 (entry until 18:00)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 2700 yen (book online)

Getting there and around

Access to Odaiba can be an attraction in itself, as the views of the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo's harbor and waterfront area from the Yurikamome elevated train and boats are quite spectacular. Furthermore, it is also possible to walk across the Rainbow Bridge.

By Yurikamome

The Yurikamome is an automated, elevated train with rubber tires, which connects Shimbashi Station on the Yamanote Line with all of Odaiba's attractions and Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho Subway Line. Trains depart every few minutes, and a ride between Shimbashi and Daiba Station takes 15 minutes and costs 330 yen (not covered by the Japan Rail Pass). If you ride the Yurikamome more than twice, a 1-day pass for 820 yen will likely pay off.

The Yurikamome crosses the Rainbow Bridge to get to Odaiba from Shimbashi and offers spectacular views of the harbor and the Tokyo waterfront. Sit or stand at the very front of the train for the most impressive views.

By Rinkai Line

The Rinkai Line connects Osaki Station on the JR Yamanote Line with Shin-Kiba Station on the JR Keiyo Line, stopping at the Tokyo Teleport and Kokusai Tenjijo underground stations on Odaiba along the way. Some trains on the JR Saikyo Line continue to run on the Rinkai Line and provide direct connections between Shinjuku, Shibuya and Odaiba.

The ride from Shinjuku to Tokyo Teleport Station on Odaiba takes 25 minutes and costs 520 yen. Note that the Japan Rail Pass, Seishun 18 Kippu and similar JR tickets are not valid on the Rinkai Line between Osaki and Shin-Kiba, even though the line is served by JR trains. An exception is the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, which fully covers the Rinkai Line.

By bus

A JR bus connects Tokyo Station (Yaeso Exit) with Kokusai Tenjijo Station, Tokyo Big Sight and the Tokyo Ferry Terminal about once per hour. The one way ride takes about 30 minutes, costs 400 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Furthermore, "Tokyo BRT" (bus rapid transit) operates roughly three buses per hour between Shimbashi Station on the Yamanote Line, Toyosu Market, Ariake Tennis no Mori and Tokyo Big Sight. The fare is 220 yen per ride and not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The ride from Shimbashi to Tokyo Big Sight takes only around 15 minutes.

By boat

Tokyo Water Bus operates boats from Odaiba Seaside Park to Hinode Pier (20 minutes, 600 yen) and Asakusa (60 minutes, 2000 yen by direct boat).

It is possible to cross the Rainbow Bridge on foot. The walk takes about 30-45 minutes and offers nice views of the waterfront area. The pedestrian path begins a short walk from Shibaura-futo Station along the Yurikamome on the "Tokyo side", while Odaiba Kaihinkoen Station is the nearest station on the "Odaiba side". There are walkways on both sides of the bridge. It is not allowed to ride bicycles across the bridge.

Note that the pedestrian walkways gets closed during the night (21:00 to 9:00 from April to October, 18:00 to 10:00 from November to March) and on the third Monday of every month (or the next day if that Monday is a public holiday).

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Hotels around Tokyo

Top rated in Odaiba
Budget:
    • Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba
      Luxury
      Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba is the first Grand Nikko hotel in Japan, open from 1 July 2016. Situated in the Tokyo Bay area in Odaiba, this property is the closest city resort hotel to central Tokyo, a 20-minute monorail and train ride away from JR Tokyo Station. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. The spacious guestrooms of this hotel feature elegant European-style decor and come with free wired internet access throughout. All rooms include a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, feather pillow and seating area. The upper floors boast panoramic views of Tokyo Bay, as well as views of the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower. Teppanyaki Icho and the grill restaurant, The Grill on 30th offer spectacular skyline views from the 30th floor. There is also a sushi restaurant, a Japanese and Chinese restaurant in addition to several other cafes and bars on site.
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      8.9Booking.com
    • Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Ariake
      Luxury
      Attractively located in the Koto Ward district of Tokyo, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Ariake is located 1 km from Tokyo Water Science Museum, 1.1 km from Ariake West Terminal Park and 2.3 km from Symbol Promenade Park. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The property is non-smoking and is situated 2 km from Odaiba Beach. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Ariake rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. DECKS Tokyo Beach is 2.4 km from the accommodation, while Aqua City Odaiba is 2.5 km from the property. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 11 km from Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Ariake.
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      8.8Booking.com
    • Hilton Tokyo Odaiba
      Luxury
      Located on the waterfront area of Tokyo Bay, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba boasts stunning views of Tokyofs skyline, Rainbow Bridge or Tokyo Tower. All guestrooms feature a balcony, and guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Private parking is available in the basement and there is no valet service. The hotel is also strategically situated only minutes away from a popular entertainment and shopping area as well as a key business and commercial district. Haneda International Airport is 20-minutes away by bus. A free shuttle service to Tokyo Disney Resort is provided one trip per day. For booking, kindly contact front desk guest servces. There is a hairdresser's at the property, as well as two levels of flexible meeting facilities. Guests can enjoy pool facilities at a fee. You will also find a spa, a temperature-controlled swimming pool, an outdoor jet bath and a fitness centre on site. Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and has a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Certain rooms feature a seating area for your convenience. You will find a kettle in the room. All rooms include a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find bath robes and slippers. A wide selection of dining options are available at the property restaurants.
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      8.3Booking.com
    • Sotetsu Grand Fresa Tokyo-Bay Ariake
      Mid-range
      Sotetsu Grand Fresa Tokyo-Bay Ariake offers comfortable individually decorated rooms with free WiFi and spectacular night views of the bay area. It houses a convenience store, a restaurant and a cafe. Sotetsu Grand Fresa Tokyo-Bay Ariake is just a 3-minute walk from Kokusai Tenjjijo Station, and a 5-minute walk from exhibition centre Tokyo Big Sight. Panasonic Centre Tokyo is 700 metres away. Rooms are air-conditioned and furnished with a flat-screen TV and extra long beds. A fridge and an electric kettle are provided, and the spacious bathroom offers a selection of toiletries. Some rooms have an air purifier/humidifier and a foot massage machine. Guests can find daily necessities in the convenience store, and enjoy massage service in their room. Sotetsu Grand Fresa Tokyo-Bay Ariake offers shuttle services to and from Tokyo Disneyland/Sea for free. Restaurant Sosai Patio boasts contemporary local cuisine and international dishes with a touch of local flavour.
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      8.1Booking.com
    • Hotel Trusty Tokyo Bayside
      Luxury
      Offering a massage service and a restaurant with International cuisine, Hotel Trusty Tokyo Bayside is a 7-minute walk from Tokyo Big Sight Station on Yurikamome Line. The stylish rooms include free broadband internet access. Rooms at Tokyo Hotel Trusty feature a modern decor with traditional Japanese touches. Each air-conditioned guestroom has a fridge and private bathroom, and guests can enjoy video-on-demand movies on the flat-screen TV. Palette Town and Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Centre are a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and the Fuji TV Building is a 20-minute walk away. The Ginza area and Tsukiji Fish Market are a 15-minute taxi ride. There are airport shuttles available from Narita Airport, a 90-minute ride, and Haneda Airport, a 30-minute ride, to Hotel Sunroute Ariake which is located a 5-minute walk away. Massage and laundry services are available upon request. Rooms are cleaned once every 3 days. Extra cleaning is possible at an extra cost. International cuisine is available all day at Cuore Lounge Restaurant. The breakfast buffet includes Western and Japanese dishes.
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      7.9Booking.com
    • Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel
      Mid-range
      A 3-minute walk from Ariake Monorail Station on the Yurikamome line, Ariake Washington Hotel offers rooms with free WiFi. Facilities include a launderette, and massage treatments can be arranged. A convenience shop can be found on site. The air-conditioned rooms at Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel have a private bathroom and feature a clean, contemporary style. Guests can wake up with fresh tea and fall asleep with a charged video-on-demand movie. The Washington Hotel Ariake has a 24-hour reception, and it provides safety deposit of valuables. luggage storage and currency exchange. Located next to Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Centre, the hotel is a 20-minute walk from Palette Town shopping centre. Toyosu Fish Market is a 12-minute train ride away. It is a 40-minute drive from Haneda Airport. Ariake Monorail Station offers the Yurikamome line and the Rinkaisen line.
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      7.3Booking.com

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