autaku

When this site was first launched (under a different name and at a different address), I wrote a series of articles on various places in Japan that I visited in March 2009. To bring them to the attention of autaku‘s growing readership, I’ve decided to republish these articles, revamped with more and higher quality photos and maybe a few adjustments to the text itself. This article was originally posted on June 17, 2009.

Odaiba is an artificial island in Tokyo Bay, originally created for defensive purposes in the late 1800s and expanded upon late last century. Now the island is mainly host to commercial and leisure landmarks, including the headquarters of Fuji Television, the Big Sight exhibition centre and a variety of shopping and entertainment options. My visit there was quite short, but there’s plenty to do if you have the time and there are a few reasons in particular to make the journey across the bay.

The views of Tokyo from Odaiba can be quite stunning.

For starters, one of your travel options for getting to Odaiba is a novelty in its own right: the yurikamome, a fully computer-automated transit system running through Odaiba from Shimbashi to Toyosu Station. From Shimbashi the line runs across Tokyo Bay’s Rainbow Bridge (sadly nothing like the one in Ocarina of Time, but pretty good in its own right) and is a nice scenic trip. Despite (or because of) the lack of a human driver, the yurikamome is a smooth ride and though automated transit systems aren’t all that new, it was a bit of a novelty to ride one nonetheless. There are other means of getting to Odaiba and the yurikamome isn’t the cheapest, but it’s hardly a bank-breaker either.

The Liberty replica and Rainbow Bridge, with Tokyo Tower in the background.

Once you arrive at Odaiba, you’ll find plenty to do. You can take in excellent views of Tokyo across the bay, do some shopping at any of the multiple malls, entertain yourself in arcades, karaoke bars and the like, and lots more. I can’t see too many people not finding a reason to visit. Even just checking out the views and the landmarks is worthwhile: there’s a ferris wheel and a replica of the Statue of Liberty, for example, and the Fuji TV building is unique (and more than a little Bond villian-esque).

The Fuji TV headquarters looms ominously over the Aqua City shopping mall.

It seems like an evening trip to Odaiba might be best, if only to see the Rainbow Bridge actually lit up like a rainbow. However, much of Tokyo takes on a different character depending on what time of day you visit and that would likely apply here, and I think most people would find something to enjoy on Odaiba at just about any reasonable hour… and given the variety of entertainment venues, probably even some less reasonable ones too.