Odaiba Area
Getting to the Odaiba Area
My first tourist destination in the Tokyo Area was the Odaiba Area. I chose this area because it was relatively compact and had many impressive buildings and sights that could quickly be seen. Getting there from my hotel was very simple. First, I took the Yamanote Line to Shimbashi. My Japan Rail Pass covered this journey. After arriving in Shimbashi, it was a quick transfer to the Yurikamome.
The Yurkiamome line goes over the Rainbow Bridge and then arrives in the Odaiba Area. There are multiple stops, but I chose to take the train to one of the last stops and got off at Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon.
The Odaiba Area - Table of Contents
Disclaimer: At Buzzin’ Around the World, we do our best to offer the most factual information that was available to us at the time of posting based on our research. If you believe something on our site is incorrect or misleading, please email us.
We follow all local, national, and international laws and ordinances based on our best interpretation at the time of posting. If you are a representative of an organization that believes one of your ordinances has been violated, please know it was not intentional. To have content removed, please email us.
Finally, under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
We use affiliate links to help pay for fees associated with our website. When you book a service (i.e. flight, hotel, tour) or purchase a product through any of our links, we may/will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Buzzinaroundtheworld.com may be compensated for reviews posted on this website. We always review each product truthfully.
Buzzin’ Around the World uses our individual travel experiences to write our content. All photos and content are original. Buzzin’ Around the World sometimes uses AI to generate titles, summaries, or descriptions of our original work.
For more information, please click HERE to visit our private policy page. We can be reached at buzzinaroundtheworld@gmail.com.
Tokyo Big Sight
The first place I visited was the Tokyo Big Sight. This building defies gravity and serves as a convention center/exhibition hall. I did not go inside, but it appeared that there were shops, eating areas, and restrooms. The line to get back on the Metro was very long, so I walked to my next sight, which was the Telecom Center.
The Telecom Center
The Telecom Center was another building that I did not go in. The modern architecture with the harbor in the backdrop does make for an excellent picture. It was on the way to other sights and is definitely worth walking by and taking a picture.
Venus Fort
At this point, I was getting hungry and a little bit warm. The temperature was around 90 degrees, with a dew point of almost 80. These conditions made the heat index in the 110 degrees Fahrenheit range. I decided to go to Venus Fort Shopping Center to cool off and have lunch. Venus Fort features a fake sky that goes through the different parts of the day from sunrise to sunset. It is very similar to the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace or the Canal Shops of the Venetian in Las Vegas. Having lived in Las Vegas for almost 15 years, I was not overly impressed by the sky, but I was happy to have a cool place to relax and eat.
There were many fancy restaurants at Venus Fort, and they all had long waits. It seemed that everyone was interested in getting out of the heat. I took the escalator up to the top floor where there was a food court. There the wait was much shorter, and I was able to get food within a few minutes.
I chose to get a beef and noodle dish that came with rice, soup, and a small salad. The meal was excellent except for the soup. Whatever was in it tasted way too strong. While I was eating, a woman and her son came up and asked if they could sit with me. There were no available tables, so I said they could. She explained that it was her son’s first day of “Summer Holiday” (summer vacation), and he wanted to go to the Science Museum where robots lead the tours. The museum was close to the mall, and they had stopped there to eat. I told her about my trip, and she complimented my excellent use of chopsticks. By the time their food had arrived, I was ready to leave. It was an interesting conversation, and I was glad she asked if they could sit by me.
Fuji TV Studios
After Venus Fort, I continued to walk towards the Fuji TV Studios. Fuji TV Studios is one of the most architecturally unique buildings in the world and is located in front of the Odaiba Harbor overlooking the Rainbow Bridge.
Waterfront Area
There was a festival going on down by the harbor and this area was quite crowded. I took a few pictures of the Fuji TV Building and then walked down by the water. There were anchors and anchor ropes near the shore that I believe were left over from World War II. As I began to photograph the harbor area, there was a flash of lightning followed by thunder. I decided it was time to return to the metro and head back to my hotel. On the way back to Shimbashi Station, we once again crossed the Rainbow Bridge that I had just photographed.
Odaiba Area Tours and Packages
Tours of Odaiba are not really necessary as it is most fun to walk around and look at the modern architecture. If you prefer a tour, I linked one below. I am an affiliate of Viator. If you book a tour using my link, I will receive a small commission. The commission is at no additional cost to you.
The price is accurate as of June 2023.
 3-Hour Odaiba Scenic Photo Walking Tour - $100.96 Welcome to the Discover Odaiba Scenic Photo Walking Tour, where you can immerse yourself in the vibrant sights and sounds of modern Japan. Get ready to lace up your walking shoes and capture breathtaking photos of the unique spots and hidden gems that Odaiba has to offer. |
Buzzin' Around the World's Affiliate Partners
Affiliate Partner of the Month - Viator
Viator is my favorite website for booking tours and packages. With over 300,000 unique tours to choose from, everyone should be able to find something on Viator that interests them. I like Viator because anytime I have an issue with a tour company, Viator has intervened and helped on my behalf. I highly recommend using Viator for booking your tours and vacation packages.
Book Through the Link Below to Help Buzzin' Around the World Earn Commission
Earn $200 in Travel Rewards with the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card is one of the few rewards cards that does not charge an annual fee. Cardholders can earn 1.25 points for every dollar spent while enjoying 0% APR for 15 months.
Currently, Capital One is offering a signup bonus of 20,000 points (worth $200 in travel rewards) when the cardholder spends $500 in the first three months. If you are interested in this card, I would appreciate it if you would sign up with the link below, as I earn a referral bonus of 10,000 points. Those points are worth $100 in travel rewards and will help me continue to bring great content to Buzzin’ Around the World.
Once again, the Capital One VentureOne card is one of the few reward cards without an annual fee and is the perfect card for someone who is just starting to get into the travel points game.