Odaiba: Scenic views, entertainment and more

Spectacular views in Bayside City

Odaiba, built on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay, is a popular tourist destination that attracts a million foreign visitors each year. Completed in the late 1980s, the landfill lay idle for nearly a decade.

That changed when Fuji Television Network moved its headquarters from Shinjuku to Odaiba in 1997. To celebrate the move, the network produced a police series set in Odaiba. Smell of Daisōsasenknown in English as Bayside ShakedownThe series was a huge success and literally put the area on the map. Fuji began offering studio tours and opened a gift shop selling merchandise related to its programs. The observation deck 100 meters above the bay and the futuristic building itself also became attractions in their own right.

At the same time, the Decks Tokyo Beach shopping mall and Aqua City Odaiba opened between Odaiba Kaihinkōen and Daiba stations, served by the Yurikamome automated transit system. These attractions appeal to young people and families, who can shop for the latest fashions, watch a movie, spend time at an indoor leisure center, or visit a food theme park offering ramen. takoyaki Octopus balls and more.

The main building of the Fuji Television Network. The 32-meter-tall sphere contains an observation deck. (© Somese Naoto)

One of Odaiba's most attractive features is its beachfront location. The sweeping views of the cityscape across the water make it a must-see for foreign visitors.

At Kaihinkōen (Odaiba Seaside Park), visitors like to pose for photos in front of the 1/7 scale replica of the Statue of Liberty. With the twinkling city lights in the background, it's easy to imagine being transported to Manhattan. Couples flock here to enjoy the romantic atmosphere with the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower illuminated in the night sky.

Dusk on the observation deck. (© Somese Naoto)

The waters off Odaiba were thoroughly cleaned to serve as a venue for the triathlon competition at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Today, this is a popular area for water sports. Water buses operate from Kaihinkōen, offering river cruises under the Rainbow Bridge and up the Sumida River to Asakusa in Taitō.

Passengers on the river cruise can view the small fortress islands from the mid-19th century up close. (© Somese Naoto)

Shinagawa Daiba (Battery) No. 3 at the foot of the Rainbow Bridge and the neighboring Shinagawa Daiba No. 6 are small islands with a historical past. Daibafortified islands with cannons, were built along the coast throughout the country in the mid-19th century to protect against the American gunboat policy. daiba in Shinagawa, which was then near the center of power, were given the honorary title “o”, and the name odaiba stuck and gave the area its current name. It is ironic that this daibawhich were built to ward off foreign invasions, are now full of visitors from all over the world.

Odaiba continues to develop, with a multi-purpose arena scheduled to open in 2025. The area's continuous transformation offers new surprises with every visit.

Along with the Statue of Liberty, a life-sized Gundam statue in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is a famous landmark in Odaiba. (© Somese Naoto)

(Originally published in Japanese. Reporting and text by Nippon.com.)