Odaiba is an island of reclaimed land just on the other side of Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge. It’s on my go-to list for clothing, toy shopping and rainy day entertainment for my children (as there are so many indoor options.)
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Odaiba is very close to the city and accessible by a monorail-looking train called the Yurikamome.
Start the day by taking a train or taxi to Yurikamome Station to Shimbashi or Shiodome Station.
Take the Yurikamome (monorail-style) train to Odaiba Kaihinkan Koen Station. I don’t recommend taking a taxi right to this station from your accommodation as the train is really really fun for kids.
Position yourself on the platform and line up to be in the front carriage.
Why??! Because the train is unmanned so my kids like to feel like they are “driving.” It’s so cute.
These trains come often so, if you miss one, another will be along shortly – no need to panic or run for a train here.
When buying tickets for the Yurikamome, even if you have a suica card or whatever, I really recommend getting kids to buy their own in cash. It’s a really cool way for them to purchase something in yen (and it’s only a few hundred yen to do so.) Tickets are purchased at the vending machine – you look at your “end” station and look at the number above it – the bigger amount is the adult price and the smaller amount is the kids price.* If your kids are old enough – get them to find the station, tell you how much it is and enter the money. They can even check the change!
(Just sharing a family rule we have when we buy our own paper tickets – kids can use them to put through the turnstiles on their own but they then have to give the tickets back to the grown ups before going up to the platform. They get them back for the turnstiles / ticket gates at the other end – trust me, saves many tears over lost tickets. )
Kids under 6 are free. Kids prices are for 6-12 year olds. The only exception? Kids under 6 are free as long as there are only 1-2 kids per adult – ie. if I was travelling on my own with 3 kids, I’d need to purchase 1 x child ticket for that third child. Make sense?
This special “driving the train” journey is my kids favourite part of travelling to this part of Tokyo. So much so that I get grumpy if an actual adult sits up front – leave it for the kiddies!
The Odaiba Island Area is made up of Department Stores, Museums, a TV Station, some parks and monuments. Once you’re on the island the easiest way to get around is on the Yurikamome.
EXTRA TIP!
To get out to Odaiba you will need to take the Yurikamome Monorail. You should try and ride at the very front as the train is actually unmanned and it looks so futuristic and cool ! And if your kids are so excited by this idea? They will also love my other suggestions for kids who love all things transport in Tokyo.
You may also like to add Small Worlds (a miniature figures and scenes museum) that can also be found in this area.
Here are our favourite Odaiba Spots to visit with our kids:
Keep in mind that almost all of the department stores are closed until 11am (annoying when you have little children who have already been awake for 5 hours, right?)
If you’re at Odaiba first thing, I recommend Bills for breakfast (or lunch).
You can make a reservation in advance or just walk-in and hope the line isn’t long. This restaurant opens at 9am weekdays and 8am on weekends.
It’s an Australian restaurant so it’s a nice open space (even accommodates strollers) with an international menu. Here is the link to the Bills Odaiba menu and here is the Bills Odaiba kids menu. There are a few other of the Bills Restaurants in Tokyo but this is the least crowded – especially compared to the others on the weekend. The service isn’t the fastest so order for kids as soon as you sit down. Bills Odaiba is 3 mins walk from Odaiba Kaihin Koen Station (if you can’t find it early in the morning, best to go around to the deck facing the water and the rainbow bridge – it is on the corner of the deck near Legoland.)
This restaurant is fine for you just wheel your stroller up beside the table while you dine, if you like.
This is also a great option for lunch. This restaurant also serves brown rice on the side – which I know some families really like.
BILLS ODAIBA
DECKS TOKYO BEACH, SEASIDE MALL 3F, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO-KU
港区台場1-6-1デックス東京ビーチ シーサイドモール3F
OPEN: 9AM-11PM WEEKDAYS, 8AM-11PM WEEKENDS
WEBSITE
There is a wide deck outside of Bills restaurant for running and playing before or after stopping for food.
Eggs’n’Things is a Hawaiian restaurant built around the concept of “All Day Breakfast” ( a relatively new idea for Japan.) It is light and bright and there are several of these restaurants around Japan but this is branch my favourite – mainly because of the space and shorter lines. This restaurant is well-known for the mountain of whipped cream on their sweet pancakes. YUM! They also have savoury options and a kids menu (egg and hamburger steak plate or fruit and cream pancakes with a chocolate pen to decorate). They have high chairs and the staff are very welcoming when it comes to families.
EGGS’N’THINGS ODAIBA
3RD FLOOR, AQUA CITY DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-7-1 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場1-7-1 アクアシティお台場 3F
OPEN: 9AM-11PM (LAST ORDER AT 9:30PM)
WEBSITE
(Legoland in Odaiba is not to be confused with Legoland in Nagoya)
Legoland in Odaiba is, essentially, a lego-themed playcentre. There is a Harry Potter Lego ride, a cool minature Tokyo made of Lego, lots of lego building opportunities, a small playground, a little karaoke machine and a jungle gym. There is a new trainland section too. Oh and there is a small 3D movie, all in Japanese, but hard-core lego warriors probably wouldn’t care, right?
One of the playground areas is a Duplo area which has a slide and is even okay for toddlers.
Please be aware that the Harry Potter ride requires that children be 90cm or taller and every child must ride with one adult.
There is a small cafe inside Legoland (or you could wait and eat something else in the department store afterwards, of course.) They don’t allow outside food (with the exception of baby food.)
Check out this minature Shibuya Crossing made of Lego! So cute!
DECKS TOKYO BEACH, SEASIDE MALL 3F, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO-KU
港区台場1-6-1デックス東京ビーチ シーサイドモール3F
OPEN: 10AM-8PM WEEKDAYS, 10AM-9PM WEEKENDS
Just across the walkway from Legoland…for babies, toddlers and children 5 or under, there is a playcentre inside Decks Department Store called “The Kids” on the 3rd floor. I, honestly, think that this playcentre would be boring for kids older than 4 years old. This is all indoors and the playcentre has some bouncy castle style slides, some small trampolines, ride on cars and other toys for kids to play with. “The Kids” playcentre opens at 11am. Please note that this is a playcentre – NOT a babysitting service. There is a special corner for only children under 3 too. This playcentre doesn’t mind if you bring in outside food. You can book tickets online ahead of time – but it is in Japanese – so you will need to ask your hotel staff to assist. I, personally, think it is fine to just turn up and pay on the day. This playcentre costs 1500 yen per person (same price for adults and kids) for a 3 hour session. You can also pay 600 yen to just “try it out” for 30 mins.
This isn’t my favourite playcentre in Tokyo for little kids (if you’re interested these Tokyo Playcentres are my favourites) but it is a great option if you need some sitting down time while kids play -and play out of the elements.
THE KIDS PLAYCENTRE
3RD FLOOR, DECKS ODAIBA SHOPPING MALL
OPEN 11AM-7PM (CLOSES AT 8PM ON WEEKENDS)
On the 4th floor of this building (the same floor as the 100 yen shop Daiso, is baby and kids supply store called Nishimatsuya.
This is kind of Japanese mixture of Toys R Us and Kmart. They sell baby clothes, school supplies, towels, toys and baby goods such as diaper bags and baby carriers.
At this branch in the Decks Shopping Mall (on the Island Mall side of Decks Shopping Centre) is a Nishimatsuya with a small children’s playground too. This playground is free to use.
And inside Decks Tokyo Shopping Mall is an indoor theme park called Joypolis. I recommend it for kids 10 years and older.
To be completely transparent. I think this place is VERY over-rated. An indoor theme park sounds cool ? But I think it’s cool if you live in Tokyo to try once. There are other better arcades and theme parks in Japan – in my opinion.
Tokyo’s version of the Statue of Liberty in Odaiba (outside of Aqua City Department Store) is worth checking out – just for the “what the?” factor. Don’t ask why……. I have no idea.
There is also a lovely view of the Rainbow Bridge from outside the Aqua City department store too.
If you are looking for an outdoor playground, just two minutes walk from Decks Odaiba (exit on the seaside entrance) or a few more minutes walk from Aqua City is a playground called Odaiba Rainbow Park. It is a small playground but is quite busy with local school children from about 4pm. The signage at the park asks playground users to please not pick the flowers and to be quiet here at night. There is a public toilet here with a change table (but I would still recommend changing baby at Decks or Aqua City instead for even nicer facilities.) This playground has a small sports ground, slides, swings (the bucket type that is easy for babies and toddlers to use) a sandpit, park benches and some exercise equipment.
POMME NO KI, AQUA CITY
東京都港区台場1-7-1 アクアシティお台場 5F
5TH FLOOR, AQUA CITY ODAIBA, DAIBA, MINATO-KU, TOKYO
OPEN 11AM-11PM (LAST ORDER 10PM)
Did you know that Japan has all you can eat restaurant Sizzler?
There is one at Aqua City in Odaiba.
It is an easy option for families who want to eat lots of salads and American style meals. It is also an easy option for gluten free visitors -they have a detailed allergen menu for their steak sauces and also for salad options etc.
Budget for adults for lunch – 3000 yen and approx 6000 yen at dinnertime.
Sizzler accepts most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. There are spaces for strollers and there is also a kids menu.
See the children’s menu at Sizzler here.
SIZZLER AQUA CITY
港区台場1-7-1アクアシティお台場5F
5F AQUA CITY ODAIBA, 1-7-1 DAIBA, MINATO-KU
OPEN 11AM-11PM (LAST ORDER AT 10PM)
For casual Italian dining I recommend Cafe La Boheme Aqua City Odaiba with kids.
You can see the entire Cafe La Boheme Odaiba menu here. They also have a kids menu (only available until 1pm.). There is also space to store strollers while you dine.
This restaurant welcomes families and servces both lunch and dinner. Budget for lunch is around 2000 yen per adult and more like 4000 yen at dinnertime. Please note that there is a 880 yen service charge for each person when dining after 6pm. This restaurant is big (seats 292 people) but it is still wise to make a reservation if you want to eat there on a weekend or during peak season. You can make reservations in English on their website. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They accept most major credit cards.
Although it’s only a couple of options each – there are vegetarian and vegan items on their menu too ( their vegan quinoa and kale salad is so good and they also have some vegan pasta dishes.)
CAFE LA BOHEME ODAIBA
港区台場1-7-1 アクアシティお台場 メディアージュ 4F
4TH FLOOR OF AQUA CITY SHOPPING MALL, MEDIAGE SECTION, 1-7-1 DAIBA, MINATO
OPEN 11:30AM-11PM (LAST ORDERS AT 10PM)
There is also a Taco Bell in Aqua City on the 3rd floor. Open 11am-9pm.
Decks and Aqua City are connected by a walkway so it is easy to go between the two.
Inside the Decks department store is Daiba 1-Chome Shoutengai (4th Floor) a strip of the department store transformed into a retro-kitsch 1950s Japanese shopping street. There are wacky novelty toys, old-school Japanese sweets and arcade games. There is also a takoyaki (Japanese street food: fried octopus batter balls) museum.
The gimmicky toys are quite reasonably priced and this is the place to buy funny joke gifts (or toys to keep kiddies busy on a plane or in a hotel room.) This is area makes for some funny photos too.
Be warned, there is a haunted house in one of the back corners that looks spooky (even from the outside) so keep an eye on little ones. Japan takes it’s haunted houses very, very seriously.
Decks & Aqua City rent out strollers (but only for children less than 18kgs and only for use within these department stores) if little legs get tired.
DAIBA ITCHOME SHOTENGAI
4TH FLOOR DECKS DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場1-6-1
OPEN 11AM-9PM
WEBSITE
The arcade on the same floor / connected to the Shotengai is so kitsch and retro. We LOVE it!
There are lots of change machines everywhere here but you will need cash on hand.
Just a heads up – there is one section that is for 18 year olds and over. Just letting you know as there is just a simple swing door and it’s not marked in english and so I want to save you from having to chase a toddler out of there.
Another shopping suggestion inside the same department store is a walk through to 100 yen shop Daiso on the 4th floor.
This is one of the best 100 yen stores, in my opinion. It is great for buying small gifts or toys for keeping children entertained on planes or at restaurants.
Sticker books.
Cheap and cheerful mugs.
Insulated snack bags
Masks
DAISO, DECKS DEPARTMENT STORE
港区台場1-6-1
1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO
OPEN 11AM-9PM
DAISO DECKS WEBSITE
There is also a Takoyaki museum here with just rows and rows of food stalls (still, all indoors) of Takoyaki shops. Takoyaki are little batter balls (the batter is similar to okonomiyaki) that have little pieces of cooked octopus inside. It is located on the 4th floor of Decks Shopping Mall (On the Beach Seaside Side of the Mall.) Please note that this is not actually a “museum.” It is a small food court that specializes in different types of takoyaki.
If you decide to go to Bills for lunch (Bills details above under “Morning Suggestions”) but the line has grown too long to wait, there is a Pizza /Pasta restaurant right next door called Trattoria Pizzeria Logic. My kids love their Margherita Pizza and I’m always daydreaming about their Caprese salad.
It’s not a fancy restaurant but I like how they have outdoor seating on the deck (so I feel much more comfortable with my kids spilling everywhere.)
They have high chairs.
If you are there for lunch, they offer a bottomless juice bar which includes iced tea, grapefruit juice and orange juice.
TRATTORIA PIZZERIA LOGIC
港区台場1-6-1 デックス東京ビーチ
DECKS TOKYO BEACH, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS : 11AM-3PM & 5PM-10PM
OPEN WEEKENDS: 11AM-4PM & 5PM-10PM
TRATTORIA PIZZERIA LOGIC ENGLISH WEBSITE
If you are looking for Halal food or Vegan food options inside of Decks Shopping Mall, then I recommend dining on the 5th floor at Indian Restaurant, Khazana Daiba. They also have a prayer room. There are several vegan options and the Naan is also vegan (please note that it is made using the same cooking equipment as non-vegan food items.) The all you can eat menu usually has as many as 3 vegan curries to choose from for approximately 1500 yen per person. This restaurant is non-smoking. They have an English menu AND a children’s menu. I would budget for 2000 yen per person here. Most major credit cards accepted here. They do accept reservations and walk-ins (can be busy on weekends.) Khazana Daiba has terrace seating with a beautiful outdoor view of the Rainbow Bridge.
KHAZANA DAIBA
5TH FLOOR, DECKS SHOPPING MALL, BEACH SEASIDE MALL SIDE
OPEN WEEKDAYS FOR LUNCH 11AM-3PM (LAST ORDERS 2:30PM)
OPEN WEEKDAYS FOR DINNER 3PM-9PM (LAST ORDERS 8:30PM)
OPEN WEEKENDS FOR LUNCH 11AM-4PM (3:30PM)
OPEN WEEKENDS FOR DINNER 4PM-11PM (LAST ORDERS 10PM)
CLOSED TUESDAYS
The Odaiba Miraikan : The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
is another good option for rainy days and children who are particularly interested in science. It is worth checking for special events and exhibits.
I‘ve written about the Miraikan in detail here. The museum is 5 minutes walk from Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station (formerly called “Fune-no Kagakukan station”) and Telecom Center Station.
After the Miraikan, if kids need a run around, I recommend a short walk to Shiokaze Park. There is lots of open space, a lovely Tokyo Bay breeze and there are places to set up a picnic or barbeque too. Its not the most stunning park but it is nice to have space and be by the water. In Summer, there used to be a fountain to play in but it seems to be closed off more often than not.
There are lots of public restrooms scattered around the park.
SHIOKAZE PARK
品川区東八潮1,2
1,2 HIGASHIYASHIO, SHINAGAWA-KU
The only department store that I haven’t mentioned so far on Odaiba Island is Diver City. For shopping, it is mainly clothing – the big brands like H&M, Zara and, more recently a clothing store called Gu.
There is also a Daiso (100 yen shop) on the 6th floor.
On the ground floor is a great traditional Japanese goods gift shop called Wabi Sabi.
And on the same floor as Wabi Sabi and Kira Kira Donquijote is a small food court. One of the shops (just near the exit to see the Gundam Statue) sells rainbow fairy floss / cotton candy.
Did you know there is also a Poop Museum in Diver City Shopping Mall? I’ve written in detail about the Unko Poop Museum here.
Just outside of the Unko Museum is a Sanrio (aka Hello Kitty and friends) Gift Shop and a cafe that sells Hello Kitty Pancakes.
Halal Certified Soba Noodles
If you feel like Japanese soba noodles, I think you’ll like dining at Sojibo on the 6th Floor of Diver City, Odaiba. This restaurant is Halal certified and is a non-smoking restaurant. Sojibo is a halal-certified Japanese eatery.
Tacos
Also in Diver City is a taco & burrito chain restaurant called Wahoos (if you need to ask anyone for directions it’s pronounced like Wafuuz in Japanese) on the 7th floor. They have vegan and vegetarian options. Open 11AM -10PM.
Gundam Statue
Diver City has always mostly appealed to shoppers looking for fashion but the new “life size” Gundam Unicorn 20 metre-high statue .
Within Diver City there is also a mini Don Quijote shop called Kira Kira Don Quijote. This is a GREAT place for souvenir shopping.
300 yen store
There is also a good 300 yen shop called “3 Coins” inside Diver City. They also have a selection of souvenirs.
(It’s on the 2F of Diver City.)
A small interactive playcentre inside Diver City Shopping Mall
On the 5th floor of Diver City is a small “Team Lab-Style” playcentre for little kids called “Little Planets.” In my opinion, the ideal age range for this place is 0-5 years. I think you would need 60 mins here, maximum.
See the Little Planets website for opening times on particular days and current prices (it is usually 1,200 yen for kids and 800 yen for adults – for a 60 min session – it is a little more on weekends.) Children under 1 are free. All tickets require a 600 yen sign up fee – and with that, all participants will get an interactive wristband. No outside food is allowed. Toilets are out in the Diver City Mall (none inside the playcentre) so it is best to make everyone go before you enter (otherwise that toilet time/ time to exit and reenter ) is included in that 60 mins.
We have always paid for tickets at the door but, if you wanted to buy them ahead of time, tickets are sold on Klook.
Please let the staff know if it is your little one’s birthday as they will get a small present.
Please note that, like most play spaces for kids in Japan, everyone will be required to take off their shoes. Please make sure everyone has socks (even just in your bag to put on when sandals come off) ready.
LITTLE PLANETS, DIVER CITY
5TH FLOOR, DIVER CITY SHOPPING MALL, ODAIBA
EXTRA SPOTS FOR WHEN LITTLE ONES NEED SPACE TO WRIGGLE
These are hardly tourist spots or must-sees but…if tantrums are looming try some of these spots for an attitude “refresh”:
The Chuggington store
On the ground floor of the Fuji TV Station Building ( the robot that looks like something out of transformers opposite Aqua City Department store) is the Chuggington Shop. This shop has a shoes-off play area with lots of model trains to play with. We often stop here mid-shop on rainy days.
There is a nappy changing room & breastfeeding room here too.
CHUGGINGTON STORE
FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR (INSIDE THE COMPLEX)
2-4-8 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場2-4-8
OPEN: 10AM-6PM
FUJI TV BUILDING WEBSITE
Toys’R’Us, Aqua City
Located on the ground floor of Aqua City is Toys’R’Us. At the far end of the store is a Thomas the Tank Engine display and train table for children to play with. There is also a moving, roaring, large dinosaur placed on top of a toy display. These are both located close to the baby feeding & changing room so if you have two children (and two adults) one child could play while the other was being fed and changed.
Near the exit is another small duplo play area too.
If you’re looking to shop, the Japanese store does have different merchandise to its overseas counterparts so it’s worth a look around.
This little cheap toy is still a favourite with my two mini-people and I love that it’s a vending machine with coins, credit card and a rubbish bin. So funny.
This is also a good place to pick up some snacks and/or baby food.
TOYS R US ODAIBA
GROUND FLOOR, AQUA CITY DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-7-1 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場1-7-1
OPEN 11AM-9PM
TOYS R US ODAIBA WEBSITE
There is a small food court on the ground floor near Toys R Us and I quite like the little salad shop here. It is called Green X Green. (There are also lots of other restaurants in this food court and all the chairs and tables are in the middle so you can all choose to eat different things. See here for a full list of the restaurants here in the food court on the ground floor of Aqua City Odaiba.) Green X Green have their set salad bowls OR you can ask for a custom salad where you choose all of the ingredients. See the Green X Green Full Salad Menu here. They also make fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies. They also can serve their salads on rice – donburi style. See the full Green X Green Donburi Salad Bowl Menu here. Use google translate when looking at the menus if you need to be particular on all ingredients for allergies. Please see my tips on navigating Japan with allergies here.
GREEN X GREEN
GROUND FLOOR, AQUA CITY, ODAIBA
OPEN 11AM-10PM (CLOSES AT 9PM ON WEEKENDS
Within the same food court as Green X Green, there is also a Wendy’s First Kitchen, a convenience store and a pet shop (my kids love checking out the puppies and kittens through the windows.)
My children love the kids’ meal toys that come with a Wendy’s First Kitchen Meal.
Up on higher floors, the Disney Store is always a hit with my kiddies too. Of course.
DISNEY STORE AQUA CITY
3RD FLOOR, AQUA CITY DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-7-1 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場1-7-1
OPEN 11AM-9PM
You may also like to add Small Worlds (a miniature figures and scenes museum) that can also be found in this area.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
The Department Stores have the best options (they are beautiful big spacious malls) but also check out the MamapapaMap App for the latest options in this area.
