There is so much that is open in Odaiba today ( JAN 2)
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.)
It’s very close to the city and you may have already spotted the giant ferris wheel at Odaiba on your way from either airport to the centre of town.
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 Island Monorail.
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). It’s an Australian restaurant so it’s a nice open space (even accommodates strollers) with an international 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 IS OPEN JANUARY 2 FROM 8AM-11PM.
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 – that is proper, large amusement park. This is my write up on Legoland Nagoya with kids. )
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!
LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER TOKYO
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
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.
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.
4TH FLOOR DECKS DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場1-6-1
OPEN 11AM-9PM
WEBSITE
Another shopping suggestion inside the same department store is walk through 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.
Here are some of the goodies I purchased in Sept 2017.
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
*For another idea with children, scroll to the bottom of the post for the heading “When you need a change of scenery” for details of a small play centre above Daiso.
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 11AM-11PM
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. Always there is the gigantic world globe with different images projected constantly as well as exhibits on robotics and extremely realistic androids. Children under 18 cost 210 yen and Adults 620 yen (extra for special exhibits.)
For little children is a whole play/exploration section called ” Curiosity Field” which can be visited for 45 minute sessions. This section is all interactive.
The museum is 5 minutes walk from “Fune-no Kagakukan station.”
I highly recommend taking your own snacks and/or meals. There really aren’t any cafes around (just a Daily Yamazaki convenience store a few minutes walk away.)
This is my little girl loving the kids interactive play section on the 3rd floor (45 minute set play sessions.)
She particularly loved how she could colour a picture and then scan it and have it appear on the tv!
2-3-6 AOMI, KOTO
江東区青海2-3-6
OPEN: 10AM-5PM (CLOSED ALMOST ALL TUESDAYS, SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS)
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. In Summer, there is a free splash to splash in a large wading pond. So pack a towel and a change of clothes.
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. （Warning, lots of the major shops on floors 3 and 4 are being renovated. The bigger stores are still open for business.) 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.
There is also a good 300 yen shop inside Diver City. They also have a selection of souvenirs.
(It’s on the 2F of Diver City.)
These are hardly tourist spots or must-sees but…if tantrums are looming try some of these spots for an attitude “refresh”:
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
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
I like to use these changing & feeding facilities in this area:
- Decks Department Store , 4th floor of the Seaside Mall section (change table, breastfeeding room, boiled water)
- Decks Department Store, 3rd floor of the Seaside Mall section, disabled restroom (change table)
- Decks Department Store, Ground floor & 3rd floor of the Island Mall section, disabled restrooms (change tables)
- Decks Department Store, Ground floor, 3rd floor & 5th floor of the Island Mall section, female restrooms (change tables)
- Aqua City Department Store, 5th floor (breastfeeding room, change table, baby scales, 100 yen nappy vending machine )
- Toys R Us, Aqua City Department Store, Ground floor (change tables, wipes provided, breastfeeding room, boiled water)
