Location: Odaiba / Shiodome / Shinbashi
Top Things to do in Odaiba / Shiodome / Shinbashi
What to do and see in Odaiba / Shiodome / Shinbashi, Kanto: The Best Specialty Museums
Tradition collides with pop culture in Tokyo, where you can reverently wander ancient temples before rocking out at a karaoke bar. Wake up before the sun to catch the lively fish auction at the Tsukiji Market, then refresh with a walk beneath the cherry blossom trees that line the Sumida River. Spend some time in the beautiful East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, then brush up on your Japanese history at the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Don’t forget to eat as much sushi, udon noodles, and wagashi (Japanese sweets) as your belly can handle.
Restaurants in Tokyo
1. Minato City Center for Traditional Culture
2. teamLab Borderless
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,324 reviews
teamLab Borderless is a group of artworks that form one borderless world. Artworks move out of the rooms freely, form connections and relationships with people, communicate with other works, influence and sometimes intermingle with each other. Create new experiences with others, immerse yourself in borderless art, and explore the world with your body. In a vast complex, three-dimensional 10,000 square meter space, 520 computers and 470 projectors create a completely new world, the likes of which have never been seen before. Closed day: June 22nd, 25th, July 9th, 23rd, August 10th, 27th.
Reviewed By DouglasA587
teamLab Borderless (The Odaiba Edition of teamLab), was our first experience of this kind of interactive digital light and sound exhibit. We've visited our fair share of classical, modern and interactive galleries. But this was something quite different, as evidenced by the throngs off people waiting to get in at 10am (opening time), and the queues 10 deep, 50m back outside the door when we left at 1pm. Other reviews and their own website give you the general sense of what's happening: clever use of light and sound in a dark space, some of them with interactive, and even physical elements (like climbing through the 3 dimensional bouldering wall). But that doesn't capture the magic of being there in the dark, wondering what new and beautiful creature is about to come dancing around the corner. There's mo map and genuinely a surprise around every corner. We went around and around to make sure we left no nook undiscovered. Although initially you feel lost and perhaps a little overwhelmed, after a while the layout starts to make sense. For all that, we couldn't visit one of the most famous rooms, with the lanterns, because by the time we got to it, there was an additional 1 hour queue that we decided was too much on top of 3 hours already spent. I do recommend pre-booking online and turning up at opening time, or even 15 minutes before so you're in ASAP when it's as empty as possible. There are coin operated lockers, and luggage locks, so dump your stuff. Having bags around is a drag. Even though you'll be captivated from the first large open area, do head straight to the Lantern room, and consider doing the upstairs section early because it has more elements to queue for. Young (and old) kids will also get more of a blast upstairs where everything is interactive and designed more for the younger (although me and my wife did our crayon drawing that got turned into a digital life-form that we happily chased around the floor). Also take advantage of the En Tea House early, which is located on the upper floor. This isn't not your ordinary Japanese tea experience and is really a full exhibit in its own right. Don't just take the tea, but take the ice cream set. Hint: the tea and the ice cream behave differently. We pre-booked and arrived at opening time on a Christmas Sunday (Dec 21) and the queue was already full but they were selling tickets at the door. They only sell a certain volume off tickets for the day, and when we left at 1pm, they were selling tickets that could only be used from 3pm. Despite the crowd control, it was quite busy inside, although the area is larger than I thought, so it easily swallows several thousand people I would think. Many people say they took one or two hours. We were there 3, and I think we could have stayed longer just to soak up the ambience. It's easily accessible from the Tokyo Teleport station, or the Aomi station. Both are on private lines, so you need an IC card or special ticket, since they are neither JR nor Metro. TeamLab also have a similar exhibit in Shanghai and another "Planets" exhibit in Tokyo which we didn't go to, but looks more for kids.
3. Mori Building Digital Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By JulesAmsterdam - Toronto, Canada
A must see in Tokyo! Really cool experience and great for all ages!! Be sure to buy your tickets well in advance.
4. Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 39 reviews
A small musium in the center of Tokyo to experience national beverage of Japan "Sake and Shochu." JSS Information Center is run by Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association which includes most of the breweries all over Japan as its members. Information about sake and shochu making and how to enjoy them are available through videos and panphlets. Also, well trained stuffs are ready to answer your questions. We always have about 100 items of various types of sake and shochu for you to taste and buy from all over Japan. The menu changes once in about 3 weeks, so every time you visit the place, you will find all new products and enjoy tasting it at very reasonable price. If you are interested in Japanese food culture and history, this is a nice place to spend about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Reviewed By DragonPrincess - Melbourne, Australia
Although I have drunk both, I have no knowledge of sake or shochu so planned to start our trip in Tokyo here to learn about the intricacies of both drinks. The girls are very friendly and were tolerant of all my questions. I had not idea that there was such a variety of styles of sake. There are 120 sakes that could be tasted here and I had no idea what to try, but the girls worked out what I would like and recommended some of the lighter and fruitier styles for me to try. My partner had different flavours to try. We sat at one of the tables and read the pamphlets provided and tasted and studied the drinks. I found it really interesting and would highly recommend people to visit this place. Although there were tourists there, there was also a few locals just sitting having a few drinks.
5. Tokyo Port Museum
6. Madame Tussauds Tokyo
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 255 reviews
Madame Tussauds Tokyo lets you get close to and take photos with over 70 life-like figures of world celebrities including Hollywood legends, sporting heroes, historical icons and Japanese celebrities.
Reviewed By 21SamRoss - Melbourne, Australia
This place was tricky to find but we got there after asking a friendly shop assistant for directions. We spent about 2-3 hours here taking photos with western celebrities and Japanese as well. We did some crazy poses and had a lot of fun doing it! When we went they had a hologram show where they scan your face then you watch a ballet show with one of the performers looking just like you. Was really cool. We also paid about 1,500 Yen to have our hands done in wax. It takes about half an hour so get it done and go off and explore and come back and get them. A unique souvenir I think. Well worth a visit and buy your tickets online if you can, works out to be a little bit cheaper.
7. NHK Museum of Broadcasting
8. Tokyo Trick Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 102 reviews
Tokyo Trick Art Museum located in Odaiba, Tokyo, is committed to enjoy the 3D artworks and the visual illusion. Have a fun at “Edo Area” created for the first time in the world, “Haunted Mansion with Funny Japanese Monsters” and “Trick Art Gallery” the best collections of artworks. Be careful to bring your camera!
9. Unko Museum Tokyo
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 12 reviews
The Newest MUST-GO SPOT in Japan!! A GROUNDBREAKING AMUSEMENT SITE “MAX UNKO KAWAII” POPS UP IN ODAIBA. New PoOP Culture UNKO MUSEUM TOKYOOpens August 9th, Friday at Diver City Tokyo Plaza, 2nd floor!
10. Toyota City Showcase
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By ramenchaser - Manila, Philippines
As a Toyota fan, i had an absolute ball here. The complex is massive, and showcases classic Toyotas right through to the current models, race cars, you name it. Interactive activities which were a lot of fun, and a lot of Toyota history which showed just where the company has come from to where it is now. Was very excited to see one of my all time fav cars up close, the Toyota Century. WOW. Such a beautiful car, only downside was i couldn't sit inside it. But at the price it was, I'm not surprised they don't allow people to sit inside it. If you're a Toyota fan, or even a car fan in general, highly recommend coming here!
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