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.)
Odaiba is very close to the city and accessible by a monorail-looking train called the Yurikamome.
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.
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). 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 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!
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
And inside Decks Tokyo Shopping Mall is an indoor theme park called Joypolis. I recommend it for kids 10 years and older.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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 . Please note that this statue will be removed sometime in 2023.
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.)
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
The Disney Store is always a hit with my kiddies too. Of course.
3RD FLOOR, AQUA CITY DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-7-1 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場1-7-1
OPEN 11AM-9PM
DISNEY STORE , AQUA CITY WEBSITE
You may also like to add Small Worlds (a miniature figures and scenes museum) that can also be found in this area.
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.
