Odaiba's Hidden Oddities

Above, a view of Odaiba from a Sumida River cruise boat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Odaiba section of Tokyo is best-known to monster fans as the battleground of Godzilla and Megaguirus in Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000).

But Odaiba is also known for its shopping and amusement centers.

Japanista has an article on Odaiba's hidden oddities that are "off the beaten path".

It begins with:

Odaiba, a must see city on the backpacker’s checklist when traveling through Japan. This manmade island features some of Tokyo’s most popular tourist attractions and an extensive selection of shopping, dining, and date night hot spots. 

What a lot of travelers don’t know about are the gems waiting to be discovered under the cover of what might appear to be a tourist trap island. While the Rainbow Bridge, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Fuji TV Building, and the “life size” Gundam statue in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza are worth the journey to explore, there is a side to Odaiba that also appeals to the traveler looking for an adventure off the beaten path.

To read more, go here. 

Relax & Unwind In Odaiba

Above, a view of the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba from the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Most of us kaiju fans probably never heard of Odaiba in Tokyo until Godzilla x Megaguirus was released in 2000 as much of the movie's action took place there.

It was then that many of us first learned of the Aqua City shopping mall, the Rainbow Bridge and the futuristic architecture of the Fuji TV Building.

Above, the Fuji TV Building in Odaiba. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Odaiba is touted as a place full of attractions and a great place to unwind and relax. Modern Tokyo Times has an article on Odaiba that emphasizes the last point.

They start it with:

Odaiba in Tokyo really stands out because of the unique architecture, the stunning Rainbow Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, relaxing walkways by the sea, the unusual site of a beach, colorful boats which light up the area at night and you also have a host of tourist attractions to enjoy. Indeed, if you visit by monorail then images of the film Blade Runner will spring to mind. Therefore, this part of Tokyo is extremely unique and provides another fascinating angle to this ultra-modern city. 

Another noticeable feature of Odaiba is the romantic angle and this especially applies to the night time period. This notably applies to the amazing backdrop of Rainbow Bridge, ample dining areas to enjoy and the refreshing night time view. Also, you have nice walkways along the beach and much further afield. Given all these features, then you really do have a powerful romantic area for couples at night. 

Despite the romantic feature of Odaiba at night this does not mean that individuals, friends, groups, relatives and single tourists can’t enjoy the amazing atmosphere. On the contrary, Odaiba is a charming place to relax and unwind irrespective of the situation. After all, the graceful Rainbow Bridge at night is a true wonder to behold and well worth a visit alone without the countless other attractions.

Above, the Statue of Liberty and Rainbow Bridge from Aqua City. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Because of Godzilla's aforementioned connection to Odaiba, it is featured on page 25 in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read the full article, go here.

The Fuji TV Building

Above, the Fuji TV Building in Odaiba.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Fuji Television Building is located in the Odaiba section of Tokyo.

The Fuji Headquarters Building is across the street from the Aqua City Shopping Mall.  Both the mall and the Fuji TV headquarters Building were featured in Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000). The Fuji TV Headquarters was also shown in the background in Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) as Godzilla rises out of Tokyo Bay.

The building took almost three years to build and it was designed by Japanese Architect Kenzo Tange. It opened in 1997.

According to Japan-Guide.com:

The headquarters of Fuji Television, one of Japan's private, nationwide TV stations. You can see some exhibits on popular programs, buy Fuji TV goods at a shop and access the futuristic looking building's observatory deck housed in the sphere shaped part of the building. 

Odaiba is spotlighted on page 25 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

For more on the Fuji Television Network, go here.

Tokyo Maximum Tour Planned For September

Above, the Fuji TV building in Odaiba.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Destination Tours/H.I.S. International Tours are planning a special Tokyo Maximum Tour this coming September according to an article posted at Anime News Network.

According to the article:

LOS ANGELES, CA - April 15, 2013 - Destination Japan/H.I.S.' Tokyo Maximum Tour, one of their popular escorted tours, is now back and even more affordable and exciting than ever!! 

You will stay 5 nights at Shibuya Tokyu Inn conveniently located in front of Shibuya Station, and visit the 2013 Tokyo Game Show, which will be one for the books that you will not want to miss.

The tour includes visits to Akihabara (famous for being the electronics center of Tokyo) and Odaiba (G-fans are familiar with Odaiba being the location of Godzilla x Megaguirus).

For more details, go here.

Tokyo's Odaiba

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, the Fuji TV building.

Tokyo has many landmarks and places to see for the giant monster movie fan.

One of them is the Odaiba section. Odaiba was built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. It was prominently shown in the 2000 feature, Godzilla x Megaguirus. It was also seen in the background in Godzilla x Mothra x MechaGodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003).

Odaiba can be reached by foot (across the Rainbow Bridge), car, water taxi and train.
Above, the Statue of Liberty and Rainbow Bridge from Aqua City.

The kaiju places of interest in Odaiba include the Aqua City shopping mall (they have a replica Statue of Liberty outside), the Fuji TV Building and the Rainbow Bridge that spans across Tokyo Bay.

Above, Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba from a Tokyo Bay water taxi.

There are many other attractions to see in Odaiba. The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan will provide the details!