To the heart of Japanese Celebrity: Fuji TV and Odaiba

Summary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odaiba

**Has parking**South Tokyo**For All Ages**Full day Activity**Admission free**morning-late evening**Always Open**

Rating: 6/10 - Expensive, crowded, but quite a collection of entertainment in a concentrated space


Website

Odaiba

Fuji TV

Location/Access


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By Train:

Yurikamome Line:
Board at: Shimbashi, Get off at: Daiba, Walking time: approx. 3 min.

Rinkai Line
Board at: Shin-Kiba, Get off at: Tokyo Teleport , Walking time approx. 5 min.

By Car:

Metropolitan Expressway No.11 Daiba Line:
From Hamazakibashi Junction via Rainbow Bridge. Take Daiba Exit.

Metropolitan Expressway Wangan Line:
From the Haneda area, take Exit No. 13.
From the Chiba area, take the Ariake Exit.

General Road:
Shibaura route: From Wangan Road, pass the lower road of Rainbow Bridge to reach Daiba.
Harumi route: From Harumi-dori, take a right at Shinonome 1-chome Intersection and go straight.



Activities

There are many activities to enjoy around the Odaiba area. Our trip centered around The Fuji TV studios, a Gundam exhibition that happened to be on while we were there (The giant robot you see pictured above), and the surrounding restaurants and cake shops.

If you're into Japanese TV, then chances are you know at least one of the celebrities/programs from Fuji TV. (Channel 8 in Tokyo). At the time of writing, some celebrities of note would be: Tamori (The guy with the sun glasses), Takashima Aya (The announcer from "Mezamashi Terebi"); and programs would be: Mezamashi Terebi, Red Carpet, iitomo, SMAPxSMAP, Sazae-san etc.

At the studio there are numerous stands set up themed on the various shows/celebrities.




Food

There are many restaurants in the area; the one we picked on the day was "ABC Steak and Bar" in the "Aqua City" building, 4F. Being a steak house, they specialize of course in steak.

There are also a range of deserts and wines to compliment the meal, but if you don't fancy steak, it's best to give this place a miss, as they are very few alternatives on the menu.

Cost

Odaiba is very popular, and quite fashionable, and the costs are thus above average for the Tokyo area. The parking alone was 1500JPY; following was lunch at 5000JPY, cakes at 3000JPY, and other miscellaneous items taking the total for a family of four (One infant, one small child) to around the 10,000JPY mark.

Rating

This would be a great place to visit with plenty of cash, on a rainy weekday. We visited on the final weekend of the summer holidays, and despite an approaching typhoon, the place was absolutely jam-packed. You had to queue for everything, (including the toilet), and due to the intensity the service at the surrounding restaurants was a little below par.

In addition to this, Odaiba is an expensive place; be prepared to shell out 20-30% above what you are used to paying for a similar standard of goods and services elsewhere.

The attractions are fun, but when it's busy the Disney land-like queues can be a bit of a mood killer.

One sales point are the very good restaurants around, and the view overlooking the bay is the perfect accompaniment to a good meal.


Pros: Great food, lots of entertainment, good access, modern and stylish.

Cons: Expensive, and crowded


Rating: 6/10