One our first day in Tokyo, we explored four of Tokyo’s most famous city wards: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chuo (we visited the popular Tsukiji Market), and Minato, where the artificial island, Odaiba, is located.
Tsukiji Market
Tsukiji Market is a famous market place for tuna auction. This is where fresh fishes, fruits, and vegetables are sold at a wholesale level. There are also restaurants and kiosks selling delicious food in this market. We scheduled our visit here just in time for lunch.
Most restaurants at Tsukiji Market offer expensive meal. If you are on a budget, I suggest you buy at the smaller kiosks. The food taste delicious still (as they serve it fresh) and you will be able to try more dishes.
If you are planning to visit Tsukiji Market, make sure to do so before the year ends. Reports are saying that the wholesale market will be transferred to Toyosu area.
Odaiba
Odaiba is an artificial island in the Minato area. Going to Odaiba is quite pricey but the view during the train ride will be worth every yen. Make sure to sit at the first coach to have the best view.
We were very particular in visiting Odaiba because of the Gundam statue. Being an otaku (anime lover), you will understand that I would love to see this and have my picture taken on this place. But we were disappointed to learn that they are renovating (well, they are tearing down the giant Gundam statue and will be replacing it with a new one). What a bad timing for our visit.
A replica of the Statue of Liberty can also be seen at Odaiba. You can take lots of picture in that area but since it was so cold, we decided to enter and sightsee (and shop quite a bit) inside the two famous malls in Odaiba area: Aqua City and Diver City.
These two places are a must to visit when you go to Tokyo. You will get to eat delicious foods at Tsukiji Market and see a lot of nice things in Odaiba. However, before visiting these places please (1) check if the wholesale market is still in Tsukiji and was not yet transferred to Toyosu and (2) wait until the new Gundam statue is erected before visiting Odaiba.
PS: The H&M in Diver City sells a lot of affordable clothes good for pasalubong J
Japan 2017: Shinjuku and Shibuya
PS: This was originally published last June 2017 in my previous blog: Baby Neo’s Mama.
2 thoughts on “Japan: Tsukiji and Odaiba”