8 Best Sights in Odaiba, Tokyo

On the second floor of Odaiba's Mori Building, by the entrance to the giant Ferris wheel, this digital art museum is one of Tokyo's hottest attractions and a fascinating, immersive (and supremely Instagram-friendly) wonderland created by a team of animators, architects, designers, and programmers. From a mesmerizing lantern-filled room to gushing digital waterfalls and fantastical forests, this futuristic museum aims to remove the boundaries between people and the world. The exhibition comprises five three-dimensional worlds spread out over the vast 10,000 square meter space: Borderless World, teamLab Athletics Forest, Future Park, Future of Lamps, and EN Tea House where a digital flower blooms and grows on the surface of your tea. This is a very popular attraction so advance tickets are essential. Plan to arrive when it first opens or late afternoon and on a weekday, if at all possible, to avoid crowds.

Wear white so that the projected lights will make your clothing part of the exhibition. Also, many rooms feature mirrored floors so you may want to wear pants or take advantage of the museum's wrap skirts.

Architecture buffs should make time for Odaiba if only to contemplate this futuristic building, designed by Kenzo Tange and completed in 1996. The observation deck on the 25th floor affords a spectacular view of the bay and the graceful curve of the Rainbow Bridge.

Make sure to stop by the third floor of the museum known locally as Miraikan, where you will get to meet and control a humanoid robot. This hands-on museum has three different areas focusing on humans' relationship to the planet, the frontiers of outer space and the deep sea, and our life in the near future. There is also a special theater with planetarium and 3-D shows (reservations required).

This artificial beach and its boardwalk are home to a small replica of the Statue of Liberty and, for many strolling couples, a wonderful evening view of the Rainbow Bridge.

Once upon a time, when bathtubs in private homes were a rarity, the great defining social institution of Japanese urban life was the relaxing sento: the local public bath. And if the sento was also an onsen—a thermal spring—with waters drawn from some mineral-rich underground supply, the delight was even greater. No more than a handful of such places survive in Tokyo, but the Oedo Onsen managed to tap a source some 4,600 feet below the bay and then turn the traditional onsen experience into a fun, kitschy theme park. Visitors can choose from several indoor and outdoor pools, each with different temperatures and motifs—but remember that you must soap up and rinse off (including your hair) before you enter any of them. Follow your soak with a massage and a stroll through the food court—modeled after a street in Yoshiwara, the licensed red-light district of the Edo period—for sushi or noodles and beer. Charges include the rental of a yukata and a towel.

Guests with tattoos are not allowed in the park.

This complex of malls and amusements is located at the east end of the island. The uncontested landmark here is the 377-foot-high Palette Town Ferris wheel, one of the world's largest and modeled after the London Eye. Just opposite is Mega Web, a complex of rides and multimedia amusements that's also a showcase for the Toyota Motor Corporation. You can ride a car (hands off—the ride is electronically controlled) over a 1-km (½-mile) course configured like a roller coaster but moving at a stately pace. You can drive any car you want, of course, as long as it's a Toyota. Plan ahead if you want to stop by teamLab Borderless, billed as the world's first digital art museum, which is home to dozens of mindblowing interactive digital installations.

Imagine what it's like to be a giant in this novel indoor theme park dedicated to miniatures. Surprisingly spacious, Small Worlds takes you on a journey through different fantasy lands, times, and countries. Watch a small rocket launch, look out for hidden characters, or create a mini-me and become a permanent resident of Small Worlds.

On the other side of Tokyo Bay, you can find an alternative view of the Rainbow Bridge. Here you'll find families playing football, having picnics, and setting up the perfect BBQ spot. If you don't have your own utensils, The BBQ Beach in Toyosu can supply meat to grill and seats to unwind.