8. Shopping Complex Review: Venus Fort

Venus Fort is a large shopping/restaurant/entertainment complex in Odaiba. Built in 1999, it was Japan's first 'theme park' style mall, made to look like 18th century Europe, complete with changing skies - a cloudy sunset, bright blue daytime, evening darkness,...Approximately 170 shops and restaurants line the 'streets'. Just like a small town, it is a bit of a maze - easy to lose your bearings, but small enough it doesn't really matter.

The mall is very focused on selling to young women. Almost every store caters to them, so I have never purchased anything here except for lunch. I do, however, like to wander around every once in a while. The atmosphere does transport you to a far different place than what lies outside.

Speaking of outside, between Venus Fort and the Toyota MegaWeb is a large courtyard. Almost every weekend there is some sort of free live entertainment. I have seen Japanese 'talent' talk shows, concerts, a mini-court basketball tournament, and a number of 'performances' including this guy:

I wouldn't go to Odaiba just to visit Venus Fort, but in combination with other attractions, it is an interesting place to see.

Hours of Operation: Shops are open from 11:00 - 21:00 (occasionally until 22:00)

Most restaurants are open from 11:00 - 23:00 (last order at 22:00)

Check this English website for detailed information on how to get there:

http://www.venusfort.co.jp/multi/index_e.html

7. Museum Review: The Museum of Maritime Science (Odaiba)

The Museum of Maritime Science is a large museum dedicated to ships and everything related to them. The museum itself was built to look like a ship, and there are a number of real vessels surrounding it, some of which can be boarded and explored.

As a woman, I have never had much of an interest in ships. That said, I still enjoyed the museum . My husband, on the other hand, absolutely loved this museum. The first floor exhibits focus on ship history, design, propulsion, shipbuilding, and marine development. There are some excellent replicas of the most famous ships in history.

The second floor exhibits focus on maritime transportation, ships & seaports, ships & fishing, maritime safety, defending the oceans,...

The third floor exhibits focus on Japanese boats. I really enjoyed these as I am interested in Japanese history. There is also a radio-controlled boat corner, and a replica of a ship's bridge.

Outside the museum is the 'Yotei Maru', a ferry that connected Hokkaido and Honshu for over 20 years. Inside the ship are a 'Sea & Ship World' with some exhibits for children, and 'Seikan World', a re-creation of Aomori Station in the late 1950's.

Beside the 'Yotei Maru' is the 'Soya', a cargo icebreaker built in 1938 and used during WWII. Later it was used as Japan's first Antarctic observation ship. I enjoyed this exhibit most as visitors are able to get a feel of how life on board must have been like for the crew.

There are some basic English descriptions, but most are in Japanese. I was, however, given a very serious guide book that had some more detailed information and lots of photos.

The museum is obviously located waterfront, so there are some fantastic views of Tokyo Bay and of the shipyards nearby.

Most daughters would be bored here, but if you have a son, husband, or boyfriend, that is another story. Especially if they have an interest in boats, or even just in things mechanical.

Address: 3-1 Higashi-Yashio, Shingawa-ku, Tokyo 135-8587. (Odaiba)

Access: Yurikamone Monorail to Funenokagakukan Station. Paid parking is also available.

Phone: 03-5500-1111

Hours of Operation: 10:00 - 17:00, open until 18:00 on weekends and in summer.

Closed Dec. 28 - Jan. 1.

Admission: Adults: 1000 yen, children age 5 - Jr. High 600 yen.

For more information: http://ww.funenokagakukan.or.jp/

(This review can also be see at: tokyoreview.blogspot.com

6. Museum Review: Miraikan (Odaiba)

The Miraikan is my favorite new discovery, what an excellent museum! Mirai means future, and the Miraikan is Tokyo's 'National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation'. The building itself is gorgeous, and it is filled with an overwhelming amount of stimulating scientific information.

There are exhibits on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th floors, and on the 6th is a dome theater, 'Gaia'. The showpiece of the museum is the large globe, suspended from the ceiling, made of a million LED's. The 1st floor exhibition space is currently under renovation.

The 3rd floor exhibits are divided into two topics: 'Inovation & the Future' and 'Information Science & Technology for Society'.

The 5th floor exhibits are also divided into two topics: 'Life Science' and 'The Earth Environment & Frontiers'. There is an in depth focus on 'green' technology.

I am not going to even try to describe what you'll see. You just have to go there for yourself. If you have any interest in science, you'll be here all day. Even if you hate science, you'll probably change your mind after one visit to the Miraikan.
Extremely knowledgable volunteers are on hand to explain all of the displays and to help with the interactive exhibits. I do not know if they speak any English. But, no matter, everything in the museum is explained in depth, in both Japanese and English.

I would recommend this museum for Jr. high students and older, the subject matter was quite sophisticated. I saw some college students picking the brains of the volunteers, one young woman was taking pages of notes! That said, the elementary school kids that I saw were also really enjoying themselves. Especially in the robot making department above!

Reservations are required for the 112 seat dome theater. As soon as you arrive in the museum, go straight to the 6th floor and pick up a ticket. I was very disappointed that we were unable to get a reservation, the movie topics looked really interesting.

This museum is a 'must see', and its location make it easy and fun to visit. With so many other things to do in Odaiba, it is a great 'day trip' within Tokyo.

Address: 2-41 Aomi, Koto-ku.

Nearest station: Telecom Center Station on the Yurikamome Line (4 min. walk in the direction of Odaiba and the Fuji TF building)

Phone: 03-3570-9151

Open 10am to 5pm. Closed Tuesdays (except for national holidays)

Admission: Adults 500 yen, children 200 yen (18 and under)

English website:http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/index_e.html

(This post can also be seen on tokyoreview.blogspot.com)

5. Entertainment Review: Sega Joypolis

Joypolis is billed as a 'virtual reality theme park'. My husband and I are not really into 'virtual reality', but we had two American teenagers in tow. We purchased two adult admission tickets for ourselves, and two passports for the kids. Admission tickets just get you in the door, after that, to ride anything, attraction tickets must be purchased separately. The passport includes all attractions.

I cannot comment on the attractions personally, as we did not pay to 'ride' any of them. So, I'll just give you a rundown on what to expect.

Joypolis is located on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of one side of Decks. On the 5th floor, attractions such as 'Wild Wing', 'Wild Jungle Brothers', and 'Wild River Splash' are similar to Disney's 'Body Wars'. Your plane/truck/raft shakes and moves, but doesn't really go anywhere. The screens in front of you just make you think that they are. The kids thought these were pretty cool.

'Eragon' was a walk-through attraction, where you are a participant. This one got a thumbs down, too dorky. It was also only in Japanese. There were other walk-through attractions (Chakusin Ari Final - based on a horror movie, Fortune Forest,...) but these attractions are also only in Japanese so we skipped them.

On the 4th floor are large-sized video arcade games. In 'The Lost World Special' and 'The House of the Dead 4 Special', participants shoot at the video screen at zombies, dinosaurs,... These got a 'thumbs up'. Also on this floor were sports related 'video' games. 'Power Sled' simulated a bobsledding race and 'Burnout Running' simulated a track and field competition. On these attractions you compete against 3 other participants. I don't know if they were fun to do, but they were interesting to watch! Also on this floor are a variety of carnival style games, a Japanese only quiz game, regular video games, and more.

On the 3rd floor were some actual rides. The 'Spin Bullet', a spinning roller coaster, and the 'Half pipe Canyon', which claimed to test your snowboarding technique. The kids said the Spin Bullet was cool, but jerky and a bit painful. The line for the half pipe was too long, so we didn't try it. Also on this floor is a 'Sega Touring Car Championship Special' - where you feel as if you are competing in a race; 'Sky Cruising', another 'Body Wars' type ride in a hang glider, and a couple of attractions designed for smaller children ('Aquarena' - a virtual aquarium, and the 'Kyoryu-King Dino Theater'.

My feeling about Joypolis are mixed. If you have older children (10 to 18) and you can visit on a weekday while Japanese kids are at school, then do it! Especially if the weather outside is lousy. Our kids had a lot of fun, and they didn't have to wait very long for each attraction. On a busy day, Joypolis would be a waste of money. 'Sky Cruising', for example, holds only four people at a time. The ride takes forever. With any kind of crowd, you'd be in line for over an hour. Most of the other attractions are the same.

Also, the passport really pays off if you try to ride everything. Each attraction costs between 300 and 600 yen, and most of the 'good' ones are 600.

Admission Fees:

*Adult admission only: 500 yen, Children 7 to 14: 300 yen

*Adult unlimited passport: 3,300 yen, Children 3,100 yen

*Night passport (17:00 - 23:00): 2,300 for adults, 2,100 for children

Children aged 6 and under and those 60 and older can enter for free, but they must pay individually for attractions.

Re-entry is accepted on the day of purchase. So, if you are hungry, eat at the Japanese Pop Music Cafe inside, or you can go to one of the many restaurants in Decks and then return whenever you want.

Hours of Operation: 10:00 - 23:00 (last entry at 22:15)
Address: Sega Amusement Theme Park 'Tokyo Joypolis', 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Phone: 03-5500-1801

To get there:

1) Take the Yurikamome line and get off at Odaiba Kaihin Park Station, it is a 2 minute walk from there.

2) Take the tokyo Rinkai Kousoku Tetsudo Rinkai Fuku Toshin Line and get off at Tokyo Teleport Station, it is a 5 minute walk from there.

3) By car - head to Odaiba and park in the Decks parking lot. I believe there is a parking discount if you show your parking ticket to the info desk in Joypolis.

4. Mall Review: LaLaport (Toyosu)

The 'Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu' is a new shopping and entertainment complex that opened in the spring of 2006. Formerly a shipyard of IHI (Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries), designers retained a bit of the shipyard in its design. If malls can be fantastic, this one certainly is!
There are over 200 shops and restaurants, in a spacious and well designed complex, very similar to newer malls in the U.S. In addition to all the standards (Gap, J.Crew, LL Bean, Uniqlo,...), there is also a smaller Tokyu Hands and Kinokuniya Bookstore.

The complex also contains a large Aoki supermarket, a United Cinema, a Ukiyoe Museum, a sports gym, and a kids entertainment center called 'Kid Zania'.
I'm really not much of a shopper, but I like hanging out here. There are a ton of great restaurants, many of them open-air, overlooking the sea.
What I like best is outside the mall. Directly out back is a small food court, performance stage, water bus stop, and even a dog run! To top it all off, a wonderful ocean side boardwalk, paved park space, and a huge grassy lawn! LaLaport Toyosu can be reached by car, bus, train, or boat. There is plenty of parking if you travel by car, and if you make some purchases, parking will probably be free.

By train (Yurakucho Line, Yurikamome Line), the mall is a 5 minute walk from Toyosu Station.

3. Event Review: Street Car Nationals (Odaiba)

On Sunday, April 15, 2007, 'Mooneyes' Automotive Parts Dealer sponsors the 'Street Car Nationals', in the Odaiba Rainbow Town parking lot. It is not a race, instead, it is a car show and swap meet.

There were about 700 cars and trucks, mostly classic, but with some newer 'cool' ones thrown in. There were a large number of America's best from the 50's, 60's,... It was also interesting to see the early Japanese car models.

The show is held every April, in 2006 it was held during Golden Week. This was the 21st year for the show, so if you missed, keep an eye out for it next April.

I enjoyed watching the crowd almost as much as the cars!

Admission: 1000 yen, get a hand stamp and you can enter and exit the area all day.

This was one of the most popular vehicles, the 'Louis Vuitton'!

2. Food Court Review: Bayside Market (Odaiba - Aqua City)

If you just want to grab a quick bite to eat, this is a really nice food court on the 5th floor of Aqua City in Odaiba. There are six companies represented at this 'International' food court.

1) Sam Choy's (Hawaiian) - Loco Moco, grilled rice omelettes,...

2) Dong Dae Mun (Korean) - Grilled beef plates, Bibimba,...

3) San Francisco Fish Company (American) - Fish & chips, clam chowder, shrimp coctail, hamburgers,...

4) Cyclo (Vietnamese) - Pho and tapioca drinks

5) D's Sweet Marche (dessert) - fruit crepes and ice cream cones

6) Brenda Mix (dessert) - Fresh smoothies

The food court is open from 10:00 to 23:00 (last order at 22:30). The food court seats 388.

For more information, check this website:
http://www.gnavi.co.jp/aqua-city/e/shop/shop_bayside.html