Day 272: Digimon Odaiba & Akihabara

We are back in Tokyo two days before our Japan trip ends to hit a few more spots. Today’s journey was pure nerd shit: we visited the Odaiba island where most of Digimon season 1 takes place. We visited the Fuji Media Tower, Odaiba Park, and location of the Daikanransha Giant Sky Wheel (they tore it down 😢😢😢).

In addition to Digimon, Odaiba is home to the Gundum Base and life size Unicorn Gundum! Sooooo cool!!!

After a nap, we metro’d to Electric Town (aka Akihabara) where they previously sold discounted electrics. They still do plus they’ve added more anime and pop culture references all over. It’s also known famously for its maid bars where you can eat mediocre food while a girl dressed up as a maid will call you sir or madam. No, we didn’t go there; instead grabbed all you can eat Shabu Shabu for dinner with robot servers.

Post dinner, stopped by the Animate store and picked up some Kingdom Hearts merch and then partied at the GiGo arcade (previously SEGA arcades) playing retro games and Mario Kart.

We left around 10pm for an early start the next day and because the metro home takes about 45 min. Plus it closes at 12:00-12:30ish. One stop away from home Kieran realizes he can’t find our hostel room key lol We panic of course, but still have the back up of having our passports, credit cards, and phone to book another hostel.

The issue: Shabu Shabu closes at 11:00 and GIGO closes at 11:30pm. We metro back to Akihabara and split up; Kieran hits Shabu Shabu, Mary hits arcade. No luck; Kieran comes back to the arcade and we give it a really hard look over.

Kieran found the key in the most difficult spot: it was wedged between two Street Fighter II machines and really low on the ground; we had to get the staff to help to pull the machine out of its spot 🤣

Time is….11:30p! We race to the station; after getting to Shinagawa, we have one more train and hop on the very last train out at 12:06am. We make it home and promptly celebrate / crash.

Hostel:
Shinagawa Guest House

Food:
Sushi
Yakisoba
Shabu Shabu

Spots:
Odaiba
Akihabara
ShinigawaRead more