National Museum of Emerging Science & Innovation (Miraikan)

Odaiba & Tokyo Bay


Miraikan means ‘hall of the future’, and the hands-on exhibits here present the science and technology that will possibly shape the years to come (including the chance to interact with androids!). Don't miss the demonstrations of robot ASIMO (at 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 4pm). The Gaia dome theatre-planetarium (adult/child ¥310/100) has an English audio option and is popular; book online one week in advance. A multilingual smartphone app turns your visit into a game.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Odaiba & Tokyo Bay attractions

1. Telecom Center

0.28 MILES

Best visited around sunset, the 99m-high viewing deck in this landmark arch-shaped building allows views of both the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower…

2. Unicorn Gundam

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This is truly an only-in-Tokyo sight: a 19.7m-tall model of an RX-0 Unicorn Gundam from the wildly popular Mobile Suit Gundam anime franchise. It…

3. Fuji TV Building

0.52 MILES

Designed by the late, great Kenzō Tange, the Fuji TV headquarters building is easily recognisable by the 1200-tonne orb suspended from the scaffolding…

4. ChihiraJunco

0.6 MILES

The future is here. Maybe. ChihiraJunco is a demure lady android created by Toshiba who has her own information counter adjacent to the people-staffed…

5. Statue of Liberty

0.66 MILES

A very popular photo-op, with the Rainbow Bridge in the background, is this 11m-tall replica of Lady Liberty, a fixture on Odaiba's waterfront since 2000.

6. Odaiba Kaihin-kōen

0.81 MILES

There are good views of the central Tokyo skyline from this park’s promenades and elevated walkways – especially at night when old-fashioned yakatabune …

7. Saw, Sawing

1.25 MILES

Looking like something giant builders left behind, this enormous, 15.5m-tall, red-handle and blade designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen is…

8. Tokyo Big Sight

1.29 MILES

Officially known as Tokyo International Exhibition Hall, Tokyo Big Sight has striking architecture including four huge upside-down pyramids. Look outside…