How to Get to Odaiba in Tokyo: Monorail, Train, River Cruise, and More

Accessing Odaiba: Train, Monorail, Boat, and Bus Routes in Tokyo

Odaiba is one of the major sightseeing areas in Tokyo, and is home to shopping facilities, the beautiful Rainbow Bridge, bay scenery, and a life-sized Gundam statue. Even with all these great attractions, accessing Odaiba can be somewhat inconvenient.

This article summarizes various access routes to Odaiba, suggested by an author living in the area. Continue reading to learn about the various transportation methods (such as train, monorail, river cruise boat, and bus), as well as how much time and yen it takes to get there from different areas in Tokyo.

5 Ways to Access Odaiba

1. Monorail: For Departures from Tokyo Station or Asakusa Station
2. Train: From Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro Stations
3. River Cruise: From Asakusa/Ryogoku to Odaiba Seaside Park
4. Bus: Save Time and Money
5. Walk over Rainbow Bridge

We highly recommend travelers use the JR Pass* and the Tokyo Subway Ticket to save money on traveling on JR trains, the Tokyo Metro, and Toei Subway. These discount passes not only help with getting around Odaiba but also throughout the rest of Tokyo and beyond.

*Please note that after the price increases effective from October 2023 onwards, we would only suggest JR Passes for those who intend to do a large amount of travel across wide areas of Japan, and who expect to take a high number of train trips via JR lines within a short period of time.

1. Take the Yurikamome Monorail If Departing from Tokyo Station or Asakusa Station

The Yurikamome line is a monorail that starts from Shimbashi Station and ends at Toyosu Station, near Toyosu Market. The monorail takes a scenic route around the bay and is the most convenient access method for those coming from the Tokyo Station area, Asakusa, as well as many other areas within Tokyo.

The monorail is automatically operated, so you can sit at the driver's seats at the front of the car. You can't actually drive the monorail, but the seat is popular because you can enjoy the superb view of the area from the very front.

To go to Odaiba, get off at Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station. The fare from Shimbashi Station is 325 yen and takes around 13 minutes. If you are coming from another station, you will have to transfer to the Yurikamome line at Shimbashi Station first; total fares and approximate times are listed below.

↑ Return to the top of article.

2. Take the Rinkai Line from Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro

If you leave from Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, or Shibuya Stations, the fastest route is by taking the Rinkai Line train (via the JR Saikyo Line) to Tokyo Teleport Station. Tokyo Teleport Station is the nearest station to most major sights in Odaiba. You do not need to transfer train lines.

Note that this line does not run as frequently as standard lines, with around three to four trains per hour between 10:00 and 16:00. Evening trains stop running around midnight or earlier, so be careful if you want to catch a night view of the area or head for Odaiba in the evening.

↑ Return to the top of article.

3. River Cruise from Asakusa or Ryogoku

Traveling to Odaiba by river cruise boat might not be the fastest way to get there but it certainly is very scenic! Travel times depend on the boat you're taking but can range from 55 minutes to 70 minutes if you depart from Asakusa.

Please note that there are several river cruise operators. We recommend the services of Tokyo Cruise, which operates the Suijo Bus lines connecting Asakusa to Odaiba Seaside Park, Toyosu, and Tokyo Big Sight.

They operate three types of ships, of which only two (Hotaluna and Emeraldas) stop at Odaiba Seaside Park. The travel time differs depending on the ship.

The Suijo Bus pier is located right near Azumabashi Bridge in Asakusa, a one-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line, and Tobu Skytree Line).

For reservations and timetables, please check Tokyo Cruise's official website.

Alternatively, you can also travel from Ryogoku River Center to Odaiba Seaside Park on the Tokyo Mizube Cruising Line. This ride is less expensive, priced at 1,200 yen (8.25 USD), and takes about 50 minutes. You can book it online on Klook.

4. Bus to Odaiba - Save Time and Money

Trains are the most common means of moving about in Tokyo, but to reach Odaiba you will likely have to transfer at least once, and there are actually more cost-effective ways to travel. Taking the bus, on the other hand, means that you can travel relatively cheaply and without transfers.

1. Odaiba Rainbow Bus and Km Flower Bus (From Shinagawa and Tamachi)

The Odaiba Rainbow Bus connects Shinagawa and Tamachi stations to Odaiba, while the Km Flower Bus goes straight to Odaiba Seaside Park from Shinagawa and Tamachi Stations via the Rainbow Bridge. This is the cheapest and fastest way to reach Odaiba if you leave from either of these stations.

This bus costs a flat rate of 220 yen one-way and is a very reasonable option. It takes less than 30 minutes to get to the Odaiba area from Shinagawa. We recommend getting off at Odaiba Kaihin-koen Mae.

2. Toei Bus (From Monzen Nakacho)

This is the most frequent bus that leaves from Monzen Nakacho Station. It leaves the station every 10 minutes from platform #5. Look for the 海01 bus going towards Tokyo Teleport Station-mae.

The bus ride from Monzen Nakacho takes around half an hour and costs 210 yen.

3. Toei Bus (From Oimachi and Omori Stations)

This bus leaves Oimachi and Omori Stations and uses the Metropolitan Expressway, so you can enjoy some scenery that's a little different from that of ordinary routes. Look for 森30, bound for Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station-mae.

Get off at Telecom Center Station mae; the ride is around half an hour and costs 240 yen.

↑ Return to the top of article.

5. On Foot or By Bicycle - Free Transport and Exercise

There is also a free access route to Odaiba that's great for those wanting exercise!

You can actually walk to Odaiba! There is a bridge connecting Odaiba to Tamachi and Toyosu Stations that you can cross either on foot or by bicycle.

From Tamachi Station, just walk a bit towards the seaside and you'll reach the Rainbow Bridge. You can't ride your bike there, but you can walk across by renting a small trolley for free.

The Rainbow Bridge can be crossed on foot in the 9:00 - 20:00 interval. This area often has strong winds though, so make sure you keep an eye on any hats, scarves or other belongings while walking.

The views from the Rainbow Bridge are amazing! It's one of the few spots that offer panoramic views of Odaiba.

From Toyosu Station, you can take the bridge without getting off your bicycle.

↑ Return to the top of article.

Enjoy Your Time in Odaiba

You might be surprised at how many ways there are to reach Odaiba, an entertainment-filled area in Tokyo. Choose the route that best suits your plans and enjoy your time in Odaiba.

All pictures from PIXTA