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Odaiba Robot cafe, Gundam statue & Hello Kitty store! Trip planning with Odigo Tokyo travel app.

odigo tokyo travel trip planning

There’s no place like Tokyo. A city filled with cute shops, theme cafes and game centers. As you know, I love to write about these wonderful places on my blog.

However, Japan can be a confusing place to visit. It’s hard to figure out where to go and how to get around. But I’ve been working on a project with Odigo, to make trip-planning a whole lot easier.

Read on to see the Gundam giant robot, Hello Kitty shops and much more kawaii!

killstar goth outfit post blog

I visited the Odigo team at their Tokyo office. They’ve built a community of passionate experts like me, who want to help travelers get off the beaten track in Japan.

What I’m wearing: Killstar skirt with witchy patterns, and a Nightmare Before Christmas sweater from Lumine Shinjuku. My blue coat with a zig-zag front is by Alice’s Pig.

nightmare before christmas top, shirt

Odigo is a newly-launched website that lets you create your own custom trip. You can search for cool local spots, and link them together in a customized trip.

You can then download the itinerary to my phone, or print out a pocket-sized version. That way, you have all the necessary info — addresses, opening hours, subway routes — right on hand.

antler chandelier, ryozan park office

I’ve been helping the team with ideas. Our goal is to make Odigo as helpful as possible for English-speaking visitors to Japan. It’s free to use, and anyone can add their own writeups to the site. If you’re intrigued, you can also keep track of our collaboration on Odigo’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

japan travel reviews website

For example, when I search for Gundam… the site shows me there’s a giant robot exhibition in Odaiba! I can click to see photos, prices, and a review by a local expert.

riding japanese subway train

Thanks to Odigo, I know exactly how to get to “Tokyo Teleport” station (how sci-fi!) and walk to the Gundam Front.

odaiba fuji tv building

It’s located in Odaiba, the Japanese man-made island. You can spend a whole day here, shopping and enjoying the various entertainment activities.

On previous occasions, I ate at the King of the Pirates theme restaurant, visited the Tokyo Trick museum, and played retro video games.

tokyo fuji tv building architecture

On the way, we passed by the Fuji TV headquarters. I’m digging this futuristic glass building, with a big “hachidama” ball at the top that serves as an observation room. hachidama ball

big gundam robot statue, tokyo japan

Odigo’s travel tips including arriving at the top of the hour, to see the robot in action. We got to Diver City just in time, to see the Gundam’s head turn and lights flash.

giant japanese robot statue, gunpla

Somehow, this towering metal mecha fits into the Japanese landscape.

diver city odaiba, gundam front

I felt so tiny, looking up at the Gundam’s bright yellow eyes. The statue rises 18 meters from the ground. 

gundam theme cafe menu tokyo

DiverCity mall also has a Gundam Cafe, which serves roboto-themed drinks and food. (There’s one in Akihabara too.)

gundam haro latte

I ordered a green tea Haro latte. I suppose matcha tastes better when it’s decorated like a cute little robot.

funny japanese english sign

You know you’re in Japan when you are ordering coffee from the Gundam cafe, and the signs tell you to “cooperate with judgment.”

jpop concert odaiba

Later that evening, a colorful Jpop boy band performed at the foot of the Gundam. Their look and dance moves reminded me of the Power Rangers.

Hundreds of Japanese teen girls gathered and screamed, while waving neon lights above their heads.

Gachapin green monster, ガチャピン

Odaiba is a great place to visit on rainy days, since most of the attractions are indoors. In addition, you can usually take photos and videos without a storeperson running up to you and screeching “Dame-ehh!”

sweets paradise odaiba, gachapin statue

I said hello to children’s TV character, Gachapin the green monster, at the Sweets Paradise  cafe.

Chikin Ramen mascot chicken character

Odaiba is full of cute characters gift stores. You’ll even find obscure mascots like Chikin the ramen chicken. I found Miffy coin purses and cards in other parts of Diver City.

kawaii cute toy stores, tokyo

So many big-eyed cuties, everywhere you go!

hello kitty in kimono, sanrio store

Of course, there’s a Sanrio store. This one features traditional Japanese-themed goodies, like Hello Kitty in a pink kimono.

hello kitty pancake, food

One side of the shop sells My Melody and Hello Kitty pancakes. The batter goes into special molds, to make the shape of these characters.

odaiba rainbow bridge, lights

Odaiba is home to Rainbow Bridge, and this electric tunnel that leads to Venus Fort. The colors change every second.

tokyo lights tunnel

Illuminated in space-purple. Odaiba is full of wonders. (Photography by Melissa Rundle and Eric Bergemann)

odaiba venus fort car museum

Random… there was an antique car show inside MegaWeb and VenusFort. This mall is decorated like ancient Italy, with Roman-style fountains and a sky-painted ceiling.

odaiba game center

We continued to this humongous game center. So many video games, crane machines… and even robot pandas and lions that you can ride for a 100 yen coin.

sumo video game japan

I tried this sumo fighting game, where you lean on this stocky wrestler and try to push him back. I lost…

big black horse sculpture, statue

I hope my Jpop adventure showed what you can experience, with travel website Odigo! Soon, they will also have a mobile app that lets you add your own discoveries, and be part of a community of travellers.

What type of features would you find most helpful, in planning a trip to Japan? Stay tuned, and we’ll release a video of my adventures in Tokyo.

25 Comments

  1. Melissa Rundle
    Posted April 23, 2015 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

    Great post!

  2. alessia
    Posted April 23, 2015 at 11:18 pm | Permalink

    I will check out Odigo ^^
    Thanks LC

  3. Baw
    Posted April 23, 2015 at 11:27 pm | Permalink

    Would love to grab you for a vox interview for our podcast!

  4. meanau
    Posted April 23, 2015 at 11:27 pm | Permalink

    looks amazing.

  5. Saiah
    Posted April 24, 2015 at 10:09 pm | Permalink

    Love it! :)

  6. Viber
    Posted April 24, 2015 at 10:09 pm | Permalink

    Very, er, groovy.

  7. Janie
    Posted April 27, 2015 at 11:27 am | Permalink

    The robot is just amazing

  8. Esse
    Posted April 27, 2015 at 11:28 am | Permalink

    Japan rules.

  9. Mori W
    Posted April 27, 2015 at 11:28 am | Permalink

    <3 <3

  10. Francesca
    Posted April 28, 2015 at 11:17 pm | Permalink

    Love the horse with a lampshade on its head. And you look beautiful as usual.

  11. Kur
    Posted April 29, 2015 at 12:59 am | Permalink

    Tokyo is another world… I’m looking forward to come back in Japan T_T.. less one month.. T_T

  12. anah
    Posted April 29, 2015 at 12:59 am | Permalink

    <3

  13. Elena
    Posted April 29, 2015 at 1:03 am | Permalink

    Gurl! You both are pretty. looks great

  14. Jill
    Posted April 29, 2015 at 1:03 am | Permalink

    I love the monster….. I watched them on TV when I was little , always remember , were way too loving

  15. Yolanda
    Posted April 29, 2015 at 6:40 pm | Permalink

    Hahaha this future machine scared my childhoodXD

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