Odaiba is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, separated from central Tokyo by the famous Rainbow Bridge and accessible by monorail, subway and even boat. It is home to various small theme parks, museums, shopping malls, and boasts beautiful views of the sea and the city. It also has a futuristic vibe, being the…

Currently showcasing at the Miraikan, Japan’s premiere space for cutting-edge technology, is “The Mammoth.” This special exhibition is bringing never-before-seen remains of mammoths and other extinct animals to the public eye. Previously buried underneath the frozen wastelands of Siberia, paleontologists worldwide are rushing to the region to save these perfectly preserved specimens. With the advancement…

While Japan is typically seen as a temperate island country known for sweaty summers and chill winters, its large geographical range belies this stereotype. As you travel up north along the island of Hokkaido and surrounding territories, you’ll see how cold Japan can become in places. There are even a few places where permafrost develops,…

Odaiba Island, one of many such artificial islands constructed in Tokyo Bay, is a popular travel destination for tourists looking to explore Tokyo. Traveling to the island is an attractive sight, as visitors can observe scenic buildings such as the FujiTV offices and Tokyo Big Sight as they cross over the bay onto the island.…

As one of the biggest cities in the world, Tokyo, Japan is home to dozens of shopping centers where visitors can take full advantage of their duty-free status. Odaiba, the reclaimed island inside Tokyo Bay hosts a number of different industries such as shipping, manufacturing, and entertainment. But visitors to this futuristic space will find…

When traveling abroad, one of the most tempting thoughts is to see just what kind of fun and exciting goods you can purchase, and Japan is no exception to these urges. The striking logo of sakura petals for Japan’s Tax-Free Shop campaign are everywhere in Japan, encouraging visitors to spend, spend, and spend. The many…

When people hear “VR,” or virtual reality, it doesn’t register much of a reaction. It’s something you might see advertised on TV or on a small poster in a department store. If you are like I was, it’s not something you would ever imagine yourself being interested in. In Japan, however, VR attractions are going…

If you’re at all familiar with Japanese pop culture, you probably have heard of or know about Gundam. Mobile Suit Gundam, originally a television anime series which aired in 1979, has since grown into a massive franchise spanning various stories across anime, manga, films, and even an upcoming live-action film from Godzilla: King of the…

A growing attraction in theme parks around the world are VR rides that immerse the audience in an intense, visceral story. From diving into oceans to flying through space, virtual reality rides are using advancing technologies to let audiences experience more. VR is just as popular in Japan as you’ll find in the United States:…

Over the month of June 2019, the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival was held across various venues on Odaiba Island in Tokyo. The main venue for the show was at the Miraikan, a museum that hosts exhibits dealing with many aspects of natural history such as the past and humanity’s impact on the earth. From…