Odaiba-Asakusa Full-day Itinerary: From Sightseeing to Tasting Halal-Certified Wagyu

This full-day Tokyo itinerary takes you from the man-made island of Odaiba to the old townscapes of Asakusa. Enjoy the impressive skyline of the megacity from Odaiba and spend an entire day exploring its many attractions. Then hop onto a sightseeing cruise that takes you to Asakusa, across Tokyo Bay and through rivers sandwiched between skyscrapers. The old cityscape of Asakusa retains some of its charms from the Edo period (1603–1867). Find out about the best souvenir shops, a halal-certified Yakiniku restaurant, and other spots worth checking out.

Odaiba: A massive man-made island in Tokyo Bay

Packed with fun activities, shopping spots, and restaurants, Odaiba is an entertainment district that is surprisingly relatively unknown to Muslim travelers. This island made from reclaimed land is home to some interesting architecture. The Fuji Broadcasting Center, designed by the renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, has a spherical observatory on the 25th floor. It is a great spot to enjoy a clear view of the city which includes landmarks like the Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge. Nearby is the shopping hub, DiverCity Tokyo, where there are designer brand stores and boutiques galore. There is an almost 20-meter-tall robot standing next to the entrance that lights up and is capable of small movements. It is a full-scale replica of the Unicorn Gundam from the popular Gundam series and a popular photo spot. Inside the mall, there is the halal-certified Sojibo Soba where they serve delicious soba noodles.

There is a prayer room with a simple wudu area in the DECKS Tokyo Beach, another shopping complex nearby. The cruise ship-themed building has many shops and attractions, including a retro-looking shopping arcade modeled after 1950s Japan, and LEGOLAND®︎ Discovery Center Tokyo. Across the street are a public beach and park. With so many entertainment options and a fantastic view, Odaiba makes for a fun day out in Tokyo.

1. Fuji Broadcasting Center
Address: 2-4-8 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to
Access: From Shimbashi Station take the Yurikamome Monorail to Daiba Station (approximately 15 minutes) and 3 minutes by foot
Fuji Broadcasting Center

2. DiverCity Tokyo Plaza
Address: 1-1-10 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo-to
Access: From Shimbashi Station take the Yurikamome Monorail to Daiba Station (approximately 15 minutes) and 5 minutes by foot 
DiverCity Tokyo Plaza

3. Sojibo Soba DiverCity Tokyo Plaza
Address: 1-1-10 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo-to （inside DiverCity Tokyo Plaza）
Open: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Last order: 9:00 p.m.)
Sojibo Soba Diver City Tokyo Plaza

4. DECKS Tokyo Beach
Address: 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to
Access: From Shimbashi Station take the Yurikamome Monorail to Odaiba-kaihinkoen Station (approximately 13 minutes) and 2 minutes by foot 
DECKS Tokyo Beach

Appreciating the Tokyo skyline from the Sumida River

TOKYO CRUISE is a relaxing and scenic mode of transport that can take riders from Odaiba to Asakusa in about an hour via the Sumida River. Fans of the famous manga artist Leiji Matsumoto might want to schedule their trip to ensure they travel on Hotaluna, Himiko, or Emeraldas: three vessels that were designed by him. Giant windows on the ceiling allow you to see the underside of Tokyo’s bridges built in different eras, some very low-hanging ones only a few feet away from the top of the cruise. Keep a look out for the moment that Kiyosu Bridge aligns with the tallest structure in Tokyo, the Tokyo Skytree, for a perfect shot.

TOKYO CRUISE
Address: 1-4-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to
Access: From Shimbashi Station take the Yurikamome Monorail to Daiba Station or Odaiba-kaihinkoen Station (approximately 15 minutes) and 5 minutes by foot
TOKYO CRUISE

Experiencing old Japan in Asakusa

The bustling Asakusa district is a treasure trove of reasonably priced culinary experiences and souvenir shops, such as Tokiwado Kaminariokoshi Main Store, Masudaen Souhonten, and Sparkle. Best known for their halal-certified Kaminariokoshi sweets, Tokiwado attracts many visitors to watch the sweets being made. They were founded 200 years ago, and their main store can be found next to Kaminarimon, the symbol of Asakusa. At Masudaen Souhonten, you can enjoy halal-certified ice cream and Japanese tea. Masudaen Souhonten is only a 5-minute walk from Kaminarimon. Sparkle is a souvenir clothing shop with a huge selection of t-shirts, paper fans, wallets, purses, socks, and many other miscellaneous goods. Additionally, they have a small prayer space in the store, although there is no space for wudu due to the size. Masjid Darul Arqam (Asakusa Mosque) is about 20 minutes by foot if a larger prayer space is required.

Tokyo Map for Muslims, Vegans, Vegetarians (Taito City)

Masjid Darul Arqam (Asakusa Mosque)

Address: 1-9-12, Higashi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo-to
TEL: +81-3-3871-6061
Access: From Asakusa Station, take a bus to Higashi-Asakusa bus stop (approximately 10 minutes), then 2 minutes by foot 
Water for ablution is available

Tokiwado Kaminariokoshi Main Store
Address: 1-3-2, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo-to
TEL: +81-3-3841-5656
Open: 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Access: From Asakusa Station, approximately 5 minutes by foot

Masudaen Souhonten
Address: 1-1-17, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo-to
TEL: ＋81-3-3841-0840
Open: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Closed: Tuesday
Access: From Asakusa Station, approximately 1 minute by foot

Sparkle
Address: 1-37-2, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo-to
TEL: +81-3-6802-7661
Open: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Access: From Asakusa Station, approximately 5 minutes by foot
Praying space capacity: 2 people
Praying equipment: Mat and compass

Finish the day with Japanese Wagyu in Asakusa

The presence of many Muslim-friendly restaurants serving a variety of dishes makes Asakusa appealing to Muslim travelers. One of the Muslim-friendly eateries is Yakiniku Panga Japanese barbeque restaurant within walking distance from Asakusa. Their menu contains a wide variety of high-quality wagyu meat options, as well as soup made with beef bones.

Yakiniku Panga
Address: 4F 2-1-13 Kaminarimon, Taito-Ku, Tokyo-to
TEL: +81-3-6231-6229
Open: 5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (Last order: 9:30 p.m.)
Reservations are not required, but recommended at least 1 day in advance
Access: From Asakusa Station, approximately 1 minute by foot
Yakiniku Panga

This Odaiba-Asakusa full-day itinerary is great for first-time visitors. It introduces a bit of shopping, food, and sightseeing options, while showcasing the traditional and contemporary sides of Tokyo. Hopefully these Muslim-friendly attraction suggestions will give you some ideas for a worry-free trip to Japan.