The Rainbow Bridge is a Tokyo landmark connecting the island of Odaiba with the rest of the city. At the end of Golden Week, I decided to walk across it and see a different view of Odaiba and Tokyo Bay. It’s actually quite a nice spot and I was quite happy with some of the photos.

Everyone knows that Odaiba is a man-made island, but I had no idea that it dates back from just after World War II or that there were once seven such “daiba” built or planned during the Edo Period for defense against the West. They were originally called houdai, and they contained cannon batteries and powder magazines. This photo shows the Daisan Daiba (third daiba), which is now a very nice and little-visited park that you can get to from the Odaiba side.

The famous Fuji TV building.

The walk along the bridge usually starts from Tamachi Station on the Yamanote Line. Go out the West Exit and walk straight down Nagisa Dori Street, and you will come to the bridge after a 10 or 15 minute  walk. Shibaura Station on the subway Yurikamome Line.

These fire department boats were practicing for some kind of display.

This is the Dairoku Daiba. It has been left to nature, and no visitors allowed on it. It seems a little strange in such a crowded city. If you know why it has neither been developed nor destroyed, please leave the answer in the comments!

The air on the Tokyo side is quite dirty, and the scenery is rather  industrial, so if you just want to go for the views, it might be better to start from Tokyo Teleport Station on the Odaiba side and not cross.

Here’s an interesting post (Japanese only) about the history of the area’s development:

http://oldmaproom.aki.gs/m03a_coastline/m03a_daiba/daiba.htm