The Hungry (Greedy) Hippo: Oedo Onsen, Odaiba

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Oedo Onsen, Odaiba

After our cycling adventure and late lunch, the BIL suggested heading to the onsen which he knew was open on New Year's Day. Just about all of Tokyo knew that too, because they went to the onsen too. Oedo Onsen at Odaiba was extremely packed but that was probably also because they had a post-6pm special which meant that 4 adults+2 kids paid just under 12000Y to enter, which was a pretty good deal. The prices apparently change all the time. But the amazing thing is that they are open through the night, until 9am, which means you can go to the onsen before work.

Everyone queueing up to get in for the 6pm special price.

This chap giving a welcome speech was sort of the main clown - after we got inside, we saw him single-handedly entertain the onsen patrons inside with a tuba, flute, clarinet and goodness knows what other instruments.

The onsen was like a mini-neighbourhood inside, with streets of food stalls and shops.

They had green tea and roasted barley tea on tap.

Meal-time entertainment.

The audience throughly enjoying the show. Everyone wears a yukata inside, and you get to choose your own yukata design (out of 10 options) before entering. There were 2 change stations - one where you get out of your normal clothes into the yukata, and another where you get out of the yukata into...absolutely nothing. No photos taken of the latter.

Almost like a real restaurant.

They had practically every type of Japanese food for sale.

Oden.

Ramen.

So you order, and they give you this electronic token that beeps when your food is ready.

I had more chicken cartilege : ) Deep fried this time.

Quite a surreal experience - everyone was walking around and eating in their yukatas. They give you an electronic wrist tag at the front, which has a bar code, and you just wear the wrist tag and they scan the bar code. So there's no need for cash, cos you pay when you leave the onsen.