I found the Christmas tree of my dreams 5 years ago on the man-made island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. Accessible by train or car (via the illuminated, colour shifting Rainbow Bridge), Odaiba is a consumer wonderland of shopping malls, amusement arcades, rides and futuristic attractions.
Photo by NihoNorway graphy on Unsplash
Many of Odaiba’s malls are housed in enormous complexes like Palette Town or Aqua City. With their themed levels and one-of-a-kind stores it would take you days to explore every mall but if, like I did, you only have one day the standouts are VenusFort, which is best summed up as “Italy indoors”, and DECKS.
VenusFort is notable for its European decor, but it’s worth a visit for its pet friendly basement level. Down there, you and your canine companion can wander, dine, shop for matching outfits and even have a little hyperbaric oxygen therapy!
Although, sadly, not together.
If you’re in the market for a pet, you can also buy one here, but it’ll cost ya. The adorable creature below was 600,000 yen, approximately $7000 Australian dollars.
DECKS mall is also worth a look thanks to an an entire floor dedicated to amusements and arcade games of yesteryear. All of which are playable. The décor is also suitably retro with the walls plastered with posters of Japanese music and film idols of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
On my visit, even the Christmas decorations had a nostalgic feel, such as this chaotic, pop culture Christmas tree I’ve always wanted to replicate:
Sadly, I just don’t own enough Pez dispensers to pull it off.
Next year, maybe.
Am I Reading Too Much into This? 
Ha ha, cool article! I’ll pass on the 7000 dollar cat. I’ve had plenty of weird Asian Christmases myself over the years, hence some of these images rang very true.
Haha, I don’t know that cat is pretty cute…Thanks for your comment 🙂
Where else have you spent Christmas?
Several times in China, once in Hungary, once in Qatar. Most years in either England or Scotland. This Christmas in Serbia!
Wow, that’s quite a mixed bag. Well done 🙂 Have a great time in Serbia!
I so wanna go and see that mall! Well, not any time soon … Merry weird season to you, too
Love the PEZ tree 🎄😍 they look like very classic😆
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Ahhh, the Pez tree is too cool !! 😍🤩😀
And to think I had so many Pez dispensers in my youth and I GAVE THEM AWAY!!!!
I have about eight or so… so could probably make a
… teeny tiny Pez tree 🙂
Do it! 🎄
👍👍🎄🎄
[…] of toilet humour, (my interest in the excremental is purely historical), but because I really love quirk and a museum dedicated to all things scatological, in the middle of a picturesque place like […]