Toyota Chaser Castrol rally sport car

Japan: Toyota History Garage + Mega Web Showcase, and Venus Fort mall

Date: 28th March 2015

After checking out the giant Gundam robot at Diver City mall, I walked across over to Palette Town.

Way to Palette town Odaiba Japan
Palette Town is a complex containing Venus Fort mall, a large ferris wheel, a Toyota museum and a large showroom
Diver City mall Fuji TV building
I would return to the Fuji TV building before leaving

As I walked towards Palette town, I entered through the Toyota History Garage — one of the attractions here.

Toyota 7 on display museum Odaiba
Classic cars from Toyota’s racing days are on display, like the Toyota 7
Toyota racing history museum Odaiba Japan
There is trivia chronicling Toyota’s racing history lined up on the walls
Jaguar E-type museum Odaiba Japan
They also had a few classic cars from other brands like Jaguar… which made for an odd theme overall
Entering Toyota Mega Web museum Tokyo
I walked to another hall
Toyota racing museum Odaiba Japan
More race cars. From Formula 1…
Toyota Chaser Castrol rally sport car
to rally cars…
Toyota TS010 race car display
… to 24 Le Mans
Venus Fort mall fountain Odaiba
After that, I entered the adjoining Venus Fort mall, which houses several brands and some outlet stores as well
Zara outlet store Odaiba Japan
I checked out ZARA but didn’t find the outlet selection to be worth coming all the way out here
Inside Venus Fort mall shops Japan
Venus Fort mall is yet another shopping center inspired by The Venetian Shoppes
Toyota Mega Web showcase Odaiba
Next, I went to Toyota’s Mega Web Showcase
Toyota Mega Web showroom Odaiba
It’s basically a giant showroom showcasing Toyota’s current model lineup. And you can even go for a test drive — inside the building!
Toyota FCV electric car Japan
The Toyota FCV is a hydrogen fuel cell car
Mirai platform Toyota Display Japan
The Mirai technology platform that powers the car
Toyota Mega Web showroom suvs
I went downstairs to check out the other cars
Toyota wheelchair mount for car
That large attachment on the roof of a car is a machine that can fold a wheelchair, lift it, slide it inside its housing and drop it back out when the driver needs it

If you think that’s so thoughtful of Toyota that they are coming up with such solutions for the disabled… well, it’s actually not just for them. Japan has a huge population problem — and by huge, I’m referring to its aging population. Japan isn’t producing enough babies and due to the average long life of a Japanese citizen, it’s a country with a massive elderly population.

Wheelchair ramp Toyota van display
And on display were many solutions to cater to this elderly population, who need assistance getting into cars
Wheelchair seat slide out Toyota minivan
Including seats that slide out
Vellfire Alphard Toyota Megaweb Odaiba
Vellfire to the left and Alphard to the right. I’ve seen videos of K-pop stars arriving in these vans; didn’t know they were made by Toyota!
Toyota Alphard interior seats
They’re pretty luxurious, which is why Toyota doesn’t use their own logo to badge the vans in the front 🙂
Toyota Crown sedan showcase Odaiba
I was surprised to see the Crown on display

I remember seeing the Toyota Crown back in Bahrain in the late 80s and early 90s but not since. Figured Toyota gave up trying to sell a luxury car under its own name and pushed the Lexus brand instead. Turns out the Toyota Crown has been serving the Japanese market for decades.

Toyota 86 Mega Web showcase Odaiba
The Toyota FT86 — the best (street legal) sport car offering from the company
Gazoo Racing Lexus sports car Japan
Sports cars meant for the tracks
GT racing sim Toyota Mega Web Odaiba
Gran Turismo simulators are also there to play with

But I didn’t feel like spending anymore time at the Toyota Mega Web. Their History Garage was… honestly a bit boring. Probably there’s a better Toyota Museum out there but if you like cars and want to see something regarding Japan’s most successful car-maker, then a visit to Toyota Mega Web and History Garage is worthwhile. It’s free after all.

Ferris wheel Venus Fort mall night
I left the Mega Web and walked towards the massive Ferris Wheel
Ferris wheel Palette town Odaiba
Entry fee is 920 yen per adult and it takes 15 minutes to complete one full round

The views maybe alright but I didn’t feel like going for as it was already dark

Venus Outlet mall Odaiba Japan
I decided to check out the other outlet stores on the way back
Discount stores Venusfort mall Odaiba
Didn’t find anything particularly interesting. All the branded stores didn’t offer many items at discounts. Most of the merchandise were sold at regular prices.
Inside Odaiba bus Japan
I took the shuttle bus from Venus Fort mall to the boat pier
Rainbow bridge at night Odaiba Japan
I came to see if the Rainbow Bridge would be all colourful… but it wasn’t. Turns out they only turn on the rainbow colours during certain seasons or occasions
Fuji TV building at night Japan
At least you can see the Fuji TV building light up

I was done with Odaiba. Since there were no boat rides back to Tokyo city, I had to check for trains.

Tokyo teleport station Odaiba Japan
Using Google Maps, I found my way to the train station
Underground train station Odaiba Japan
I was tired, so I was looking forward to head back

Next post(s) is this series:

Japan 2015: Cherry blossoms at Tokyo Imperial Palace east garden

Japan 2015: Cherry blossom sightings at Shinjuku Gyoen

Japan 2015: Harajuku on a Sunday – Meiji shrine and Yoyogi Park

Japan 2015: Harajuku at night — Takeshita Street

Japan 2015: Visiting Akihabara a second time, because why not?

Japan 2015: Cherry blossoms in full bloom at Ueno Park

Japan 2015: Rikugien garden’s weeping cherry blossom tree

Japan 2015: Getting to Hakone; Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise

Japan 2015: Hakone ropeway; onsen at Hotel Green Plaza

Japan 2015: Ōwakudani sulphur springs, views of Mt. Fuji — and last night in Tokyo

Japan 2015: Getting to Narita Airport, final thoughts, and flying an Airbus A380 for the first time

Previous post in this series:

Japan 2015: Landing in Tokyo… and using a communal bath for the first time

Japan 2015: Going to Akihabara, and spending way too much time in Yodobashi Akiba

Japan 2015: Walking around Akihabara and Ginza

Japan 2015: Riding a bullet train for the first time, Tokyo to Kyoto

Japan 2015: Kyoto – Nishi & Higashi Honganji, Shijo street, and Gion

Japan 2015: Kyoto – Nishiki market and Teramachi

Japan 2015: Kyoto – Fushimi Inari-taisha, and climbing to the mountain top

Japan 2015: Kyoto – Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu Dera temple

Japan 2015: Kyoto – Gion Corner Cultural Show

Japan 2015: Kyoto – Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama

Japan 2015: Kyoto – Monkey Park in Arashiyama

Japan 2015: Kyoto Station, and arriving at Himeji by shinkansen

Japan 2015: Himeji Castle, and the unexpected air show

Japan 2015: Nadagiku Shuzo Sake Brewery, leaving Himeji for Tokyo — and my last bullet train ride

Japan 2015: Nakamise street, Senso-ji temple, and Ueno Park sakura at half-bloom

Japan 2015: Ueno Zoo – pandas, a lonely polar bear, and more

Japan 2015: Shibuya – the busiest crossing in the world, and home to a loyal dog

Japan 2015: Nishi-Shinjuku — views from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building sky deck

Japan 2015: Shopping in Shinjuku, and exploring Kabukicho

Japan 2015: Denboin garden, near Sensoji Temple

Japan 2015: Cherry blossom celebrations by Sumida River

Japan 2015: Boat ride to Odaiba; giant Gundam statue at DiverCity Mall

 

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