Doctor fish

I went to Odaiba today for two things: the Gundam statue and Oedo Onsen Monogatari. Both are famous highlights of Odaiba, and I wasn't able to see it last time because there wasn't enough time.

Well, if you don't know, Gundam is an anime series created by Sunrise Studios that features giant robots. It's been around for quite a while and is really famous not only in Japan, but all over the world.

At this cafe in Diver City, there is a large camera outside a cafe, where you can take pictures, design it, and then send it to your phone or email.

Those kids were damn annoying, though. ><

Also in Diver City, at the roof top, there is actually a garden and tennis court.

There happened to be a BBQ that day. Of course, not for free, but a lot of people were there, cooking and stuff.

And here is the garden. Not much harvesting, I guess, but we weren't allowed to enter.

Now, off to the onsen!

Along the way, we see all these otaku complying and taking pictures at the park next to the International Exchange building. When I came here last time, we also saw a bunch of them in the arcade. Is there a reason why they all gather here?
But the cosplay here is much better in comparison to those in the states, in my opinion. The clothing and accessories are just much more elaborate and the overall costume is more complete. The hair is done better (probably because some are real) and the body shape much more fit to be like an anime character.

Oedo Onsen Monogatari is actually a pretty popular spa. The concept reminds me of that of Spa Castle in New York, where you pay an entrance fee and are given a key and locker. You change into a yukata (which you can choose the design/print you want, as well as the color of the obi!) and then you can wander around the place. There are some restaurants and snack shops, as well as souvenir shops. The design of the place is very traditional-Japanese-like and the atmosphere quite relaxing. We also went on a weekend, so there were many events taking place, such as lotteries and stretching programs. As for services, there are full body massages, facials, and scrubs. There is also a special doctor fish service offered! which I was really excited about because I've always wanted to try it. What Doctor fish is, is a pedicure treatment where a type of dead-skin-eating fish basically eats all the dead skin on your feet and legs. The practice is banned in the states (at least in New York) because it couldn't pass the sanitation department, but sanitary or not, I wanted to try it at least once.

There was a vending machine that sold socks and underwear.

And also, if you're planning to go to any onsen in general in Japan, make sure you cover up your tattoos! because they're banned in onsen, and if you have one, you will not be allowed to enter.

The inside of the place. Plenty of space for eating, sitting, relaxing. 

These lantern lights are everywhere.
On the right, you can briefly see game stands to keep you entertained.

We went to eat at one of the restaurants that served Japanese food.
The food wasn't so great (at least not this particular restaurant) and it was more expensive than it was worth. 

The desert we had (at a different place) was delicious though. :3
Matcha ice cream with dango, warabimochi, wafer, and maraschino cherry.

How happy we are for sweets. hehe

They had lotteries from 14:00 ~ 20:00. Basically like drawing numbers, except you spin this container of balls. Whatever color ball that falls out indicates the prize you get. I didn't win anything big here (I kept getting white balls).
To enter the lottery, you need to spend at least ¥6000; in other words, one draw per ¥6000 (but it's the total of everything you spend, minus the entrance fee).

And the event of the day: Oedo Onsen Stretch, which was more of an exercise warm-up routine than a stretch. haha

But the guy (instructor) was really energetic and into it.

Special Service: free hand treatment for ladies only.

Simply a free trial session of their products. It was really expensive (and I didn't buy it), but my skin felt so soft afterwards.

Then we got ourselves some cotton candy, which they make fresh for you. The girl who made ours wasn't so good at it, though, so it came out so oddly shaped. She did offer to make another one for us, but we didn't want to be troublesome, although she should have made another one without us asking, I think. I mean, it was all over her hands and stuff.

We went outside to the foot bath, which was an entire area only for feet.

There were these rocks again that massage the soles of your feet and promote blood circulation.

Try walking across fast--it's impossible! 

And what we've all been looking for!

Doctor fish!
It was soooooo hard to get used to lollll, really ticklish. I could not stop laughing. It was a really weird feeling. And it also looked really disgusting at first. Once you place your foot in the water, hundreds of fish just rush over and start eating at your feet. It looked really scary (once again, because I have a phobia of clusters), but you gradually get used to it. 

I also went for a full body massage that day. Shiatsu, long course (80 minutes). It is no good compared to the massages I used to get at my spa, but that's because I've found my masseuse. However, it was decent. I had to keep telling the guy to massage harder (because I like strong massages). it actually made me feel kind of bad, since I was probably wearing him out (but I really wasn't feeling it! ><)

T-shirts from the souvenir shops. Love the messages.

A more accurate translation is: "Believe in nothing other than money/sake."

There was also purikuri at the place (sticker photos). The time was extremely short, though, so if you're gonna design, do it fast and make sure you're a quick writer (if you write any messages).

I forgot to mention that inside the spa, you don't need to carry your wallet or any money with you because everything is charged onto the key bracelet that they give you. You just pay for everything at the end of the day when you leave.