Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo
Slide Nr 1Japan’s rich culture ranges from temples going back over a thousand years to today’s pop culture, but one of the greatest joys of visiting the country is sampling its cuisine. Tokyo, in particular, is known for restaurants where chefs specialise in one dish, making it to the highest standard. And best of all there’s no tipping, as service is included – and this is some of the best service in the world. So pack your bags and empty your belly, Yukari Sakamoto shows us around Tokyo in this city guide.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 27:30 a.m. Head straight to Tsukiji Market, the world’s largest seafood market, to start the day and grab one of the city’s best coffees at Tsukiji Turret Coffee. Here, barista Kiyoshi Kawasaki is known for his intricate latte art, and espresso is served in antique sake cups.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 38:00 a.m. While many tourists queue up for sushi, I follow the locals to Inoue Ramen. A hot bowl of noodles topped with umami-rich pork slices and daikon sprouts adds brightness and lightens the ramen. This is tachigui-style: no seats, stand and slurp. But no worries, it’s quick and cheap. [Photo: City Foodsters/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 48:30 a.m. Peruse the hundreds of shops in the Outer Market (Jōgai) of Tsukiji Market, where you’ll find everything for the kitchen, from knives to kitchenware, pantry staples and green tea. Don’t miss the new Tsukiji Uogashi complex to check out the shops where fishmongers and produce purveyors sell to local restaurateurs. This area opens to the general public at 9:00 a.m. [Photo:LizardJedi/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 510:30 a.m. Walk to Ginza, the glitzy shopping district near Tsukiji, making a beeline for the recently opened Ginza Six mall and its sleek basement of food shops. Highlights include Origines Cacao’s bonbons with Japanese flavours like hōjicha (roasted green tea), ginger or yuzu and apricot. It’s hard to resist a matcha ice cream cone at Tsujiri, and they’ve got food gifts galore that will be popular with everyone back home. If the weather is good, don’t miss the gorgeous and spacious rooftop garden with luscious greenery.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 611:30 a.m. Ginza Kyubey is my go-to spot for sushi. Excellent quality of seafood and, most importantly for visitors, it’s a friendly shop. Savour a relaxed environment with some of the best sushi in the city. (Note: Reservations required and diners should dress up.) [Photo: City Foodsters/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 71:00 p.m. Take the subway to Daikanyama to peruse the T-Site Tsutaya bookstore; print media is alive and well in Japan. I usually never make it out of the huge magazine section, but be sure to walk through the many areas of this hip bookstore.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 83:30 p.m. Head back to the city to the Omotesando area. I love a quiet walk through Meiji Jingu Shrine, located back in a forest that will have you feeling like you’ve escaped the city grind. “Shinrin-yoku” refers to “forest bathing”, and the walk through the forest to the shrine always soothes my soul. [Photo: Tim Arai/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 94:30 p.m. For a big contrast, do not to miss a quick walk through the boisterous Takeshita Dōri pedestrian shopping street. This is where the youth of Japan congregate to explore fashion trends at the tiny shops lining the street, and it’s hard to miss them as they gather around crepe shops and the colourful cotton candy shop. The ¥100 Daiso shop ($1 store) is filled with trinkets and souvenirs to stock up on gifts for friends back home. [Photo: Kate/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 105:00 p.m. Recharge with a cup of coffee at the minimalist Omotesando Koffee Mameya. Then take a walk around Omotesando Hills shopping mall, designed by revered architect Tadao Ando. Shopping options here include Hasegawa Saketen, for bottles of sake, and a selection of cups, including delicate, almost paper-thin glassware. [Photo: Wesley Chan/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 116:30 p.m. In Japan we dine on the early side, so it’s time for dinner at Maisen tonkatsu. Take a bite of the breaded, deep-fried pork cutlets that are juicy and light, even though they’re fried. A haystack of julienned cabbage helps to make the meal feel more healthy. Be sure to upgrade the miso soup to tonjiru which includes pork. [Photo: City Foodsters/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 128:00 p.m. One of the world’s top hotel bars, the Park Hyatt Tokyo’s New York Bar should not be missed – it’s got some of the most amazing views of the city, to be enjoyed with classic and original cocktails. You may recognise the bar from Sofia Coppola’s film Lost in Translation.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 1310:00 p.m. If you’re still thirsty, then head to Bar Gen Yamamoto for seasonal cocktails made from seasonal fruit and vegetables. The eight-seat bar is a quiet finish to the evening, with exquisite glassware and flavourful drinks that are low in alcohol (reservations required). [Photo: City Foodsters/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 14Watch Before You Go – I love Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, filmed at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. If you love food, then other good movies to consider include Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Tsukiji Wonderland or The Birth of Sake.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 15Listen Before You Go – The local music in Japan is very diverse. I love the relaxed island vibe of music by the group Begin or singer Rimi Natsukawa, from the southern tropical Okinawa island. The lively and rhythmical Tsugaru shamisen (a stringed instrument) from northern Aomori played by the Yoshida Brothers is energising. [Photo: Yoshida Brothers]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 16Read Before You Go – Barry Lancet has a mystery series, the Jim Brodie thrillers, that are hard to put down. Title character Brodie is a single father who has a Japanese antiques shop in San Francisco, and is also a private investigator. The series brings Brodie to Japan, and through his adventures, readers are introduced to the country and its rich culture.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Tokyo.
Slide Nr 17Yukari Sakamoto is the author of Food Sake Tokyo, a guide to Japanese cuisine and beverages that also introduces shops and restaurants in the metropolis. Yukari offers tours to the markets of Tokyo. Follow Yukari on Twitter or visit her blog at foodsaketokyo.com.
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24 Hours In… Tokyo.
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