Tokyo - City Guide

 

NEW SPOTS

 

HOTELS / ACCOMMONDATION

Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park / Unique boutique hotel with pool and rooftop bar / Shibuya

The Edition Hotel Ginza / Amazing design hotel with a beautiful roof / Ginza

Aman Tokyo / Luxury hotel / Chiyoda City

Minimal Hotel Our Our (Hostel) / Very nice hostel, great location and quiet area / Taito City

Hoshinoya Hotel / A serene luxury retreat offering a modern ryokan-style experience—complete with indoor/outdoor onsen—in the heart of Tokyo’s financial district / Chiyoda City

Hotel Toranomon Hills / All the luxuries of a high-end Tokyo hotel, but at midrange prices / Toranomon Hills

K5-Tokyo / Just a 5-minute walk from Nihombashi Station, Hotel K5 offers accommodation in a renovated historical building that is built in 1924 / Nihombashi

Muji Hotel Ginza / In a prime location in the centre of Tokyo / Ginza

Royal Park Hotel / CH / Chou City

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo / Bespoke luxury experiences / Chou City

Cocoshuku Akasaka Premium / It’s more than just a hotel, it is an exclusive experience where you can enjoy a slightly more luxurious time than usual / ¥: 30.000 / Minato City

Janu Tokyo / Janu Tokyo is located in Azabudai Hills, the city's most exciting new district. An area alive with creativity, exceptional bars, eateries and an affecting / Minato City

 

BAKERIES

BRØD / Welcome to our micro bakery with Danish and other Nordic goodies. Everything is done with love, care, and by hand in our little baking studio in Hiroo / Shibuya City 

Parklet Bakery / Parklet is a natural extension of Horidome Children's Park, where bread is baked and served. Naturally leavened breads along with breakfast and lunch / Chou City

Et Nunc Daikanyama / The store name "Et Nunc" means "and now" in English. The shop offers a wide variety of breads that are perfect for everyday life, such as baguettes and pandos made with domestic wheat and ingredients that the bakery chef has fallen in love with / Shibuya

TOLO PAN TOKYO / A lovely (Scandinavian) coffee place in Nakameguro. The interior is very nice with lots of natural light coming in / Meguro City

Boulangerie Sudo / Just down the street from Shoin Shrine in Setagaya, this bakery has gained widespread acclaim for their top-quality bread loaves and delicious danishes / Setagaya City

Aigre Douce / Considering Norihiko Terai, runner up in the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie, has had a strong say in the creation of Aigre Douce, that can only mean good things for the baked goodies sold here / Toshima City

A Tes Souhaits / Their square 'Gâteau Fraise' (¥580) uses a slightly vanilla-scented sponge cake, layered with 45% fat milk cream. This particular shortcake is a seasonal treat, meaning that depending on the season, peaches or European pears may be used instead (with the corresponding name change, we presume) / Musashino

Kashiya Shinonome / A daily backery that use natual and organic ingredients, within the counter there are plenty of choices for you. The store is decorated into antique style wich is fantastic / Taito City

Pelican / A famous bakery that’s the subject of a new documentary, Pelican has been selling only two items on the menu for over 70 years, white bread loaves and dinner rolls / Taito City

La Boulangerie Django / A charming bakery located in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. This hidden gem specializes in traditional French bread and pastries / Chou City

 

BREAKFAST / BRUNCH

Goodies Breakfast and Lunch / Acai, Smoothie & Homemade Pancakes / Chou City

LOCALE / A farm to table focused restaurant located in the Meguro ward of Tokyo. Buying directly from small farmers and producers around Japan / Open for brunch: Saturday & Sundays from 9.30am / Meguro City

PATH / Having brought a puff pastry-powered bromance to its logical conclusion, chef Taichi Hara and pâtissier Yuichi Goto teamed up in 2015 to open Path and the duo’s bistro-café has already become a sensation in Shibuya’s Tomigaya / Shibuya City

LOU / In an area heavily populated with bars and izakayas, this café is a welcoming sight. Lou, which opened in 2021, is the sister shop to Paddler’s Coffee. This Nakano café offers a more extensive food menu than Paddler’s, with a variety of Nordic-inspired soups, pastries, cakes and ice cream. It’s also got a pretty great drink selection of not just the standard coffee and tea, but also craft beer and wine / Nagano City

Pelican Café / A long-established store in Asakusa Tawaramachi that has been in business since 1945 / Taito City

 

CAFÉS

Yakumo Saryō / This one’s a little off the beaten path in a quiet residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Tokyo—and it’s entirely worth the trip. Yakumo Saryo is the passion project of designer and chef Shinichiro Ogata, who has designed interiors for Aesop in Japan, as well as the Andaz hotel in Tokyo. The restaurant lies at the top of a hill, surrounded by lush gardens. Plenty of windows and skylights dissolve the barriers between indoors and outdoors. The interior is a model of simplicity, finished in wood and stone / Order the tea ceremony / Meguro City 

 

ALL DAY DINING

 

LUNCH ONLY

Parklet Bakery / Parklet is a natural extension of Horidome Children's Park, where bread is baked and served. Naturally leavened breads along with breakfast and lunch / Chou City

Convenience Store Takahashi / Deli / Nerima City

Tonkatsu Nanaido / The deep-fried pork cutlets at Tonkatsu Nanaido are textbook perfect: gently deep-fried in lard on low temperature, coated in a golden layer of crispy panko breadcrumbs that’s never oily, and featuring premium pork cuts that are tender and still oozing juices. Plus, they are served on gorgeous Imari porcelain plates / Shibuya City

Imahan Delicatessen / Ningyocho Imahan Souzai is a delicatessen specializing in Japanese side dishes, or souzai. Our freshly cooked dishes and original menu items will become staples of your everyday meals. Try our popular sukiyaki croquettes, bentos, saladas, and hors d'oeuvres, all made with flavorful, fresh ingredients / Lunch box ¥1500 / Chou City

LUNCH / DINNER

Nihonbashi Tonkatsu Hajime / Popular tonkatsu restaurant Hajime opens a second outlet, now offers shrimp katsu rice. Really good! / Nihonbashi

Nihonbashi Kaisen Donburi Tsujihan Nihonbashi / Kaisendon is pretty much the only dish on the menu at this Nihonbashi restaurant. Tsujihan isn’t exactly a well-kept secret anymore, so expect to queue – sometimes up to two hours – for a seat / Nihonbashi 

Gyūkatsu Motomura / Popular and very good Gyukatsu spot (deep-fried beef cutlet) / Many Locations

Daikokuya Tempura / Specialising in deep-fried tempura shrimp / Asakusa

Ushigoro S / Amazing Yakiniku restaurant / Reservation is needed / ¥: In-between / Ginza + Shinjuku

Gifuya / Great Japanese food and vibrant atmosphere / Open from 9am until late / ¥: Cheap / Located in: Omoide Yokocho / Shinjuku

Suphab / Thai near the Crew Hotel / Chou City

Tonkatsu Hajime Nihonbashi / Popular for its chunky deep-fried pork cutlets served with an omelette on rice – so much so that the queue can sometimes stetch to three hours long during peak times / Nihonbashi

Tonkatsu Takeshin / Good Gyukatsu spot (deep-fried beef cutlet) / Shibuya City

Katsudon-ya Zuicho / This small family-run restaurant serves only one dish: katsudon. But their secret culinary weapon is dipping the deep-fried pork cutlets in a special sauce before serving them atop an egg omelette. Bowls are served alongside miso soup and a small dish of pickles, making it an all-round satisfying meal / Shibuya City

Butagumi / Tonkatsu in Tokyo generally falls under two camps: the rustic and the meaty dude food, or the standard teishoku-style comfort food that’s hearty and reassuring. Then there’s Butagami, which has taken the breaded deep-fried pork to new heights much like a high-end steakhouse, where the menu reads like a compendium of animal breed and cuts, and the plating is refined / Minato City

Tonkatsu Keita / Tonkatsu Keita is run by Chef Keita Aoki, who was born in Kagoshima. Chef Aoki has his dream to run the world's best tonkatsu / Suginami City

PATH / Having brought a puff pastry-powered bromance to its logical conclusion, chef Taichi Hara and pâtissier Yuichi Goto teamed up in 2015 to open Path and the duo’s bistro-café has already become a sensation in Shibuya’s Tomigaya / Shibuya City

LOU / In an area heavily populated with bars and izakayas, this café is a welcoming sight. Lou, which opened in 2021, is the sister shop to Paddler’s Coffee. This Nakano café offers a more extensive food menu than Paddler’s, with a variety of Nordic-inspired soups, pastries, cakes and ice cream. It’s also got a pretty great drink selection of not just the standard coffee and tea, but also craft beer and wine / Nagano City

Tempura Akimitsu / Chef Akimitsu Tanihara the founder of Shitamachi Tendon Akimitsu which is Tendon/Tempura restaurant located in Asakusa, Japan. The restaurant has a long history of making donburi—a rice bowl topped with seasoned vegetables or seafood—and chef Akimitsu Tanihara has extensive techniques and experience making tempura and tendon. He has mastered making traditional tendon—or tempura donburi—in bold and artistic ways / Asakusa

Chao Chao bamboo / Sometimes, restaurants just get it right. The right food, the right atmosphere, the right location. Chao! Chao! Bamboo is one of those places. The menu is full of Thai cuisine done properly / Shibuya City

Monblanc / Hamburger steak, Yoshoku (Japanese style western cuisine), Izakaya (Tavern) / Taito City

Fumin / This Aoyama restaurant boasts a long line of loyal patrons who’ve been enjoying its mild take on Taiwanese cuisine for years. Head to Fumin's basement location on Kotto-dori to munch on staple dishes like negi wonton, made with shredded onion and ginger, black pepper, hot sesame oil and wonton (an ideal match for a frosty beer); the superb natto gohan, served on a bed of crispy lettuce; and the butaniku no umeboshini made with pork simmered with dried plums – perfect for a quick energy boost when you’re feeling worn out. Best of all, the prices are very reasonable, making it an ideal Omotesando lunch spot / Minato City

Yose / Soba noodles / Shibuya City

Harajuku Gyozaro / Good Gayoza spot. The line can be long / Only Cash! / Hararjuku

 

DINNER ONLY

Narukiyo Tokyo / Great Izakaya with funny atmosphere - reserved seats at the counter / Reservation is needed / ¥: Expensive / Shibuya City

LOCALE / A farm to table focused restaurant located in the Meguro ward of Tokyo. Buying directly from small farmers and producers around Japan / Meguro City

Le Cabaret / The restaurant’s name evokes a French nightclub with a stage. Service is informal and relaxed: as music plays in the background, the staff greet customers in their everyday clothes. Dishes are served in traditional style, with each table sharing a single plate. With the feel of a Parisian bistro, this was also the place that first started serving natural wine. With an atmosphere that says ‘café’ and cuisine that says ‘bistro’, the fun of the cabaret never changes / Bib Gourmand / Shibuya City

SG LOW / Behind a nondescript door on the second floor of an old office building in Shibuya is one of the  city’s greatest izakayas specialising in lemon sour cocktails. These aren’t your classic izakaya lemon sours, mind you / Shibuya City

Nihao / Gyoza & Dimsum / Shibuya City

Lanterne / Despite its highway-hugging position, the neighbourhood of Ikejiri-Ohashi has a relaxed yet cool set of winding backstreets, boasting an excellent array of dining options. The ‘modern izakaya’ Lanterne, which opened in May 2019, is one of them. Izakaya are often described as Japanese ‘gastropub’, which serves an assortment of drinking food. Mostly they’re rowdy, fun, smoky, dingy and relatively cheap. Lanterne, however, delivers on the convivial atmosphere and reasonable pricing, but does it in the hip, modern way signature of owner Chihiro Maruyama’s other venues (Aelu, Maison Cinquante Cinq Bistro and Lanterne Yoyogi-Uehara) / Shibuya City

Aurelio / A small shop serving local Italian Local Cuisine, mainly handmade pasta, and natural wine / Shibuya City

Censu Tokyo / As Japanese cuisine permeates across the globe, it's inspiring some compelling fusions / Shibuya City

 

MICHELIN / FINE DINING

Tempura Kondo / Two Michelin Star gourmet restaurant Tempura Kondo is one of the most renowned and distinguished tempura restaurants in Tokyo / Ginza

 

STEAKS

 

OYSTERS BARS

 

SUSHI

Sushi Shin by Miyakawa / Michelin Sushi with amazing view, located at the top of Mandarin Oriental Hotel / Reservation is needed / ¥: Expensive / Nihombashi

Sushi Masunaga / At this 8-seat sushi counter in Ginza, Masunaga-san’s expertly crafted omakase elevates dining to an art form / Reservation is needed / ¥: Expensive / Ginza

Sushi Sui Ningyocho (Maybe the name is changed to Sushi Mikiki) / Great little sushi spot near the Crew Hotel / ¥: In-between / Chou City

Sukiyabashi Jiro / A sushi restaurant in Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan. It is owned by sushi master Jiro Ono / Ginza

Sushi Mizukami / AMAZING! This Tokyo-based sushi establishment is immensely popular and reservations are very difficult to make. This is not as surprising, considering that Chef Mizukami honed his skills for 16 years at the renowned Sukiyabashi Jiro before venturing out to start his own business / Chiyoda City

Kitajima / Kamakura Kitajima occupies a renovated old house in a neighborhood dotted with historic temples. The sukiya teahouse-style interior features a counter facing earthen walls decorated with flowers grown in the front garden by owner Yasunori Kitajima / Kamakura

 

YAKITORI

Ginza Yakitoryki Take-chan or 銀座 焼鳥 武ちゃん / Family run restaurant with Yakitoti. Super cheap and delicious / ¥: Cheap / Ginza

Ucchan / Yakitori / ¥: Cheap / Located in: Omoide Yokocho / Shinjuku

Fuku Yakitori / Yakitori joint Fuku is very small – 25 people and the place is full – but the quality is outstanding / Shibuya

Yakitori Ogawa / Yakitori / Shinjuku

 

TEMPURA

 

RAMEN

Iruca Tokyo / Every element in a serving of Iruca Tokyo ramen is meticulously thought out – even the bowls are custom-made Arita porcelain / Minato City + Higashikurume

Ginza Tsuquiya / Hailing from the Hakata region of Japan, tonkotsu ramen is famed for its rich, cloudy broth made by boiling down pork bones for a significant amount of time / Ginza

Chūka Soba Ginza Hachigo / Ginza Hachigo’s ramen soup is like consommé: a clear liquid gold that’s light yet complex and full of flavour / Ginza

Menya Nukaji / The rich light-brown soup is packed with flavour and pairs well with the straight and firm noodles / Shibuya

Chūkamenten Kiraku / This 68-year-old ramen shop has been serving up Tokyo-style noodles since 1952 / Shibuya

Afuri / A modest ramen empire on the back of its popular shio ramen with yuzu citrus / Many Locations

Menya Sugo / These golden-hued noodles, crafted solely from 100% domestically produced Fukuoka Prefecture wheat / Minato City

Nara Seimen or Naraseimen / Naraseimen, just minutes from Shinjuku Station, does a simple, elegant ramen that some people don’t even consider to be proper ramen / Shibuya City

Namiki Yabusoba / For soba in Asakusa, there are few better places to visit than Namiki Yabusoba. The highlight is its flavorful, concentrated dipping sauce - it’s sure to be a novel experience for those already familiar with soba / Taito City

Hashigo Ginza Hon-ten / Whether you're a fan of Tantanmen or simply looking to try something new, Hashigo Ginza Hon-ten is the place to be. Amazing gyoza too / Ginza

YUJI Ramen Tokyo / xx / Koko City

 

PIZZA

 

BURGERS

Brozers Ningyocho / Burgers, fries and coke / Chou City

Burger Police / More than your average burger joint, this newcomer functions as a trattoria and a natural wine bar that also serves perfectly grilled wagyu beef burgers / Meguro City

Chillmatic / This burger joint at the Mustard Hotel in Shibuya offers more than just your average bun and patty. The hamburgers here are crafted by Daiji Shiota, who spent some time working with Michelin-starred chef Fumio Yonezawa from Jean-Georges in Tokyo and New York. Using the techniques he’s learnt, Shiota has been able to create a burger featuring a patty with beef aged for 90 days. This aged beef helps give the meat an outstanding texture and a deeper flavour / Shibuya City

McLean Old Fashioned Diner / A cozy, retro restaurant reminiscent of an American diner, serving authentic burgers and shakes / Taito City

McLean Old Burger Stand / Amazing burgers! / Taito City

Chatty Chatty / Introducing gourment foods around Shinjuku Gyoen. “CHATTY CHATTY” is one of the 100 best humburger restaurants listed in “TABE-LOG” / Shinjuku

 

SANDWICH

Antico Rondino Prosciutteria / Tasty panini in a cute setting / Kamakura

 

SWEET TREATS

Chavaty / Delicious scones / Omotesando

La Patisserie by Aman Tokyo / Located on the B2 floor of the Otemachi Tower, La Pâtisserie offers a selection of spectacular culinary creations, from homemade breads and traditional French pastries to intricately layered creations such as the Mille Feuille Framboise, Baba a l’Armagnac and Tarte Chocolat. Visitors will also be able to purchase whole cakes, ideal for special occasions, or enjoy a delicious lunch on-to-go with a menu of freshly prepared sandwiches and artisan coffee served daily. A range of gift items will also be available for purchase, including small baked pastries beautifully boxed in Japanese kōbako, Aman Tokyo jams and handmade chocolates / Chiyoda

Ryoura / Cake shop / Setagaya City

chez RONA / Delicious pancakes / Setagaya City

Patisserie FOBS / Amazing patisserie shop / Taito City

Mushinan / There is a cafe that I always stop by whenever I go to Kamakura. This cafe is the Japanese sweets cafe "Mushinan". Mushinan is located in such a place that you can easily miss if you do not watch outside window of the Enoden from Kamakura Station carefully / Kamakura

Kabuki / Both coffee and chocolate aren't a necessity to life. But I think in order to have a fulfilling life, you need to have small luxuries / Taito City

 

ICE CREAM

Wood Berry’s / Frozen yoghurt / Musashino (2 Locations in same area)

Harlow Ice Cream / All the selections here are made in-house using premium Hokkaido milk / Shibuya

Japanese Ice Ouca / The constant rotation of flavours on offer are homemade and seasonal / Shibuya

Chavaty / Soft Serve and delicious scones as well / Omotesando

HiO Ice Cream Atelier / Ice Cream made with premium ingredients handpicked from producers in 50 different locations across Japan / Setagaya City

The Roastey by Nozy Coffee / soft serve is especially noteworthy. If you can't decide between the espresso or milk flavours, just go for a mix of both, which, come to think of it, is essentially a frozen latte / Shibuya City

Kasiki / Artisanal ice creams with new and refreshing flavour combinations such as pineapple and green tea and more / Shibuya City

Gelateria Santi / A gelato specialty store that stands quietly after passing through a path on Onari Street / Kamakura

Venchi Ginza Store / The first Japan store of Venchi, a long-established Italian luxury chocolate and gelato specialty store, opened in Ginza / Ginza

 

COFFEE

Leaves Coffee Roasters / Just amazing coffee. Maybe my favorite coffee in the world so far / Sumida City

Koffee Mameya / Extremely passionate and service minded people with lots of good coffee from all over the world / Koko City - Kakeru (newest spot with seats - remember to make a reservation via Google Maps link) + Shibuya (only to go)

Dotcom Coffee / Newly opened cafe with amazing interior design / Taito City

Fuglen Sangūbashi / Norwegian coffee brand / Shibuya (prefer this location, but their have many locations)

Coffee Swamp / They serve fantastic pour overs and play tasteful vinyl / Shinjuku

Ogawa Coffee Laboratory / High Quality Coffee / Sategaya City + Minato City

Allpress Espresso Tokyo Roastery & Café / Good Coffee / Koko City

Bongen Coffee / Beautiful tiny coffee shop / Ginza

Onibus Coffee / A popular espresso stand close to the Toyoko Line tracks in Nakameguro / Nakameguro

Bear Pond Espresso / More realistically a place for Tokyo lovers to have an world-class espresso / Setagaya City / Dirty Chai

Sedai Coffee / Good speciality coffee in Harajuku / Shibuya City

Lattest / Is one in of a growing number of hip espresso cafes popping up in central Tokyo / Shibuya

Glitch Coffee / Glitch is known for its light-roast, single-origin coffee beans that are all roasted in-house / Ginza

Acid Coffee / This tiny coffee counter in Shibuya takes its brew seriously, from the origins of the beans and in-house roasting to the precision preparation by charming baristas / Shibuya

Single O Hamachō / Great Coffee & Breakfast spot / Chou City

Kayaba Coffee / Upon spotting this charming old house on Yanaka's Kototoi-dori, most passers-by probably wouldn't guess that it's been home to a café for well over 70 years / Taito City

Westside Coffee / Good coffee, scones and beans by bag / Taito City

Paddlers Coffee / Great coffee (they serve Stumptown Coffee) just a short walk from the Yoyogi-Uehara station right through the suburbs. The whole place feels like an extended living room: great interior (it looks like a cabin), very light and good music. And they open very early at 7:30, so it is perfect for an early morning coffee / Shibuya City

Little Nap Coffee Stand / xx / Shibuya City

Philocoffea 201 / Philocoffea offers a wide range of specialty coffee blends suitable for all occasions / Honchō

Lucent Coffee / Start your morning bright and early at Kuramae’s Lucent Coffee. Open from 7.30am – a true rarity in Tokyo – the roastery and café boasts a simple, unfussed open space where you can converse with other customers while sipping your drink. The coffee beans here are light roasted to bring out their acidic and fruity flavours / Taito City

Lonich / Newer to the Tokyo coffee scene but already drawing significant interest is Lonich. Advance reservations are required and currently, the Gesha Collective Course costs 8,500 JPY  ($59 USD) and lasts for 90 minutes. The price for the Creative course starts at 4,000 JPY ($28 USD), with the total cost dependent upon the precise ingredients used / Taito City

Passage Coffee / A coffee shop located just a few minutes walk from Tamachi and Mita stations, right in front of Keio University. The interior is made of soft wood and La Marzocco's espresso machine stands out as a great feature. You can choose from several types of drip coffee / Minato City

Dear All / Just a brief walk away from Sasazuka Station, this café opened in mid-2016 along the Koshu-kaido highway. The interior is almost Scandinavian, with lots of white and wood, lending it a stylish and calm atmosphere / Shibuya City

Ignis Coffee / Serious coffee drinkers will appreciate the meticulously brewed roasts at Ignis Coffee. This small café in Sendagi features just a small counter, where you can sample premium coffee beans prepared with a variety of methods and paraphernalia. Ignis Coffee offers rare fermented beans as well as coveted varieties the owner Eiji Tsuchibashi won from auction. You can always expect more or less ten single-origin beans on the menu / Bunkyo

Ignis Coffee Kamakura / Coffee stand by Ignis / Kamakura

Fine Time Coffee Roasters / The profundity of the person who has continued to do things thoroughly / Setagaya City

The Good Goodies / The coffee shop “The Good Goodies” is a nice, quaint little place. Located a few minutes away by foot from Kamakura Station’s south exit, this cafe is fantastic for coffee lovers / Kamakura

Coffee Wrights / Out of Coffee Wrights’ two Tokyo locations, the main roastery and café at Kuramae is the most unassuming of the lot. While it may not look as polished as its sister outlet, the factory-like ground floor space has a very pragmatic setup that puts the focus squarely on the roasting process / Taito City

Switch Coffee Tokyo Yoyogi-Hachiman / Six-year-old Switch Coffee has expanded with a second location in Yoyogi-Hachiman but all the roasting is still done at its original Meguro outlet. Beans are sourced from farmers in Honduras, Kenya and the like while roasting is done about four times a week to turn out approximately five single-origin roasts and a seasonal espresso blend (on our visit, it was a full-bodied Brazil and El Salvador mix) / Shibuya City

Switch Coffee K5 Hotel Nihonbashi / Beans are sourced from farmers in Honduras, Kenya and the like while roasting is done about four times a week to turn out approximately five single-origin roasts and a seasonal espresso blend / Chou City

Coffee County Tokyo / Vibrant flow in you coffee / Setagaya City

MATCHA & TEA

The Matcha Tokyo / A peaceful haven close to the frenetic Cat Street in Harajuku, this pared-down tea house specialises in organic matcha / Harajuku

Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience / Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience offers new and better ways to enjoy Japanese tea. Carefully selecting Japanese tea from various regions around the country based on strict criteria of roasting and blending, hojicha tea is roasted in-store while other teas are blended with natural, seasonal Japanese ingredients / Minato City

 

WINE

Pitou / a great natural wine spot / Shinjuku (Golden Gai)

Winebar West / Rare Winebar / A little far from the city center

Winestand Waltz / There’s only room for about eight guests at Waltz, a standing-room-only wine bar in a GPS-confounding location about 10 minutes away from Ebisu station. You’ll know you’re in the right place once you slide open the glass door and see the Jaques Tati posters and bottles of natural wines, largely from France and Italy, chilling quietly in a corner / Shibuya City

 

COCKTAILS

Bar Benfiddich / Amazing tiny cocktail bar. Order: Gin, Yozu and Green Leaves / Closed: Sunday and Monday / Remember to make a reservation via Google Maps link / Shinjuku City

The SG Club / Internationally acclaimed bartender Shingo Gokan’s moody, two-tiered Shibuya speakeasy — upstairs is Guzzle, downstairs is Sip — delivers on both ambience and cocktails / Shibuya City

Unknow / Just like cocktails, tea can offer an abundance of varying flavour profiles, from sweet and fruity to rich and bitter. At this beautiful bar in Ebisu, where an impressive bonsai tree sits on a grey bar counter while ukiyoe-inspired artworks of pop culture figures adorn the walls, Japanese tea culture is combined with the art of mixology for a menu of revelatory tea-tails / Shibuya City

Mixology Salon / Located on the 13th floor of Ginza Six, this small but stunning cocktail bar offers an unmissable array of teatails with housemade blends of spirits like aromatic sobacha-infused vodka and gyokuro-infused vodka / Ginza

Punch Room Tokyo at The Tokyo Edition / Elegantly decorated with dark walnut coffered walls and velvet-upholstered sofas / Order: Green Tea Yuzu Paloma / Ginza

Bar Orchard / Focus on fresh, seasonal fruits and an impressive array of homemade infusions and spirits / Ginza

Tir na nÓg / The name of this ornately decorated basement tavern can be translated as the ‘Land of Youth’ and comes from Celtic mythology / Order: Kogy Lime Martini (looks good) / Ginza

The Bellwood / This lower-key sister to the wildly popular SG Club specializes in coffee and tea-based cocktails (the theme here is Japan’s historic café culture), devised with exquisite care and finesse by bartender Atsushi Suzuki / Shibuya City

Mori Bar Gran / Cocktails / Ginza

Bar Centifolia / Cocktails made by our award-winning bartenders, number one in Japan, are carefully crafted with love and dedication / Minato City

Mixology Heritage / The clue is in the name when it comes to this forward-thinking bar with its stylish, old-time interior, complete with pressed metal ceiling and rustic wooden bar top. From hospitality business Spirits & Sharing, known for venues such as Mixology Salon and Mixology Akasaka, and for their cutting edge approach to drinks creation, Mixology Heritage offers a nod to the past. The intention here is to revisit the canon of classic cocktails, and then go beyond these. Shelves behind the bar, meanwhile, are adorned with a curated selection of vintage bottles from days gone by, used in cocktails such as the Ultimate Martini, with gin from as far back as the 1950s, and vermouth from the 1970s. The in-house aged cocktails are a highlight, maturing in jars on the back bar / Chiyoda City

Folklore / Iconic Japanese beverages like sake and shochu are traditionally not mixed into cocktails, but the cunning bar staff at Folklore are forging a fresh vision for the future of Japanese mixology as they integrate these ingredients into avant-garde creations / Chiyoda City

Quarter Room / Helmed by bartender Soran Nomura of acclaimed Asakusa standing bar Nomura Shoten, Quarter Room is a unique fusion of art and cocktails. Drawing inspiration from Renaissance and contemporary art and translating them into experimental cocktails / Setagaya City

Bar Trench / Bar Trench – a sliver of a space in Tokyo’s grown-up nightlife district of Ebisu – only exists thanks to a last-minute change of heart by its owners / Shibuya City

 

APERITIVO

New York Grill Bar at Park Hyatt Hotel / Arrived at 18/19pm for pre dinner and cocktails / Shinjuku / CLOSED FOR RESERVATION ~ REOPENING OCTOBER 2025

 

ROOFTOP BARS

The Roof at The Edition Hotel Ginza / Amazing design hotel with a cute little roof / Ginza

 

BARS

Golden Gai / Cosy bar street with lots of tiny bars / Shinjuku

 

JAZZCLUBS

NIGHTCLUBS

VENUE

 

SUPERMARKETS

Peacock Store Tornare Nihombashi-hamacho / Large Super Market near Crew Hotel / Chou City

Seijo Ishii Nihonbashi Hamacho Store / They have their own brand of dressing, cakes… and their selection of ready made food is good / Chou City + Many other locations

Æon or My Basket Kiyosubashi West / Small Super Market near Crew Hotel / Chou City

Daily by Long Track Foods / Grocery store / Kamakura

 

FOOD MARKETS

Tsukji Outer Market / The old Fish Market with small shops - enjoy sushi for breakfast after the tuna action. Walk to Ginza after / Chuo City

Aoyama Farmers Market / One of Tokyo’s longest running and best-attended markets. Taking place every weekend in front of the university’s Aoyama headquarters, this one always attracts a knowledgeable crowd. Organic and local fare is readily available every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm / Shibuya City

Marche of the sun / Japan's largest regular urban farmers' market always features more than 100 vendors from around the country / Chou City

Isetan Shinjuku / High end shopping mall. Amazing food court in the basement / Shinjuku City

 

FLEA MARKETS

Oedo Antique Market / The Largest outdoor Antique Market in Japan. Every First and Third Sunday. (Although the usual dates the 1st and 3rd Sundays but sometimes may be changed.) / Chiyoda City

Hanazono Shrine Antique Market / A relatively small but regular antique fair, this event has around 25–30 stalls and is on almost every Sunday (aside from those with festivals or bad weather) / Shinjuku

Tokyo City Flea Market or Oi Racecourse Flea Market / One of Tokyo’s biggest and most frequent flea markets, this event takes place over many — if not all — weekends a month / Ōmori

Tokyo Antique Market Shibuya / An flea market which is held in the central area of Tokyo. 100 shops come together in the garden of Shibuya Garden Tower / Google Saved: @Shibuya Garden Tower / IG: @hipster.tokyo / Shibuya City

Heiwajima Antiques Fair / Next dates: 6., 7. & 8. Dec 2024 + 14., 15. & 16. Mar 2025

Gokokuji Antique Market or Gokoku-ji Temple / Every month second Saturday since 2003 / Bunkyo-ku

 

SHOPPING

Coming soon.

 

SECOND HAND

Coming soon.

 

INTERIOR DESIGN

Pejite / Shop Type: Ceramics / Elegant Japanese craftsmanship is on full display in the curated ceramics, tableware and clothing at this Aoyama outpost of the legendary Mashiko home goods boutique / 12pm-7pm (closed Thursday) / Minato City

AELU / A gallery specialising in Japanese and international ceramics / Shibuya City

Found Muji / Found Muji is a concept brand from the design-savvy retailer, reprenting a collection of simple but elegant products and designs discovered by Muji / Omote-Sando

Yumiko Iihoshi Porcelain / Yumiko iihoshi is based in Tokyo in the Meguro-ku area. She graduated from Kyoto Saga University of arts with a Porcelain major / Shibuya City

Lost and Found Tokyo Store / Tomigaya houseware store Lost and Found is run by Japanese ceramics brand Nikko, who have been in business since 1908. Nikko is known for its high-quality tableware, especially its Fine Bone China collection, used by many restaurants and hotels nationwide / Shibuya City

Proto / Proto Utsuwa to Takaramono is a select shop located in Kuramae, Tokyo, with a primary focus on pottery / Taito City

Hakujitsu / Japanese antiques and contemporary art / Taito City

Tool Shop Nobori or Douguya Nobori / This retro-style shop offers ceramic, glassware and wooden tableware. You can find tools that improve your quality of life here. Amazing shop! / Taito City

Ikoi. / Cute little antique shop & café / Taito City

SyuRo / Handcrafted design / Taito City

Antique Life Jin / A cute little antique shop with plenty to explore, if you’re on a tight budget this can be a great place to find a small treasure of your own / Setagaya City

Antique Life Jin II / Little shop with more vintage than antique, if you’re on a tight budget this can be a great place to find a small treasure of your own / Setagaya City

Fuuro / An art shop of Japanese contemporary artists. Mainly handles pottery, glass and objects / Toshima City

 

PARKS

Koishikawa Korakuen / Is arguably the most beautiful Japanese landscape garden in Tokyo / Bunkyo City

Hama Rikyu Gardens / Near Fish Market / A large, attractive landscape garden in central Tokyo / Chuo City

 

ART GALLERIES

Ginza Graphic Gallery / The exhibition in the basement space, where new work by Yagi comes face to face with masterpiece / Ginza

Lurf MUSEUM / A museum that mainly focuses on exhibitions, making use of a space with an area of 70 tsubo and a ceiling height of 4 meters. A new alternative space where you can experience a cutting-edge creative space live, and where artists can develop flexible and free expression and experimentation. We regularly hold solo exhibitions and exhibitions by various artists and writers / Shibuya City

Licht / Art gallery and lots of unique furniture / Meguro City

 

MUSEUMS

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum / Art Museum / Always check the website for openings, sometimes closed when they change the exhibition / Minato City

TeamLab Planets / Modern Art Museum / Koko City

Nezu Museum / Art Museum / Home of a diverse collection of Japanese and Asian premodern art / Minato City

Artizon Museum / Art Museum with Picasso / Nihombashi

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo / Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo explores diverse approaches to contemporary art through exhibitions, collections, and educational programs / Koko City

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT / a museum in Roppongi in Minato, Tokyo, which opened in 2007. The design museum was designed by architect Tadao Ando and fashion designer Issey Miyake. The building is on the edge of the park area and has 1,700 square meters of floor space, including two galleries and an affiliated café run by chef and restaurateur Takamasa Uetake / Minato City

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum / Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum has an exciting line up of exhibitions. We look forward to bringing you art masterpieces from Japan and around the world / Taito City

 

TEMPLES

Meiji Jingu / Surrounded by a lush green forest right in the heart of Tokyo / Shibuya

Sensoji / Also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. Is the oldest temple in Tokyo / Asakusa

 

PHOTO SPOTS

Tokyo Tower / Take the picture from @Hotel Toranomon Hills - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt / Minato City

Hermes Ginza / Iconic building with glass all over / Ginza

Leaves Coffee Vending / Sumida City

Omoide Yokocho / Very cosy arcade with lanterns, lots and of tourist, yakitori, tiny restaurants and bars / Shinjuku

Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho / Very tiny street with lanterns and small izakaya pubs and restaurants / No photo! / Shibuya

Golden Gai / Cosy bar street with tiny bars / Pitou is a great natural wine spot / Shinjuku

Tokyo Skytree Station / Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line and Oshiage Station on the Hanzomon Line are the most convenient / Sumida City

 

SIGHTSEEING

Shibuya Scramble Crossing / Shibuya Scramble Crossing is an iconic intersection in Tokyo, busy day and night. See upwards of 1000 people crossing at a time / Shibuya

Kappabashi Kitchen Tools Street / Kappabashi kitchen town has all your cooking needs, from Japanese knives and crockery to plastic food models and more / See guide longer down / Nishiasakusa

Toyosu Market / Tuna Action around 05:30 ish / Koko City

Yasukuni Shrine / The shrine was founded in 1869 with the purpose of enshrining those who have died in war for their country and sacrificed their lives to help build the foundation for a peaceful Japan / Chiyoda City

Daikanyamacho / Vintage shops, galleries, speakeasies, cafés and more – Tokyo's coolest neighbourhood is a mix of the city's best bits. Surrounded by Shibuya, Nakameguro and Ebisu / Daikanyamacho

Suga Shrine / The Suga Shrine has been located in Yotsuya Tokyo since the Edo period and is considered the guardian of the eighteen districts of Yotsuya. See Suga Shrine Staircase / Nerima City

 

BEACHES

 

MEMBERS CLUB

Soho House / Coming soon

 

SPA / WELLNESS

 

CITY BIKES

Download @DocomoBikeShare App! 

You need to have a Japanese number or you need to buy a a physical plastic card, for example at your hotel!

 

STREET SCOOTERS

Download @Luup App!

You need to have a Japanese number!