Neighborhood

For over a century, the all-female theater troupe Takarazuka Revue has been entertaining audiences in Japan. The troupe’s performances are a mix of Western-style musicals, French cabaret, and high-kicking precision dancing and are characterized by elaborately choreographed numbers and over-the-top costumes with glitter and feathers. Takarazuka Revue has a huge and dedicated fanbase across Japan, particularly with women, who make up the majority of its audiences.

The Imperial Theater produces a wide variety of performances every year, including Western musicals such as Les Misérables, Elisabeth, The Man of La Mancha, and Miss Saigon, as well as spectacular shows by Japanese entertainers such as King & Prince – Johnny’s Island. The auditorium can accommodate up to 1,900 people, while the ninth floor houses an art museum with a rotating exhibition.

The Kabukiza Theater in Ginza is an icon of kabuki, with frequent performances that change in program on a monthly basis. It also features a permanent interactive exhibition where you can learn about this UNESCO-recognized enduring art form. Explore high-end boutiques, Japanese shops and popular department stores such as Ginza Six, Tokyu Plaza, Matsuya, Mitsukoshi, and Wako.

Lined with boutiques and department stores, Chuo-dori Street is the main shopping artery that runs through Ginza. Visit on weekends when the street is closed to automobile traffic, becoming a ‘pedestrian paradise. ‘ Ginza is the playground of Tokyo’s bourgeoisie, and Chuo-dori Street is at the heart of it all.

Founded in 1902, Shiseido Parlour is a pioneer of Japanese-style ‘Western’ cuisine (yoshoku), i.e. omu-rice, croquettes and the like. At the restaurant, one menu item sure to raise eyebrows is a course featuring curry rice topped off with lobster and abalone, which includes the chef flambéing them at your table.

A fashion concept store found and directed by Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo from Comme des Garcons created in 2012 around the theme of “beautiful chaos”. The store has six floors showcasing the full collection of Comme des Garcons and brands from all over the world including upcoming Japanese brands.

The National Art Center, Tokyo is one of Japan’s largest exhibition spaces, designed by the critically acclaimed architect Kisho Kurokawa.

Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower where visitors can see as far out as Mount Fuji on a clear day. At 333 meters, it is the second-tallest structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.

Established in 1873, this is one of the first five public parks in Japan and offers perfect views of Tokyo Tower. The park is built around Zojoji Temple (the one featured in Wolverine) and holds an ancient tomb built in the fifth century. Around 200 cherry blossom trees grow around the tomb and near the pond, and at night when Tokyo Tower is lit up, the scenery takes on a magical feel.

Atago Jinja is a shrine on the summit of Atago Hills (elevation 26 meters), a rarely formed mountain on the Yamanote Line. It is the highest natural mountain in central Tokyo. Its virtue is known to be preventions of fires and disasters. The steep stone stairs that rise to Atago Shrine are known as the “Succeeding stone stairs” as cited in a folklore from Japanese history.

Daigo is a well-regarded restaurant that was founded in 1950 and offers Buddhist vegetarian cuisine with a focus on vegetables and tofu. The settings of Daigo are all private rooms, and visitors can enjoy the view of Japanese-style gardens from each room. The restaurant uses small amounts of bonito flakes and eggs in their dishes. Vegan options can be prepared with a day’s advance notice.

The restaurant features beautiful pine trees and a pond where Koi carp swim. Passing in front of the garden lantern and waterwheel and walking on the steppingstones, one is transported back in time in the town of Edo, the Tokyo of 200 years ago. This extraordinary tofu cuisine restaurant boasts an extensive Japanese garden located at the foot of Tokyo Tower.

Okanoeisen is a traditional Japanese-style sweets shop, first established in Ueno Hirokoji then moved to its current location in 1948. The most popular sweet is Mame Daifuku, a traditional Japanese sweet made from rice, beans and sweet bean paste. Okanoeisen’s Mame Daifuku is one of the most famous in Tokyo, well known to Japanese sweets lovers.

One of most significant collections of contemporary Japanese ceramic art in the world. The Museum was founded in 2003 by Tomo Kikuchi, one of country’s greatest supporters of ceramic arts as a way to showcase the work of outstanding ceramic artists to the world.

Toranomon Yokocho is an exciting remake of a classic Japanese yokocho. Here you’ll find Tokyo’s first gin distillery, offshoots of Michelin-starred restaurants, a craft beer bar and more.

Tabisuru Market is an ongoing event just outside Toranomon Hills that promotes regions from across Japan by introducing different cities and their arts, crafts and cuisines.

Billboard Live Tokyo in Roppongi is a fantastic live music house hosting premiere artists from Japan and around the world. This venue also serves delectable seasonal dishes and offers an ample selection of quality drinks. The high-transparency glass behind the stage, meanwhile, gives guests gorgeous views of the Tokyo nightscape as the music plays.

The Suntory Museum of Art was designed by Kengo Kuma to fuse Japanese tradition and modernity and create a space that serves as an inviting “urban living room.” This museum’s collection of 3,000 paintings, ceramics, lacquerware, dyed textiles, glassware, and more, are centered on Japanese art and the theme of “Art in Life.”

You don’t always need alcohol to enjoy a night out on the town. Expect inventive mocktails like the Goldentree, made from cold brew coffee and fresh grapefruit, or A Real Pleasure, featuring a mix of fresh fruit and basil. There’s even sparkling kombucha, if you want to get on the health drink trend even when you’re out partying. The bar also serves up a menu of small bites that are completely vegan. Snack on quesadillas with fried avocado or try something sweet like the CBD-infused chocolate brownie.

Get your spin on at Feelcycle, an intense 45-minute spin class that will have you sweating bullets but feeling great afterwards. Incorporating both aerobics and strength training into each class, spin is a total body workout that you’ll definitely feel afterwards. Think of it as spinning in a club rather than a gruelling workout, as speakers blast deep tunes to get you into the beat of things.

Mori Art Museum is a contemporary art museum founded by the real estate developer Minoru Mori (1934–2012). The museum focuses on contemporary art and primarily exhibits works of Asian artists. Artists whose work has been exhibited at the museum include Ai Weiwei, Gohar Dashti, Tokujin Yoshioka and Bill Viola.

Faced with an abundance of literary releases, in 2015 Yoshiyuki Morioka decided to open the Morioka Shoten bookstore, offering just one book per week. Located in the district of Ginza, the small library offers only one book (but sells multiple copies). Customers either buy it or wait for a new literary choice the following week. Novels, mangas, biographies and illustrated novels, bookseller Yoshiyuki Morioka carefully selects the title that will be put forward each week, presented beautifully in the center of the shop.