Category: Tokyo

In October 2022, world-renowned, award-winning Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens, will open The Jade Room + Garden Terrace at The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon. Recently celebrated in Conde Nast Traveler’s Hot List and Travel + Leisure’s It List – highlighting the best new hotels in the world for 2021 – this new offering for The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon is a testament to the innovative, world-renowned dining experiences the EDITION brand is known for.  

Set on the 31st floor adjacent to the lobby, The Jade Room + Garden Terrace is the hotel’s signature restaurant, offering fresh and innovative food to be appreciated by locals and travellers alike. Celebrating the versatility and expressiveness ingrained in Japanese culture and cuisine, Tom Aikens’ menu pushes these boundaries further to deliver a fusion of contemporary Japanese and Western-influenced dishes prepared using diverse yet refined cooking techniques, all enjoyed against an astonishing backdrop of the Tokyo Tower and city skyline. 

“I am thrilled to be opening my first venture in Japan this October, a country whose cuisine and traditions I greatly admire. I have designed two different menus for the indoor Jade Room and outdoor Garden Terrace that center on seasonality, inspired by mother nature. The result is an experimental fusion of Japanese and Western dishes that I can’t wait to share with the city.” – Chef Tom Aikens

The Jade Room

Seated within the serene surroundings of the restaurant, guests can enjoy dishes created by Tom Aikens – both a la carte and as part of a 4 or 6-course tasting menu – with seasonally changing plates including:

• Squid consommé, yuzu, chicken, confit lemon 
• Fire roasted charred celeriac carpaccio, truffle 
• Mackerel, dashi, sesame, daikon, furikake 
• Piglet belly, squid, pineapple, and vanilla 

The restaurant offers an exciting menu of cocktails and wines that champions new tastes and unexpected flavours. The seasonal cocktail menu focuses on collaborations with local botanical distilleries, to create bottled cocktails unique to The Jade Room + Garden Terrace.

Upon entering The Jade Room + Garden Terrace, guests will be welcomed through an entrance graced with photography by Masao Yamamoto and met with a lively and atmospheric space. The venue features flooring and walls of rich walnut panelling, circular banquettes, elegant counter seating with jewel green stools and custom commissioned paintings by artist John Jackson. The space is finished with six distinguished bamboo oak trees and 200 potted plants, transporting diners into an enchanted garden within the metropolis of the Toranomon district. 

The Jade Room also features two private dining rooms, seating 8 and 14 respectively, where guests can enjoy tailored and carefully curated menus for their taste and predilection. Each room is enveloped in hand-crafted Japanese Washi paper, the rooms give a foremost panoramic view of the city centre through layers of shimmering sheer drapery and the lush greenery of the exterior terrace. 

The Garden Terrace 

Just a step out of The Jade Room, is Garden Terrace, sitting 460ft above ground overlooking the city. Open throughout the summer season, Garden Terrace has seasonally changing greenery, creating a serene and inviting space where guests are sheltered from the busy pace of city life.

Garden Terrace offers a menu of cocktails, alongside sharing small plates that include:

• Lobster roll, sudachi spiced mayo, nori, fried cabbage 
• House made ricotta, pickled beets, schezwan cucumber
• Scallops marinated with passionfruit and vanilla
• Hand-chopped beef tartare, maple egg yolk, onion crumble 

The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon represents a very delicate balancing act between the refined, elegant, simple, and pure approach of Japan’s culture, style, and traditions and EDITION’s passion, emotion, sophistication, perpetual subversion of the status quo, and desire to break the rules to create something entirely new and that has never been seen before.  

With the subversion of styles, this synergy of elegance and simplicity is present throughout the restaurant and bars at The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon, and amplified by the experiences created by Tom Aikens for The Jade Room + Garden Terrace. Tom’s menus are led first and foremost by produce and provenance, driven by seasonality and diversity, with a considered coalescence of international expressions.

The Jade Room ＋ Garden Terrace The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon 

Address: 4-1-1 Toranomon, Minato Ku, Tokyo 105-0001 Japan | Tel: +813-5422-1630 | Email: jaderoom@editionhotels.com | Seats: Chef counter: 12, Main dining room: 64, Small PDR: 8, Large PDR: 14, Terrace: 72 | Opening Hours & Prices: Jade Room Lunch 12pm to 2.30pm (Saturday and Sunday) – 4 courses: 10,000 JPY & Dinner 5.30pm to 9.30pm (Wednesday – Sunday) – 4 courses: 16,000 JPY / 6 courses: 20,000 JPY, curated limited A La Carte selection | Garden Terrace: 12pm to 9.30pm, Wednesday – Sunday: Selection of sharing and small plates 

This Spring, The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon, launches Gold Bar at EDITION Tokyo, an intimate cocktail destination to stimulate the senses, inspired by the golden age of classic cocktails in pre-Prohibition America. Recently celebrated in Conde Nast Traveler’s Hot List and Travel + Leisure’s It List – highlighting the best new hotels in the world for 2021 – this new offering for The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon is a testament to the innovative, world-renowned cocktail bars that the EDITION brand is known for.

Gold Bar At Edition Tokyo – Golden Age Of Classic Cocktails

Gold Bar at EDITION is a sophisticated haven for hotel guests and visitors, showcasing innovative takes on classic cocktails alongside an ever-evolving menu of small plates and a vast selection of whiskies and local gins.

“The Golden Age of Cocktails” brought about some of the mixology’s best inventions: The Martini, Daiquiri, and Manhattan were all created in this time, spanning from the 1860s through the Prohibition Era. The 87-seat Gold Bar at EDITION features a creative cocktail menu reimagining these timeless concoctions with modern techniques, incorporating Japanese spirits and select local ingredients.

Curated by the Director of Bars Hideyuki Saito, the menu focuses on classic cocktail categories, such as Punch, Sour, and Fizz. Cocktails on the menu include NIPPON PALE ALE, made with local chardonnay from Nagano, pisco, grappa, pineapple, IPA and nutmeg; PINOT & TWO GRAPES, made with bourbon, nature pinot noir, local concord grape, vermouth, citrus; and MUGI & SHOGA, which combines dark rum, Yamazaru Mugi Shochu (a smokey barley shochu), blood orange liqueur, ginger, citrus and soda.

Gold Bar At Edition Tokyo – Bar Bites

Gold Bar at EDITION’s food menu will be created each season by a locally renowned chef, Chef Narukiyo, highlighting the finest Japanese ingredients. Known for his celebrated downtown namesake, izakaya Narukiyo, serving homemade southern Japanese seasonal food, will be the first to curate the menu.

A selection of small plates will be served throughout the day and into the evening. Dishes on the menu include Tasmanian Salmon marinated in White Miso, Salmon Roe with Truffles; Cutlet Sandwich with Wagyu Beef Tenderloin with Dengaku Miso Sauce and Gold Bar Chocolate with Hazelnut, Almond and Lemon.

Gold Bar At Edition Tokyo – Design & Ambience 

All black with deft flourishes of white and gold, inspired by the design of rare pieces of fine jewellery, Gold Bar at EDITION will feature blackened wood finishes inspired by Japanese yakisugi, a traditional method of charring cedar to preserve the wood. The venue will also feature gold accents, a black marble bar, and white barrel-vaulted 16ft (5m)-high ceilings. The intimate bar is finished with a focal fireplace made of Nero Marquina, which hangs a gold-leaf artwork by Guerin Swing. Gold Bar at EDITION will play a mix of low-tempo classic, jazz, soul, and R&B midweek selected by Gray V, with named DJs playing on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon represents a very delicate balancing act between the refined, elegant, simple and pure approach of Japan’s culture, style, and traditions and EDITION’s passion, emotion, sophistication, perpetual subversion of the status quo, and desire to break the rules to create something entirely new and that has never been seen before. With the subversion of styles, this synergy of elegance and simplicity is present throughout the restaurant and bars at The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon, and none more so than in Gold Bar at EDITION.

Compared to Kyoto & Hokkaido, Tokyo has always been deemed as a terrible mess of trains, pedestrians and cars that even Google Map got confused. Thankfully, your urban experience in the Japanese Capital can be redeemed by a trip to Akiba Fukurou Owl Cafe Tokyo located in a quiet alley in Akihabara district of Tokyo, Japan. Although it is called a cafe, no food is served but you get to play with these adorable owls.    

Make An Owl Date For Akiba Fukurou Owl Cafe Tokyo

A date with these lovely birds is highly coveted by both the locals and tourists hence it is important that you secure your reservations a few days in advance. Once confirmed, the diligent staff from the cafe will email you a day before to confirm your attendance. We advise that you do not risk a last-minute walk-in.

The Akiba Fukurou Owl Cafe Tokyo Experience

On the day of your reservation, make sure you arrive at least 15 minutes early to read an informative book for basic information on the owls, how to handle them and the common FAQs.

Each one hour session would allow you to get up close and personal with 2 owls. While waiting to enter the cafes, you can check these adorable birds out on the Owl Family Tree.

Once we enter the cafe, the staff got us to sterilised our hands and shared in details the correct way to pet and handle an owl on our arms.

They also explained to us that we should only interact with owls without the pink round stickers. This is to allow owls to get adequate rest time during their ‘breaks’.

After all the briefing, we are free to walk around to interact with the owls. Remember to keep your volume down and avoid using flash photography so as not to startle the birds.

There is no rush to select your owls. Take your time and choose one which resonates best with your personality. The largest owl in the house would be a true trophy on the arms but he can be a little grouchy if you rub him the wrong way.

Some of them are extremely curious about who you are

This fellow is still trying to wake up for his shift but the petite Mr Yamashita is all ready to roll!

Mr Yamashita, I choose you! You need to request the staff to transfer them to your hands or arms (depending on the size of the owl).

It’s not easy managing Mr Yamashita. He is restless and full of energy. In fact, if not for the string, he would have flown off twice. Despite his small size, his wings pack a lot of thrust in them. It is important to hold on to the string because if he accidentally flew into contact with a larger owl, they might not survive the attack.

My friend’s Cherry Tomato was a lot more well-behaved but still, I like the cheeky Mr Yamashita more.

I wanted to go for the gorgeous white barn owl for my second owl but it was a pity she was on break.

I decided to go for one of these two lovey-dovey lovebirds instead.

At the end of the one hour session, everyone returned their owls so that the staff can have them ready for the next batch of customers who were already waiting outside.

Overall, petting and interacting with these predatory birds was an amazing PetLovesBest experience. In fact, I loved the sessions so much that I returned to the cafe again with my Mom & Brother during our family trip in October 2017!

My brother enjoyed the session without a doubt.

But it was a surprise that Mom daringly chose a pretty big owl and was absolutely comfortable with it!

No matter the age of your friends or family, Akiba Fukurou Owl Cafe Tokyo would leave wonderful memories for your next trip to the Japanese Capital. If you are keen to visit it, here are the full details of the cafe:

Akiba Fukurou Owl Cafe Tokyo

Address: 67 Kanda Neribeicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0022, Japan

Opening Hours: 12pm – 7pm Daily (Closed on Tuesday). We must emphasise that you must check the calendar on their website and make a reservation in advance to avoid disappointment.

Price: $2,000 Yen per one-hour session

Website: akiba2960.com

Email: akiba2960@gmail.com

Please share with us your experience after your visit in the comments section below.

With half a year left on the countdown to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the official ‘Tokyo 2020 Art Posters’ have been unveiled. There are a total of 20 posters, with 12 based on the Olympics and 8 on the Paralympics. They are intended to stir up excitement for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.

Tokyo 2020 Art Posters – The Origins

These official art posters have a history stretching back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Created by each Games’ committee, the posters help promote awareness of the Olympics as a sporting and cultural event, while featuring each Games’ distinctive traits and sharing them with the world. The art posters, which recently also include a set of Paralympic-themed posters, have become an important cultural and artistic legacy of the Games. Many internationally acclaimed artists and designers are chosen to create these pieces, and a number of resulting posters have become icons of their time.

For the Tokyo 2020 Games, 19 contemporary artists from a variety of genres, active in Japan and around the world, were involved in the creation of the official art posters. Since the Games are set to be held in Japan, naturally manga artists have been included in the selection. Specifically Naoki Urasawa, known for judo manga YAWARA!, 20th Century Boys, and MONSTER, as well as Hirohiko Araki, creator of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, a powerful manga depicting the battle between the body and the spirit. Artists from other fields include master of fine detail painting Akira Yamaguchi, photographer and film director Mika Ninagawa, and calligrapher Shoko Kanazawa.

Each artist’s piece had their own unique touch and captured their perspective on the Olympics and Paralympics. Take Manga illustrator Naoki Urasawa’s work as an example. He took on the challenge of creating a short five-panel manga story transcending competition, race and gender. Just as we begin to eagerly anticipate the next step in the story, he cleverly leaves us with the classic anime ending—“To be continued!”

Another example is artist Shinro Ohtake, a painter who, in the pursuit of expression, delved into three-dimensional multimedia art incorporating music, photography and video. For his poster, he chose to use kiri-e (Japanese paper cut art) as his medium, a technique he initially learned as an elementary school student during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. His poster portrays colorful spherical celestial bodies flying through space at the speed of light. Graphic designer Daijiro Ohara’s poster depicts the kanji of each of the 800 Japanese municipalities participating in the Tokyo 2020 torch relay on one canvas.

All of the Tokyo 2020 official art posters can be found at the official Tokyo 2020 website.

Tokyo 2020 Art Posters – Exhibition at the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art

A Tokyo 2020 official Art poster exhibition is being held in the entrance hall of the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, giving you a chance to feel the energy radiated by the artworks up-close.

Date: January 7, 2020 (Tue) – February 16, 2020 (Sun)
Venue: Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art Entrance Hall
Hours: 10:00-18:00 Closed: Every Monday (except January 13), January 14
Entrance fee: Free

Tokyo 2020 Art Posters – Experience the Art of Japan!

After choosing your favourite of the impressive official posters, set out on an art journey! There is a plethora of artwork by a variety of talented artists all over Japan.

On the island of Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea is I Love Yu, a bathhouse that doubles as an art facility featuring the works of Shinro Ohtake. If you are interested in his art, this spot would make a great addition to your itinerary.

You can find works by Shoko Kanazawa in her namesake museum in Iwaki City, Fukushima. The area, which was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, is now a place she keeps in her thoughts. She wishes for the area’s revival as she creates her calligraphic pieces there.

For more useful information about art and traveling in Japan, visit Art and Design in Japan

Tokyo 2020 Art Posters – Japan Cultural Expo Coming Soon!

Spring 2020 marks the official start of the Japan Cultural Expo. The event will promote “The Beauty of Japan” ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer.

The expo will kick off with an opening ceremony on March 16, followed by a number of performances and events where participants can get a sense of Japanese beauty. All the events are connected by the theme ‘Humanity and Nature’ and will be held in cultural facilities all over Japan. Don’t miss out on any of the events if you have the chance to participate!

All photos courtesy of Japan Online Media Centre

Located in the heart of the Japanese metropolis, Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is one of Japan’s leading international hotels. Offering more than just accommodation, the hotel boast of more than 20 restaurants and bars to suit local and international palates and provides a wide variety of facilities and events so that you and your loved ones can enjoy Japanese cultural experiences right within their premises. During your stay, you can immerse yourself in their Hello Kitty themed rooms, wedding kimono fitting experience, traditional Japanese tea ceremony and many others! Let’s explore what Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo has in store for you the next time you visit Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan!

1. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Superb Location

From Haneda Airport, you just need to take a 50 minutes train ride to get to Shinjuku Station. After which, Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is merely a quick 10 minutes walk away. In fact, the hotel is conveniently connected by a linkway from the train station. If you are unable to locate the linkway, simply head out of the station (to the pavement level) and follow Google map instructions to reach the hotel!

2. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Great Base To Explore The City

Shinjuku is a great base to access most of the city key attractions.  Harajuku, Omote-Sando and Meiji Jingu is just a 5 minutes train ride away via Yamanote Line.  Shibuya is just an additional 2 minutes ride away on the same train line. Even the furthest Sensoji (Asakusa Station) is less than 30 minutes away. When you are in Tokyo, check out Akiba Fukurou Owl Cafe for an adorable afternoon of owl fun!

3. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Hello Kitty Themed Rooms

Hello Kitty fans will go absolutely gaga over the Hello Kitty Themed Rooms at either Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Shinjuku (Central Tokyo) or Tama (West Tokyo)! Located in the South Tower of Keio Plaza Hotel Shinjuku, the Hello Kitty Rooms were opened from 1st November 2014.  A total of eight rooms were remodelled in two different adorable themes – “KITTY TOWN” or “PRINCESS KITTY”. The creative folks at Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo are also proud to present their newly created “Hello Kitty Room Original Breakfast” to you and your loved ones! The menu is based on the hotel’s American breakfast menu but with colourful and nutritionally balanced food items added such as omelettes, ratatouille and salads using various Hello Kitty images. READ MORE

4. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – A Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbor Hotel

As one of the “Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbor Hotels”, the hotel provides complimentary shuttle bus service directly to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea! You can choose between these three timing: 6.30am, 9am or 12.30pm bus. If you want to make the most out of your day at Disney Parks, we recommend getting on the 6.30am bus. In the evening, you will be the envy of other tourists when you board the same bus to head back to Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo after a long day at the parks.

5. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Japanese Kimono Experience

Folks who are staying at Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo will also get to try out Japanese kimono worn by brides and grooms at traditional Japanese weddings! Traditional bridal kimonos of more than 3 different colours and patterns for both ladies and men are available at the in-house costume salon located in the hotel lobby. The hotel will also provide several locations with breathtaking backdrops for photographs to be taken such as Japanese wedding ceremony rooms, the Imperial Suite room, and others. Limited to only 2 couples per day on weekdays only, the prices are as follow: 32,400 Yen (Ladies, Maximum height is 170cm, or size 15), 32,400 Yen (Gentlemen, Maximum height 185cm, or 100cm chest size) & 54,000 Yen (Couple).

Besides Japanese wedding kimonos, the hotel also rents Japanese yukata (casual kimono) and help you take photographs within the hotel. The yukata can wore out to visit various destinations outside of the hotel too.  Two rental plans are available – standard yukata plan for both male and female guests (JPY5,400 per guest, including tax) and the premium yukata plan for female guests (JPY7,000 per guest, including tax).  Both plans include traditional Japanese accessories including “geta” shoes, “kanzashi” ornamental hair combs, and “kinchaku” handbags.

6. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Japanese Traditional Tea Experience

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo offers traditional Japanese tea ceremony experience at their “Sho-fu-an” Tea Ceremony Room. Guided by an experienced Tea Master, the ceremony is conducted in the English language with detailed explanations of the various utensils used and traditional practices. The 30 minutes experience will give you a glimpse into the intricate world of Japanese tea traditions and culture. READ MORE

7. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Ikebana Flower Arrangement Workshop 

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo’s spacious lobby area with high ceilings allowed the space for large Ikebana (flower arrangement) to be beautifully displayed. Hiroki Maeno uses his skills as both an Ikebana artist and space designer to create a flower arrangement that beautifully accentuates the hotel’s lobby space. If you love flower arrangement, you must go for their special 45-minute Ikebana workshop held on every other Thursday in a private room for 3,000 Yen. Instruction and commentary are provided by the artist Hiroki Maeno.

8. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Japanese Sake Breweries Tour

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo provides a special sightseeing limousine tour to two sake breweries and a museum with optional English-speaking chauffeurs. The tour will take you and your loved ones to Japanese sake breweries located in western Tokyo. These included Ishikawa Brewery, famous for its sake called “Tama Jiman”, Tamura Brewery, known for its “Kasen” sake created using water from a natural spring within the brewery facility located along the Tama River in Fussa City of Western Tokyo, and Ozawa Brewery, a sake brewer with a history of over 300 years dating back to 1702 and renowned for its “Sawanoi” sake. You will be shown the “Kushi Kanzashi (Traditional ornate hair combs) Museum.”

Each chauffeur-driven minivans can accommodate 6 people. The plan details can be customized to meet your specific wishes.  All of the costs for the tours including admission to the museum, transportation and toll fees are included in the plan prices.

9. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Special Exhibitions All Year Round

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo regularly hosts special exhibitions of traditional Japanese arts and culture within their space. One of such exhibitions is the entitled “Enjoying Japan’s Traditional Hinamatsuri Girls’ Doll Festival at Keio Plaza Hotel”. It displays various traditional art ornaments in the third-floor lobby of the hotel from 1st February to 27 March 2017.

The annually held exhibition was extremely well received by guests. This year features some 6,500 finely handwoven silk doll decorations, Japanese art items depicting scenes of “Japanese female culture” from the Meiji Period (1868 to 1912), and “Bonsai” miniature decorative sculptured plants gave visitors a taste of Japan’s traditional arts representative of the “Hinamatsuri Doll Festival”. In addition, ten of the hotel restaurants also served specially prepared menu items and will be specially decorated to commemorate this celebratory event.

10. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo – Night View Of Tokyo City Skyline

Sky Lounge “Aurora” is designed to showcase the panoramic views of the Tokyo City skyline from the 160-meter high 45th floor of the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo. Here you get to enjoy the wide selection of delicious beverages and dishes prepared by the hotel’s renowned and talented bartenders and chefs at both lunchtimes (*on weekends and holidays only) and in the afternoon to late evening hours every day.

Do come back in the evening to take in the gorgeous night view of Tokyo city too. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is famous for its skilful bartenders. Led by their legendary bartender Kazuya Watanabe, the first winner of Medal with Yellow Ribbon from Japanese emperor, you can expect delicious drinks and high level of service from their bartenders.

Do reserve your stay at Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo the next time you visit Japan. To fully appreciate your stay make sure you take part in some of their cultural workshops and activities! For more information about Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo rooms, facilities and services, please visit their website, YouTube, Facebook or Instagram.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is giving you a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience authentic Japanese culture, with the Nihonbashi Experience. Located in the premier district of Nihonbashi, the hotel is the perfect place to be fully immersed in the history and culture of the city and just a stone’s throw from the landmark ‘Bridge of Japan’. Nihonbashi takes its name from this celebrated monument. Traditionally, one would mark their arrival in the capital by going over the famed bridge at what was known as the ‘kilometre zero’.

This fascinating neighbourhood is home to the Bank of Japan and Japan’s oldest department store, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Maini as well as centuries-old shops offering everything from traditional fans, fabric, Washi paper, and lacquerware to delicious Japanese confectioneries such as dashi and seaweed. One of the best spots for cherry blossom viewing ‘Edo Sakura Dori’, as well as the prominent Shinto shrines are also on the doorstep to visit.

During your stay at this award-winning hotel, you will be given the opportunity to enjoy a unique snapshot of Japanese culture, with a choice of five different experiences to be selected upon reservation from the following options:

1. A precious opportunity to rent and wear an authentic Kimono while exploring the culture the city has to offer.

2. An English-spoken masterclass in the unique gourmets and cultures of Nihonbashi. You will visit the famous Nihonbashi Bridge, the Fukutoku shrine and traditional Japanese stores.

3. A fun, unique workshop in Washi papermaking. You will handcraft the strong yet soft paper, a treasured staple in the lives of Japanese people.

4. A class in glass engraving, using the traditional technique of Edo Kiriko, which dates back to 1834 in the period of Edo. You will learn about the skill and produce their own glass engraving to take home.

5. A lesson in the distinctive craft of Japanese flower arranging. you will learn about this art form, which is vastly different from the European style, in a 90-minute class.

Last but not least, you get to enjoy a full breakfast as part of the package, served at the hotel’s K’shiki restaurant or Oriental Lounge. The package also includes a stunningly illustrated walking map of Nihonbashi. The guide is curated by the hotel’s own concierge team and gives a conclusive round-up of the history of the city, best places to eat and must-visit cultural sights. The unique insight and tips from the hotel’s own team separate it from other guides of the city.

The Nihonbashi Experience starts at JPY 70,000 per night for single occupancy and JPY 80,000 for double occupancy, excluding 8% consumption tax, 15% service charge and an accommodation tax of JPY 200 per person. It includes:

• One-night stay in a Deluxe Premier room or above.
• Full breakfast for two served at K’shiki or Oriental Lounge.
• Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo’s Nihonbashi walking map.
• A choice of one of five cultural experiences, as detailed above.

Reservations must be made seven days in advance and some of the experience sessions are only available on certain dates and times. For reservations, or for more information, please visit mandarinoriental.com

Looking to experience Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony (茶道) on your next visit to Tokyo Japan? We have just the place for you! Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo, one of Japan’s most prestigious international hotels located in Shinjuku provides tea ceremony experience at their “Sho-fu-an” Tea Ceremony Room since April 2016. Guided by an experienced Tea Master, Keio Plaza Hotel Japanese Tea Ceremony is delivered in the English language with in-depth explanations of the various utensils used and traditional practices. The 30 minutes experience will offer you a glimpse into the intricate world of Japanese tea traditions and culture.

Keio Plaza Hotel Japanese Tea Ceremony

When we first arrived at the room, our friendly Tea Master, Yano introduced herself and led us to ritually purify ourselves through washing our hands and rinsing our mouths with water at a Tsukubai (stone basin). It is interesting to note that the placement of wooden ladle after use is dependent on the weather. If it is a rainy day, you are supposed to put the ladle facing downwards. The ladle will be facing upwards during a good weather.

Next, we were asked to remove our footwear and enter the tea room through a small “crawling-in” door (nijiri-guchi). We were told that the tea room is a sacred place where everyone is expected to be unarmed (no samurai swords etc), be humbled and treat all as equals. All guests are expected to respect the host by bowing and slide through the nijiri-guchi into the tea room.

Our tea room is a Koma (small room) with four and a half tatami mat. Our attention was brought to the items placed in the Tokonoma as well as the tea equipment prepared in the room. Yano explained that the tokonoma is an alcove in the room that features a hanging zen word scroll and seasonal flowers. The flower commanded a higher status than scroll because it is a living object. Our hanging scroll reads ‘Once in a lifetime’ and was written by a Zen Monk.

A delicate piece of Japanese sweet was offered at the beginning of the tea ceremony. It looked aesthetically pleasing and had tasted like our familiar snow skin mooncakes.

While we were enjoying our sweet dessert, Yano ritually cleansed each utensil including the tea bowl, whisk and tea scoop. In a precise order and using prescribed motions, she places them in an exact arrangement according to the particular temae procedure being performed. Once the preparation of the utensils was completed, she started work on the preparation of the tea.

She patiently explained that there are two main ways of preparing matcha (抹茶) – thick (濃茶 Koicha) and thin (薄茶Usucha). Koicha is a thick blend of matcha and hot water that requires about three times as much tea to the equivalent amount of water than Usucha. Another key difference between these two tea is that Usucha is served to each guest in an individual bowl while one bowl of Koicha is shared among several guests. Koicha may be too bitter for beginners like us hence Yano served Usucha by whipping matcha and hot water using the tea whisk (茶筅 Chasen). 

She presented our tea to us individually and carefully ensures that the key graphics for each tea bowl faced us when we receive it. As a form of respect, we were supposed to admire the tea bowl and rotate the key graphic to face her before taking a sip. The matcha was smooth, creamy and really delicious. It has a foamy and milky texture although no milk was added. That must have come from the skilful whipping of matcha and hot water using the tea whisk.  

After sampling the tea, we took time to appreciate the tools used in the ceremony and admire the beauty of the tea bowl that was presented to us as a sign of respect and admiration for our Tea Master. She explained that careful considerations were made in the selection of the tea bowls. We were each presented with a tea bowl which she personally felt best suited us. Mom was presented with an elegant tea bowl with crane (a symbol of longevity) and gold motif as a respect for her seniority in the family.

With that, our Keio Plaza Hotel Japanese Tea Ceremony journey has come to an end. Through the experience, we better understood why Japanese are proud of their traditions. When watching our Tea Master cleansed the utensil and prepare the tea quietly, my mind enjoyed a rare moment of lightness and calm descended for a brief period. To fully appreciate this ‘zen’ effect, it would have to be a silent tea ceremony with experienced guests.

Keio Plaza Brings Japanese Cultural Experience To You

Visitors from more than 100 countries around the world account for over 70% of all guests staying at the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo. To provide guests with authentic Japanese cultural experiences, the hotel regularly organises traditional Japanese art exhibitions, offers traditional Japanese wedding “kimonos” for rental and events, presents live Japanese harp “koto” music, host traditional Japanese Tea Ceremonies and also other interesting activities. Keio Plaza Hotel Japanese Tea Ceremony is also available for visitors who are not staying at Keio Plaza Hotel because it is one of the only hotels in central Tokyo with tea ceremony facilities.

Keio Plaza Hotel Japanese Tea Ceremony

Sessions: 4 times daily (except Thursday & Sundays). Each session last around 30 minutes | Venue: Tea Ceremony Room “Sho-fu-an,” on 10^th floor of the Main Tower | Charge: JPY 2,000 per guest per tea ceremony (Includes service charges & tax) | Guest Numbers: The maximum number of 4 guests per tea ceremony | Tea Ceremony Master: Sentousouei Yano (Professor, Dainihon Chado Gakkai)

Do remember to book in advance to avoid disappointment! If you are a fan of Hello Kitty, you may want to read our post on Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Shinjuku Hello Kitty Experience in Japan

Folks who love Sanrio’s Hello Kitty are going to go absolute gaga when they see what’s in store for them at either Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Shinjuku (Central Tokyo) or Tama (West Tokyo)! One of Japan’s most established hotels with 46 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Keio Plaza Hotel is always on the lookout for unique Japan experiences for its guests. They have once again outdone themselves with a unique partnership to Sanrio to bring the beloved feline close to Sanrio fans around the world! Join us as we bring you through Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Shinjuku Hello Kitty Experience in Japan!

Conveniently situated just minutes away from Shinjuku station, Keio Plaza Hotel’s unique Hello Kitty themed rooms are located at the hotel’s South Tower and marked with an adorable pink ribbon.

The Hello Kitty Rooms decorated in highly attractive Hello Kitty décor were opened from 1st November 2014. Four rooms have been remodelled in two themes of “KITTY TOWN” and “PRINCESS KITTY” which makes up a total of eight Hello Kitty Rooms. Let’s start our discovery of “KITTY TOWN”!

Kitty Town boasts of a pop design which suits friends or families with young children.

Fans would adore the ‘live’ sized Hello Kitty Doll at the corner of the room.

If you take a closer look at the wall mural in the room, you will realise that Keio Plaza Hotel is actually integrated into the artwork! This represents the close relationship between the hotel and Sanrio.

Next, we will move on to the“PRINCESS KITTY” room which is perfect for couples or individuals who want to feel like a royalty during their stay.

The room is generously furnished in pinks and red.

You will also catch a glimpse of Hello Kitty with sweet eyelashes that was created exclusively for Keio Plaza.

Here are some of the common Hello Kitty themed experience that you will get to enjoy in both themed rooms! Cute Hello Kitty Door Hangers help to inform the hotel staff if you want them to make up your room or leave you in peace.

Savour your afternoon tea with a pretty Hello Kitty Beverage Set.

A comprehensive Hello Kitty themed vanity set to make sure you look great at all time.

The mirror you use to prim yourself up even has a sign off from Hello Kitty!

The Hello Kitty Humidifier was a god-sent to prevent dry chapped lips due to lower humidity on the trip.

Before heading out, remember to bring along your Hello Kitty Water Bottles too!

Last but not least, you will get your very own Hello Kitty Doll to remember the trip by.

Have A Hello Kitty Original Breakfast In Your Room

To wow you further, the creative folks at Keio Plaza Hotel has newly created “Hello Kitty Room Original Breakfast”! Based on their American breakfast, the menu consists of colourful and nutritionally balanced food items such as omelettes, ratatouille and salads using various Hello Kitty images. You will get to taste Potage soup with Hello Kitty shaped croutons, sausage and vegetable sandwiches in the shape of Hello Kitty’s face, apple pie desserts and many other Hello Kitty menu items are also served as part of the Hello Kitty Original Breakfast!

Accommodation With Original Hello Kitty Breakfast Room Service (Shinjuku)

If you are keen to experience the Hello Kitty Room with breakfast room service and a Hello Kitty Doll, the room rate will start from 24,800 yen for a room with two guests. The breakfast menu will include Potage soup, Plain Omelette, Ratatouille, Sausage and vegetable sandwich, Green salad, Fruit juice, Coffee or tea.

For information and reservations:  +81-3-5322-8000 (Accommodations direct line). Other than Keio Plaza Hotel Shinjuku, Keio Plaza Hotel Tama also has four Hello Kitty rooms which would be the perfect base for Hello Kitty fans who are planning a visit to Sanrio Puroland in the same suburb too. You may also want to check out our Keio Plaza Hotel Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience too. Enjoy your stay in Japan!