Big in Japan

**During the Day**

A BIT OF WINDOW SHOPPING...

--Daikanyama Station area
This whole place has been redone—in the back streets you’ll find a number of kewl japanese art deco shops that have inports from all over the world. You’ll also find a few stores that specialize in the whole JAPANESE blue-white look. very nice. you could kill the whole day here.
Suggestion for LUNCH: AFRICA (see below)

--Asakusa Station
You’ll find all the japanese knick-knacks from japanese rice paper kites to the imitation poly kimonos—they all make for great souvenirs. The area is a big tourist spot to see the temples and the Tori-i gates.
Suggestion for LUNCH: there are a number of japanese noodle houses and such—but try going into a OKONOMIYAKI restaurant. just ask a side passer and they’ll point you to a house. the rest you’ll have to manage on your own!! but it’s fun!

--Omotesando/Harajuku Area
There are several streets in this area that been packed up with the trendy boutiques. I equate this area to Sloane Square in LDN or even SOHO in NY.. from the Prada SPORT and Miu Miu boutiques you’ll find some interesting japanese antique kimono shops. You’ll also be able to stroll down through the day and find some side streets that have the kewlest shoe stores or jewelry boutiques.
Suggestion for LUNCH: Fujimama’s (see below)

--VENUS FORT in Odaiba
They’ve recreated the CESARS PALACE shopping area in Vegas in ODaiba. There are so many stores both intern’l and japanese brands. An avid shopper could spend loads of time and cash here.

A BIT OF SIGHT-SEEING...
--Meiji Jingu Inner Gardens near Harajuku Station
This is a must DO. The inner gardens are probably the most beautiful in tokyo. it’s so quiet and pieceful that you can spend a beautiful morning strolling the gardens and reading your Lonely Planet guide of tokyo. Another interesting attraction is the teenagers that hang out by Meiji jingu Station on weekends.. They are dressed up in their most original outfits to flash and socialize on the station corner.. THen stroll over on the weekend to Yoyogi Park which is very close by and you can see the funk bands give a street show.

--Day trip to Hakone
great hikes and good food. you can even dip into the japanese hot springs (‘onsen’) on your way back.

**DAY Restaurants & Evening Hangouts**

RESTAURANTS

-- Touka in Nishi Azabu
Fantastic ambiance and totally the japanese modern retro look. I love the waiters here as they are very kewl and friendly. It’s very close to the crossing so you can pop down to one of the trendy bars in Nishi Azabu relatively quickly.

-- MUMEIRO
one of my favorite restaurants with some very good japanese food. the place is a bit hard to find so try to take a local with you. if you’re not keen on sitting on the floor when you make reservation you might want to specify that.. they only have one section of stools.

-- Tsuki no Usagi in Omotesando
Small japanese sake house with good japanese food. not too traditional but it’s small so reservations is a must.

-- Shirubei in Shibuya
Informal restaurant with a great atmostphere. no fancy decor but the food is good and the place is noisy. Great place to get trashed on sake.

-- AFRICA in Nishi Azabu
great place for a lunch hang out or a quick evening meal. the food is generic with pastas and salads (no african food unfortunately!)

-- FUJIMAMAs in OMOTESANDO
good place for lunch. their food is asian fusion so you get a bit of the organic flavors here

-- Cardenas Charcoal Grill
for some yummy californian cooking with good wine list. the venue is very NY but the waiters are very kewl.

--KIRAKU in HIroo
this is a set course menu—some very good japanese food. the best part about their presentation is the porceline they use.. all very japanese and a pleasure to eat from. Again reservations is highly recommended.

--Aoyuzu in Ebisu
Easy place to get reservations. Served modern sushi type food. The crowd that comes there is a bit young, but is pleasant nonetheless.

--Gonpachi in Nishi Azabu
a good yakitori joint. they took pres bush here when he was in town. i doubt he enjoyed it very much.

BARS

-- Bar Inmu in Omotesando
one of my favorite bars in tokyo right now.. the people that come are still the regulars and it’s just been found by some of the major magazines. you can probably catch it whilst it’s still “underground”

-- Bar AMRTA in Nishi Azabu
impossible to get seats on a friday or saturday late night.. check it out over the week when it’s not so busy

--Bar SOFT in Shibuya
a small DJ hangout but a good place to checkout on a saturday night when the place gets rockin.

--The Authentic Dinner of Kougai
They serve dinner here as well, but it’s really posh they serve like 20 entrees in one sitdown. I can’t bare to sit through it all. The bar is on the main floor and is surrounded by a pool with big fish. The bar is pretty private so call ahead of time if you’re gonna go check it out.. Order the cosmopolitan there, i’ll come in a really funky glass.

--Bar KITSUNE in Shibuya/Ebisu
a bit of a bar and restaurant. big and newly renovated. worth checking out with a big crowd

--Bar & Restaurant PAGE in Daikanyama
lounge couches available and some finger foods.

CLUBS

-- GENIUS in Ginza (90s DANCE)
-- CLUB FURA in Shibuya (3 floors of variety)
-- CLUB CODE in Shinjuku (2 dance floors: techno, house and jungle)
-- MUSE in Nishi Azabu
-- BYBLOS in Azabu Jyuban (progressive house)
-- LUNERS in Azabu Jyuban (jungle and techno)
*dress codes apply to all the above