See a different side of Tokyo, says Katie McGonagle.
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I’ve been in Tokyo an afternoon, and already I’ve seen tiny meerkats kitted out in kimono, a woman dressed like a horror movie bride and street-cleaners in the guise of samurai with litter-pickers for swords.
I’ve elbowed my way through the Shibuya Scramble – famously the busiest crossing in the world – and two minutes later, strolled solo down a side street, window-shopping in Japanese boutiques without another soul in sight.
Wandering through Yoyogi Park, I’ve spotted a wannabe popstar singing his heart out (even if his trio of fan-girls are the only ones listening), and been transfixed by a troupe of ageing ‘Greasers’ dressed like extras from Danny Zuko’s T-Birds, dancing their (white) socks off to the strains of ‘50s rock ‘n roll – with swing dress-wearing groupies looking on from the sidelines, no less.
I’ve perched on a bar stool slurping ramen while a queue of hungry locals waits for me to eat up and move on, sampled yakitori dipped in house-blend tare sauce, passed hedgehog and owl cafes where coffee-drinkers can pet animals while getting their caffeine fix, and made my own pancake-like monjayaki on a griddle right at the table.
And the most amazing thing? This really took place in a single afternoon. There’s no poetic licence required when talking about Tokyo; the Japanese capital is every bit as quirky, colourful, fast-paced, outlandish and off-the-wall as its reputation would suggest.
Inns and outs
The main reason I’ve touched down on Tokyo soil from an Air France flight via Paris is to be among the first guests at Hoshinoya Tokyo, the first city-centre hotel for this Japanese group, which opened on July 20. The 16-floor property is a hotel version of the traditional ryokan, with 84 of the biggest rooms you’re likely to find in this space-pressed capital, plus a lounge hosting Japanese gagaku music, finished with a top-floor onsen (public baths).
Chief executive Yoshiharu Hoshino has high hopes, keen to roll the concept out in the likes of San Francisco, Paris or London. “Japanese culture is much more widely accepted across the US and Europe now,” he says. “So why not Japanese-style hotels and hospitality? We would definitely like to export this to other countries. We want to recreate the atmosphere of a ryokan in the middle of a city.”
The concept works well: each of its 14 guest floors comprises six rooms surrounding an ochanoma (tea lounge), staffed by impeccably attentive employees, and stocked with tea and juice or noodles and ice lollies to quell late-night cravings.
The real joy, though, lies in the exquisite Japanese touches at every turn, from the calming entrance – shoes off, please – and tatami mat-covered floors to breakfasts that are more a work of art than a meal. Served in-room and with American or Japanese options, this array of small dishes arrives in an okamochi (stacked-up bento box), unveiled with a flourish to reveal elegant plates of omelette and bacon, or sashimi and salmon.
Little did I know this was just a taster of what the kitchen could provide: its basement restaurant offers even more innovative cuisine come dinner, putting a creative spin on Japanese flavours. Rates start at £575 including tax and service charge.
Going local
Hoshinoya Tokyo is at the heart of financial district Otemachi, near Tokyo station, so it’s a good base for getting around. The Imperial Palace is barely five minutes away, but aside from jogging or cycling around the moat, visitors will get much more out of Tokyo if they skip the obvious sights and immerse themselves in local life.
“We have seen a lot more interest in lesser-known districts such as Daikanyama and Aoyama,” says Tyler Palma, ground manager for InsideJapan Tours and my expert guide for the afternoon. “People are looking for something different from their travel experience, and rather than seeing the usual sights, they’re more interested in getting a sense of the city. We’ve introduced excursions with a Japanese wine sommelier, visits to video-game arcades, art and architecture tours or trips around the best izakayas in Tokyo – it’s just a different way to think about the city.”
We headed straight for yurakucho sanchoku inshokugai, a twisting alleyway under the railway tracks, crowded with tiny restaurants serving pork, chicken or even horse meat. It’s the sort of place you’d never stumble across without a guide, proving even visitors who usually avoid tours would benefit from some direction here.After a quick stop at ramen restaurant Hashigo – another local find, with no English sign or menus but the best bowl of noodles I’ve ever twirled around a set of chopsticks – I was in for a taste of Japan’s quirkier side at the food hall of department store Mitsukoshi.
Why, with all the delights of Tokyo, spend precious time food-shopping, you might ask? This is no average supermarket: its fancy food hall features watermelons grown in the shape of pyramids and cubes (as long as you don’t mind dropping £150 on strangely-shaped fruit, that is); and the highest of high-end matsusaka beef, so sought after that producers must supply a certificate attesting to three generations of the cow’s parentage and – weirdest of all – it comes with the cow’s nose print to prove it’s for real.
It just shows shopping isn’t a mere practicality here – top-end fashion houses like Hermes hold art exhibitions in their stores, and you can have a go on the latest gadgets in the huge Sony store.
And if all that leaves visitors in need of some sustenance, enjoy the funkier side of Tokyo’s food and drink scene. Commune 246 is a great spot for a late lunch in Aoyama, full of pop-up food stalls, bars and a laid-back vibe; go for afternoon tea in the tranquil gardens of the Nezu Museum; then see the night off at Yona Yona Beer Works in Akasaka, one of Tokyo’s pub-style izakayas, brewing an array of beers from golden lagers to heftier porters.
Fast fact
Air France and KLM have 37 weekly flights to Tokyo and Osaka, via Paris and Amsterdam, from £499 in economy airfrance.co.uk
Escaping the city
If Tokyo gets too much, follow the locals’ lead and head for summer retreat Karuizawa, an hour away by bullet train. With its 1,000-metre altitude comes cool air and lush vegetation, alongside flying squirrels (book a tour to see these nocturnal creatures around dusk) and Hoshinoya Karuizawa, the brand’s flagship resort. Boasting spacious rooms and a strong focus on onsen – there are two baths, one public and one for guests, though in true Japanese fashion, both require bathers to go nude – it’s a pleasant spot to relax. Be sure to book dinner in Kasuke, where the tasting menu showcases the absolute best of Japanese cuisine. Rates from £510 per night with tax and service charge. hoshinoyakaruizawa.com/en
Sample product
InsideJapan Tours offers three nights at Hoshinoya Tokyo and two at Hoshinoya Karuizawa, with breakfast, private airport transfers from Narita, and first-class Tokyo-Karuizawa train travel from £2,846 in January. 2017, not including flights. insidejapantours.com
Urban Adventures offers a three-hour Tokyo After 5 tour, sampling yakitori and monjayaki in downtown Tokyo, from £88. urbanadventures.com
