Tag Archives: Japan

Tokyo, Japan: Five Spots Recommended by a local, Dan Ushikubo

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : FOOD / SHOPPING / CULTURE

Tokyo-Japan-Restaurants-Shops-Museum-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

You asked me addresses of a local: here are some hot spots recommended by Dan Ushikubo. Who’s Dan?

Few years ago, he was the originator of the “Tokyo by Tokyo” city guide edited by Claska (the design hotel): “I started asking fifteen friends about their hot spots. The city is too large, with too many people”. It wasn’t another city guide. Dan’s been a High Tech Consultant at Sony and wanted to bring some geek flav. The result was fun and really useful in a city where before moving, you often check the adress on Goole Maps. Even the Tokyo native do it!

Dan’s fav for few days in Tokyo:

1.Check out Book Off, an old second hand bookshops with a polisher to clean books: “really Japanese”!  

2. A museum: Japan Folk Craft Museum. Plus a gallery: “NADiff, near Shibuya: an art gallery and bookshop”.

3. Shopping in Aoyama. Course! The hypest fashion area with amazing shops like the Prada‘s building (on the picture above). 

4. Dinner in Omoide Alley, an alley with yakitori (grilled chicken) in Shinjuku: 1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, 160-0023. Near train stations: JR / Tokyo Subway / Odakyu Line / Keio Line Shinjuku Station west exit.

5. “I also recommend you a very small alley near the main exit of the JR Shibuya station, where salary men drink sake and have dinner after work. Less famous, but very local” (pictures above). I had a dinner in a tiny restaurant there: great experience!

Domo arigato gosaimasu Dan!

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés. 

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DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE  

Tokyo, Japan: A walk and coffee in Omotesando and Aoyama

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : DISTRICT / OMOTESANDO

Tokyo-Japan-Omotesando-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Omotesando

has many faces. Walk in small streets near the big avenue and you’ll discover different exciting villages: from super hype atmosphere to pastoral set and hipsters etc …

Don’t expect me tons of addresses, I am rather picky kind. First stop at the avant garde Wut Berlin, this boutique is dedicated to Berliner creation and young designers.

Tokyo-Japan-Omotesando-Uza Omom-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

A small charming cafe

Japanese loves miniatures. And this Bambi family’s miniature (picture above) is a quaint detail of the Uzna Omon decoration, a small chaming café pretty confidential where you can eat too (desserts look amazing!).

Happy the ones able to find it without the help of an insider (TY N!) … upstairs in a flat with a small balcony: nice Jingumae roof top view. Plus a great coffees selection and art gallery (pictures above).

Tokyo-Japan-Omotesando-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Need a NY manicure in Tokyo? Babe, you’re such a diva, go to Dashing Diva (picture above)! Tokyo girls and women are crazy about those kawaii-kawaii nails. Still, yep! Not really my style, but fun to see.

Tokyo-Japan-Omotesando-5-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Aoyama, the trendiest district of Tokyo

High range shopping of international fashion designers and luxury brands, in ab fab architectures. Fanciful night walk between shops and art galleries: “at night, everything is more beautiful”.

I felt a bit frustrated when my camera shuts down, no more battery. What a pity! Pictures on the bottom of the board below: a kind of « Star Wars » building, maybe an art gallery?

The other colour pictures: the famous Prada buiding by the architects Herzog and De Meuron. And the black and white picture: an advertising with Queen B. 

Don’t forget to check out the crazy architecture of the Tsumori Chisato’s shop and few others…       

Tokyo-Japan-Aoyama-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés 

Did you go to one of these locations? Did you like them? Do you have any incredible adresses in Omotesando? Or just want to say hi : share with us and leave a comment! 

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DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE 

Tokyo, Japan: Exciting Shinjuku!

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : DISTRICT / SHINJUKU

Tokyo-Japan-Shinjuku-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Shinjuku

Like in the Melville movies or  late 60’s/early 70’s Toei movies: the giant crab “logo” of an expensive seefood restaurants chain.

Shinjuku: the other nerve center of the megapolis, with its looks, tribes, folk. And its famous mascot (scoop): on his bike (picture on the second board below), the “Healer” never leaves the area. He is considareted like the Shinjuku star for the residents.

Then I meet the georgous Manga designer and ex Hip Hop DJ, my friend K San at Mixing (pictures on the first board below). Some say, generations of Yakusa bring their familly in this 50’s brasserie. Kitsch decoration. I order a kobu cha (seaweed tea).

Tokyo-Japan-Shinjuku-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

A quick visit to the golden melon, at “master” Takano (picture above), the label of luxury fruits, specialist in perfect melons (150 Euros / picture on the board below).

Now we walk in front a suehiro (on the board below, picture with the old man), a comedie theatre in small streets leading us to the old red lights area (prostitution), Golden Gate (b&w pictures on the board below).

Today really popular for having drinks in the tiny bars of few narrow streets. A detail: I’ve seen a dead rat in the daytime. At night, it’s crowded with locals and tourists.

I prefer cosier and more exclusive atmsophere, like the izakaya (a small tavern bar) of K San in an anonymous area of Tokyo and four great customers (always the same) and the warm owner. 

Takano fruit bar: 3-26-11 Shinjyuku, Shinjuku 160-0022

Tokyo-Japan-Shinjuku-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Shinjuku Goyen Garden

There are few peaceful places such as Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Early spring pictures just before hanami (the cherry blossom viewing).

About hanami, you can have an alarm on your mobile phone to look at the cherry blossom in Japan. Fantastic, isn’t it? The hugh park has approximately 1,500 sakura (cherry trees) and three different gardens styles.

Including a gorgeous Japanese traditional garden with a strange (sort of) velvet lawn and unrealistic gnarled trees. Like in a fairy tale. Eyes free the spirit. Comtemplative. 

Subway: Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station on the Marunouchi Line or Sendagaya Station on the JR Sobu Line.

Tokyo-Japon-Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.

Domo arigato gozaimasu M & K San 

Informations 

Takano fruit bar: 3-26-11 Shinjyuku, Shinjuku 160-0022 

Subway: Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station on the Marunouchi Line or Sendagaya Station on the JR Sobu Line.

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DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE