Tokyo from the Shangri-La A stunning view from one of the citys
finest hotels.
Tokyo rising
Vibrant culture, history, cuisine and unflagging
hospitality make Japan’s capital a luxury destination that endures the
elements and stirs the senses, writes Elyse Glickman PHOTOGRAPHED BY THE AUTHOR AND COURTESY OF THE
SHANGRI-LA TOKYO
Above Views from the Imperial Palace grounds.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE in the world,
there is always something profoundly moving about how a catastrophic
event can not only unite people but also make them more determined
to make their home a better place during its healing process.
Though Tokyo is a seven hours’ drive from the epicentre
of Sendai, locals see the earthquake and tsunami that literally
shook northern Japan to its foundation last March as something that
has profoundly affected the nation. However, even with legitimate
safety concerns expressed by people travelling to Japan for business,
pleasure or a mix of both, there is much to support the argument
that there is no time like the present to visit Japan. While tourist
dollars will help their affected economy, it will also raise your
spirits.
Zen and now With the futuristic juxtaposing the ancient, and green juxtaposing
urban, even a short vacation or a two day weekend add-on to your
business trip will give you a through idea of why Japanese culture
continues to capture the west’s collective imagination. The grounds
of the Tokyo Imperial Palace, for example, surrounded the city’s
financial and government centres, unfolds into a velvety expanse
that is home a historic, water-filled moat, Kokyo Gaien (Imperial
Palace Outer Garden), Kokyo Higashi Gyoen (Imperial Palace East
Garden) and Kita-no-maru-koen Park.
Given its splendour, the Imperial Palace parkland is
ideal for a morning jog. However all paths lead toward an interesting
variety of cultural institutions. Weekend warriors will like Edo
Castle, where samurai warriors lived from the 17th to 19th centuries.
History buffs of another sort will appreciate Sannomaru-Shozo-kan
(Museum of the Imperial Collections) where Emperor Hirohito’s collection
of kimonos and Japanese paintings are displayed. In Kita-no-maru-koen
Park, you will stumble into the legendary Nippon Budo-kan (the Tokyo
destination for the world’s biggest arena rock bands) and the gee-whiz
marvels stored at the Science Museum and the National Museum of
Modern Art.
Above The Meiji temple and shrine; and ice-creams at Ueno
Park.
Ueno Park is Tokyo’s answer to New York’s Central Park,
with an acclaimed zoo and landmark cultural institutions that can
keep a traveller busy for days. If your time in town is limited,
the Tokyo National Museum
is the park’s essential destination with its beautifully organized
displays of art, historic artifacts and anthropological finds covering
Japan and other parts of Asia. Some of the city’s most important
historic shrines (Bentendo, Toshogu, Kiyomizo Kannon) and the Shitamachi
Museum (reconstructing life in old Tokyo) also line the grounds
of this often crowded but friendly space. In the backyard of trendy,
youthful Harajuku, you will find another piece of country heaven
on the grounds of the Meiji Temple.
Asakusa, in the north of the city, bridges rich cultural
landmarks (Sensoji and Kaminarimon, Tokyo’s oldest temple), penultimate
Tokyo souvenir shopping (Nakamise Street) and the foodie paradise
of Kappabashi Dougugai—a street lined with foodie gold in the form
of kitchen décor and gadgets buffs or the perfect, calorie-free
souvenir of Tokyo: plastic sushi!
Asakusa
East meets zest If it’s the real thing you crave, look for it everywhere: from
informal stand-up sushi bars on food streets in underground
shopping passages to neighbourhood robata bars like Han drawing
passing office workers around Ginza, to ultra-high end destination
restaurants like the original Gonpachi,
setting for a landmark Quentin Tarantino film scene and a sister
restaurant in Beverly Hills. However, for those who want to go behind
the scenes, an early morning jaunt down to the public areas of the
Tsukiji Fish Market is worth the trip. Imagine your favourite big
city farmers’ market in 3-D. Start with some of the most perfect
forms of seasonal fruits you’ve ever seen, and end with a show consisting
of specialists prepping fish and seafood for market in a brutally
balletic way that even Tarantino would admire. Follow that with
a sushi breakfast at original branch of Tsukiji Sushi-Sen, serving
morsels you know were swimming the previous day.
Not surprisingly, food preparation is regarded as an
art in Japan, even if it is a meal or dessert purchased to
go. Therefore, there is no better place to see Japan’s collective
passion for beautiful, too-pretty-to-eat food (pastries in particular)
on the lower levels of top department stores such as Takashimaya
(Japanese for Bergdorf Goodman, as one companion remarked),
Daimaru (quite lovely and adjacent to Tokyo Station and the Shangri-La
Hotel, our lodging pick), and the Ginza branches of Mitsukoshi and
Matsuya.
While the draw for some may be the abundant samplings of mind-blowing,
unusual sweets and savouries, for others, it will be the flawless,
art gallery-like organization of the kiosks.
Below The Tsukiji Fish Market, and sushi at
Han restaurant.
However, even with legitimate safety concerns expressed
by people travelling to Japan for business, pleasure or a mix of
both, there is much to support the argument that there is no time
like the present to visit Japan. While tourist dollars will help
their affected economy, it will also raise your spirits
Related articles
Thailand special Elyse Glickman takes in two very sides of Thailand Part 1, Bangkok has you now:
the Thai capital surprises with luxury shopping, bargain hunting,
spicy food and cultural offerings Part 2, Thais that bind:
roads less travelled lead to unexpected discoveries, including
the wellness-driven resort Chiva Som
A perfect haven
away from home Janejit Sooksombatisatian rates the Twinpalms Phuket
resort as one of the worlds finest, an unforgettable
experience with a dose of professionalism at every turn photographed
by Tanya Sooksombatisatian and courtesy Twinpalms
Fantasy island
Known as Asias beautiful island, Taiwan
offers travellers green vistas, astonishing architecture,
progressive-thinking luxury hotels and multi-faceted perspective
on Chinese culture. Elyse Glickman visits
photographed by the author