Dwelling to a blinding line-up of five-star accommodations, unforgettable cultural points of interest, and essentially the most Michelin eating places on the earth (sure, much more than Paris itself), Tokyo has fascinated essentially the most discerning luxurious vacationers for many years. Now, thanks partially to the weak yen and pent-up demand after greater than two years of closed borders, the nation is extra accessible than ever earlier than. (By far the most well-liked vacation spot for younger vacationers, bookings to Japan generally have elevated by 1,300% since 2019).
From staying in a lodge with views of Mount Fuji to soaking in a sizzling spring match for royalty, listed here are a number of the most extraordinary, one-of-a-kind issues to do in and round Tokyo when worth isn’t an object.
Get Misplaced In Translation
Probably the most memorable character in Sofia Coppola’s beloved early aughts masterpiece Misplaced in Translation isn’t Scarlett Johansson’s aimless Charlotte or Invoice Murray’s erring Bob — it’s the effortlessly cool lodge the place nearly all of the film’s motion takes place. On the real-life Park Hyatt Tokyo, company can swim laps in a 26 x 65 foot pool surrounded by panoramic views of Tokyo’s skyline, sip pitch-perfect martinis within the 52nd ground’s sultry New York Bar, and peek at a snow-peaked Mount Fuji whereas savoring a full Japanese breakfast. In a metropolis brimming with luxurious properties, Park Hyatt Tokyo continues to really feel actually and symbolically above the remainder.
Eat Document-Setting Seafood
Tokyo is thought for its iconic Toyosu fish market, the place you possibly can eat recent sushi, watch fishmongers laborious at work, and even see record-setting gross sales — in 2023, one bluefin tuna fetched ¥36.04 million ($273,000). Whereas attending a tuna public sale merely requires waking up very, very early, consuming the prized catch requires extra planning. Your finest wager: Guide a month forward at two-Michelin star Narisawa, a stalwart on Asia’s 50 Finest Eating places Record. Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa has an in depth relationship with “Final King of Tuna” Yukitaka Yamaguchi, who continuously bids prime greenback on the day’s prime cuts. Alongside the distinctive fish, get pleasure from a decadent, omakase menu of grilled eel, wagyu, and different native delicacies.
Soak Up Japan’s Tradition
For a lot of, soaking within the therapeutic waters of an onsen — a sort of sizzling spring that should include a minimum of considered one of Japan’s 19 official mineral parts, resembling sulfur and sodium chloride — is the epitome of zen. To immerse your self on this historical customized, Adrian Fautt, Park Hyatt Tokyo’s Chief Concierge, recommends checking right into a ryokan, a conventional Japanese inn, in a single day. (Most pure springs are situated outdoors cities — fortuitously, Hakone, a city recognized for its sizzling springs, is about an hour away by prepare).
Fautt’s choose is the elegant Gora Kadan, situated on the grounds of the previous summer season villa of a member of the Imperial household. “It is proper on the prime of the mountains,” he says. “I would go away Tokyo within the early morning, spend half the day exploring the city of Hakone, and are available again to the ryokan within the afternoon to benefit from the onsen earlier than an elaborate dinner. While you get up within the morning, you’ll have the ability to go to the onsen yet another time earlier than you try.”
Attempt A Cocktail Tasting Menu
You’ve actually heard of tasting menus at eating places — however what about at cocktail bars? At Gen Yamamoto, grasp mixologist Yamamoto creates a mind-bending menu of low-ABV drinks. Served omakase-style, a Japanese phrase that actually means “I go away it as much as you,” the one factor that prospects should resolve is what number of cocktails they need. (Belief me, you want all seven provided in a seating). Yamamoto thoughtfully selects advantageous liquors from all over the world to showcase seasonal produce in shocking taste combos, like espresso and anise-flavored Coretto from Croatia’s Monachus Distillery balanced with lip-puckering grape juice. It’s greater than well worth the worth of admission to witness an artist at work, shaking and stirring every of his 250-plus recipes from reminiscence.
Do Some Native Luxurious Purchasing
Should you’d like to return house with a one-of-a-kind, only-in-Japan memento, don’t anticipate finding it whereas looking the glitzy, worldwide boutiques of Ginza or Omotesandō. As a substitute, head to Nihonbashi, the place you’ll uncover each historic and fashionable retailers, says Yukari Sakamoto, creator of Meals Sake Tokyo. “The historic Nihonbashi district has Japan’s first division retailer, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, that originated as a kimono material store 350 years in the past,” she says.
The energetic neighborhood can also be filled with the town’s finest specialty meals shops. “Take a look at pristine fruit in picket packing containers, resembling juicy muskmelons, that may go for a whole lot of {dollars} at Sembikiya. The café at Sembikiya provides tempting parfaits of seasonal recent fruit and ice cream. Choose up titanium wine coolers that can hold bottles of white wine chilled with out ice at SUS Gallery.” For an intimate and informative expertise, e-book considered one of Sakamoto’s non-public guided subject journeys. A sommelier, chef, and shōchū advisor, she’s helped everybody from Phil Rosenthal (of Netflix’s Someone Feed Phil) to chef Rick Bayless navigate Tokyo’s supermarkets and depachika (division retailer meals basements).
Have Tea For Two
Whereas some non-public excursions, resembling sumo secure visits, have but to totally return post-COVID, new ones are cropping up — particularly those who embrace the outside. That’s the case at Miyanoen, a historic tea farm situated in considered one of Japan’s most well-known tea areas lower than an hour outdoors the town. “It’s very uncommon that you may expertise tea choosing right here in Tokyo — it’s one thing you don’t count on to see,” says Fautt. “The tea grasp, Keiji Miyano, has been on tv a number of occasions now. You really get to roast the tea leaves that you just choose, and may even eat some as tempura.” The eight-hour tour additionally consists of hand-making matcha, sporting a chatsumi kimono (tea choosing kimono), and consuming your individual tea.
