ARTICLES
THINGS TO DO
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STORY FROM A SINGLE THREAD
Traditions handed down for over a thousand years and stories beginning with a single thread − kimonos embody Japan’s timeless devotion to craftsmanship, beauty and style. At Ginza Motoji, select your own hand-crafted fabrics to create your own personally fitted masterpiece.
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NEW WAVE MEETS TRADITION
Ukiyo-e – the striking woodblock prints that inspired Monet and Van Gogh and set the course of fashion in Edo-era Japan. Uncover your own authentic masterpiece at Hara Shobo in Kanda, and bring home a one-of-a-kind masterpiece of Japanese art.
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RETAINING TRADITIONS WHILE GO BEYOND TRADITIONS
The kimono–a symbol of Japanese beauty and tradition – is continuing to evolve through the work of contemporary artisans. At a bright, airy boutique in Tokyo, HIROCOLEDGE reimagines the kimono for modern life with vivid designs based on timeless motifs.
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TOKYO’S GREAT OUTDOORS (AND A TIPPLE OF SAKE, TOO)
Beautiful nature and exciting adventure awaits just a short train ride from central Tokyo. Finish your day with a visit to one of Tokyo’s most loved sake breweries.
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MEET AN ART LEGEND AT GALERIE NICHIDO
In trendsetting Tokyo, the styles, stories, and tastes of the time are constantly being reinvented across all genres of art. For lovers of contemporary oil painting, Galerie Nichido in Ginza has been keeping the field fertile for nearly a century.
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MORNING YOGA IN A VERITABLE MUSEUM
Morning yoga classes at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo in Meguro ward invite yogis of all levels from beginner to advanced to practice in beautiful art-filled surroundings. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxed healthy breakfast in the boutique hotel’s top-floor lounge.
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MEDITATION GALLERY KURENBOH
Visit this unique gallery run by the art-loving head priest of Chohouin Temple for a meditative conversation with the carefully selected art pieces on display.
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The Pinnacle of Craftsmanship : Bespoke Shoes by Sonomitsu
Lovingly tailored to each customer, Sonomitsu’s handmade shoes are a superb example of Japanese craftsmanship. Cap your exploration of the charming, history-laden area of Yanesen in northeast Tokyo by visiting shoemaker Hajime Sonoda at his atelier for a personalized shoe consultation.
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EDO KUMIKO : AN INTRICATE AFFAIR
Visit this small Edo workshop, specializing in delicate wooden latticework, and bring back a piece of Japanese carpentry history in the form of a beautiful andon lantern, a speciality of Takahiro Tanaka who continues this proud Tokyo tradition.
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THE MODERN TEA CEREMONY
The stylish Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience in fashionable Aoyama is the perfect place to explore the wonderful world of Japanese tea beyond the usual thick matcha. Explore the more than 50 varieties of local Japanese tea or perhaps one of the tea-infused cocktails.
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A TREASURE TROVE OF JAPANESE CONTEMPORARY ART
Belying its stern, imposing contemporary design, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in Koto ward proves to be a fun, stimulating, and surprising place to visit for adults and children alike. It’s a must-visit for contemporary art fans and architecture buffs.
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YOUR VERY OWN TEA CEREMONY WITH A GREAT MASTER
The tea ceremony, which flourished in the Edo period, lives on in ultra-modern Tokyo. Let Charen Tranquilitea, helmed by a tea-ceremony specialist descended from feudal lords, introduce you to the way of tea through tailor-made experiences such as cha-kaiseki (tea ceremony and kaiseki fine dining) at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
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DIGITAL ART IN TOKYO
If there's anywhere in the metropolis where you'll feel unbounded by space, it's at the teamLab's signature venue: Planets. Even time seems to warp in this otherworld where art and technology intersect.
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NIHONBASHI: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Explore the thrumming hive of modernity that’s grown around Tokyo’s original core in Nihonbashi. Historical edifices like Japan’s first department store await, and backstreets invite with pubs and eateries that timeslip to the mid-20th century.
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TOKYO ARCHITECTURE
From centuries-old wooden temples to skyscrapers of steel and glass, Tokyo has it all.
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FANTASTIC ART FOUND ONLY IN TOKYO
Tokyo’s art scene is a thriving mix of well-established museums and smaller innovative galleries showcasing the best of the new.
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SEASONAL DELIGHTS
Despite the city’s dense urban center, Tokyo’s many parks and temple gardens offer refuge from the concrete jungle throughout the year.
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NIHONRYORI KANDA
Hiroyuki Kanda's eponymous restaurant in Toranomon is an ideal place to experience true Japanese cuisine at its finest.