ARTICLES
THINGS TO DO
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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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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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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.
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MUST-VISIT TOKYO MUSEUMS
Tokyo offers a surprising number of museums as well as art galleries. The museums listed here are top recommendations for any Tokyo sojourn.
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CUSTOMIZING TRADITIONAL CRAFTS
Home to many unique craft traditions developed in its days as a castle town during the Edo period (1603–1868), Tokyo offers refined souvenirs and gifts you won’t see anywhere else.
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CUSTOMIZED SUSHI-MAKING EXPERIENCE WITH MATSUNOZUSHI
At Matsunozushi, a family enterprise that’s been serving classic Edomae-style sushi since 1910, book a dining experience that’s complete with a tailor-made master class by the fourth-generation chef.
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EXPERIENCE AUTHENTIC TRADITION
From traditional craft techniques to the elaborate tea ceremony, a host of unique hands-on experiences awaits the traveller to Tokyo.