Elite Traveler January-February 2017

elite traveler JAN/FEB 2017 73

C I T Y F O C U S T O K Y O

It’s not as if Tokyo wasn’t appealing anyway – despite being the world’s largest urban area it has a reputation for being incredibly safe, a huge amount of fun, and a little bit bizarre – but as the city prepares to host the 2020 Olympics, expect it to up the ante further. Start by checking into the Aman, set over the top six floors of the 38-story Otemachi Tower, with views for miles over Mount Fuji and Tokyo Bay, it’s the perfect place to plan your time in the city. Shopping fans can go mad in the malls, including the newest – Tokyu Plaza Ginza; NEWoMan, complete with full-scale concert hall and rooftop garden; and Marine & Walk Yokohama overlooking Yokohama Bay. But do investigate more offbeat options, such as Kappabashi, a street of shops selling all the kitchenalia you could ever want, as well as single-product boutiques selling nothing but chopsticks, ties, paper or salt. Tokyo’s restaurants hold more Michelin stars than any other city, so where to start? Try Sukiyabashi Jiro for traditional sushi served by the world’s oldest living three-Michelin-starred chef Jiro Ono, or go to Nihonryori RyuGin for a modern take on kaiseki – Japanese haute cuisine. And the nightlife is just as seductive, with all tastes notoriously catered for, not least by the bars – you can sip Japanese whiskies at Shot Bar Zoetrope, cutting-edge cocktails at Mixology Laboratory, and pretty much everything in between.

Far left: The Restaurant by Aman, Aman Tokyo Left: Palace Hotel, Tokyo