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Tokyo Weekender
2 days ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Two Days in Nihonbashi: A Blend of History, Culture and Modern Delights
When people imagine Tokyo, they often think of neon lights, crowds and nonstop motion — but there's another side to the city that's just as compelling, and far more relaxed. Nihonbashi, which literally means 'Japan bridge,' was once the commercial heart of old Edo. Today, it's a neighborhood where Tokyo's past and present quietly intertwine. It's a place of understated beauty: full of traditional crafts, riverside strolls and historic spots tucked between glassy modern buildings. Nihonbashi also happens to be one of the best-connected areas in the city, making it an ideal home base for visitors. From here, it's easy to get to Tokyo Station, as well as major destinations like Ginza, Asakusa and Ueno — but you may find you don't want to leave the neighborhood at all. Whether you're wandering through centuries-old department stores, browsing artisanal sweets or soaking in a hinoki-scented bath at the end of the day, Nihonbashi offers a grounded, graceful way to experience Tokyo. If you're staying in this neighborhood, the centrally located Mitsui Garden Hotel Nihonbashi Premier is a stand-out option. Part of the brand's upscale Premier line, the hotel is refined without being flashy, with subtle design details and thoughtful service that reflect the area's heritage. It also has a dedicated information counter on the first floor, where staff provide multilingual guidance on local sightseeing, dining and cultural experiences. Here's how to spend two days discovering Nihonbashi's timeless charm. Day 1: Tracing Edo's Legacy and Modern Elegance Morning: A Bridge Through Time Start your journey at the district's symbolic center: the iconic Nihonbashi Bridge , which has stood since 1603. The bridge is the 'zero kilometer' reference point for Japan's major highways, indicating the distance to Tokyo. Take time to admire its intricate design, including the detailed lion statues and the kirin (mythical creature) statues that adorn it. To see Nihonbashi from a different angle, take a short river cruise that departs just below the bridge. You'll glide along historic waterways and get a different view of the cityscape, gaining insight into how this district once functioned as a merchant port. Just a short stroll away is the Bank of Japan Head Office , a grand, neo-Baroque structure from the late 1800s. While access inside is limited, its exterior is a marvel of late 19th-century architecture, designated as a National Cultural Property. Lunch: Traditional Umami Flavors For lunch, treat yourself to a bowl of Edo-style tendon at Kaneko Hannosuke . This beloved tempura spot is popular for a reason: light, crispy tempura is piled generously over rice and served with a rich, umami sauce. Be prepared for a queue, but the perfectly fried tempura are well worth the wait. Alternatively, enjoy a tonkatsu set at Tonkatsu Hajime Nihonbashi , a tonkatsu specialty restaurant that serves incredibly crispy pork cutlet set meals at reasonable prices. Afternoon: Cultural Discoveries and Retail Therapy After lunch, head into the cool, marbled interiors of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store , Japan's first department store. Explore its stunning architecture, high-end fashion, and incredible basement food hall ( depachika ), where you can sample various Japanese delicacies. Next, head to the impressive Mitsui Memorial Museum , housed in the Mitsui Main Building. It showcases a vast collection of Japanese and East Asian art, including national treasures, collected by the Mitsui family over centuries. Before the day ends, wander through Coredo Muromachi . The complex spans three buildings and offers a blend of traditional Japanese crafts, specialty food shops and contemporary boutiques. It's an excellent place to find unique souvenirs and experience a more refined side of Japanese retail. Evening: Dining & Relaxation Start with a drink at Bar Matsu , the hotel's elegant 9th-floor lounge. With panoramic city views and a moody, modern ambiance, it's the perfect place to unwind before dinner. The bar specializes in seasonal cocktails crafted with Japanese spirits and ingredients. For a rich, flavorful dinner, try Yakiniku Itadaki , a popular yakiniku restaurant serving premium cuts of Tajima and Kobe wagyu beef. Or opt for a hot pot experience at Ningyocho Imahan , where sukiyaki and shabu-shabu are prepared with care. After dinner, take a slow walk through Amazake Yokocho , a narrow lane lined with old-fashioned snack shops and cozy bars. The name refers to the sweet fermented rice drink, but you'll also find nostalgic treats like ningyo-yaki (doll-shaped sponge cakes), which you can buy from local vendors. Finally, wind down in a traditional Japanese bath back at the hotel. Mitsui Garden Hotel Nihonbashi Premier has its own state-of-the-art bath, located on the 9th floor, which is free for guests. The space blends modern design elements with a serene traditional ambiance, featuring hinoki cypress and koyamaki (Japanese umbrella pine) accents. This refined and calm atmosphere continues into the guest rooms, which are equipped with thoughtful details like Edo Kiriko-inspired design motifs and Japanese-style ceramic washbasins. Day 2: Artisanal Crafts and Hidden Shrines Morning: Delving Into Local Heritage Ease into your day with breakfast at Nihonbashi Asada , the hotel's signature restaurant on the 9th floor. Originally established in 1867 in Kanazawa City as 'Asadaya,' this branch restaurant offers a Japanese breakfast featuring over 20 delicate, seasonal side dishes served in elegant small bowls. Western options are available as well. Next, embark on Ningyocho's Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage : a mini-pilgrimage to the eight small shrines dedicated to the Seven Lucky Gods scattered throughout Ningyocho. It's a delightful way to explore the neighborhood's quieter alleys and soak in local traditions. You can collect stamps at each shrine. On the course, you'll encounter Suitengu Shrine , known as a place to offer prayers related to safe childbirth and healthy children. Its modern, gleaming golden architecture stands in stark contrast to some of the older shrines. Then, explore the art of washi paper at Ozu Washi , a shop with over 350 years of history. They offer a wide selection of beautiful washi paper as well as workshops where you can try making your own. Lunch: Casual Nihonbashi Eats For a diverse and delicious lunch, head back to the food courts within the Coredo Muromachi complex. You'll find everything from sushi and bento boxes to international cuisine. Alternatively, seek out one of the many charming cafes in the area for a lighter meal or a coffee break. Options include the sumptuously decorated Tsubakiya and the long-established gem Mikado Coffee flagship. Afternoon: Contemporary Art and Sweet Souvenirs Spend your final afternoon in Nihonbashi's cultural corners. Admire contemporary exhibitions at the Artizon Museum , Mitsukoshi Contemporary Gallery or Tokyo Station Gallery , or learn about the evolution of Japanese currency at the Bank of Japan Currency Museum — a small but fascinating space near the bank's main building. Wrap up your stay with a visit to one of Nihonbashi's famed wagashi shops. The neighborhood is a haven for traditional Japanese sweets. Visit shops like Eitaro Sohonpo or Shigemori Eishindo for ningyo-yaki or kintsuba (red bean cake) to take home as delicious souvenirs. About Mitsui Garden Hotels The Mitsui Garden Hotels brand is built around the idea of offering spaces that feel as refreshing and well-tended as a garden — calm, comfortable and relaxed. It has 3 4 locations across Japan and overseas, with the 'Premier' series offering a more elevated stay. Each hotel has its own personality, shaped by the local neighborhood and culture it's rooted in. There's also a thoughtful approach to sustainability woven into the design — for instance, many lobbies feature wood sourced from responsibly managed forests in Hokkaido, adding warmth and a sense of place the moment you walk in. More Info To book a stay at Mitsui Garden Hotel Nihonbashi Premier, click here . For more information about the Mitsui Garden Hotels, click here .
Time Out
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
10 best beer gardens in Tokyo to enjoy barbecue and a cold pint outdoors
The rooftop of Lumine Shinjuku has transformed into a Japanese matsuri -themed beer garden with a BBQ menu inspired by various cities and local cuisines of Japan. You can choose from Tokyo, Kyoto or Sapporo barbecue courses, all offered in light (from ¥5,940), standard (from ¥6,490) and premium (from ¥7,590) versions. The Around Japan BBQ Premium Plan offers a taste of all the cuisines in one go, for ¥8,690. The Tokyo course comes with wagyu beef brisket in egg sauce, pork marinated in Edo-style miso, chicken marinated in salt-fermented rice koji, and sausages, accompanied by an assortment of veggies and sauces such as teriyaki, yuzu-shio and regular BBQ sauce. The Kyoto course features a beef short rib, pork marinated in Kyoto-style miso, chicken marinated in sake lees and an assortment of veggies. The Sapporo course comes with beef short-rib, Tokachi-grown glazed pork, Hokkaido-style deep-fried chicken, seafood options like scallops and shrimp, and special jingisukan BBQ sauce. All three sets include 90-minute all-you-can-drink deals where you get to choose from a list of 160 cocktails and soft drinks.
NDTV
30-04-2025
- NDTV
5 Reasons Why Haneda Airport In Tokyo Is A Fascinating Destination In Itself
If you've ever passed through Tokyo's Haneda Airport en route to Shibuya or Mount Fuji, you might've missed a surprise: Haneda is more than a transit hub — it's a destination. Clean, efficient and full of unexpected charm, it combines modern design with touches of old Tokyo. From Edo-style shopping streets and rooftop observation decks to onsen baths and standout restaurants, there's plenty to experience without even leaving the terminal. Whether you've got a long layover or just a bit of extra time, Tokyo's Haneda Airport delivers far more than you'd expect from an airport. It might just be Japan's best-kept secret. Here's Why Tokyo's Haneda Airport Must Be On Your Bucket List: 1. It Has An Edo-Style Town Inside The Terminal Step off the plane and straight into old Tokyo. No time machine required! Haneda's Terminal 3 (international terminal) is home to Edo Ko-ji, a recreation of a traditional Edo-era street that feels more like a film set than an airport concourse. Lined with wooden facades, lantern-lit storefronts, and tatami details, it's designed to mimic a 17th-century Tokyo street. Here, you'll find authentic Japanese eateries serving everything from handmade soba to freshly grilled yakitori, plus souvenir shops selling beautifully packaged local sweets, washi paper, and artisanal ceramics. It's more than just airport decor — it's a clever way to give international travellers a taste of traditional Japan without ever leaving the terminal. 2. It's Home To One Of The Best Airport Hotels In The World Forget those bland, boxy airport hotels that make you feel like you're in travel limbo. The Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu and Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport offer actual comfort — and yes, luxury. The latter, which opened as part of the Haneda Airport Garden complex in 2023, brings a level of hospitality you'd usually only find in a top Tokyo district. There's a massive spa, luxurious rooms with bay views, and direct access to the airport terminal. Whether you're arriving late, flying out early, or simply want to crash somewhere quiet after a red-eye, this hotel makes a strong case for staying airside. 3. There's A Legit Onsen Overlooking The Runway Yes, you read that right — a hot spring bath in an airport! As part of the new Haneda Airport Garden development, the Izumi Tenku no Yu Onsen is perhaps the most genius airport amenity on Earth. Perched above Terminal 3, it offers indoor and outdoor baths filled with mineral-rich water, sauna rooms, relaxation lounges, and jaw-dropping views of planes taking off against the Tokyo skyline. It's open to the public, too, so even if you're not a hotel guest at Villa Fontaine Grand, you can soak away your jet lag or pre-flight nerves in style. Showers are spotless, the vibe is calm, and the experience feels 100% more restorative than pacing around a boarding gate. 4. The Observation Decks Are Next-Level Plenty of airports have observation decks, but Haneda takes it to another level — literally and figuratively. Each terminal has its own deck (Terminals 1, 2, and 3), and they're open-air with panoramic views of the runways and Tokyo Bay. The decks are a favourite with aviation nerds, couples on casual dates, and anyone looking to snap a killer shot of Mount Fuji behind a taxiing Boeing 777. At night, they're quietly romantic, with soft lighting, a breeze off the bay, and planes twinkling on approach. Terminal 2's deck even comes with telescopes and a cafe — ideal for a coffee-fuelled plane-spotting session between connections. 5. Shopping Here Is Better Than A High Street Mall International airports are usually great for shopping, but Haneda might just outdo them all. We're not just talking about duty-free perfume or boxes of Pocky. There's a serious retail line-up here, from Japanese skincare brands like Shiseido and FANCL to designer boutiques and quirky Tokyo gifts you won't find elsewhere. Don't miss the Tokyo Pop Town area in Terminal 2 — it's heaven for fans of Studio Ghibli, Hello Kitty, and all things kawaii. You'll also find Japanese bakeries, matcha cafes, and regional snack shops so inviting they'll have you weighing up a checked bag upgrade.
Business Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Old-school tempura at Ensei
NEW RESTAURANT Tempura Ensei #B1-06/07 Palais Renaissance 390 Orchard Road Singapore 238871 Tel: 9178-0664 Open daily for lunch and dinner: 12 pm to 2.30 pm; 6 pm to 10 pm [SINGAPORE] Just when we thought Japanese restaurants were going out of favour, they've started popping up again. Maybe they figure that for every Singaporean that heads to Japan, there's another who has just come back and now has withdrawal symptoms. So what's the best way to get their attention? Recent openings suggest that being the Singapore outpost of a famous Japanese eatery does the trick. Never mind if you've never heard of them. They just have to say 'famous', and we say 'Fomo' (fear of missing out). Tempura Ensei can't claim to be the Singapore branch of Tenkane, an old-school tempura shop in Shinjuku that's been around since 1903. But it can say it has a head chef who used to work there at some stage – close enough to declare that it's 'bringing the art of 120-year-old, Edo-style tempura to Singapore'. If that's true, then what have we been eating all this while? Teenage fish fritters? Grand statements are the undoing of Tempura Ensei, which promises more than it delivers. Its public relations pitch and omakase-only pricing give you the impression that you're getting fine-dining quality and a hinoki-counter experience. But our meal is akin to being on the restaurant floor of a Tokyo shopping mall, dining at an overpriced eatery because it's the only one that doesn't have a queue. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Tucked in the basement level of Palais Renaissance, Ensei looks more dated than classic, with veneer being the wood of choice. It's the Japanese chef tending to us – looking every inch the veteran, white-jacketed tempura shop owner – that lends an authentic vibe. Except that he's not the head chef. That role belongs to Naruki Takeshima – all of 28 years old and Tenkane's former employee and most recently of Ginza Tenharu at the Marriott hotel. But he's either off on the day we're there or working in the private dining room. Lunch and dinner menus are the same, apart from an extra lunch option priced at S$128. Otherwise, it's either a basic set for S$188 or the omakase for S$288. That puts it in a similar price range as at Tenharu and Tentsuru, although Tenshima offers only lunch at those prices. Decor and ingredients-wise, Ensei lags its direct competitors, although it does make a show of the pure sesame oil it uses for frying. There's a basket of ingredients that's shown to every diner but, apart from an impressive box of uni, everything looks pretty mundane. A cold appetiser at Tempura Ensei. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT There are some promising moments with the starters: fresh tai sashimi and simmered wasabi shoots for the S$288 menu; an attractive presentation of cooked whelk and red snapper roe for the S$188 set. Clear dashi broth with hamaguri, a Japanese clam. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT A clear dashi broth with hamaguri is a decent effort apart from a rubbery clam. Snow crab with dashi vinegar jelly – meant to justify the higher price of the omakase menu – is a battle of confetti-dry strips of crabmeat against overly harsh jelly. The real test is, of course, the tempura, and the batter is mostly light and floppy, with an occasional satisfying crunch, and an underlying greasiness. The trick is to chomp on it at the right moment when the batter tries its darnedest to crisp up, before it decides it's not worth the effort. Sweet Japanese shrimp in a light tempura batter. PHOTO: TEMPURA ENSEI The first shrimp starts out limp, but the texture improves with the second one. But we do like the mushroom stuffed with fish paste, so you enjoy the mix of textures at least. And Ensei is one tempura restaurant that actually fries its uni, unlike other places that cheat by placing the fresh sea urchin on a piece of fried seaweed. It's decent-quality uni, wrapped in seaweed and fried; even if it's not crisp, there's a nice chewiness from the seaweed that matches the soft uni. Uni wrapped in seaweed is creamy and chewy. PHOTO: TEMPURA ENSEI Sharks' fin tempura, on the other hand, is wasted by being doused in a sticky sauce that negates the whole point of frying it. The best is a whole piece of anago that lands crisp on your dish, and split into two with chopsticks to let the steam escape. The worst is the grated daikon that accompanies the tempura – if it's possible to be offended by a vegetable, this feels like it. It's so tasteless that it's almost as if it's thumbing its tendrils at us. Kisu tempura is part of the set menu. PHOTO: TEMPURA ENSEI Tempura is an incredibly simple dish, yet so difficult to execute well. If Ensei's prices were more accessible, it would have an edge. But for the money we're paying, it's hard not to compare it with the likes of Tentsuru or Tenshima. Having credentials – real or implied – from a famous brand is one thing. The proof is always in the tasting, and you can't weave a story around it. Rating: 6
