Whether design tragic or aesthete, terminal shopper or style pilot, the Japanese capital never fails to satisfy.
Tokyo is a city in constant movement. There is always something new to see: a stylish restaurant, a daring concept store or a trendy nightclub opening its doors. Entirely new neighbourhoods can spring up in just a few months – such as the upscale mega-developments of Roppongi Hills or, more recently, Tokyo Midtown – which have transformed the capital’s urban landscape.
There are also the institutions that stand the test of time and assert the identity of the megalopolis. It is this mix of novelty and well-established places that makes the city a place that is difficult to outgrow.
After most global brands took Tokyo by storm and set up dozens of extravagant flagship stores in recent years, traditional Japanese design is enjoying a revival, with shops and restaurants offering neo-Japanese design and food inspired by the country’s heritage. New hotels are also following this trend.
Stay
Claska
1-3-18 Chuo-cho, Meguro-ku.
The Conrad Tokyo
1-9-1 Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku.
The Strings Tokyo
26-32Fl Shinagawa East One Tower, 2-16-1 Konan, Minato-ku.
Shop: Design
Cïbone Aoyama
B1F Aoyama Bell Commons, 2-14-6 Aoyama, Minato-ku.
+81 3 3475 8017.
Delfonics
Shibuya store, Parco Part 1 B1F, 15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 3477 5949.
MoMa Design Store
Omotesando, Gyre Building, 5-10-1 Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 5468 6801.
Sempre Aoyama
1F FIK Minami-Aoyama Building, 5-13-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku.
+81 3 5464 5655.
Shop Detail
2-28-3 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 5474 0708.
Shop: Books
Hacknet
1F, 1-30-10 Ebisu Nishi, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 5728 6611.
SPBS (Shibuya Publishing & Booksellers)
Kamiyama 1F, 17-3 Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 5465 0577.
Shop: Fashion
Beams & Beams Boy
3-24-6 & 3-24-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 3470 3947 & +81 3 5770 5550.
Billionaire Boys Club & Ice-Cream
1F 4-28-22 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 5775 2633.
Laforet Harajuku
Jingumae 1-11-6, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 3475 0411.
Okura
20-11 Sarugaku-cho,Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 3461 8511.
ShiniChiro Arakawa H Free
Garden Terrace 1F, 6-1-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 3499 9370.
Uniqlo UT
Jingumae 6-10-8, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 5468 7313.
Eat
Fireking Cafe
1-30-8 Uehara-Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 3469 7911.
Go Slow
Ikejiri Institute of Design 1F, 2-4-5 Ikejiri Setagaya-ku.
+81 3 5779 6751.
Montoak
Omotesando, 6-1-9, Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 5468 5928.
So Tired
Marunouchi House, Shin Marunouchi Building, 1-5-1 Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku.
+81 3 5220 1358.
Eat: Patisseries
Point et Ligne
B1 Shin-Marunouchi Building, 1-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku.
+81 3 5222 7005.
Sadaharu Aoki
Shin-Kokusai Building 1F, 3-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku.
+81 3 5293 2800.
Toraya
Galleria B1F, Tokyo Midtown D-B117, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku.
+81 3 5413 3541.
Nightlife
Le Baron Tokyo
Aoyama Center Building, Minami-Aoyama, Minatu-ku.
+81 3 3408 3665.
Superdeluxe
B1F 3-1-25 Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku.
+81 3 5412 0515.
See & Do: Galleries and museums
2121 Design sight
9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku.
+81 3 3475 2121.
The National Art Center, Tokyo
7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku.
+81 3 5777 8600.
Paul Smith Gallery
5-46-14 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku.
+81 3 5766 1788.
Source: Qantas The Australian Way October 2008