Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture,”
in chapter 7.
•
Getting the Royal Treatment at
Department Stores.
Tokyo's depart-
ment stores are huge, spotless, and filled
with merchandise you never knew
existed; many also have first-rate art
galleries. Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ginza
boast the greatest concentration of
department stores. Service in a Japanese
department store is an unparalleled
experience: Be there when it opens, and
you'll see employees lined up at the
front door, bowing to incoming cus-
tomers. See “Shopping A to Z,” in
chapter 9.
•
Attending a Kabuki Play.
Kabuki has
served as the most popular form of
entertainment for the masses since the
Edo Period. Watch the audience as they
yell their approval; watch the stage for
its gorgeous costumes, stunning set-
tings, and easy-to-understand dramas
of love, duty, and revenge. See “The
Performing Arts,” in chapter 10.
2
THE BEST SPLURGE HOTELS
•
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at
Chinzan-So
(2-10-8 Sekiguchi, Bun-
kyo-ku;
&
800/819-5053
in the U.S.
and Canada, or 03/3943-2222): Set
amid luscious grounds, this top-notch
property has virtually everything going
for it (with the exception of a rather
obscure location in northeast Tokyo).
Enjoy European comfort blended with
Asian decor, one of Tokyo's best and
most attractive spas, and rooms with
peaceful garden views. See p. 97.
•
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
(2-1-1
Nihombashi Marumachi, Chuo-ku;
&
866/526-6566
in the U.S. and
Canada, or 03/3270-8950): Located
across from the famous Mitsukoshi
department store, this luxurious prop-
erty boasts outstanding views, massive
guest rooms with sophisticated enter-
tainment centers, a spa, high-end res-
taurants, and fabrics and textiles made
especially for the hotel by artisans
throughout Japan. See p. 91.
•
Park Hyatt Tokyo
(3-7-1-2 Nishi-
Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku;
&
800/233-
1234
in the U.S. and Canada, or
03/5322-1234): This was one of my
favorite hotels long before it became a
Lost in Translation
celebrity. Quite sim-
ply, it's among the most gorgeous and
sophisticated hotels in Japan, with
rooms to die for, stunning views, and
one of Tokyo's best restaurants. It also
wins kudos for free entry for hotel
guests to its dramatic, sunlit, 20m (66-
ft.) indoor pool, on the 47th floor, with
great views over Tokyo. See p. 91.
•
The Peninsula Tokyo
(1-8-1 Yur-
akucho, Chiyoda-ku;
&
866/382-
8388
in the U.S. and Canada, or
03/6270-2888): Low-key compared to
sister property Hong Kong's The Penin-
sula, this hotel places its emphasis on
luxurious rooms, complete with gor-
geous bathrooms equipped with mood
lighting (and tubs big enough for two),
dryers just for nails, and bedside con-
trols that light up with the slightest
touch. Its location near the Ginza,
Marunouchi, and Hibiya also make it
hotel central for both business and lei-
sure traveler; a Rolls Royce delivers
guests in style within a 1km (1.2-mile)
radius, free of charge. See p. 90.
•
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
(9-7-1 Aka-
saka, Minato-ku;
&
800/241-3333
in
the U.S. and Canada, or 03/3423-
8000): Occupying the lofty reaches of
Tokyo's tallest building, this luxury
property in Tokyo Midtown ranks as
one of Japan's best hotels, with Tokyo's
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