What to See & Do in Tokyo - Tokyo - page 181

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century, the tea ceremony, cha-no-yu, was perfected by a merchant named Sen-no-Rikyu.
Using the principles of Zen and the spiritual discipline of the samurai, the tea ceremony
became a highly stylized ritual, with detailed rules on how tea should be prepared, served,
and drunk. The simplicity of movement and tranquillity of setting are meant to free
the mind from the banality of everyday life and to allow the spirit to enjoy peace and
harmony.
Teahouses are traditionally quite small, with a small tatami room, a small brazier for
the teapot, and views of a garden. One of my favorite places to enjoy the tea ceremony
is at a traditional Japanese garden (see “Parks & Gardens,” below). Otherwise, several
first-class hotels hold tea-ceremony demonstrations in special tea-ceremony rooms. Res-
ervations are usually required, and because the ceremonies are often booked by groups,
you'll want to call in advance to see whether you can participate. Seisei-an, on the sev-
enth floor of the Hotel New Otani, 4-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku ( & 03/3265-1111, ext.
2443; station: Nagatacho or Akasaka-mitsuke, a 3-min. walk from both), holds 20-min-
ute demonstrations Thursday through Saturday from 11am to 4pm. The cost is ¥1,050,
including tea and sweets. Chosho-an, on the seventh floor of the Hotel Okura, 2-10-4
Toranomon, Minato-ku ( & 03/3582-0111; station: Toranomon or Kamiyacho, a
10-min. walk from both), gives 40-minute demonstrations anytime between 11am and
noon and between 1 and 4pm Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday except
holidays. Appointments are required; the cost is ¥1,050 for tea and sweets. At Toko-an,
on the fourth floor of the Imperial Hotel, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku ( & 03/
3504-1111; station: Hibiya, 1 min.), demonstrations are given from 10am to 4pm
Monday through Saturday except holidays. Reservations are required. The fee is ¥1,500
for tea and sweets.
ACUPUNCTURE & SHIATSU Although most Westerners have heard of acupuncture,
they may not be familiar with shiatsu (Japanese pressure-point massage) or moxibustion
(using moxa, or mugwort, to warm acupuncture points and thereby stimulate circulation
and facilitate healing). Most hotels in Japan offer shiatsu in the privacy of your room
(look for a bedside placard offering the service or look in the hotel services booklet in
your room). There are acupuncture clinics everywhere in Tokyo, and the staff of your
hotel may be able to tell you of one nearby. As it's not likely the clinic's staff will speak
English, it might be a good idea to have the guest relations officer at your hotel not only
make the reservation, but also specify the treatment you want.
Otherwise, English is spoken at Yamate Acupuncture Clinic, second floor of the ULS
Nakameguro Building, 1-3-3 Higashiyama, Meguro-ku ( & 03-3792-8989; station:
Nakameguro, 6 min.), open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm.
Specializing in athletic injuries, it charges ¥3,000 for a specific treatment or ¥5,000 for
the whole body, plus a ¥1,000 initial fee. English is also spoken at Tani Clinic, third floor
of the Taishoseimei Hibiya Building, 1-9-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku ( & 03/3201-5675;
station: Hibiya, 1 min.), open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9am to noon
and 2 to 5pm, and Saturday 8:30am to noon and 2 to 4:30pm, and charging ¥10,500
for the first visit, ¥6,300 for each subsequent visit. The Shirokane Oriental Therapy
Center, 1-26-4 Shirokane, Minato-ku ( & 03/5789-8222; www.shirogane-s.com; sta-
tion: Shirokane-Takanawa, 1 min.), offers 60-minute shiatsu for ¥7,350 and 90-minute
massage and acupuncture treatments for ¥10,500.
PUBLIC BATHS Tokyo has approximately 1,000 sento (public baths)—which may
sound like a lot but is nothing compared to the 2,687 it used to have in the 1970s. Eas-
ily recognizable by a tall chimney and shoe lockers just inside the door, a sento sells just

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