STAY > Agora Tokyo Ginza, Tokyo

The Agora Ginza Hotel is a welcome hotel for travellers sticking to a budget but wanting a great location and a reasonable room. Rooms have the kind of features you expect from a nice hotel in Japan, (thinking a warm toilet seat with all the functions), slippers, jinbei (japanese pajamas), bottled water,…

ByEd ItorApril 10, 20240Comments

CAFE > TOKYO

CAFE > Turret, Tokyo

It doesn’t seem that long ago that finding a decent espresso in Tokyo was quite a difficult thing. There were a few Tully Coffee Shops and a few Starbucks but that was it. A wasteland for those needing a real caffeine fix. Turret Coffee was the exception, down by the Tsukijii Tuna…

ByEd ItorApril 10, 20240Comments

STAY > TOKYO

STAY > Andaz Hotel, Tokyo

Andaz is a luxury hotel part of the Hyatt brand and the Andaz Toranomon Hills (Tokyo) has recently been voted as one of the best hotels in Asia. So a great time to revisit what makes this such a great hotel. With 164 rooms in the tower and check in on the 51st floor…

ByCrispyApril 3, 20240Comments

CAFE > TOKYO

CAFE > Verve Cafe, Roppongi Hills

Over in Roppongi Hills right next door to the excellent design store ‘Living Motif’ you will find an outlet for the popular Verve Coffee (and roasters) chain. Here they do an excellent range of pour over coffee’s (some of them are quite specialised and they are priced in line ~¥1,500 for a…

ByEd ItorApril 1, 20240Comments

CAFE > TOKYO

CAFE > Kitasando Coffee, Kitasando

Not far from the Meiji Jingue Temple in Yoyogi Park and sandwiched between the Shinjuku Goyen National Garden you will find the small suburban area of Kitasando (there is even a Kitasando station there on the Fukutoshin Line). In amongst the apartments and small shops you will find a coffee oasis Kitasando (it has…

ByEd ItorApril 1, 20240Comments

EAT > TOKYO

EAT > Menchirashi, Shibuya

Udon, the under rated noodle. Its chewy and tasty, fresh and filling and at Menchirashi it is made into an enormous range of wonderful dishes, from traditional Udon (noodle) soup dishes to a Japanese twist on Carbonara. You do need to line up and yes it will probably take about 20-40 minutes to get a…

ByEd ItorMarch 31, 20240Comments

DRINK > TOKYO

DRINK > Bar INC, Shibuya

INC is only a few streets away from the chaos of downtown Shibuya but it is in a quiet district with only a few bars and restaurants in the otherwise residential neighbourhood. Bar INC is a brand new (opened in Feb 2024) stylish underground oasis mixing smart cocktails with an excellent…

ByCrispyMarch 31, 20240Comments

STAY > TOKYO

STAY > All Day Place, Tokyo

Located just off Meji Dori Avenue in Shibuya, the All Day Place Hotel is hidden away above a cafe / craft beer bar in a tower building. A simple place with rooms that are functional with smart design at a reasonable price. SLEEP > Rooms come with the usual Pyjamas, reusable…

ByEd ItorMarch 30, 20240Comments

CAFE > TOKYO

CAFE > About Life Coffee Brewers, Shibuya

About Life is a funky coffee shop close to Shibuya station, probably the best coffee in that area. A simple menu the shop sells espresso, brews (hot and cold) and cold drip coffee. They have a small food menu and the space is ‘funky’ in that classic Tokyo way somewhere between design…

ByEd ItorMarch 30, 20240Comments

DRINK > TOKYO

DRINK > Mikkella Bar, Shibuya

Sharing the same space as the About Life Cafe (read our review here) in the evening they pull down some venetian blinds that cover the coffee shop and pull up the venetian blinds that open the bar. The rest of the space is the same… It is tucked in a back street of…

ByEd ItorMarch 30, 20240Comments