Breakfast
When the first meal of the day requires a reservation, you know it’s got to be good. Ean Japanese Tea House is located at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa, and is a great place to start your education in Japanese cuisine. You can enjoy traditional breakfast dishes of tofu, rice porridge and seafood in the environs of a tatami room. You’ll be able to practice the art of zen as you dine, given the tea house is surrounded by the beautiful traditional gardens of the hotel.
Lunch
Beyond the walls of the nondescript Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant on the basement level of the Tsukamoto Sogyo Building is three-Michelin-star cuisine. Founder and head chef Jiro exudes an energy that belies his 87 years, and continues to serve simple, quality sushi using fresh fish from Tsukiji Market for high profile clientele including Barack Obama, who recently visited with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Can’t get on the waiting list? Jiro’s youngest son, Takashi, oversees a two-star branch in Roppongi Hills.
Traditionally, tea ceremonies involve a ritualised preparation of green tea. For something a little more modern, head to the Oriental Lounge on the 38th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. The Legendary Afternoon Tea comprises a selection of savouries, scones and petit fours paired with 20 kinds of coffee and tea, as well as four glasses of champagne carefully selected by sommelier Fumihiko Kamo, all for YEN 12,200 ($119).
Dinner
The cosmopolitan dining scene in Tokyo is something to behold – the city is sprinkled with more Michelin stars than Paris. French master Joël Robuchon is well represented in the city, with establishments in five locations. His three-star Joël Robuchon Restaurant is memorable for both its innovative cuisine and breathtaking location in a replica chateau in Yebisu. The 14-course degustation menu will set you back YEN 37,000 ($360).
Dessert
Kakigori (shaved ice) is the traditional antidote to the summer heat. Cool down on a balmy evening at The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo in Shinagawa. You’ll get refreshing adults-only ‘cocktail kakigori’ including a mega fruit martini and a gazpacho-like bloody mary.
www.intercontinental-strings.jp
Suntory Time
Those who’ve watched Lost in Translation will know that “Suntory Time!” is a key part of Tokyo’s after-dark culture. While crowds head to the the New York Bar at Park Hyatt Tokyo, aficionados head to more elusive watering holes. Discerning drinkers head to Zoetrope in Nishi-Shinjuku. It’s easy to wile away the night there – they stock more than 300 varieties of malt and silent movies are always playing in the background, combining the owner’s two passions.
