Tokyo - Any Essential Sartorial Fulfillment?

[whittaker]

Early in the New Year I am planning a business trip to Tokyo. Can anyone acquainted with the city suggest any essential sartorial needs that might be fulfilled there?

[pchong]

Only must visit is Isetan Men's at Shinjuku. Instead of being a department of a store, Isetan Men's occupy their own building. The basement is a must visit - the most amazing shoe store in the world! Almost all major brands are represented...and many of the famous have models made especially for them. The only caution is sizes above 8.5 English, is quite difficult to come by from the extensive RTW stock. The EG section is almost as big as the former Burlington Arkade store.

Other stores pale in comparison. But Haromi-dori, the main street of Ginza is worth spending a Sunday browsing. It turns into a pedestrian mall, and closed to trafic.

Other non-sartorial visit places -

1. Sony Showroom at Ginza. Amazing! Latest gadgets, prototypes. A similar place exists for Panasonic and Hitachi, but both are out of town. I believe the Hitachi one is in Chiba City...near Narita Airport.

2. Tsukiji fish market. Go at 5am to see the auction of the frozen tunas. The chilled tuna section is now closed to public. Then have a sushi/shashimi breakfast. My favourite is Sushi Zanmai - various outlets throughout the city. Reasonably priced and incredible quality!

Tell me more about what you want to see, and I can make more suggestions...also if you like restaurants (but the caution is address are extremely difficult to find in Tokyo...the city has no apparent system of naming the buildings...and many fine eateries are located in side lanes which need some exploration to find)

[whittaker]

Thank you, pchong, for your reply.

I shall certainly visit Isetan Men's but I'd better not get overly hopeful of finding shoes for my outsized feet.

The Sony Showroom and Tsukji fish market is on my list. I am also hoping to allow sufficient time for a visit to Kyoto. Any suggestions for restaurants would be gratefully accepted.

[Milo]

I lived two years in Tokyo as a student, but have not been there for the past six years and wish I were the one to go there in the New Year. I fully agree that Tsukiji is a must see, but unfortunately never went to Isetan so I can not comment on that. However, two other suggestions:
- First, if you only have a short time in Japan, I would recommend that you go to Nikko a little to the North of Tokyo instead of going to Kyoto. You can't do justice to Kyoto in a few days, whereas the sights of Nikko are fewer, yet still breathtaking, and found in a beautiful natural setting: Shinkyo, the sacred bridge, Toshogu shrine (also the Taiyuin next to this) and Rinnoji temple ("Temples and shrines of Nikko" are Unesco World Heritage). Lake Chuzenji and its waterfall are nice too, but perhaps more so to Japanese visitors. There are very good hot spring resorts (onsen in Japanese) in the area too. Nikko is probably best in spring or fall, but winter is attractive too, especially when snow has fallen.
- Second, I would just point to the very high level of craftsmanship found in Japan. From ceramics to silk or the work of blacksmiths, you will be sure to find something of interest. Major department stores often have displays of regional crafts or of the works of one artisan. My personal favourite is urushi (lacquerworks).
Enjoy your trip!

Milo

[whittaker]

... I would recommend that you go to Nikko a little to the North of Tokyo instead of going to Kyoto. You can't do justice to Kyoto in a few days, whereas the sights of Nikko are fewer ...

Thank you. That is good advice.

Second, I would just point to the very high level of craftsmanship found in Japan. From ceramics to silk or the work of blacksmiths, you will be sure to find something of interest. Major department stores often have displays of regional crafts or of the works of one artisan. My personal favourite is urushi (lacquerworks).

Thanks again. I shall enjoy what free time I have available to see what I can find.