Adventures of Anette: Tokyo
Showing posts with label Tokyo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tokyo. Show all posts

Saturday, April 13, 2019

All you need to know about the Tokyo Robot Cafe "Henn na Cafe"

9:09:00 PM
Mr. Robot Barista ready to pour some coffee. Kamae! 
Photo: Anette

Tokyo is known as a place where you can find both the newest of the newest and the weirdest of the weirdest. A couple of years ago I wrote about Tokyo's first Robot Hotel with the fitting name "Henn na Hotel" which literally means "strange hotel". And yes, the people who are behind this up-and-coming hotel chain are the same as the owners of this cafe, going by the name "Henn na Cafe", which in other words means "Strange Cafe". Without further redo, here is all you need to know!
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Thursday, June 28, 2018

Tokyo Trains: 5 Tips to Survive Your Daily Commute

9:57:00 PM

A messy glimpse into a regular day's commute in Tokyo
Photo: Anette

Eight years ago, when I had decided to study in Japan, I sat down and made a list of the universities I wanted to study at. Although I had many different criteria on my list, the most important to me was that the university wasn't located in Tokyo. Why, you ask? Well, that's simple: too big, too noisy, and...Packed trains
. Little did I know that a few years later I would make this city my home, and in turn have to face my fears of the packed Tokyo trains on a daily basis. Throughout the years I've learned a thing or two about commuting in Tokyo, and I hope that the tips below can be of help to you too!
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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Tokyo Festivals: Hydrangea in bloom at the Hakusan Shrine (白山あじさい祭り)

6:20:00 PM
Hydrangea in bloom at the Hakusan Shrine
Photo: Anette

Summer is peak season for festivals here in Japan, and those of you who stop by Tokyo in June might just be in time for festivals related to the hydrangea flower, known in Japanese as Ajisai (紫陽花). You can find various flower festivals held throughout the year in various places in the country, with the most popular ones being related to the cherry blossom, sakura. But other flowers like the hydrangea are also becoming increasingly popular, and just last week I went to check out the festival held at the Hakusan Shrine in Tokyo's Bunkyo-ku area.
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Monday, April 16, 2018

[Hotel Review] The Next Step to Explore Asakusa - Hotel Amanek Asakusa Azumabashi (ホテル アマネク　浅草吾妻橋)

11:22:00 PM

Above: Tokyo Sky Tree as seen from the hotel bedroom
Spring is the season for new beginnings, from everything to new fiscal years to the start of new semesters. It is also a season for newly opening hotels, and last week I went to check out a new hotel called Amanek that is scheduled to open its doors to tourists from April 18th 2018.
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Monday, March 5, 2018

Tokyo: The Gajoen Hinamatsuri Doll Festival (百段雛祭り)

10:39:00 PM
Above: Inside the Gajoen. Photo from the official event page
The Meguro Gajoen is one of Tokyo's best-hidden gems, and one of the few sightseeing spots I wouldn't mind revisiting multiple times. Not only does the Gajoen offer one of Tokyo's best-rated hotels, inside the former wedding complex you also find the historical hundred-stairs staircase that helped inspire part of the architecture in the Ghibli movie "Spirited Away". Although much of the Gajoen was rebuilt after the Second World War the old wing still remains in its former glory and is used throughout the year for special exhibitions. This time we went to see the special Hina Matsuri (ひな祭り) doll festival exhibition that is held at the Gajoen from mid-January to mid-March.
Above: Inside the Gajoen 
The Hina Matsuri doll festival is a yearly event held in Japan on the 3rd of March to celebrate and pray for the health and happiness of girls. It is common that a collection of dolls is displayed in both private homes and public buildings, often set up in a multi-tiered doll stand called hinadan (雛壇). The Hina Matsuri tradition is celebrated all over Japan, but the features and details of the practice vary from area to area. In the Gajoen they have collected Hina dolls from various places in Japan, giving visitors a chance to see and compare dolls from different Japanese prefectures.
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Thursday, March 1, 2018

Spring in Tokyo: Plum Blossom Viewing at Ueno's Yushima Tenmangu Shrine (湯島天満宮)

10:54:00 PM
Above: Plum flowers in bloom at Yushima Tengu
Japan is already known worldwide for its beautiful cherry blossom trees blooming around late March until early April in the areas around Tokyo. It is no wonder that this also is when the number of visiting tourists to Japan hits its yearly peak, a number that keeps increasing every year. But did you know that if you visit Japan a little bit earlier you can enjoy the just as beautiful plum flowers that are blooming from the beginning of February to early March?
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Monday, February 12, 2018

Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: 6 Top Tokyo Hotels to Enjoy the Sakura

2:43:00 PM

Time for Cherry blossom season!

The 2017 cherry blossom season is getting closer! It is fun to go out in the park and enjoy the sakura flowers, but while you're here why not stay at a hotel where you can enjoy the view of the beautiful flowers right outside your doorstep? As they say in Japan: Ichigo ichie (一期一会) - “Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur”! The short encounter with the Japanese sakura will indeed be a memory for life. So without further ado here is an introduction to 6 hotels that are perfect as a base to experience the Japanese cherry blossoms!


Sakura Hotels
1.Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa （Shinagawa）
2.The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo（Shinagawa）
3.Hotel New Otani Tokyo （Akasaka）
4.Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo （Shinjuku）
5. Hotel Gajoen Tokyo （Meguro）
6.Rihga Royal Hotel Tokyo （Takadanobaba）

1. Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa
（グランドプリンスホテル新高輪）

~~A garden with approximately 230 cherry trees~~ 

グランドプリンスホテル新高輪のホテル外観
Above: From hotel's page
All of the 938 rooms at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa come with a private balcony for you to enjoy the view of the beautiful Japanese garden right outside your window. Encircled by the 3 Prince hotels Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa, Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa and The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo lies the 20,000 sqm Japanese garden exclusive for hotel guests, and here there are 19 types of Sakura, with a total number of around 230 trees. You can enjoy a stroll around the garden, and the view of the garden from the hotel lobby is also stunning. During the sakura season, you can admire the special evening atmosphere with light-up of the sakura trees. 
Check out room availability here
Above: View of the garden from the hotel lounge. From hotel's page

2. The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo
（ザ・プリンス さくらタワー東京）

~~The cherry blossom tower~~

ザ・プリンス さくらタワー東京のホテル外観
Above: From hotel's page
The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo is as mentioned one of the three Prince hotels surrounding a Japanese garden with more than 230 sakura trees. The hotel is a great choice if you want to see the cherry blossoms at its best, with the sakura trees outside The Prince Sakura Tower being particularly dense. From morning till night you can enjoy seeing the cherry blossoms in different shades of pink, and the road outside of the hotel also has an arch of sakura trees. With good timing, you're almost guaranteed a memorable cherry blossom season with a stay here.
Check out room availability here

3. Hotel New Otani Tokyo
（ホテルニューオータニ）

~~Get spellbound by the beauty of the Japanese garden~~

ホテルニューオータニのホテル外観
Above: From hotel's page
Inside the hotel area, there's a 40,000 sqm Japanese garden that has become known both as the symbol of Hotel New Otani and as one of the finest gardens in Tokyo. In this magnificent garden, you can view the blossoming cherry trees, some of them beautifully surrounding the hotel garden's waterfall just like an idyllic picture. In the middle of the Japanese garden there's a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant, and here you can also try out the hotel's special sakura cocktail.
See also: Visit to a Luxury Outdoor Pool in Tokyo: The Hotel New Otani Garden Pool
Check out room availability here


4. Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo
（ホテル椿山荘東京）

~~120 Cherry Blossom trees in full bloom~~ 

ホテル椿山荘東京のホテル外観
Above: From hotel's page
The 20,000 sqm garden at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo has a more than 130 years long history, and with more than 20 types of cherry blossom flowers the sakura (河津桜 - Kawazu Sakura and 寒緋桜 - Kanhizakura / Taiwan Cherry) start to bloom from the middle of February and from then the different types of cherry trees will bloom one by one all the way up till April. In the evening there are light-ups of the garden, providing yet another wondrous spectacle for the lucky guests. 
Check out room availability here

5. Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
（目黒雅叙園）

~~~~Right by Tokyo's most popular Sakura Spot Meguro River!~~ 


Above: From hotel's page
Hotel Gajoen Tokyo has only 23 rooms, all of them with a size of more than 80㎡, but it is still one of the most highly rated hotels in Tokyo. Parts of their rooms underwent a renovation in 2017 and this year they're celebrating their 90th anniversary. Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is also a part of the wonderous Meguro Gajoen wedding complex that inspired locations in the Gibli movie "Spirited Away". Guests visiting during the sakura season will find the location of the hotel impeccable, as it lies right by Tokyo's number one hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spot the Meguro River. The riverside of the Meguro River is home to around 830 Someyoshi cherry trees and provides a breathtaking scene when the flowers are in bloom. 
Check out room availability here
Above: Sakura by the Meguro River


6. Rihga Royal Hotel Tokyo 
（リーガロイヤルホテル東京）

~~A hotel surrounded by famous cherry blossom spots~~

Above: From hotel's page
Winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016 this classical European style luxury hotel is guaranteed to give you a good base for experiencing the sakura season. There are numerous famous cherry blossom spots in the area surrounding the hotel including the Ōkuma Garden (大隈庭園), the Kandagawa River (神田川) and Asukayama Park (飛鳥山公園). At the hotel restaurant, you can enjoy the taste of spring with various seasonal dishes, and they also serve a seasonal special sakura cocktail for the occasion.

Final comment

How about a luxurious Ohanami?


Above: Norwegian bunda and sakura by Joe Photography
The sakura season is one of the most beloved times of the year in Japan, and if you're lucky enough to find yourself in Tokyo during this special season a stay at a hotel with good access - or even better; a view of a sakura garden - would be the perfect way to spoil yourself during your visit. For more information about sakura spots in Japan, you can check out some of the blog posts below. 
See also: 10 Top Rated Hotels in Tokyo Chosen by Travelers for 2018

Related blog posts


This blog post has been based on an article by Yoyaq

 This page contains affiliate links, and if you follow a link and make a hotel reservation through these links you help support this blog without any additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your kind support!

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below
~Anette

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Sunday, February 11, 2018

An Awesome Ramen Tour in Tokyo - 5 AM Ramen

6:50:00 PM
Are you a fan of ramen? Want to eat fantastic ramen in Tokyo but don’t know where to go? Join my friend Frank on his Insider Tokyo Ramen Tour to dive into delicious bowls of ramen, ones you won’t find in most guidebooks! 

Born in Tokyo and raised on ramen, Frank will help you experience ramen like never before, and like a true local. You can inquire about his ramen tours here: http://5amramen.com/ramen-tours

Or have a look at his blog 5 AM Ramen, for tasty food in Tokyo and beyond: www.5amramen.com





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Monday, January 15, 2018

How to sleep in a Capsule Hotel - do-c Ebisu [Hotel Review]

7:57:00 PM

If you’re looking to keep your costs to a minimum while traveling in Japan staying at a capsule hotel can provide a good alternative for you. This might not be the optimal option if you don’t like to share facilities with other guests or if you dislike being in small closed spaces, but if those two conditions are met you’ll likely be able to enjoy staying at do-C Ebisu. I recently spent some nights in the newly opened capsule hotel and summarized the stay below.

See also: 
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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

To Do in Tokyo: The Yebisu Garden Place Christmas Illumination

6:46:00 PM
Christmas is a time for dating here in Japan and you can find many places both in and around Tokyo where they are having special winter illuminations to help get you in the right mood. Some of my favorites so far include the Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market in Yokohama and the Country Farm Tokyo German Village winter illumination in Chiba. This time my darling and I went to the Yebisu Garden Place to enjoy some time together there.
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Monday, December 11, 2017

10 Top Rated Hotels in Tokyo Chosen by Travelers for 2018

10:09:00 PM
As Tokyo is getting ready for the upcoming 2020 Olympics the number of hotels offering accommodation to foreign visitors has exploded. Every year a number of new hotels are opening up their doors to the increasing number of visitors from all over the world (check out my list of new Tokyo hotels 2017 here), making it hard to know which hotels that provide the best experience for its guests. It can also be hard to choose from the large number of options out there, ranging from traditional ryokan inns to futuristic capsule hotels.
In this post, I will present Tokyo’s 10 best-ranked hotels according to guest reviews on the hotel booking site Agoda. The hotels included in this post are all 3+ star hotels and have received a minimum of 50 guest reviews. They are ranked below by average review score where 10/10 is the maximum.
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Sunday, November 19, 2017

Tokyo Restaurants: Fish your own meal at the Fishing Restaurant ZAUO

10:46:00 AM
Tokyo might not be the first destination that you'd think of for your next fishing trip. But if you want to try and catch your own dinner without the risk of having to go home with an empty stomach there are indeed options available for you. As an expat living in Tokyo I usually would cook my own dinner at home, but this time I took my visiting family to the fishing restaurant Zauo in Shibuya where we tried it out for ourselves. 
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Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Visit to a Luxury Outdoor Pool in Tokyo: The Hotel New Otani Garden Pool

11:26:00 PM

For those who find themselves in Tokyo during the blazing hot summer season one upscale alternative to the major nightlife districts might just be a visit to the pool. The largest outdoor pool Tokyo has to offer, Hotel New Otani's Garden Pool, is just like a tropical oasis where you can forget that you're in the middle of the bustling Tokyo.
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Saturday, June 17, 2017

Japanese Sake Fair 2017 in Ikebukuro Sunshine City - 日本酒フェア

1:14:00 PM

This weekend the Japanese Sake Fair 2017 is being held in Ikebukuro's Sunshine City, and people participating in the event have the opportunity to try sake from more than 800 sake breweries from all over Japan. Yesterday I had the chance to participate in an exclusive opening event where we got a pre-taste of today(17/6)'s fair.
 At the opening event we got to learn more about sake through a couple of interesting lectures, including an introduction to autophagy held by 2016 Nobel Prize laureate Mr. Yoshinori Ohsumi.


After the lectures it was time to try out some of the sake. We all got presented with a cute ochoko sake cup, and were free to walk around the venue trying sake from different prefectures and talking to representative of the different sakagura (breweries).



45 Japanese prefectures were represented at the fair, and among the sake you get to try at there are 430 award-winning brands from the Annual Japan Sake Awards. As you can imagine they all have their distinguished flavor and aroma, so whether you are a huge sake fan or not you might just find yourself a new favorite sake at this event.


The event lasts only for one day, and this year it is divided into two sessions lasting from 10 am - 2 pm and 3:30 - 7 pm so there's no time to wait for those who want to visit this year's Sake Fair!

■ Basic Info
  • ・Name of Event: Japanese Sake Fair (日本酒フェア)
  • ・Place: Ikebukuro Sunshine City
    • 〒170-0013 Tōkyō-to, Toshima-ku, Higashiikebukuro, ３丁目１−１番
  • ・Time: 10 am - 2 pm and 3:30 - 7 pm
  • ・Entrance Fee: 4000 yen when buying tickets at the door
  • ・Official Home Page：http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/fair/

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Recommended Hotels in Tokyo

 More Tokyo hotels
Robot Hotel - Henn na Hotel Maihama Tokyo Bay
Henn na Hotel
★★★★ → review		Bunka Hostel Tokyo
Bunka Hostel Tokyo
★★		Hundred Stay Tokyo Shinjuku
Hundred Stay Tokyo
★★★★ → review		Kaisu Hostel
Kaisu Hostel
★

This page contains affiliate links, and if you follow a link and make a hotel reservation through these links you help support this blog without any additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your kind support!


Thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below
- Anette

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About Me

Adventures ofAnette


A modern day shield-maiden who loves to explore the unbeaten paths of the world. From her base in Tokyo, Anette takes on both rural and urban challenges, and goes by the motto "No challenge too big, no adventure too small"!
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