june-2010

THE OLD AND THE NEW
WHAT TO SEE
Back in time
Three centuries of history
await you in the Edo-Tokyo
Museum (edo-tokyo-museum.
or.jp), while the Emperor’s
Gardens and Imperial Palace
(kunaicho.go.jp) are impressive
remains of a past era. Make a
wish at the Meiji Shrine
(meijijingu.or.jp), or head for
Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensoji
(senso-ji.jp), for a glimpse of
the traditional city.
WHERE TO EAT
Flash in the pan
High-end fl ash teppanyaki
await you at Mon Cher Ton
Ton (seryna.co.jp). Super sushi
can be enjoyed in Nakata
(imperialhotel.co.jp). Umaya
(jrfs.co.jp/umayahome) offers
hearty dishes in a rustic
environment, and Miyashita’s
chefs (youshoku.jp) fuse
Japanese and Western recipes
for delicious dishes.
WHERE TO SHOP
Gadgets and techno
heaven
Mitsukoshi (mitsukoshi.co.jp) is
Japan’s oldest department
store. Shibuya’s Tokyu Hands
(tokyu-hands.co.jp) stocks
unusual gifts and quirky
gadgets. Fashionistas will love
Opaque’s (opaque.ne.jp) trendy
offerings, while technophiles
FAST-PACED METROPOLIS
Temples, trends, traditions
Combining centuries of tradition with fast-paced living, Japan’s trendy capital mixes a
modern metropolitan lifestyle with ancient rituals. Experience incense-fi lled temples,
neon-lit nightlife and head-turning street fashion.
will discover paradise in BIC
Camera’s (biccamera.co.jp)
eight fl oors of electronics.
HOW TO GET THERE
KLM operates one daily direct
fl ight to Tokyo Narita Airport
from Amsterdam Airport
Schiphol.
Tourist information
tourism.metro.tokyo.jp
Looking for handy, up-to-date
travel information? Check out
KLM’s Destination Guide pages
– and book your fl ight – on
klm.com. Content provided by
Frommer’s Unlimited © 2010,
Whatsonwhen Limited.
TOUCHDOWN TOKYO
DON’T MISS
Dining to
die for
Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu was
the inspiration for the
restaurant scene in Quentin
Tarantino’s fi lm Kill Bill.
Lanterns lighten the woodpanelled
interior, as patrons
enjoy delicious soba noodles
and skewers of meat. Watch
the chefs cooking, from the
bar, balcony or private rooms
enticingly hidden behind
sliding doors. gonpachi.jp
INSPIRED SURROUNDINGS
Photo: Trey Ratcliff
Holland Herald 73