National_Geographic_Traveller_UK_June_2017
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SPECIAL FEATURE<br />
Where to shop<br />
MITS<strong>UK</strong>OSHI DEPARTMENT STORE<br />
Set in a stunning stone building, this flagship store<br />
offers daily pipe organ concerts and year-end choral<br />
performances. The basement food hall is a gasp-a-minute<br />
gourmet delight where you can sample pickles, rice<br />
crackers, hams, sausages, mochi (chewy rice cakes) and the<br />
like. mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/store/nihombashi<br />
OZU WASHI<br />
This traditional Japanese washi paper shop sells high-grade<br />
paper for painting, calligraphy and origami. Pull out drawers<br />
to find screen-printed glories that look marvellous when<br />
framed. The site includes a gallery and a studio where you<br />
can make your own washi paper. ozuwashi.net/en<br />
IBASEN<br />
Making beautifully, brightly coloured uchiwa (Japanese<br />
fans) for more than 400 years, Ibasen features calligraphy<br />
and Japanese art in its designs. Traditionally used for<br />
keeping cool, fanning away insects, keeping a flame lit and<br />
more, these wondrous objects are now most often pinned<br />
to walls to display their full glory. ibasen.com/world_wide<br />
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Japanese-style knives; counter, Mitsukoshi<br />
Department Store; Presidential Suite, Mandarin Oriental<br />
BRING IT HOME<br />
KATSUOBUSHI (DRIED BONITO)<br />
Ninben has been a part of Nihonbashi<br />
for more than 300 years selling dried<br />
bonito flakes, a traditional component<br />
of the Japanese diet. Katsuobushi is<br />
dried tuna, shaved into delicate flakes.<br />
It’s often used as a food topping or<br />
boiled in water to create dashi (stock).<br />
The shop contains a dashi bar, selling<br />
soup and rice dishes. ninben.co.jp<br />
JAPANESE KNIVES<br />
Nihonbashi Kiya — the Kiya Cutlery<br />
Shop — has been around since 1792<br />
and sells Japanese-forged steel knives.<br />
Marvel at the array of task specific<br />
knives before opting for the one that<br />
suits you best for kitchen use. The<br />
walls are also lined with kitchen knick<br />
knacks such as peelers, scrubbers and<br />
strainers. kiya-hamono.co.jp/english<br />
GOURMET TREATS<br />
Head to the Mitsukoshi depachika<br />
(food hall) for dried goods, pickles and<br />
seasonings. Snaffle some free samples<br />
and grab a picnic for the plane home.<br />
mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/store/nihombashi<br />
Where to stay<br />
MANDARIN ORIENTAL<br />
The Mandarin Oriental features 179 guest<br />
rooms and suites over six floors of the<br />
38-storey Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, and<br />
these, as well as most restaurants, bars, spa<br />
and even some toilets, afford spectacular<br />
views of greater Tokyo and beyond (you can<br />
see Mount Fuji from certain points). A 37thfloor<br />
spa offers four treatment rooms plus hot<br />
tubs that look out across the city.<br />
HOW TO DO IT: Rooms at the Mandarin<br />
Oriental Tokyo begin at £380 per night.<br />
Rates do fluctuate and are subject to an<br />
8% consumption tax, 15% service charge<br />
and accommodation tax of 200 Japanese<br />
yen (roughly £1.50) per person, per night.<br />
mandarinoriental.com/tokyo<br />
Flights with Japan Airlines, from Heathrow<br />
to Tokyo Haneda, start at £819 direct return.<br />
Promotional flights are sometimes available and<br />
can often begin as low as £480 for an indirect<br />
return flight. uk.jal.com<br />
154 natgeotraveller.co.uk
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