Tokyo Weekender - November 2017

10 TOP TOKYO
BONENKAI SPOTS
WHERE TO “FORGET THE YEAR” THIS
COMING FESTIVE SEASON
Words by Patrick St. Michel and Naomi Schanen
For many, 2017 is probably a year they want to forget,
or at least blur out a little. Luckily, those living in Japan
get the perfect chance to do just that. Every December,
as the year comes to a close, groups of friends and
companies gather for bonenkai, or “forget the year
parties.” Before breaking out the new calendar, these happenings
between tight-knit groups allow everyone a chance to say goodbye
to the past 12 months together.
That entails a lot of revelry. Bonenkai typically take place in
a nice restaurant or karaoke spot, ideally one with ample space
for everyone to gather around. Partygoers share a wide variety of
delicious dishes and throw back some (or a lot of ... everyone’s year is
different) drinks, with many a Suntory beverage making an appearance.
You need to start prepping your bonenkai now, and to that end,
here are some of the finest places to say goodbye to 2017 in style.
AKASAKA GODAIGO
HANARE
DEN AQUA ROOM
AOYAMA
Small talk isn’t a problem
at the luxe Den Aqua Room
Aoyama. The walls of this
basement restaurant feature
tanks full of fish, some rainbow
colored and others looking
like they’re straight out of
the Mesolithic. Coupled with
the intimate lighting and relaxing
music, it’s a good place
to reminisce on the year. Den Aqua Room offers both course
menus and, for groups of over 40, a buffet option, highlighted by
pork in a red wine sauce and yuzu-glazed sausage. They mix up
over 60 cocktails too, including eight types of highballs featuring
Suntory whiskey and bourbon. Once the night is finished, snap a
group photo in front of the aquarium.
B1F KDX Minami Aoyama Bldg., 5-13-3 Minato-ku,
050-3171-8346, aqua-aoyama.com/
Opened just this past September,
Akasaka Godaigo Hanare
guarantees to warm you up in
the colder months. That’s all
thanks to their signature dish,
oden, served in a ceramic pot
placed smack dab in the middle
of the table for everyone to
enjoy. Hanare keeps it simple,
highlighting the taste of daikon
with a clear broth. Round out
your bonenkai dining experience
with sashimi, yakitori or even
meat cooked on a stone grill, all
for reasonable prices. On top of
a year-end course plan, you can
also get an all-you-can-drink
service for a little more, allowing
you a flowing supply of Suntory
beer and highballs.
B1F Akasaka Alto Bldg., 3-8-1
Akasaka, Minato-ku, 03-6435-
5816, www.daiwa-j.com/shop/
godaigo/akasakahanare/
26 | NOVEMBER 2017 | TOKYO WEEKENDER