HIGASHI-YAMA TOKYO
Tuckedaway
upasteepstaircase, onasmall
street inNakameguro, you’llfind
thissleek restaurant.Theyuse fresh
seasonal vegetables, fish, andbeef
speciallyselected fromall over
Japan.This is theplace toenjoy
traditional Japanesecuisinewitha
contemporary, dynamicapproach
that’sperfectlymatchedwithwine
andsake.
1-21-25Higashiyama,
Meguro-ku, 011-81-3-5720-1300;
higashiyama-tokyo.jp
SASAKI
Ahiddengem in thehustle
andbustleof theRoppongi city, this
isoneof theverybestplaces toenjoy
sushi.Carefullyselected fresh
ingredients, combinedwithsakeand
shochu, and thereareonlyeight
counterseats. It isasmall placewith
warmhospitality.
7-6-5Roppongi,
Minato-ku, 011-81-3-3479-2711
KOISHIKAWAANNEX, THEUNIVERSI-
TYMUSEUMOF THEUNIVERSITYOF
TOKYO
TheKoishikawaBotanical
Gardensare theoldest inJapan, and
theuniversitymuseum’sannex is
locatedon thegroundsof these
gardens. I love theChambersof
Curiositiesat theKoishikawa
Annex,whichexhibitsmammals
andbotanical specimens, vintage
engineeringprototypes, fossils, and
minerals.Thespace is full of beauty
andchaos, crammedwithpiecesof
theworldyoucanseeand feel.
3-7-1Hakusan,Bunkyo-ku,011-81-3-
5777-8600; um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/exhibition/
annex.html
BAISHINKA
Thisconfectioneroffers
awide rangeof elegant
wagashi
,
traditional Japanesesweets for
seasonal festivalsandcelebrations.
Theoldhousewasdesignedwitha
beautiful Japanesegardenwith
splendidplums,which inspired the
name (
baishinka
are theheartof the
plum fruit).
3-4-7Yakumo,Meguro-ku,
011-81-3-5731-1620; baishinka.jp
KAGURAZAKA AREA
Theworldof
geishareached itspeak inKaguraza-
kaduring theTaishoperiod (1912-
1926), and this isoneof themost
famous
hanamachi
districtsofTokyo.
Kagurazakahasalsobeena favorite
amongwell-knownwriterssince the
period.Takea turnoff themain
streetand intoasmallalleywayand
narrowpassages, and look in
between theblackwooden fences.
Sometimesyouwillhear thesounds
of shamisenplaying.
Tokyo
Koishikawa Annex, The UniversityMuseum of the University of Tokyo
49
celebratedliving.com
WINTER 2012
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