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I n d o o r s postcards from
Bernard Viola,
general manager of the Al Bustan Palace Hotel Muscat, recommends:
TOKYO
A big konnichiwa (hello) from Japan’s capital, a place where trends are adapted, adopted and discarded within weeks. Here, there’s an obsession with all things weird and wonderful. But beneath the futuristic façade, there’s a traditional side to this hyper-urban cosmopolis. This is a place where you’ll find pagodas, imperial palaces and historic parks intertwined with steel towers, super-fast trains and technology. Yet for all its diverse offerings, I love it simply because it’s the city where I met my wife Yumiko, back in 2006.
My Favourite Place Go to the bustling Roppongi district after dark and you’ll find yourself in the Tokyo of your dreams – an area full of blazing neon lights, bustling crowds and streets pulsating with life. It’s very much reflective of modern Japan and became a popular haunt for the Japanese entertainment elite and expatriates during the 1960s. Crammed full of nightclubs, restaurants and bars, it’s lively to say the least. The name Roppongi literally means ‘six trees’, said to have been six very old and large Japanese zelkova trees, the last of which was destroyed during World War II. Many foreign embassies are located in the area and some big companies have their offices there, including Google Japan and Ferrari Japan. Crowning the midtown area is The Ritz Carlton, a very special hotel with giant paintings by Sam Francis and breathtaking views clear to the Imperial Palace. I was part of its opening team back in 2006 – another sentimental reason for loving Tokyo. Nearby, you’ll find Hinokicho Koen, a cherry tree-lined park and the National Art Centre.
Im p e r ia l Pa l a c e
Highlights: As a foodie, I have to say the restaurants. One of my favourite dining spots is Les Creations de Narisawa. It’s well worth the six-month wait to get a table because Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa studied under the most celebrated French cooks in the business, blending classical French techniques with a Japanese aesthetic and an adherence to shun (the philosophy of capturing ingredients at their peak season). He buys his meat, fish and certified organic produce directly from a handful of reliable farmers. In 2011, it was voted 12th best restaurant in the world. Visitors to Tokyo must have their photo taken with the famous Hachiko dog statue outside the Shibuya subway station entrance. This hound became famous for faithfully waiting for his master, who had died from a brain haemorrhage on the way home, for nine years. His story was even made into a Hollywood film starring Richard Gere. The current bronze statue was placed in 1948 at the spot where Hachiko used to stand. If you need a break from the city, head out to see the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Take a rickety old train across country for an hour to see the towering 13-metre bronze statue in the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. Lowlights:
Buy a good guidebook if you’re venturing outside Tokyo because some areas only have Japanese signs. Communication can be difficult, but with a smile people usually find a way to assist you.
ha G r e at B ud d a of K a m ak ur
Must buy souvenir:
Visit the Oriental Bazaar, located in the Middle of the Omotesando district, for a coffee mug featuring a picture of Mount Fuji (Fuji San). The Japanese say that each day you see Fuji San, you’ll have a great day. If you’re on a daytime flight, and lucky enough to have a window seat, you’ll have a wonderful view of Mount Fuji as you approach Tokyo’s Narita International Airport.
Where to stay: Tokyo is famous for its eclectic selection of hotels – from the sublimely ostentatious to the downright quirky. For those on a budget, try a capsule hotel. Sleeping in a tiny cramped pod often measuring just two square metres is an experience. Good ones have a television and offer food service. They are usually filled with businessmen who have missed the last train home or the curious. Most, such as the Shinjuku Kuyakusho–mae Capsule Hotel are men-only (capsules from RO17 per night) but the Asakusa Hotel & Capsule has women pods with Internet and shared washing facilities from RO11 (hotelink.co.jp). Tanoshinde! (enjoy)
Mount
Fuji AUG 15 – 21 / ISSUE 282
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