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Tokyo Stories Trivia
A Very Informal Guide to Tokyo
Based on Tokyo Storiesa hilarious novel about expatriate life in Japan!
Jim Merk, Co-publisher, Tokyo Weekender
cosmopolitan social life in Tokyo..."
Colin Donald, Book reviewer, The Daily Yomiuri
Akasaka – Commercial and nightlife area that used to be one of Tokyo’s red light districts. Now heavily populated with Korean restaurants and bars, although geisha can still be spotted ocassionally walking along the roads towards the few remaining Japanese teahouses.
Anniversaire – Fashionable and rather pricey store along Omotesando Avenue with a great outdoor cafe.
Aoyama – Trendy area in Tokyo for shopping and dining out. Lots of nice little restaurants and boutiques.
Atami – Seaside hot spring town about an hour away by bullet train from Tokyo. Was a very upmarket weekend destination until Japan’s economic bubble burst. Now it is full of mediocre establishments catering to local package tour groups, although a handful of select and expensiveryokan (Japanese inn) for the discerning traveler still exist.
Azabu Juban – Popular shopping area known for its quaint little shops and traditional stores, within the vicinity of high-end residential areas such as Hiroo, Azabu and the new Roppongi Hills residential complex. Its annual festivals are eagerly awaited by many foreign residents.
Chez Pierre – Cozy French brasserie along Gaien Nishi Street that has been in business for over 25 years. Practically an institution among old Tokyo hands. The moules from Mont Saint Michael, available only from July to November, and the beef cheeks stewed in a red wine sauce are to die for. A great favorite of the author's.
Daikanyama – Neighborhood known for young trends and smart restaurants. Frequented by the college and young professional crowd.
Ebisu – Regular central Tokyo neighborhood with a bustling commercial area developed around an old beer brewery site.
Fujiya Miyanoshita Hotel – Legendary hot spring hotel in Hakone, which has been around since the Meiji era. The hotel hascatered to foreigners since its opening in the latter half of the 19th century and, in its heyday, it counted royalty, movie legends and political figures among its guests.
Ginza – Japan's most famous shopping and nightlife district, with large department stores, fine shops and several famous dining establishments. The premiere department store here is Wako, a small and very high-end retailer with a select line of luxury goods.
Gotanda – Central Tokyo residential neighborhood.
Grand Hyatt Tokyo – New luxury hotel in Tokyo’s swanky Roppongi Hills district.
Gunma Prefecture – Agricultural prefecture north of Tokyo.
Hakone – One of the largest hot spring lake towns around the Mount Fuji area.
Harajuku – Shopping and dining area popular among young people with rather unusual tastes in fashion. The latest trends in the teen and young adult crowds can usually be spotted here first.
Hiroo – High-end residential area favored by expatriates, diplomats and wealthy Japanese who like to think of themselves as “internationalized.” The best locations here are those within a short walking distance of the Arisugawa Park.
Izu – Seaside resort area to the south of Mount Fuji, known for its foliage and temperate winter climate.
Kami-Meguro – Typical residential neighborhood on the outskirts of central Tokyo.
Kobe – Charming port town in the Kansai region associated with high-quality beef and million-dollar scenic views from the top of Rokko Mountain.
Komaba – Quiet residential neighborhood in the area around one of the campuses of the University of Tokyo.
L'Oisier – One of Tokyo's top French restaurants, located in Ginza.
Lake Yamanaka – One of the five lakes around Mount Fuji that is also a popular area for short holidays and for owning weekend homes. About a 90-minute drive from Tokyo.
Machida – Suburban town within metropolitan Tokyo from where many ordinary company employees commute to work in the city.
Mikimoto Pearl Store (Ginza) – The flagship store of Japan’s most famous manufacturer of pearl necklaces and other accessories.
Naka-Meguro – Middle-income residential neighborhood.
Narita Airport – Tokyo’s international airport, about 70 km away from the city center. Getting there is a trip in itself.
National Azabu Supermarket – One of Tokyo’s main supermarkets serving the foreign community. You can buy your copy of Tokyo Stories in the bookstore on the 2nd floor!
New York Grill – The flagship restaurant of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, rated highly by Zagat Tokyo. Dinner here is great for special ocassions, and the lunch specials that come with an appetizer and dessert buffet on weekdays and the champagne brunch on weekends are highly recommended. Again, another author favorite! (PS: The bar adjacent to the New York Grill was the backdrop for many scenes from Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation."
Nishi Azabu – Area known for nice restaurants and cafes. Considered a trendy dating area.
Nobu – Famous and expensive restaurant serving Japanese fusion food to people who want to see and be seen. Many U.S. celebrities drop by Nobu for a meal while visiting Tokyo, and it is surprisingly easy to get reservations! Sister restaurant of Nobu in New York and London.
Ogikubo – Typical suburban neighborhood.
Omotesando – Tokyo’s most fashionable shopping district. Its tree-lined avenue is littered with the newest and best luxury brand boutiques including those of Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior; and Japanese luxury names like Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake as well.
Park Hyatt Tokyo – Top luxury hotel particularly favored by famous movie stars and other international personalities who value their privacy. The entire hotel is a seamless blend of fine wood, glass, steel and greenery. If you stay here, make sure you don't miss a visit to the sports club and the spa!
Roppongi – Tokyo's trendiest nightlife district, popular among foreigners from all walks of life. Upmarket restaurants and seedy bars co-exist peacefully within the same few square kilometers. Aesthetically unpleasing during the day, total livewire experience at night.
Roppongi Hills – The latest and swankiest commercial and residential development in Tokyo. Nothing has been left to chance and the retailers and restaurateurs represented here represent the world's best -- but diners and shoppers must be prepared to pay for the experience.
Saitama Prefecture – Suburban bedtown near metropolitan Tokyo. Sometimes called Daisai-tama,” (to mean un-cool) by snooty Japanese.
Shibuya – Trendy area which boasts of a large and rather unwieldy commercial area popular among young people, and an upmarket residential area (Shoto) favored by expatriates and wealthy Japanese.
Shoto – The premiere residential area in Shibuya Ward and, arguably, in Japan. Was primarily a genteel neighborhood for old-rich politicans, successful Japanese business owners with some pedigree and foreigners with large housing allowances. Since the late 1990s, it has been taken over by newly-rich stock market investors, major dotcom players, financial and technology industry executives, and ambitious entrepreneurs who don’t mind paying a lot of money for a good address. Almost all of the grand new houses here are owned by stock market millionaires -- including a few foreign ones!
Tochigi Prefecture – Prefecture north of Tokyo that is famous for hot springs, resorts and sightseeing. Many prominent people own farms or weekend houses here.
Toko Shinoda – Famous Japanese calligrapher-artist whose works are avidly collected particularly by wealthy expatriates, some of whom delight in passing around the rumor that certain members of the Japanese Imperial Family are fellow collectors as well.
Tokyo American Club (TAC) – Tokyo's top leisure and recreational club for expatriates. Many foreign executives get a membership here as part of their expat packages. However, for Japanese, it can be incredibly difficult to get in.
Tokyu Department Store – Major department store in the Shibuya area patronized by foreigners primarily for the large supermarket in the basement that stocks foreign food and displays everything in English and Japanese.
Toraya – Top traditional Japanese maker of confectioneries. Many Japanese who want to be admired for their good taste in food gifts will purposely buy a beautiful box of seasonal sweets here. The most famous sweets produced here are called youkan, and are made from a form of gelatinous bean paste.
Yoyogi-Uehara – Upmarket residential neighborhood in Tokyo favored by foreigners who prefer its genteel and quiet atmosphere over the flashiness of Hiroo. Popular for its easy access to the American School and British School, as well as to Yoyogi Park and the Omotesando area.
Yurakucho – Commercial area for businesses and retailers. Site of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ).
Christine Miki's recommendations
for Tokyo's best dining and shopping spots.
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