Category： Theme parkArea： Ginza / TsukijiOkuno Building The Okuno Building is located in the Ginza Area of Tokyo's Chuo Ward. This old-style "Ginza Apartment", built at the beginning of the Showa era in 1932, is beloved by architecture fans. These apartments were born as technologically advanced "cultural apartments", fully equipped with steam heating and public baths. Renovations over the years has have brought it to its current form. If you look at the building's two sides, separated by the two central walls, you will see that the size and positions of the windows are slightly different. The current "Okuno Building" now contains several tenants including art galleries. The old-fashioned, manual elevator inside is in operation to this day.
Baked Melon Bread - Tsukishima Kyuei Melon Bread Specialty Store, "Baked Melon Bread Tsukishima Kyuei", Tsukishima Monja Street, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. As the name suggests, Melon Bread is the main attraction at this store. The store's popularity is shown by the signatures of celebrities that decorate the storefront. The store's specialty is warm, freshly made melon bread that emits a sweet and lovely scent. The exquisite harmony of the crisp but fluffy texture of the bread will make you smile, while one bite of this melon bread will have you addicted to its delicious taste. In addition to melon bread, the store is crowded on weekends with customers looking to purchase chocolate pies, apple pies, and biscottis. Line up at the storefront to make your purchase, and feel free to rest on the store bench while snacking on your melon bread.
Category： Shrine / templeTakarada Ebisu Shrine Takarada Ebisu Shrine is located in Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It is a shrine dedicated to Ebisu (one of Nihonbashi's "Shichifukujin" -- seven lucky Japanese gods) that was relocated to this place during the Edo period. This area has historically prospered through its role in gold-silver exchange, land-based infrastructure, and freight transportation. The merchants and business-owners in the area have long worshipped the shrine deity, Ebisu, for his correlation to bringing business prosperity and success. Every year, in preparation for the shrine festival on the October 20th, a public market was held on the 19th. Together, they formed an annual tradition of wishing to the gods for prosperity and success. Today, this tradition has transformed into the bustling "Bettara-ichi Market" -- a two-day long public market between October 19th and 20th.
Category： Commercial facilityCOREDO MUROMACHI “COREDO Muromachi”, a commercial complex stretching out across three buildings stands in Chuo ward of eastern Tokyo. The name "COREDO" is a newly coined word, originating from the combination of the english word "CORE" and the former name of Tokyo, "EDO". COREDO Muromachi is located in a specific area called "NIHONBASHI"(meaning Japan's Bridge), which was the starting point of five major trade routes called "GOKAIDO". Since then, NIHONBASHI gained it's name as the CORE of economy, serving literally as "Japan's bridge" by connecting EDO with the outer provinces. COREDO Muromachi inherits this history with many shops and restaurants enbodying both Japanese traditional and innovative culture. "COREDO Muromachi 1" was made under the concept of "Nihonbashi, enlivening Japan", and lives up to it's name by mixing both well-established traditional shops and popular modern brands. "COREDO Muromachi 2" stands out from the others, not because it also has qualified shops but because there is a cutting edge Movie Theater to entertain yourself. "COREDO Muromachi 3" has it's own theme as well, focusing mainly on "Food and Living". A wide range of shops will offer you high quality daily goods and interiors, covering all kinds of lifestyles and needs. Needless to say, NIHONBASHI is also a perfect place to just simply walk around and enjoy your time with tons of sightseeing spots to visit and numerous shops to look for the souvenir of your choice. In addition, various events, such as concerts and Rakugo are held in "NIHONBASHI MITSUI HALL" located inside of COREDO Muromachi 1.Don't forget to check the event schedules in advance.
Category： Hot Springs / spaHarumi Futo Harumi Futo is located in Chuo Ward, eastern Tokyo. It is located in a landfill made using sediment on the seabed, and is known as the gateway to the sea in Tokyo. Harumi Pier is where domestic and foreign passenger ships anchor. The Harumi Passenger Terminal in the center was opened in 1991 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Tokyo Port. A luxury cruise ship and the Antarctic observation ship, Shirase, depart and return. The 6 story Harumi Passenger Terminal has an observatory and you can see the passenger boats coming and going. Overlooking the Rainbow Bridge and high-rise buildings, you can enjoy an open panoramic view. The recommended time to do so, is from evening to late night. The Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal also lights up, creating a fantastic atmosphere.
Category： Shrine / templeFukutoku Jinjya Shrine Fukutoku Jinjya Shrine is located in Cyuo-ku, the East Tokyo, standing in one corner of the Nihon-bashi area forested with tower buildings. This shrine is named Inari Jinjya, a tutelary shrine guarding the local people of “Fukutoku village” of Musashi-no district. It is also called “Mebuki Jinjya”. The venerable shrine is said to be named by Hidetada Tokugawa, the second Shogun of Edo shogunate when he visited. Its establishment age is not clearly known, supposed to have already been enshrined around 1860 to 1876. Its main deity is “Ukanomitama-no-mikoto, a God of good abundant harvest. You can receive a wide range of blessings such as warding-off-evils, better fortune and good relationship, finding variety of “Omamori” charms. It is also known as a power spot for lottery winning, and “Takara-bukuro”. Keeping your lottery tickets is popular amongst visitors.
Shirokiya Denbei Shirokiya Denbei is an "Edo broom" store located in Chuo ward, Tokyo. It is a business selling handmade brooms, with a very long heritage dating back to 1830. The brooms are made with a bamboo handle and bristles of "broom corn", a special type of sorghum, that gives the final broom a light weight and flexibility. The design results in easy handling suitable for daily use. You can clean an entire house using this type of broom, from the tatami mat and hard flooring, all the way to carpet floors. In addition to room brooms, there are various sizes and shapes of brooms suitable for various purposes such as cleaning clothes or a desktop. The dust pans are made with washi (Japanese paper) coated with persimmon tanning dye for stronger durability and water resistance. I recommend that you pick up one as a companion to go with a broom.
Category： SouvenirEdoya “Edoya” is located in Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It is a long-standing, specialty brush store with a history of 300 years, dating all the way back to 1718. After training in the art of brush-making in Kyoto, the founder of Edoya went to Tokyo to establish his business. The current building, with a modern concrete construction and wooden interior, was built in 1925 after the original building was damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Edoya carries all kinds of brushes, from handicraft brushes for craftspeople, and housework-related cleaning brushes, all the way to cosmetic face and hair brushes. The store is lined with brushes of all shapes, sizes and purposes. It's fun to just look at everything in stock! Once you take one in hand, you'll realize; each and every one is a product of abundant knowledge and craftsmanship, that has been cultivated ever since the Edo period. They're all worth an experience!
Category： Commercial facilityNihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store is located in Chuo-ku of the East Tokyo. It is a long-established department store from which you can feel good old Japan. This department store has developed from Echigo-ya draper's shop established by Takatoshi Mitsui in 1673. There is a wide range of commodities from world-class brand items to artworks, with many people visiting. Its Nihonbashi building was completed in 1935, designated as cultural assets of national importance in 2016. Its feature is the majestic and beautiful appearance like Renaissance architecture. The lion statue, said to be the guardian deity of Mitsukoshi, sits at its entrance, and people use it as their meeting spot. You can use this spot not only for shopping or dining but also for seeing Japanese history everywhere. Entertainment such as events and exhibitions are often held there. Let's check them out from the event calender on its official website.
Category： Educational tourArea： Ginza / TsukijiKonparu-yu Konparu-yu is a public bath that opened in 1863 and is proud of its long 157 year history. It is located in the Ginza area of Chuo Ward, Tokyo. Remodeled in 1957, it changed from a wooden public bath facility to one floor within a larger building. The name Konparu-yu is said to be derived from the "Konparu-style" of Noh theater, because there was a Noh actor's residence on this land. Noh is an ancient performance art of Japan, and Konparu-yu bearing a name related to that is indicative of its long history. Konparu-yu's old-timey interior maintains the essence of the traditional public bath. The bandai (reception counter in a public bath) and high lattice ceiling create a retro atmosphere even though the building is located on a corner in the Ginza area. The Mt. Fuji mural on a wall in the public bath was painted by Atsuo Nakajima, a professional public bath artist. The men's bath features a painting of Mt. Fuji colored red as if it is burning, and the women's bath displays the popular landscape of "Miho no Matsubara (Miho Pine Grove)" with Mt. Fuji in the backdrop. The wall is also a display of Kutani porcelain tile art, and the murals altogether create a great companion to your traditional public bath experieince. (Photo courtesy: Konparu-yu)
Category： Museum / GallerySuginomori Jinjya Shrine "Suginomori Jinjya" is located in Chuo-ku, Tokyo Pref. It worships "Gosha Inari-shin" and "Ebisu no Okami". It was regarded as the "3 great shrines around the Edo castle"(Karasumori Jinjya, Yanagimori Jinjya and Suginomori Jinjya) in the Edo period,collecting the religious faith of people. In those days, lotteries(Tomi-kuji) had been sold in the premises of Suginomori, and people wishing to win the lottery come to worship there on "Tomi no hi", 13th every month and Octber 3rd. Fesvivals are held regularly on 5th, 15th and 16th of every month. At the same timing of "Ebisu-maturi" on October 19th and 20th, "Takarada Ebisu Jinjya", at about 5-mimute walk from there, holds the regular festival. "Bettara market" is open with 100 or more street booths and food stalls selling "Bettara-zuke"(radish pickles).
Category： Other (Japanese cuisine)Area： Tokyo Bay areaTsukuda-ni, Ten-yasu Main Store You can find “Tsukugen Tanaka-ya”, a Tsukuda-ni (food boiled down in soy) store in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, by approx. an 8-minute walk from Tsukishima Station. A shop for selling and a factory adjoin each other, with a floating scent of salty-sweet soy sauce of tsukuda-ni. The good flavor, not too sweet, not too salty, is popular amongst a wide range of people. Their tsukuda-ni is deliberately cooked in the secret sauce continuously replenished, well-flavored for everyone to love. It is very popular as a souvenir or gift. In summer season, you can find this special tsukuda-ni using seasonal Anago (conger). Their Anago is baked once, then cooked in the sauce, ending up with grilled soft taste. It is a must-buy item when you find it.
Category： OtherArea： Tokyo Bay areaMonja Mugi - main store In the Tsukishima Area of Tokyo’s Chuo Ward, the monja-yaki restaurant “Monja Mugi” opens its doors to the Tsukishima Monja Street. This is the main store of the popular monja-yaki restaurant, which also has a Nishinaka and Kiyosumi-dori branch. Monja Mugi is dedicated to fresh ingredients, and only seafood bought directly from Tsukiji market is used in their dishes. Unlike many establishments which use fine-cut cabbage, they cut their cabbage quite large. This is to allow the final monja-yaki to retain and deliver the vegetable’s full texture. Their flagship dish is the “Mugi Special”. Alongside the classic monja-yaki ingredients, this one is packed with a huge variety of meat, seafood and mushrooms (squid, prawns, tuna, corn, fish cake, green onion, shimeji mushrooms, pork, shredded squid, sakura shrimp) that are all perfect matches with monja-yaki. The result is a hefty monja-yaki, boasting a size 1.5 times the standard. With its abundance of ingredients, this monja-yaki gives a different taste and experience with every separate bite. It’s a great dish to share with big groups of family and friends. *As of now, November 2019, Tsukishima Monja Street is under redevelopment. The photograph and address are of the temporary location, in which Monja Mugi continues to be in operation.
Category： SouvenirArea： Ginza / TsukijiYonei Building "Yonei Building" stands in the Ginza area of Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It is a commercial building built in 1929 by an architect, Matsunosuke Moriyama. The first floor retains its appearance of the time when it was built, where a refined arch with a Romanesque style design stands impressively. The second floor and above used to be covered with terracotta tiles, but is currently finished with mortar creating a simple look. In 2018, a famous western style confectionery shop called "Henry Charpentier" reopened as a tenant of the Yonei Building. At the boutique space and the salon space, you can enjoy the taste of elegant western sweets, which perfectly matches with the modern stylish interiors.
Category： SouvenirHonto Tsubaki Ever since its establishment in 1910, Honto Tsubaki in Chuo-ward of Tokyo has been a manufacturer of camellia oil products. This plant-based oil, extracted from Camellia, has been used as a cosmetic beauty product since the Heian period in Japan. The founder comes from Toshima Island, one of the many Izu Islands south of Tokyo. Toshima Island was a major center of camellia oil production since the Edo period, and the founder's wish was to make his home island's produce more known and loved in the Japanese mainland. “Honto-Tsubaki pure camellia oil Toshima”, is a long top seller of the company for being 100% Toshima-sourced and natural. The company opens a booth right in front of its building, where you can learn about, and buy their products at a special factory price. If you’re unsure about the differences, or how to use them, the staff are there to help you find the product just right for you!
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