GREAT EXPECTATIONS

On my way up, I was of course anticipating a beautiful hotel typical of
the Aman group. And perhaps more so in this case, as the bar to impress guests is certainly higher in Tokyo, the city with the most number of “Aman junkies” in the world.

“I was completely unprepared for the cavernous space of light, 30 meters high, that awaited me once the elevator doors opened. Talk about making first impressions count.”

Tokyo is also ground zero for design and technology pushed to the limit. So the pressure was definitely laid thick on Aman to come up with a Tokyo property that would dazzle. Moreover, it had to do so in a most subtle way — if this is even possible. After all, most of its jaded guests have already stayed in amazing hotels all over the world.

READ ABOUT THE BEST NEW HOTEL IN SPAIN

THE LOBBY OF AMAN TOKYO

I was one of these jaded guests and these were my lofty expectations. However, surprise greeted me upon arrival. I’ve stayed everywhere wonderful, but I was completely unprepared for the cavernous space of light, 30 meters high, that awaited me once the elevator doors opened. This was the lobby. Talk about making first impressions count.

Quite unlike any other hotel lobby in Tokyo, this is literally the equivalent of eight floors of space and soft bright light that deliberately extends one’s vision all the way to the top.

WHAT TO DO WITH WASHI PAPER

Then the designers covered the walls of about six of these floors in textured “washi” paper. They stretched these on a wooden shoji frame to resemble a traditional Japanese paper lantern. This gave the lobby an aura of unearthliness appropriate for a hotel so high up.

Meanwhile, at eye level, a calm pool of water lay at the center of attention. This was located somewhere between polished wood, rough grey stone, two Zen rock gardens and a mammoth arrangement of fragile ikebana-inspired greenery.

Then there were the views to take your breath away if you still had any left. I saw the breadth and width of the Tokyo skyline before me. This certainly made for a good combination of earth, sky, and, of course, luxury.

THE PERFECT FIT

Admittedly, this truly 21st century hotel is not for everyone. However minimalists and enthusiasts for Japanese design will immediately appreciate its aesthetics. It is stark, crisp and so seamless. Like a simple but perfectly cut little black designer dress.

READ ABOUT THE AMANEMU IN ISE

At least, this is how I felt, checking in one recent Sunday to happily call Aman Tokyo my home for four days. I was already sufficiently enamored at the outset. Nevertheless, this hotel grows on you and ends up fitting your lifestyle. By the end of my stay, I most definitely would have stayed four months or four years instead of four days — had my credit card allowed this.

Read more about the best hotels and resorts in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

The post Up in the air in Tokyo appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

When it comes to traveling, luxury serviced apartments like the new Oakwood Tokyo Premier are in a unique category. These were previously the accommodations of choice of expatriates who lease by the month. However, recently, some of these apartments have been allowed to open up to shorter periods of stay. Consequently these have become great options for families, couples who like to cook, and solo travelers looking for more space and home comforts, among others.

WHY CHOOSE A SERVICED APARTMENT IN TOKYO?

The case for choosing good serviced apartments over other options is very persuasive. For one thing, the units are generally larger and therefore more comfortable. Sop guests have spacious rooms, plus all the amenities of a hotel. They also have a kitchen and essentials like a washing machine and dryer. There is also full-time reception staff and daily housekeeping services, just like in a top four-star hotel.

IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION

The Oakwood Tokyo Premier is one of the best serviced apartments in the city. Located just steps away from Tokyo Station and the shopping districts of Ginza and Nihonbashi, it’s an ideal base for guests looking to stay in the center of everything.

Moreover, getting around Tokyo and the rest of Japan is easy with such a location. There are buses and trains straight to Tokyo Station from Tokyo’s airports, and all the bullet trains to the North and the South of Japan depart from here as well.

ALL THE SERVICES OF A HOTEL

The serviced apartment itself is furnished with a refined feel similar to other modern luxury hotels in Tokyo. It has all the services provided by a top four-star hotel. It also has a much better location, too. Moreover, Oakwood Premier Tokyo offers more quiet and privacy since only guests access the lobby.

On the lobby floor is a cafe, two floors high, that serves breakfast, coffee and tea, and cocktails. It’s a lounge for relaxing and meeting other guests. We always thought we would try this lounge. However, our apartment was so comfortable that we never felt the need to leave it.

A HOTEL THAT FEELS LIKE HOME

By Tokyo standards, this apartment is perfect for holidays and spacious enough for long-term residency. The two bedrooms and two bathrooms are all spacious, as are the kitchen and the combined living room and dining room.

Usually, kitchens in serviced apartments in Tokyo are afterthoughts rather than well-designed spaces because most guests prior to the pandemic never really planned to do anything more difficult than heat up a packaged meal in the microwave. Our kitchen at Oakwood Premier Tokyo was furnished completely so that we could roast lamb chops and cook lobster spaghetti with great ease at the same time.

READ ABOUT THE PRIVATE CHEF EXPERIENCE AT OAKWOOD PREMIER TOKYO

YES, YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL

A visit to Tokyo is notoriously expensive, especially for those wishing to travel with the family in a style of luxury. Quality accommodations in Central Tokyo are prohibitively priced, as are restaurant meals. However, with options like the top-of-class Oakwood Premier Tokyo serviced apartment, Tokyo can feel more like home and happy trips need not break the bank after all.

A ROMANTIC HACIENDA HAS JUST OPENED AS LOVELY HOTEL IN SPAIN

The post Home sweet home appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

At its peak, the New York Grill of the Park Hyatt Tokyo was easily one of the best restaurants in the world. This was in the late 1990s and the hotel had just opened to great acclaim. It literally changed the landscape of the hotel industry. Until then, there was no hotel on the planet that made ultra-stylish modern interiors with extreme attention to details for the luxury market.

THE PLACE TO SEE AND BE SEEN IN TOKYO

Meanwhile, the New York Grill set the standard for contemporary fine dining. I do not exaggerate when I say that everyone who was anyone in the world wanted to eat here. The waiting list for a table at the New York Grill was as long as several months. There were lots of people hoping for confirmed dinner reservations and also for a table for Sunday brunch. Sunday brunch at the New York Grill was the best in Tokyo. Of course, the wait was worth it.

In the late 1990s, this was the destination restaurant for people who had already been everywhere and done everything. First, there was the location. There were few restaurants that occupied the entire floor of the top of a building in Tokyo in those days, so this fact alone made everyone’s jaw drop. I think the massive open kitchen also made it to restaurant design history. Three sides are either open or walled in glass so there is no place to hide messy preparations. This ushered in the era of performance cooking, where your food is on show from preparation stage to plating and serving.

IF VIEWS COULD KILL

The views from this restaurant were — and still are — a crowd drawer. You see, when you get out of the elevator on the restaurant floor, immediately you are eyeball to eyeball with incredible views of Tokyo. These are not just any views either. The New York Grill is housed in a dome that is three or four storeys high. So you have this incredible feeling of being in the sky from the height relative to outside, and then also from the height inside.

Then there was the wonderful food. I’ve known many of the New York Grill chefs and each one had a way of combining the best of Japanese ingredients into great Western-style comfort food. This has always been the go-to place for steak-and-sides for dinner.

Then for lunch, including on Sundays, the chefs always created a truly fancy appetizer and dessert buffet. Diners could have their fill of both and they chose a main dish in between. This was so enjoyable and a long Sunday brunch at the New York Grill was my favorite weekend activity for a very long time.

LIVING IN ELECTRIC DREAMS

Finally, the electric atmosphere of the New York Grill was a great crowd drawer. It was always full of Japanese celebrities, New York billionaires, Hollywood movie stars and European supermodels. All the American movie stars visiting Tokyo stayed at here, so it was not unusual to see one of them in the next table. In fact, this is how Sofia Coppola ended up choosing to shoot her movie “Lost in Translation” at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. She’d stayed here several times.

This made for a real adrenalin rush, to enter a restaurant full of movers and shakers and beautiful people. If you were not part of this crowd, you suddenly felt you had joined anyway.

For a time, I ate here several times a week. In fact I was always looking for an excuse to eat here because life seemed more perfect after a meal at the New York Grill. I kid you not. I always left the restaurant with a much better feeling about the world than when I entered it. And this is probably the best reason to eat in any restaurant.

Because I ate there all the time, I had a hotline for booking tables. In those days, as I have already written, the restaurant was completely full for months. However, when possible, they always left one table or two empty for sudden VIP arrivals. So if I was lucky and no VIPs had claimed this table, it was usually mine. This is how the New York Grill became my “kitchen.”

FINE DINING AMIDST THE PANDEMIC

Fast forward to September 2020 and we are in the middle of the worst pandemic mankind has seen in about 100 years. The world has become a place of lockdowns and misery in a matter of months. So if there was any perfect time for me to revisit the New York Grill, it was probably in these COVID-19 months. I have already mentioned how my perception of the world always changed after eating here. Well, last September was a good time to get my current worldview altered even slightly.

Fortunately, the New York Grill did not disappoint. The best thing about it was that it was exactly the same as I have always remembered it. Absolutely nothing had changed. So if someone had tied a blindfold around my eyes, I would still be able to find my way to my favorite table.

READ ABOUT THE LOST IN TRANSLATION SUITE OF THE PARK HYATT TOKYO

PARADISE FOUND IN TOKYO

In this current world where everyone’s lives have been turned upside down, the New York Grill was still the paradise it has always been. Even the menu did not seem to change much, Why change a good thing that works, after all? So the steaks and the sides were as good as always. I ordered a rib-eye grilled medium, and as always I asked the kitchen for rice instead of potatoes.

I was so thankful that night that some things indeed never change. The New York Grill was an oasis of normalcy and a vestige of the old world we had before the pandemic. This was a most precious thing, and it gave me a real break away from all these months of thinking about COVID-19.

JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS

In fact, the restaurant was full that evening and as lovely and lively as ever. And the waitstaff who came to take our order also said: “We served over 100 covers at lunch today. And we’ve managed to keep the appetizer and dessert buffet too.” Wow. That sure sounded like a pandemic had never happened..

Nevertheless, these days are also all about safety. Masks, temperature checks and sanitizers were all in place. So perhaps “the best of the old world and the new world” is a more accurate description for this restaurant. And for now, this is probably the most perfect combination of all.

Read more about the best hotels and restaurants in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

A HACIENDA HOTEL OPENS IN SPAIN AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The post The hotel and restaurant that changed the world appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

During my week-long stay at the Peninsula Tokyo, breakfast became the highlight of each day. I had ordered it through room service, and it always arrived perfectly presented, tray by tray, as though each morning were its own private ceremony. What made it truly extraordinary, however, was the setting.

From the windows of my corner suite, I enjoyed sweeping 180-degree views over the Imperial Palace gardens and Hibiya Park. In Tokyo, where few hotels can offer such uninterrupted panoramas, this felt like a privilege. Morning light poured across the treetops, the palace moat shimmered below, and the city seemed to open itself just for me. To savor breakfast against this backdrop was to experience one of the most exquisite luxuries Tokyo has to offer.

A Japanese Breakfast by a Michelin-Starred Chef

Then, of course, there was the breakfast itself. I chose the traditional Japanese breakfast, and it rivaled the meals served at the finest ryokan in Japan. Yet here, at the Peninsula Tokyo, it came with a unique distinction.

The menu had been created by Kazuo Takagi, the acclaimed two-Michelin-star chef behind Takagi in Kobe. His restaurant is a landmark in Ashiya, one of Japan’s most refined and desirable districts, known for its quiet wealth and impeccable taste. To find his culinary philosophy translated into a hotel breakfast in Tokyo was both unexpected and unforgettable. Each dish reflected balance, seasonality, and the understated elegance that defines true Japanese cuisine.

LA ESPERANZA GRANADA: A BEAUTIFUL VILLA IN SPAIN

What’s in a Japanese Breakfast?

The Japanese breakfast at The Peninsula Tokyo arrived in a lacquered box, each compartment holding something delicate and precise. There were both cooked and cold dishes, including a silken piece of steamed eggplant, seasonal vegetables, and small bites designed to awaken the palate.

At the center of the tray was the star: a piece of perfectly grilled salmon, its skin crisp, its flesh tender and glistening. Alongside came the staples of every Japanese morning — a bowl of fluffy white rice and a steaming cup of miso soup. Simple, yes, but elevated in every detail.

Everything about the presentation reflected the philosophy of Chef Kazuo Takagi: balance, restraint, and respect for the ingredients. This was not just hotel dining. It was a breakfast that rivaled what you might be served in a traditional ryokan— yet here, framed by views of the Imperial Palace gardens, it felt utterly unique.

Western Breakfast at the Peninsula Tokyo

Although I ordered the Japanese breakfast most mornings, I occasionally switched to the Western menu. The Peninsula Tokyo breakfast offers several tempting choices, each prepared with the same attention to detail.

My favorite quickly became the eggs benedict, which I would argue is among the very best in Tokyo. Instead of the usual thin slice of ham, it came with thick, juicy bacon — perfectly seared and full of flavor. The poached eggs were set on a sourdough bun with just the right chew, its crust crisp and its center soft. The hollandaise sauce tied it all together with a rich, silky finish. It was indulgent yet balanced, the kind of breakfast you look forward to from the moment you wake up.

What’s a Chinese Breakfast Like?

The Peninsula Tokyo honors its Hong Kong heritage with a Chinese breakfast option. The meal begins with a warm, fragrant bowl of congee, paired with traditional condiments. Servers bring a bamboo basket filled with dim sum — delicate siomai and pillowy siopao — steamed to perfection.

During my week-long stay, I alternated between all three breakfast styles: the elegance of the Japanese set, the indulgence of the Western menu, and the comforting flavors of the Chinese offering. Each morning unfolded as a new journey, showing that at the Peninsula Tokyo, breakfast celebrates the world on a single table.

From Breakfast to Lunch at The Peninsula Tokyo

We savored breakfast at the Peninsula Tokyo for hours, enjoying every bite and every view. By the time we finished, lunchtime had arrived — the perfect moment to continue indulging inside one of the best hotels in Tokyo.

The dim sum at Hei Fung Terrace delivers another highlight. The hotel’s signature Cantonese restaurant pairs refined interiors with exquisite food. Chefs craft each basket of dim sum with precision, creating bites that are delicate, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The meal carries you smoothly from breakfast into lunch, turning an ordinary day into a celebration of taste.

Read more about the best hotels in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

The post Breakfast by a Michelin two star chef with a view of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

“What a beautiful room,” I exclaimed, as soon as I entered the garden suite of the Hotel Chinzanso in Tokyo. Just like many Tokyo residents spending the summer in Japan amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we had decided to book a staycation at a hotel in the city.

Tokyo has many luxury hotels. However, for many people living here, the Hotel Chinzanso occupies a special place full of nostalgia and good memories.

HOW TO TIME TRAVEL

So many new hotels have sprouted up all over Tokyo. Many of them occupy the upper floors of skyscrapers and upscale buildings. However, the old-fashioned Chinzanso, with its sprawling estate, is a testament to the fact that some good things should never change.

This hotel is a great favorite among Japanese aristocrats. For one thing, it is located in a quiet and genteel residential neighborhood, away from the tourist areas of Tokyo. Also, it is perhaps the most spacious hotel in the city. When you’re at Chinzanso, you feel like you’ve traveled elsewhere both in location and time. You see, this hotel with its garden full of history harks back to the days of Old World Japan.

A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN IN TOKYO

I booked the premiere garden suite because it comes with a view of the gardens. I love waking up and seeing the gardens and the temple first thing in the morning. The gardens are also easy on the eyes as I enjoy my room service breakfast. Even when I’m working on my laptop on the desk in the suite, I feel that the entire Tokyo is literally at my fingertips.

In the evenings, I often can’t take my eyes off the pagoda in the garden. It’s lit up dramatically and it makes quite a picture. In the distance is the skyline of Ikebukuro, a modern suburb of Tokyo. Meanwhile, in the foreground are the lush gardens of Hotel Chinzanso.

ABOUT THE GARDEN SUITE OF CHINZANSO

The hotel has many kinds of suites, each with its own decor. The garden suite I stayed in was a combination of Western and Asian interiors, with Japanese accents. It was very comfortable to spend several days here, just relaxing away from the heat and the stress of the pandemic.

The furniture are classic antique-style pieces merged with chintz, everything in elegant proportions. Meanwhile, the main bathroom is massive by Tokyo hotel standards, and there’s a second bathroom in the foyer. Even with years piling on it, the Hotel Chinzanso is so impeccably maintained that the rooms look fresh.

READ ABOUT SPAIN’S MOST ROMANTIC NEW HOTEL

It was so easy to feel at home here, especially as room service was excellent. I stayed three nights and only checked out with the greatest reluctance on the last day, determined to find some reason to return to this beautiful garden suite again someday.

Read more about the best hotels and resorts in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

The post Suite with a view in Tokyo appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

In the summer, Tokyo residents love visiting the famous gardens of Chinzanso. It’s the perfect summer treat, to dine in one of the restaurants and then to take a walk in the gardens.

Chinzanso has many lovely restaurants. But summer is synonymous with the Mokushundo restaurant in the garden. This dining venue is well-known for its teppanyaki set courses and its kaiseki cuisine that is cooked in a beautiful antique iron kettle.

TEPPANYAKI AT MOKUSHUNDO

The teppanyaki course is especially popular because Mokushundo has private teppan tables for each group. Moreover, each cooking slab is very special. The slabs are lava stones that have been brought down from Mount Fuji. They are supposed to impart a special flavor and energy to the food.

STAYCATION AT CHINZANSO

It was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, when we checked into Chinzanso for a staycation. And as this massive hotel complex is so comfortable, we decided to simply stay in and try out all the restaurants.

Interestingly, it seems that many Tokyo residents had similar plans. Arriving at the hotel, we were quite surprised to find so many people waiting to check-in in spite of the pandemic. Or perhaps, they’re opting for a staycation at Chinzanso because it’s a safe hotel to stay in during the pandemic.

READ ABOUT THE BEST NEW HOTEL IN SPAIN

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The hotel follows a strict protocol for ensuring that guests and hotel staff are kept as safe as possible. This includes temperature checks and mandatory masks at the hotel entrance and at every restaurant. So once you’re inside Chinzanso, you feel safe and relaxed.

Mokushundo too was full of diners. Every table was occupied and second seatings were being arranged. We had a 6 PM reservation and so many families were already in the middle of their dinners when we walked in. When we walked out two hours later, there were still groups of diners waiting outside in the garden for their tables.

FAVORITE JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Mokushundo is a great favorite of many Tokyo families. In fact, this traditional Japanese restaurant has been operating for such a long time that generations of Japanese families have grown up coming here for weekend meals and celebrations.

As the restaurant is famous for its stone-grilled kaiseki dinners, we ordered the seafood course. A lady in a kimono brought most of the ingredients for the meal to the table. Then she proceeded to cook every course in front of us. So practically every dish was prepared in front of us and we enjoyed these piping hot.

FOOD INSPIRED BY SUMMER

The appetizers were works of art. Every tray arrived showing off a balance of colors and design inspired by summer. The lady first brought the cold appetizers. Then she proceeded to prepare the hot dishes as we ate.

The piece de resistance was a half lobster, still in its shell, cooked right at the table. Then came the traditional Japanese bowl of rice accompanied by pickles and miso soup.

However, this time there was a nice twist. My rice bowl had flecks of oxtail and colorful crunchy decoration. Just as I was about to it eat as is, the lady in the kimono cautioned: “Please pour some of the tea from this teapot into the rice before eating.”

Japanese call this mixture of rice and tea “o-chazuke.” It’s incredibly good.

TWO DESSERTS IN A ROW

We had ice cream for dessert. A traditional Japanese restaurant usually serves fresh fruits or a small sweet at the end of the meal. We were also given this option, but we decided to have the home-made ice cream of Chinzanso instead.

Then came a second dessert after dinner. We walked back to our hotel through the gardens. Instead of taking the normal walking route, we climbed up a hill and were rewarded with the view of a most beautiful pagoda, all lit up amidst the dramatic darkness of the gardens.

Read more about the best hotels and resorts in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

The post Teppanyaki in a beautiful garden in Tokyo appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Chinzanso in the residential neighborhood of Meijiro in Tokyo is a grand hotel well loved by the old families of Tokyo. It’s luxurious, beautiful and full of Old World charm. It’s the best of traditional Japanese hospitality and Western comfort put together.

If you’ve been to Tokyo many times and wish to see a less touristy side of this city, this is the perfect hotel to stay in. It has a hot springs on-site, so many excellent restaurants, and a beautiful garden. So once you check-in, you’ll probably not want to leave.

DREAM WEDDING VENUE IN TOKYO

In fact, the garden of Chinzanso is very famous in Tokyo. Many Tokyo residents book staycations and meals at the restaurants just to enjoy the garden. Many couples also regard Chinzanso as their dream wedding venue in Japan. So it is extremely popular to hold an exclusive wedding reception here, in the adjacent banquet hall.

This is probably the most beautiful garden in Tokyo that is privately owned but accessible to the public. Guests can view the gardens from the premium rooms, the best tables in the restaurants and banquet halls.

HISTORY OF CHINZANSO

The history of Chinzanso’s land goes back to the 15th century, when it was already famous for camellias blooming on-site. However, the gardens itself really began in 1878. This was when Aritomo Yamagata, a former prime minister of Japan, bought the property from the aristocratic Kuroda family.

Yamagata-san then hired Katsugoro Iwatamo, who was then known as the best gardener in Tokyo, to work for him. The gardener created a series of pocket gardens and hills, plus a pond. These all remain to these day.

Actually, Yamagata-san was a great connoisseur of art and culture. So Chinzanso is just one of three gardens he commissioned. However it is his only beautiful garden in Tokyo and it is also the most famous one.

READ ABOUT THE BEST NEW HOTEL IN SPAIN

ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL GARDEN IN TOKYO

In 1918, Yamagata-san sold his estate and in 1948 it eventually became the property of Fujita Kogyo, the company that still owns Chinzanso. The founder of Fujita Kogyo also loved gardens. So he planted 10,000 trees to recreate the glory of Chinzanso, as it had been damaged during World War II.

Today, Chinzanso is synonymous with the grand life of pre-war Japan. It’s especially refreshing to see, amidst all the sleek high-rise new hotels made of glass and steel. One only has to walk through the garden, a beautiful oasis amidst a cityscape of Tokyo apartments and office buildings, to transport one’s self to another world and another era.

Read more about the best hotels and resorts in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

The post The most beautiful garden in Tokyo appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH TRAVELING?

When I was 16 years old, my best friend who I grew up with in Boston took me to her family home in Connemara. This is in Ireland, outside Galway. It was the first time I had been abroad, an experience that was both a shock to the system and completely exhilarating at the same time. I haven’t stopped traveling since.

It was actually by the pool at the Hotel Il Pellicano on the Tuscan coast that I decided to quit my job and start my own luxury handmade pillow company. Now each and every pillow that I design is inspired by a place in the world I have traveled to. My inspirations have included the patterned dome of a church on the iconic Amalfi coastline and a beautiful wrought iron gate found on the Left Bank in Paris.

Travel directly influences my work as each of my pillow designs are inspired by a place in the world I have visited. I am also the author of a luxury travel blog called Destinations Perfected. So in order to have new content I have to keep traveling.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU

My hostel days are over! I am definitely a luxury traveler, so 4-star or 5-star hotels, without a doubt. However, when it comes to food I much prefer eating in a tiny restaurant where a local is cooking in the kitchen as opposed to a Michelin-star restaurant. Authenticity over pretension.

WHAT’S YOUR TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY?

Be open for whatever comes your way and don’t be afraid to veer off a planned itinerary. Interact as much as you can with the local people. Embrace and immerse yourself in the diversity.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR NEXT DESTINATION?

I read a lot to discover new places—from magazines to newspapers and travel blogs; then I add them to a running list of must-visit locations. If a friend returns from a trip absolutely raving about the destination, then I will add that to the list as well.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL ACTIVITIES?

Eating! I love experiencing new cuisines and regional food specialties; it tells you a lot about the culture. A good dose of shopping is always high on my list as I really like buying special pieces that you would not find at home—be it artwork or clothing. If the hotel has a spa, a massage after a long day of sightseeing is definitely an indulgence.

WHICH CITY IS MOST MEMORABLE FOR YOU?

I remember the first time I went to Venice, Italy. I was completely blown away by the fact that it was entirely constructed using a series of small bridges. I still think it is one of the most unique cities in the world. I studied at the University of Padova, so almost every weekend I would take the train 20 minutes to Venice and just wander. There’s nothing like Venice in the dead of winter when you can hear your own footsteps.

DESCRIBE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WORLD

St. Tropez in the off season before the maddening crowds get there is pure heaven. You can eat your breakfast in the morning sunshine at one of the cafes on the port, then browse the local market in town, and then drive to one of the beach clubs for lunch. I can’t get enough of the local tarte tropezienne, an indulgent cake made with thick cream sandwiched by two brioche and sprinkled with rock sugar on top.

Marrakech. I was blown away by the patterns, designs, hotel interiors, level of craftsmanship, sights, sounds and smells. It is hands down the most inspiring city I have ever been to and truly engages all of your senses.

I’m half Italian so call me biased, but Italy is the one country not lacking in any of my travel requirements: gorgeous landscapes, beautiful coastlines, delicious food that varies from region to region, inspiring fashion and design, and of course, the warm people and their ability to embrace the dolce far niente lifestyle.

TELL US ABOUT A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT BLEW YOUR MIND AWAY

It’s either running out in the dead of winter in a snowstorm wearing nothing but a swimsuit and jumping into the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, or waking up at 4 AM to witness the famous fish auction at the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo followed by a 7 AM breakfast consisting of the freshest sushi I have ever eaten.

WHERE WOULD YOU GO IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?

Boston. It is where I was born and raised and where all of my family live. I would eat my Italian mother’s delicious home-cooked food and sit in the sunshine on Boston Harbor.

The post How to travel around the world in style appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

MY ADVANCE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

“Consider this an advanced birthday treat,” my friend said. I haven’t quite begun thinking of birthday celebrations yet. But if you must know, instead of doing the usual dinners in Tokyo and Manila, I thought I’d go to Tibet this year to take a course on Tibetan singing bowl therapies. Just an idea. And I also have a time constraint, as I must be in Macao for business soon after.

IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Well, even if it was way in advance, this dinner did really a birthday treat, as well. I didn’t see the bill, but I have a feeling we could have flown to Europe for the weekend on the price of that very exclusive meal.

This restaurant is not on any of the international foodie lists. So it’s really just on this secret list of the best restaurants in Tokyo. In fact, it’s so under the radar that I’d never even heard of it before. However, one day, this friend, who is one of the biggest big-time foodies in Japan, finally took me. This is when I immediately understood what the fuss was all about.

---

 

---

NO SIGNS, NO PUBLICITY AT THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN TOKYO

Actually, there is no fuss, except if you know of it and want to get in. First, it doesn’t have a sign. Those who are on the secret list of the best restaurants in Tokyo definitely want to remain there, so they avoid fanfare.

It has a very small logo somewhere in its very unobtrusive entrance. So someone who doesn’t have any idea of what he or she is looking for will miss it by a mile. And this is exactly what the owner/ chef wants.

Basically, his philosophy is: if you don’t know about this place, you don’t need to be here.

Just a handful of serious foodies keep him in business and he’s perfectly happy with this. He hates publicity so I actually had to leave my phones in my coat pocket at the entrance.

---

---

 

A VERY EXCLUSIVE CLUB THAT ISN’T RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS

Second, the restaurants on this secret list of the best restaurants in Tokyo are all like little clubs.

Everyone knows everyone and everyone’s in business with each other because Tokyo is a actually a very small world within a very big city.

Being the outsider and a semi-foreigner in Japan, I actually didn’t know anyone when we walked in, although I knew of some of them. It’s a small place so you can scout out the territory in one glance.

---

 

ONLY REGULARS ALLOWED

Third, most are regulars who keep the chef in business so he doesn’t need new customers. 

In fact, when we walked in, the chef was at the counter and he didn’t even look up from slicing some sashimi to greet us. That’s how much regulars regard this place as their “kitchen.”

A CONVERSATION MIDWAY

Then, still without looking up, the chef said to my friend: “So, did you get it?”

My friend didn’t miss a beat. He replied: “Nope. I just realised I don’t even have time to use the others.”

Of course I had no idea what they were discussing as it was probably part two, part three or part four of an ongoing conversation between them.

But later I found out that my friend had been thinking of ordering a custom-made Aston Martin to complement his garage of equally expensive toys, and this was what the conversation was about.

AT LAST, SOMEONE I KNOW

A little later, one of Japan’s richest men walks in. 

Aha. Finally I knew someone personally. And it’s interesting how I could instantly feel my stock rise in the eyes of the chef.

This latest guest, a very learned and courteous old gentleman, was once at the top of Japan’s rich list for something like 10 years, until the IT guys started to muscle their way into the list.

He’s still in the top 10, I think. But if you’ve been # 1 for a long time, I don’t think it’s a nice feeling to suddenly go down a couple of notches.

MY NEIGHBOR WHO JUST BOUGHT VIBER TOOK HIS PLACE

And now one of the top IT guys on the list — #3 or #4 perhaps — is my neighbour and I once could see his living room from mine. He bought the app Viber sometime back as a hobby, I think, and he’s eclipsed my old friend in terms of wealth.

Anyway, I know this guy who walked in because we share a fence with him in a summer holiday area of Japan where lots of people from Tokyo have weekend houses.

It’s not as posh as Karuizawa, for instance, which is where the Emperor and Empress met each other while playing tennis. Karuizawa is ground zero for the very social in the summer here in Tokyo.

It’s the kind of place where you have to wear casual designer wear just to go to the supermarket to buy stuff for breakfast, lest you feel out of place.

A MORE RELAXED SORT OF PLACE

Our area, which is thankfully much nearer Tokyo than Karuizawa, is much more relaxed but it has a very nice community that includes this gentleman.

He said to me: “I haven’t seen you for awhile.”

Yes, I haven’t been to my summer house in a very long time, since I’ve been busy with a Travelife. But many years back, he and his wife would just knock on my door on summer weekends when they knew I was around and drop off organic vegetables from the garden of their summer house.

They have a pretty amazing house with a sauna that has a perfect view of Mount Fuji.

A TRULY MIND-BLOWING MEAL

Anyway, we all had fun last Thursday night, in Tokyo, living a Travelife.

And the 12-course kaiseki dinner that was served was truly mind-blowing in taste and refinement. It was not overly dramatic way the way many of the three-star Michelin kaiseki places make such a production of a meal, so that you can’t decide whether you’re at a restaurant or at an art exhibit. But it was spectacular.

(Mind you. I happen to like the art exhibit-type of presentation too. But last Thursday’s meal was not that way, but simply beautiful too.)

This was one of the many courses at lunch last Wednesday at a Michelin two-star Japanese restaurant

ONE OF MY BEST JAPANESE MEALS

This was truly one of the best Japanese meals I’ve had, in my never-ending, and never-endingly eventful Travelife, full of good food and meals at some of the best restaurants in the world.

And what a pity I can’t write about this place lest I get blacklisted from this group and I never get to eat here again. So, unfortunately, no details and no photos.

Click here to read about

this ultra-secret list of

Tokyo’s best restaurants

The post The secret list of the best restaurants in Tokyo appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Today we had a tempura lunch at Tatsumi at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. This is one of the top restaurants in Japan, and I consider it one of the best restaurants for Japanese food in Tokyo.

Tatsumi is a small restaurant with excellent Japanese food and flawless service.

THIRD TIME LUCKY AT TATSUMI AT THE PALACE HOTEL IN TOKYO

I stayed at the Palace Hotel Tokyo for three nights last winter. On this visit, I really wanted to eat at Tatsumi. Unfortunately it was actually full for all three days except for a very late lunch. So on this trip to Tokyo, I made sure to book early.

The ingredients for tempura at Tatsumi are all from the best food sources in Japan. Everything is local. Furthermore, the chef prepares everything in front of you so you are guaranteed the freshness of your meal.

I also like the style of frying here. The batter is very light and so every piece is perfectly crisp. Furthermore, the restaurant serves six kinds of salt and two kinds of garnish.

SHRIMP FROM OKINAWA AND SALT FROM THE ANDES

Today we began with shrimp from Okinawa. The chef fried the shrimp heads first and then the body of the shrimp. He advised us to eat these with Okinawa salt. He also had pink salt from the Andes on hand. I really liked this tasty salt with the shrimp as well.

INGREDIENTS FOR TEMPURA

A Japanese fish called aji is a mainstay in any tempura restaurant. But at Tatsumi at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, the aji is just perfectly done. Another memorable tempura was the eggplant from Gunma Prefecture.

Usually, deep-fried eggplant is quite crisp outside and inside. But the eggplant today was crisp on the outside and perfectly soft inside. We were asked to eat this with some dashi sauce and grated daikon.

At the end of the meal, the chef asked us if we wanted to order pickled plum tempura. Pickled plums? This is the only restaurant that has ever offered us this unique Japanese food so of course we said yes right away.

This is not an in-your-face kind of meal. It whispers rather than shouts. And today’s lunch was a most delicious meal in a very subtle way.

Read more about articles about the best restaurants of Tokyo in Travelife Magazine.

The post Where to eat tempura in Tokyo appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.