Neighborhood Highlights

Kuramae & Surrounding

Casual, Creative Culture

A tri-neighborhood area along the Sumida River, this area was my collective home for 6 months. A juxtaposition of old and new with a shrine on one corner and an up and coming atelier on the next, some of my favorite meals in Tokyo were nestled within these streets.

A combination of faceless apartment buildings and busy transit streets dotted with holy alters all around, the area offers a curious assortment of restaurants and bars that highlight that Japanese dedication to craft - whatever it might be. The theory also applies to craft and hand goods.

When it comes to F&B, many of these places hold stories of individuals who discovered a particular menu item - food or drink - outside of the island country and brought it back with a vengeance to serve it as authentically as possible in Tokyo. Then there are those

odd opening hours, your time spent in this area is either a hit and a miss or, again, the careful planning of reservations.

The Quick Hits

  • Undoubtedly lacking in interesting coffee shops, I ended up drinking more Starbucks than I care to admit. 

    • In the basement of the GEMS building, located in the parking garage, is the SONY mini gallery and cafe. It’s super mini as the name suggests, always has a mad cool art installation (they change like every 2-3 weeks) and serves a nice espresso. Bonus, they use Minor Figures oat milk!

  • Advise you make a reservation for all options and do not be surprised by the seat charge. It’s fairly negligible and some snacks are included upon seating. I live for the French onion soup sips.

    • Bar Orchard

    • Bar Mori

    • Little Smith 

    • The Grey Room 

    • Mixology Salon 

    • Bar High Five

    • Ginza Hachigo

    • Fugu-dashi Ushio Hachidaime Keisuke

    • Tanakaya (Soba restaurant) in Matsuya Department

    • Sister location at 6 Chome-6-19 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

    • Tanaka-San Spot (High-End, Omakase)

    • GEMs Basement Spot (Counter style, standing service)

    • American (walk up window)

    • The GEMS building sandwich shop

    • Ginza Food Garden in the Ginza Mitsukoshi (best)

    • Matsuya Ginza (ok)

    • Eataly Ginza

    • The place below Spice Lab

    • Spice Lab Tokyo (High-End

    • Bangera’s Kitchen

    • Kitatde Tacos

    • Peninsula 

    • Four Seasons Otemachi 

    • Hyatt Centric 

    • Kabuki-Za Theatre

    • Ginza 5 Department Store 

    • Itoya Stationary Store

    • Muji Hotel + Flagship 

    • The Underworld of Tokyo Station 

    • Marunouchi Business District 

Neighborhood Gem

Ginza 6

The Ginza 6 Shopping center is undoubtedly my favorite stop in the neighborhood. While others might head there for luxury goods, I’m there to enjoy the magnitude of thought behind creating this destination, mixed-use experience.

Take in the roving art galleries that are incorporated throughout and do check out the bookstore. It’s tough to find English titles, however you will come across some gems. Don’t miss the roof top garden — it’s a lovely green space to take in views of the city.

F&B highlights include Mixology Salon and a really fantastic Family Mart on the ground floor. One out of four of the Tokyo Eataly’s is also on the 6th floor within the bookstore and art gallery.

Congratulations to friend’s at Sumitomo corporation and their partners for creating a gem.

Modern Indian Fine Dining

Tasting Menu Highlight

Spice Lab Tokyo

I worked with this team for two years and enjoyed seven iterations of Chef’s tasting menus. From development of each dish to their tasteful execution, the food here is solid.

Indian food is widespread in Japan but limited to very casual, mostly curry and naan houses. There are a few that offer a slightly more regional take but what Chef Tejas and team are doing is next level. They use seasonal Japanese ingredients to recreate dishes from all over the sub-continent, usually with a signature biryani as the last savory offering. The dal makhani is my favorite - anywhere in the world.

With coursed menus at both lunch and dinner, you certainly will not be disappointed by the food, as long as you’re not a stickler for authentic preparations. Go with an open mind an equally empty stomach.

Ideal for a business meeting, a solo pensive tasting menu, date night, or a fun and fancy group meal out.

Previous

Ginza
Next

Shibuya