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Walk straight out of Shibuya station, best done at night, and no other city
in the world will have prepared you for it. The sight and sound assault of video
screens the size of billboards will seize your attention.The waves of human traffic
are likely to carry you with them. This is Tokyo, where the future touches down
on planet Earth. It's as enthralling as it is confusing, as captivating as it
is claustrophobic.
Get your second dose of future shock on the 47th floor observation deck of the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. On clear days you can see as far as Fuji.
When it's hazy, the city never seems to end. Once you get a feel for the scale
of the place you'll realise that comprehending it in a short visit is out of the
question, it'll be all you can do to catch your breath.
But the real Tokyo experience is at ground level and much of it can be had for
free. Just seeing how it all works is a thrill. Shinjuku Station in the morning
rush is a marvel. Three million people bustle through every day. The subway, heaving
under their weight, still manages to operate with clockwork precision. At Harajuku
you'll get a crash course in the most outrageous fashions, simply by watching
the crowds go by. For more glitz, try window-shopping in Ginza, Tokyo's answer
to 5th Avenue. Akihabara is a technological bazaar, where hawking the latest gadgets
often becomes a street performance. And make sure you get up early (or stay up
late), just once, to witness the spectacle of Tsukiji market. It's the enormous,
frenetic, daily operation that feeds this fish-hungry nation.
Though rich in history, fires, earthquakes and wars have left few original buildings
standing. Tokyo's eye-catching sights are swamped by masses of unlovely concrete.
Though both are post war reconstructions, Senso-ji Temple and the Meiji Shrine
at Asakusa are worth visiting. At Senso-ji, the trinket sellers, fortune tellers
and mendicant monks still vie for the change in your pocket much like they did
in Edo times. The densely wooded Yoyogi Park surrounding Meiji Shrine, retains
a reflective stillness.
For a bit of sightseeing made easy, take the 40min cruise down the Sumida River
from Asakusa down to Odaiba Seaside Park with its obligatory Ferris wheel and
amusements. The bridges you'll pass, old and new, will tell you something of the
history of this constantly regenerating city.
Of course, the centrepiece of Tokyo is the Imperial Palace, closed except on December
23rd (the Emperor's birthday) and January 2nd. The gardens, however, offer some
respite from the urban intensity. Here you can see what remains of the central
keep of Edo castle and the controversial Yasukuni shrine that commemorates Japan's
war dead. But if that's too much history for you in a city that embraces the modern
so readily, remember that Disneyland and the all new Disney Sea are both just
a short train ride away. |
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Accommodation |
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| ANA InterContinental Tokyo |
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03-3505-1111 |
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03-3505-1155 |
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1-12-33 Akasaka, Minatoku, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan |
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| Located in the Ark Hills, a sophisticated complex of luxury condominiums,
offices, shops and cultural event spaces, the ANA InterContinental Tokyo is conveniently
close to domestic and foreign government offices and international business district. |
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| ANA has no control of how your personal information is handled
by other sites. Please refer to the privacy statement on each new site you enter. |
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| The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo |
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03-4562-1111 |
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03-4562-1112 |
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Shinagawa East One Tower 2-16-1 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8282,
Japan |
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| Ideally located on the top floors of a spectacular high-rise in
the center of a fast-moving business district, The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo takes hospitality
to a new level of sophistication. |
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| ANA has no control of how your personal information is handled
by other sites. Please refer to the privacy statement on each new site you enter. |
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Amusement |
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| Hibiya Park |
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03-3501-6428 |
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1-1-6 Hibiya Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
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Always open |
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| Hibiya Park was built in 1903 as Japan´s first Western-style
garden. The 160,000 square meter site contains Western-style flower beds, an open
space, fountains, and a Japanese garden. It is an oasis for the citizens of Tokyo. |
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| Tokyo Joypolis |
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03-5500-1801 |
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3-5th floor Decks Tokyo Beach 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
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10:00-23:00 (Last Admissions 22:15) |
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Admission Fees: ¥500 (adults) and ¥300 (children).
One-day pass: ¥3,300 (adults) and ¥3,100 (children).
Night pass: ¥2,300 (adults) and ¥2,100 (children). |
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| Tokyo Joypolis, on the third through fifth floors of Decks Tokyo
Beach, is SEGA´s largest amusement theme park. It is made to look like a
city in the future. You can see the Rainbow Bridge from the café on the
fifth floor. |
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| Flags |
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03-3350-1701 |
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3-37-1 Shinjuku,Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
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Vary by store |
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Varies by store |
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| A building with many stores that are popular among people in their
twenties. This new type of spot offers a total lifestyle that includes fashion
and music. |
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| Waterbus |
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0120-977311 |
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1-1-1 Hanakawado,Taito-ku, Tokyo |
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Operating hours vary by line |
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Fares vary.
(cf. Asakusas Bridge - Hinode Pier ¥760 for adults;
¥380 for children) |
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| On the Sumida River Line, you can enjoy a 40 minute cruise to Hinode Pier from Azuma Bridge in Asakusa. During the cruise, you pass under twelve bridges that cross the
Sumida River, including Komagata Bridge, and can see the Kokugikan sumo arena
and the garden of the Hama Imperial Villa. The waterbus leaves at the foot of
Azuma Bridge. |
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| Tennozu Isle |
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03-5462-0283 |
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2-2-8 Higashi-Shinagawa,Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo |
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10:00-20:00 |
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Varies by facility |
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| There are many shops, restaurants, and hotels around Sea Fort
Square and Sphere Garden, which surround Tennozu Isle Station on both sides. |
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| YEBISU GARDEN PLACE |
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03-5423-7111 |
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4-20 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo |
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Vary by facility |
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Varies by facility |
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| In this vast site, there are many distinctive facilities including
a hotel, department store, and cinemas. Bierhof Bakushukan is popular because
it serves freshly-brewed beer. |
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Sightseeing |
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| Tokyo International Forum |
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03-5221-9000 |
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3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
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7:00-23:30 |
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Varies by facility |
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| The building consists of eleven floors above ground, three floors
underground, and five halls. It serves as a theater, convention center, and exhibition
hall. All types of events can be held here. |
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| Diet Building |
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03-3581-5111 (The House of Representatives)
03-5521-7445 (The House of Councillors) |
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1-17-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
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M-F 9:00-17:00 (six visiting tours on Sat. Sun. and national holidays-the House of Representatives)
M-F 8:00-17:00 (The House of Councillors) |
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Free |
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| Construction started in 1920 and took 17 years to complete. There
are statues of Hirofumi Ito, Shigenobu Okuma, and Taisuke Itagaki in the entrance
hall. |
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| Kabuki-za Theater |
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03-3541-3131 |
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4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
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Vary according to plays |
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¥2,400 to ¥16,000, about ¥1,000 for one-scene viewing,
¥650 plus a ¥1,000 deposit for an earphone guide (Deposit is returned
when the earphone is returned.) |
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| This theater was built in 1889 as a special theater for kabuki.
The building was built in the Momoyama-style. Round, deep red-lacquered columns
and the scarlet carpet inside the theater create a flamboyant atmosphere. Seeing
a play from a one-scene viewing seat on the fourth floor can also be a nice experience. |
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| Fuji Television Headquarters |
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0180-993-188 |
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2-4-8 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
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10:00-20:00 |
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¥500 for adults including high students and ¥300 for
primary/junior high students |
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| An innovative globe design on the building is eye-catching. The
globe-shaped observation deck, 7th floor Fuji TV Plaza, and 5th floor Studio Promenade,
where events are held, are always full with visitors. |
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| Tokyo Tower |
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03-3433-5111 |
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4-2-8 Shiba Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
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9:00-22:00
(Last adimission 21:45-Main observatory; 21:30-Special observatory) |
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Main observatory ¥820 for adults, ¥460 for primary/junior
high students, ¥310 for children aged 4-6; Special observatory ¥1,420
for adults, ¥860 for primary/junior high students, ¥660 for children aged
4-6 |
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| This 333 meter high tower was erected in 1958. The main observatory
is 150 meters above the ground and the special observatory is 250 meters high.
It houses an aquarium, Trick Art Gallery, Carnival, Wax Museum, as well as restaurants
and souvenir shops. |
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| Observatory of Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Buildings |
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03-5320-7890 |
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2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
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North Observatory; 9:30-23:00.
South Observatory; 9:30-17:30 (when North Observatory is closed, open till 23:00.)
* Last admittance - 30 minutes before closing time |
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Free |
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| The buildings have been the landmark of Shinjuku since they opened
in April 1991. The free observation decks on the 45th floor of Main building I
are 202 meters above the ground. This is one of the highest observation points
in the Shinjuku skyscraper district. On clear days, there is a view of Mt Fuji. |
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| Kyu-Yamate Street |
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Kyu-Yamate Dori, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo |
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Always open |
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| This is the main street in Daikanyama and is often seen in dramas
and magazines. The street is lined with well-known shops, cafés, and restaurants
and has somewhat of a European atmosphere. |
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Restaurants |
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| LEVEL XXI (Tokyo Kaikan), bar lounge |
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03-5255-1515 |
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21st floor Urban Net Otemachi Bldg. 2-2-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo |
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Restaurant (BELAGE): 11:30-14:00/17:00-22:00
Bar/Lounge: 11:00-22:00 |
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Fried river shrimp ¥1,000, cocktails around ¥900, club
sandwich ¥1,600 |
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| You can have a drink while enjoying the night view from the 21st
floor. The lounge offers a wide variety of wines from France, California, and
Chile and serves Western-style dishes made from high quality ingredients. The
lounge has a black granite bar and tables. |
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| Mansei |
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03-3251-0291 |
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2-21 Kanda-Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
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3rd floor M-F 11:00-23:00; Sat, Sun & Holidays 11:00-22:00
4th floor 11:00-21:00 |
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Jumbo hamburger steak ¥1,220 |
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| All ten floors are directly run by Mansei. Restaurants use the
highest quality Japanese beef from the Mansei ranch in Fukushima Prefecture. The
jumbo hamburger steak is the most popular dish on the 3rd and 4th floors, where
western style cuisine is served. Beef fat is mixed with meat to make the hamburger
steak. |
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| Ginza Rokusan-Tei |
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03 3571-1763 |
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8th and 9th floors Daisan Sowaredo Ginza Bldg. 8-8-7 Ginza,
Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
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17:00-22:30 |
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Rokusan course ¥12,000, Special course (only during globefish
season) ¥15,000 |
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| Mr. Rokusaburo Michiba´s restaurant. Unique Japanese dishes
with foie gras and truffles. Only a monthly course is served. |
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| Tamahide |
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03-3668-7651 |
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1-17-10 Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
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11:30-13:00, 17:00-22:00 (Saturday 16:00-21:00) |
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Original "oyakodon" (bowl of rice with chicken, egg,
and vegetables) (lunch only) ¥600, gamecock hot-pot set meal ¥5,000 to
7,000, boiled gamecock soup set meal ¥5,000 to 7,000 |
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| Opened in 1760. The original "oyakodon" invented by
the fifth owner´s wife is the most famous dish. It is made from Tokyo gamecock
and tastes rich and luxurious and comes with chicken soup. |
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| Top of Shinagawa |
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03-3440-1111 |
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39th floor Annex, Shinagawa Prince Hotel, 4-10-30 Takanawa,
Minato-ku, Tokyo |
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11:00-15:30, 18:00-23:00 (Bar opens until 2:00am) |
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Lunch buffet ¥1,650 |
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| A sky lounge 143 meters above the ground on the top floor of the
Shinagawa Prince Hotel. Futuristic interior with a cosmos-like motif that makes
you feel like you are in a spaceship. A buffet is offered during lunchtime. |
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| Akasaka Ramen |
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03-3586-7831 |
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3-13-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
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11:00-17:00 |
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Leek ramen ¥900, sparerib ramen ¥1,350, roasted cow
tongue ramen ¥1,450 |
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| A famous noodle restaurant with the atmosphere of a portable noodle
stall from the past. Ingredients are all prepared at the restaurant. It offers
many unique types of ramen such as sparerib ramen. |
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| Muromachi Sunaba, Akasaka |
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03-3583-7670 |
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6-3-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
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11:00-19:30 (Saturday until 19:00) |
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Buckwheat noodles ¥550, Hanamaki ¥850, buckwheat noodles
topped with tempura ¥1,550, cold buckwheat noodles with tempura ¥1,550 |
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| A restaurant that serves Tokyo-style dishes. The atmosphere makes
you feel like drinking. Hors d´oeuvres such as boiled chicken and omelets
are good. Buckwheat noodles smell good, feel smooth, and go well with the rich
soup. |
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| Shinjuku Negishi, L Tower |
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03-3348-2255 |
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B2 Shinjuku L Tower 1-6-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
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11:00-22:30 (Sunday and national holidays until 21:30) |
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Negishi set meal (lunch) ¥980, Negishi set meal (from 16:00)
¥1,260 |
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| Light, soft, charcoal-broiled cow tongue is delicious, low in
calories, highly nutritious, and reasonably priced. Negishi set meal with barley
rice with sweet potato and tail soup is popular. |
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