Lim Chee Wah

Kyoto is a very special place, but in recent years, its timeless charm can feel overshadowed by the growing crowds of tourists flocking to the ancient capital’s Unesco World Heritage temples and other historical attractions. Still, no matter how packed things get, there’s a way to experience the harmonious, meditative spirit Kyoto is renowned for – by splurging on a hotel that embodies this unique city’s Zen philosophy. Despite being located just across from the perennially popular Nijo Castle, Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto has managed to create a bubble of serenity in the heart of the city. This is accomplished through thoughtful design by André Fu, one of the region’s leading names in hotel interiors, known for his work on luxury properties like The Upper House Hong Kong and Andaz Singapore. The four-storey, low-rise hotel is built around a gorgeous Japanese garden, which serves as the focal point and calming heart of the property. Photo: Hotel The Mitsui KyotoThe Kajiimiya Gate at Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto Hotel The Mitsui is also steeped in history. The 250-year-old grounds on which it stands were once the residence of the affluent Mitsui family. The beautiful Kajiimiya Gate at the hotel entrance was originally built in 1703 and previously graced the Kyoto Imperial Palace grounds. Relocated to this site in 1935, it’s now a registered Tangible Cultural Property. Photo: Hotel The Mitsui KyotoHotel The Mitsui Kyoto's gorgeous Japanese garden Upon entering the hotel through the afo

The highest peak in Japan standing at 3,776m, Mt Fuji is beloved for its elegant, perfectly symmetrical shape. It's the icon of Japan, and whether you're in Tokyo for a short time or you've lived here for decades, a clear view of the mountain never gets old. While it’s possible to get a glimpse of the mountain in the capital when the weather is clear, you're better off travelling out of the city to get the perfect view. Admire Mt Fuji's beauty from these nine scenic spots in Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Shizuoka, all of which are easily reachable from Tokyo as a day trip. Just try to get there early in the morning or in the late afternoon as the midday clouds tend to block the view. RECOMMENDED: Best day trips from Tokyo

With an abundance of art shows happening this season, it'll be hard to catch all of the latest installations before they disappear. Nonetheless, we've got a list of the top art exhibitions taking place in some of Tokyo's most popular museums and galleries to help you figure out where to start. For a full day of art excursions, you should also check out Tokyo's best street art and outdoor sculptures, or fill your Instagram feed at the newly reopened teamLab Borderless. Note that some museums and galleries require making reservations in advance to prevent overcrowding at the venues.  RECOMMENDED: Escape the city with the best art day trips from Tokyo

As one of Asia's most dynamic cities, Hong Kong is surrounded by a wealth of vibrant neighbourhoods just waiting to be explored. According to Time Out's annual ranking, curated by a global team of on-the-ground experts, these destinations promise a taste of local life with unique cultural experiences, exciting local flavours, and everything in between. While Kowloon City was named the coolest neighbourhood in Hong Kong, there are many more gems around Asia just a few hours away from the city. Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure. RECOMMENDED: ✨ Kowloon City: your ultimate neighbourhood guide😋 The best Thai restaurants in Kowloon City    

In 2024, what exactly makes a neighbourhood cool? Craft breweries, natty wine bars and street art are well and good, but the world’s best, most exciting and downright fun neighbourhoods are much more than identikit ‘hipster hubs’. They’re places that reflect the very best of their cities – its culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink – all condensed in one vibey, walkable district. To create our annual ranking, we went straight to the experts – our global team of on-the-ground writers and editors – and asked them what the coolest neighbourhood in their city is right now, and why. Then we narrowed down the selection and ranked the list using the insight and expertise of Time Out’s global editors, who vetted each neighbourhood against criteria including food, drink, arts, culture, street life, community and one-of-a-kind local flavour. The result? A list that celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities – and all their quirks. Yes, you’ll find some of those international hallmarks of ‘cool’. But in every neighbourhood on this list there’s something you won’t find anywhere else. Ever been to a photography museum that moonlights as a jazz club? Or a brewery with a library of Russian literature? How about a festival dedicated to fluff? When communities fiercely support and rally around their local businesses, even the most eccentric ideas can become a reality. And that, in our eyes, is what makes a neighbourhood truly cool. From formerly overlooked sub

Since 1923, Tsukiji Market has drawn crowds with its vibrant mix of street eats, colourful vendors, bustling market vibe and kitchenware shopping galore. While the inner wholesale fish market moved to Toyosu in November 2018, the outer market hasn’t gone anywhere – it’s still an exciting, fun-filled place for shopping and dining. Home to over 300 shops and restaurants, Tsukiji Market is a dense grid of lanes and interlinked alleyways just south of Tsukiji Station. Some require a little legwork to find, but you’ll be rewarded with excellent sushi, kaisendon, soba noodles, curry, sake and more. We’ve trawled the market to pull together our favourite restaurants and food stalls – so be sure to save time in between shopping to have lunch, and maybe breakfast and dinner, too.  RECOMMENDED: Best street food and snacks at Tsukiji Market

Tonkatsu is a popular dish in Japanese cuisine. These breaded and deep-fried cutlets are usually offered in two cuts: the clean-tasting lean fillet (known as 'hire'), and the fattier loin (called 'rosu') which has more flavour. On top of that, many tonkatsu specialists are also offering heirloom pork at a premium price.  Enjoy your cutlet with a drizzle of the tonkatsu sauce, which is basically made up of ketchup, Worcestershire and soy sauce – it sometimes comes in a spicy variant, too. You'll be glad to know that tonkatsu is often a filling meal, as a standard set comes with rice, miso soup, thinly sliced cabbage and pickles. More often than not, the rice and cabbage are refillable.    RECOMMENDED: 13 best sushi restaurants in Tokyo for every budget

Welcome to our critics’ choice of the best bars in Tokyo’s drinking scene. This list features the most refreshing watering holes in the city right now: from craft beer pubs and speciality gin bars to hidden drinking dens and more. When curating this list, we put a lot of emphasis on quality drinks. But aside from the serious Ginza institutions and award-winning bars, we also want to include casual, less expensive venues that make great neighbourhood hangouts. Of course, if you're looking for one of Tokyo's legendary omakase-style bars, where the bartenders serve up seasonal specialities, you'll find plenty of those here, too. Drinking is all about having a good time, so we’re also looking for the fun factor in a bar. It can be an interesting theme, cool interior design, a quirky menu or even a friendly yet relaxed service that makes you feel welcomed. Ultimately, these are the places we keep going back to again and again, and will always recommend to friends. RECOMMENDED: Like craft spirits? Check out these Tokyo urban breweries where you can drink on site.

One of the most iconic summer festivals in Tokyo, Bon Odori is a communal dance performed in public spaces. It's a Buddhist custom that dates back 500 years, held as part of the Obon period, where locals honour the spirits of their ancestors. Bon Odori festivals are always a fun, joyous affair. A makeshift stage known as a yagura will be set up in the middle, acting as the focal point of the event. It houses the lead dancers and musicians who set the pace and choreography for the dance while participants gather around it and dance along in circles. It's a perfect way to spend a summer evening and soak up the good vibes. So put on a yukata and come join us at one of Tokyo's most exciting Bon Odori festivals this summer. RECOMMENDED: 10 best fireworks festivals in and near Tokyo this summer

Considering Tokyo's status as one of the world's largest cities, it's hardly surprising that we have an outsized art scene. With hundreds of museums, galleries and attractions dotted around, there's usually something going on to suit your taste. Some places, however, require a bit of pre-planning to get into, due to a combination of immense popularity and restricted ticket sales. That includes the Yayoi Kusama Museum, the Ghibli Museum, teamLab Planets, the tuna auction at Toyosu Market, both Disneyland and DisneySea, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter, and the newly opened teamLab Borderless. Read on to find out how to get your hands on these hot tickets – and whether you need to set an alarm to do so. RECOMMENDED: Have fun whatever the weather at Tokyo's best indoor theme parks and amusement parks

As one of the top food cities in the world, Tokyo has a diverse array of options for eating out, from high-end Michelin restaurants to hole-in-the-wall cheap eats scattered across the city. So where do you go to find all this great food? Start with a journey through Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s biggest and most vibrant neighbourhoods: it is a mecca of department stores as well as home to the country's largest gay district (Ni-Chome) and the fascinating maze of tiny bars that is Golden Gai. Let's no forget that Shinjuku is a huge ward, extending out towards Waseda, Kagurazaka and the city's Koreantown Shin-Okubo. So to make it easier for you, we've picked restaurants that are within walking distance from Shinjuku Station, one of Tokyo's main transport hubs. So if you're lost for choice, start with our list of the best Shinjuku restaurants near Shinjuku Station. RECOMMENDED: Check out the best restaurants in Shibuya and Ginza

Omakase? In this economy? We know it’s hard to believe, but there are plenty of fine dining restaurants in Tokyo where you can treat yourself to a seasonal course dinner for less than ¥10,000. The word ‘omakase’ typically comes up at high-end Japanese restaurants where in lieu of ordering from a menu, diners entrust the chef to serve a selection of recommended dishes and seasonal specials. While it's true that these gastronomic affairs are generally reserved for a special occasion splurge, they don’t have to break the bank. Nor are they strictly limited to Japanese cuisine.  Omakase dining is all about the joy of anticipating what the chef might serve, marvelling at the near-choreographed way they work in the open kitchen, and savouring the best ingredients of the season. It’s a culture that chefs across Tokyo hold dearly, with many incorporating omakase into their restaurants regardless of whether they’re serving Spanish tapas or charcoal-grilled yakitori.  With so many restaurants offering their own interpretation of omakase dining, the line between omakase courses and tasting menus are sometimes blurred. However, it’s the integrity and intimacy of these tailored dining experiences that define them, rather than the terms used to label them. Want to treat yourself on a budget? Here are Tokyo’s best omakase courses and tasting menus for under ¥10,000. Looking for something quick and simple but still delicious? Try one of these 22 best ramen in Tokyo

Nestled in a standalone double-storey building with lightly tan earthen walls that blend harmoniously into the Meiji Park surroundings, natuRe Tokyo is a farm-to-table restaurant that effortlessly combines French, Japanese and Hawaiian influences in its menu. While this fusion of three distinctive cuisines may seem unconventional at first, it’s rooted in the creative director and chef Nae Ogawa’s intriguing background. Early in her career, French-trained Japanese chef Ogawa honed her skills at some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants, including the two-Michelin-starred Narisawa in Tokyo. At natuRe Waikiki in Hawaii, where she serves as executive chef, she has crafted a widely acclaimed menu that celebrates sustainable and locally sourced produce through French cooking techniques. Earlier this year, Ogawa brought her cross-cultural sensibility back to her homeland with the opening of natuRe Tokyo. This sister restaurant has the same culinary DNA as its Waikiki counterpart, substituting Japanese ingredients for Hawaiian ones to maintain the focus on local sourcing. Yet, traces of Hawaiian flavours occasionally make their way into the dishes, adding a subtle twist to the menu. In Tokyo, the restaurant demonstrates its commitment to sustainability by embracing imperfect ingredients that vendors might otherwise discard due to their appearance. Though there’s a small selection of à la carte dishes, the standout is the nine-course signature menu, offered at an accessible ¥8,

Tonkatsu is often celebrated for its golden brown crust, but Narikura’s unique approach has resulted in pork cutlets with a much lighter, almost pale colour instead. Don’t let that unusual appearance fool you, though – this is still textbook tonkatsu. The meat is surprisingly tender and glistens with its juices while the panko crumb coating is crisp and fluffy without any traces of oil.  It took chef Seizo Mitani years of experimentation to perfect his low-heat frying method that gave rise to his signature blonde tonkatsu. And because precise timing is crucial in this painstaking process, the restaurant is by reservations only. There are several seatings a day and everyone is served at the same time in each session. In other words, don’t be late. There are only two options on the menu – the ¥6,500 two-piece and the ¥8,000 three-piece set meals. Granted, the price is unusually high for tonkatsu, but that’s to be expected as Narikura uses top-shelf Japanese pork, namely Tokyo-X and Iwachu-buta. Plus, the portions are big: expect 175g to 200g of meat (which is a lot!) alongside appetisers, pork miso soup, rice and a small dessert.  Depending on your meal, you’ll choose two or three different cuts from a selection of six including fatty bara katsu, tenderloin, rib roast, chateaubriand, mille-feuille and cheese mille-feuille (some cuts require a ¥100 top-up). On some days, you can also add on side dishes such as deep-fried shrimp and stewed pork belly. While the bright, clean and

Hidden in a basement just a minute’s walk from Shibuya Station, Ishinohana is Shibuya’s answer to the high-end, Japanese-style cocktail bars of Ginza, but with a more relaxed vibe and far more inventive drinks. Seasonal cocktails are the speciality here, as owner-bartender Shinobu Ishigaki wields an array of fresh fruit and herbs when creating his distinctive concoctions: a gin and tonic is enlivened with kumquat, a margherita gets an injection of housemade cassis confiture, and a highball features dill and green apple syrup, for example. In fact, Ishinohana is so serious about its fruit that the menu indicates the provenance of its selections. The menu, however, covers more grounds than just fruity concoctions. Aside from providing an enticing list of coffee cocktails and monthly recommendations, Shinobu can shake up many variations of three classic cocktails – old fashioned, negroni and bloody mary – reimagined with local ingredients and creative twists. The Japanese Old Fashioned, for instance, mixes shiitake-infused whisky with maple syrup and umami bitters while the Rose Negroni sings with beautiful floral notes thanks to the use of rosewater and rose petal-infused gin.  If you’re a fan of these Japan-inspired cocktails, you’ll be spoilt for choice. There’s also a sake martini accented with housemade chamomile cordial, an original cocktail called Oribe made with gin, matcha, milk, wasanbon (fine-grained Japanese sugar) and gold powder, and even a pisco sour with hints of

This cosy cocktail den hidden in the Toranomon Hills Business Tower has one of the most interesting bar concepts in Tokyo. The plant-filled, wood-accented interior is reminiscent of a plush safari lodge and hints at the bar’s botanical leanings. While the menu features drinks made with fruit and herbs, the hero here is the cacao. Led by acclaimed bartender Shuzo Nagumo, Memento Mori celebrates cacao in its various forms – not just the final product that we are all too familiar with, ie, chocolate. The best way to savour this concept is with the Bean to Glass signature cocktail course, which comes with the option of having three, four or five items. The course starts with Memento Mori’s house cocktail, the Cacao Pulp Fizz, served in an eye-catching cacao pod no less. As its name suggests, this refreshing, effervescent, vodka-based cocktail is made with cacao fruit, which surprisingly tastes like mangosteen, along with vinegar made from said pulp and some passion fruit for hits of acidity.  The second drink marries the fruit of the season with a cacao nib-infused spirit. On our visit, we had a peach number that used cognac flavoured with cacao nibs and blue cheese. It was a bold combination that mixes sweet and savoury notes, but made for a lip-smacking delight. For the third item on the course, you get to choose between a cacao wine or a tasting flight of three cacao spirits. The former is a luscious Californian merlot steeped with cacao nibs and dried fruit while the latter c

Two of Japan’s most storied traditions – noh theatre and kaiseki cuisine – can be impenetrable and intimidating for the uninitiated. And that’s not just because of the language barrier: the formalities that rule both are laden with unspoken protocols. Suigian, an innovative dinner theatre hidden under the Fukutoku Shrine in Nihonbashi, seeks to make these Japanese performing and culinary art forms more approachable. Granted, dinner theatres, especially of the cultural kind, don’t always enjoy a favourable reputation – they are often associated with subpar food and tacky performances. Suigian, however, feels like a labour of love and there’s a sense of genuinity in everything it does. So much so that you’re advised not to eat during the noh part of the performances as a sign of respect (drinking, however, is fine, as the restaurant claims that it's only here you can enjoy noh over drinks). The evening shows, which start at 7pm, offer a crash course to traditional Japanese theatre. The programme changes monthly, featuring varied snippets of Geisha dance, kyogen (comic theatre), court music, kagura (ritual ceremonial dance) and, of course, noh. Notably, the noh segments are actual 15-to-20-minute acts adapted from renowned noh texts and performed by seasoned noh practitioners. You’ll get an explanation sheet with summaries of the evening’s show in English to help you connect with the craft unfolding on stage. Likewise, Suigian’s beautiful space, though contemporary in design, is

This newly opened Royal Park Hotel has the enviable Ginza address, but without the bank-breaking price tag commonly associated with this ritzy district. For visitors, the hotel is a central and convenient stay; it’s near Higashi-Ginza Station, which offers easy train access to major destinations in Tokyo including Asakusa as well as Narita and Haneda international airports. Moreover, a direct bus from Narita airport stops right across the road from the hotel. The Royal Park Hotel Ginza 6-chome exudes a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere, with a retro aesthetic expressed through vibrant colours – a style the hotel calls ‘Ginza Pop’. The sunny yellow and green shades at the reception and lobby are a nod to the abundance of ginkgo and willow trees surrounding the hotel. The rooms, meanwhile, are bedecked in either a red-orange hue or muted green, colours associated with the Kabukiza theatre just around the corner. Regardless of whether you’re going for a compact unit or a spacious corner suite, the accommodations at the hotel are well-appointed. Thoughtful features include the smart TV, which is connected to the hotel’s public amenities such as coin-operated washing machines and the communal sento bath, offering real-time information on whether they are available or occupied. Better yet, the gender-separated bath in the basement, which is reserved for staying guests, has no restrictions against tattoos. For food and drink, the Ginza Lamp-Tei restaurant on the ground floor serves a

Originating in Mayfair, London, Gentlemen’s Tonic offers traditional barbershop services with a modern styling. This is the award-winning establishment’s first foray into Malaysia (they have outlets in Hong Kong, New Delhi, Dubai and several other locations around the world), and their new space at Publika is handsome, especially with the dark wood interior and chrome gold finishing. Grooming remains the key service offered here and that includes haircuts, razor head shaves, scalp treatments, beard design, wet shaves and more. Granted, the brand targets the middle-to-high end of the market with cuts starting from RM115 and shaves from RM75. But what you’re paying for is the pampering experience and also the attention to detail, from the way your barber styles your hair down to the design of the chairs and mood lighting. What really sets Gentlemen’s Tonic apart from the pack is their wide-ranging menu that also offers facials, manicures and pedicures, and even massages, making this a one-stop centre for all your male grooming and pampering needs. Haircuts from RM115.

One of the most popular ramen restaurants in Ueno, Kamo to Negi specialises in duck noodles. Its simple recipe of just Japanese duck and leek – as its name suggests – simmered over low heat for two days, produces a beautifully clear stock that’s light yet flavourful. Add in a custom blend of three different types of soy sauce and you get a soup that sings with the meaty sweetness of duck without being gamey. Kamo to Negi also takes pride in not using any chemical additives in its ramen, while the excellent house-made noodles are springy and firm to the bite. A regular bowl of ramen here will only set you back ¥980. But we recommend you upgrade to a bowl with extra slices of duck meat (¥1,260), or go the whole hog with the special (¥1,480), which comes with wonton, onsen egg, bamboo shoots and additional slices of duck. On the menu are also duck tsukemen (dipping noodles) and a comforting oyakodon side dish featuring a deliciously runny egg and duck meat mixture served over piping hot rice. This branch in the newly opened Eato Lumine food hall on level B1 of JR Shinjuku Station (inside the ticket gates near the west exit) has 14 counter seats. And yes, it’s just as popular as the Ueno store. So be ready to queue – fortunately the line moves along briskly.

Sushi Azabu is rather uncommon in that this restaurant is a foreign import – from the United States – rather than a domestic outfit with overseas locations, as is the case with many Japanese sushi establishments. Nevertheless, this beautifully designed eatery brings with it an impressive pedigree: its sister restaurants in Manhattan, New York and Miami Beach, Florida were previously proud owners of a Michelin star each. Sushi Azabu has the classic wood-dominated interior of a high-end sushi restaurant. But here the design feels fresh and modern, largely thanks to the bold strokes of contemporary calligraphy artist Rintaro Hashiguchi, whose artwork stretches across the entire wall behind the L-shaped counter. Despite its address in swanky Azabudai Hills, Sushi Azabu’s menu is surprisingly affordable. The restaurant sources its seafood from Toyosu Market, as any reputable food operator would, and turns it into multi-course omakase meals. Lunch offers the best deal: about 14 items including nigiri sushi as well as the restaurant’s signature sesame tofu served on a sizzling hot plate, all for just ¥4,800. Dinner is, of course, more sumptuous. For ¥9,800, you’ll get to enjoy around 17 items featuring premium seasonal fish and seafood, the likes of fatty tuna, uni and more. Online reservation is highly recommended to secure a spot at the 19-seat counter.

In the salaryman enclave of Shinbashi – think cheap and cheerful izakaya sandwiched between ramen joints and casual standing eateries – lies a new sushi restaurant that looks more suited for the glitz of neighbouring Ginza. While Sushi Restaurant Issekisancho may have the polish of a classy, upmarket sushi counter, its prices are friendlier on the wallet. The restaurant is one of a trio of sushi businesses under its namesake Issekisancho group, which established its own wholesale venture to procure most of its seafood directly from fishermen, thus driving down the cost. Plus, Issekisancho’s close connection with Yamayuki, one of Toyosu Market’s biggest tuna brokers, means it has access to some of the best tuna around. At Issekisancho you can enjoy an omakase sushi meal for just ¥9,800, which gets you eight pieces of nigiri as well as eight dishes including a light and jiggly sea cucumber chawanmushi that tastes of the ocean, and a buttery, foie gras-like monkfish liver that’s been stewed in a sweet-savoury mixture of soy sauce, sake and mirin. There’s also the more sumptuous Issekisancho full-course dinner at ¥13,000, where you get five extra pieces of nigiri sushi in addition to the aforementioned dishes. The offerings at Issekisancho are classic Edo-mae, or exemplary of Tokyo-style sushi. The shari (sushi rice) is made up of two strains of Niigata rice: the sushi-grade emi no kizuna is folded with shinnosuke, which brings some stickiness and a hint of sweetness to the mixtu

Chef Masashi Nagasaka who runs Ebimaru does not have any training in ramen. It’s his experience in French cuisine that led to the creation of this luxurious bowl of lobster noodles. The soup, which is the star here, is actually a rich and creamy lobster bisque that wouldn’t look out of place in a French restaurant. It’s made with Canadian lobster, brandy, wine and a plethora of herbs, vegetables and spices on a base of chicken broth. The most popular item on the menu, the whole lobster ramen (¥6,180, or ¥6,280 with cream) is a feast. It comes with a whole lobster (pan-fried and then roasted in the oven), slices of pork and chicken, chopped onions, and strangely, a smear of sour cream on a piece of baguette. The sour cream does help tone down the bold and punchy taste of crustacean, but we much prefer to add in the chilli oil to boost those sweet, roasty, shrimpy flavours instead. While we know it’s hard to resist licking the bowl clean, make sure to save some of the bisque for part two. Order a small serving of rice, a raw egg yolk and shrimp (¥600), pour in the leftover soup, let the waiter grate a heap of cheese over it, stir to mix, and you’ll have an exquisite risotto. Since the ramen here is built around the lip-smacking bisque, you can still enjoy Ebimaru's signature flavour without breaking the bank. The Basic Lobster Broth Ramen will only set you back ¥1,380 and it has everything – minus the whole lobster, of course.

This branch of the Yamawarau shabu shabu restaurant is easily one of the most accommodating restaurants in Ginza. For one, it specialises in solo hot pot, so that even those dining by themselves can partake in this classic Japanese cuisine that’s usually served communal-style. The restaurant is also spacious enough to accommodate groups – although this being Yamawarau, everyone will be getting an individual copper pot to cook their shabu shabu in regardless of party size. An O-shaped island with counter seats dominates the interior, while long tables are set towards the back.  As usual with shabu shabu hot pot, meat is the draw here, and Yamawarau procures some top-shelf selection. There are several types of wagyu beef on the menu, all of them featuring A4 grade marbling and above. However, the Yamagata, Matsusaka and Kobe varieties are the three most premium types of beef here. As for pork, Yamawarau serves the Yonezawa breed which is known for its clean, delicate flavour. Lunch is the most affordable time to be eating here, with beef shabu shabu sets starting from just ¥2,860 and pork from ¥1,760. The meal includes an assorted vegetable platter, rice or noodles, and dessert. Dinner options are more sumptuous, and not just because the portions are bigger. In the evening, the sets come with unlimited vegetables, rice or noodles, and your choice of appetiser and dessert (the matcha affogato is a crowd pleaser). Prices are slightly higher as well – beef shabu shabu will set you

With the unusually high temperatures this year, Mt. Fuji has broken the record for being the longest without its snowcap. So, it's safe to say that we might also be looking at a delayed autumn. According to the official autumn leaves forecast released by the Japan Meteorological Corporation, this seems to be the case. In fact, in the latest forecast dated October 30, the dates have been pushed back even further. Now, the autumn leaves are predicted to arrive a few days to more than two weeks later than usual. However, it’s important to note that this could very well change depending on weather conditions. Photo: Japan Meteorological Corporation Red momiji leaves forecast The leaves in Hokkaido will be the earliest to turn, with Sapporo projected to see red momiji at their most vibrant around November 8. That’s about 11 days later than usual. The best time to see red leaves in Nagano is around November 28 and Kanazawa around December 4. You can expect to see momiji turn full red in Tokyo sometime around December 5, Osaka December 8 and Kyoto December 16. Further south in Kyushu, the momiji leaves are predicted to turn red only around December 13 in Fukuoka and December 18 in Kagoshima.  Photo: Japan Meteorological Corporation Yellow ginkgo leaves forecast For yellow ginkgo trees, you might want to be in Sapporo around November 6, Aomori around November 9, Kanazawa around November 15 and Nagano around November 20. In Tokyo and Osaka, the ginkgo trees are expected to turn su

Another weekend, another long list of events to help you make the most of your time in Tokyo. Over the next few days, the city is hosting some really unique festivals, and here are three that are worth going for. Foodies can sample different styles of ramen all in one place while anime and manga fans should check out a cosplay Halloween parade in Ikebukuro. For those who like a bit of everything, Koenji Fes has markets, live performances, mascot appearances as well as pro-wrestling matches right outside the station. Photo: Ramen Data BankTsunatori Monogatari's spicy miso ramen with char siu pork Tokyo Ramen Festa Until November 4 Komazawa Olympic Park is hosting a ramen festival with over a dozen booths serving Japanese noodles from different prefectures. You can go for a simple shoyu (soy sauce) or shio (salt) ramen, or a bowl with rich tonkotsu pork broth, or one topped generously with beef. Be warned though: some stalls are expected to have up to two hours wait time, as they are exclusive to the festival or have won the Ramen Grand Prix in recent years. The event is split into three parts, each with a different set of vendors. The ramen restaurants that are participating in the first part (October 24 to 27) include Katsuryu from Ibaraki prefecture with its rich paitan (cloudy white chicken broth) ramen topped with uni, and Kaga Miso Menyūkai from Ishikawa prefecture, whose signature miso ramen is a voluminous bowl topped with seared pork belly. In short, you’ll find ever

Good food is more than just good cooking. It’s about experiencing in tangible form someone’s vision – be it that of a chef, bartender, producer or farmer. That was our major takeaway when we attended the spectacular Luxury Group Dining Series at the Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo over the last weekend of September. The prestigious Tokyo hotel hosted the launch, and served as the first stop, of the multi-city dining programme. Over the course of two months, the Luxury Group Dining Series is set to bring together 55 culinary and beverage talents to showcase not just their craft but also their unique food and drink ideas at 23 restaurants and bars across six regional destinations.  In Tokyo, we got to hear from dedicated farmers who are behind some of Japan’s finest ingredients. We then tasted exemplary dishes from chefs who took inspiration from the farmers’ produce and sought to champion them. We also sipped cocktails that were like spirited narratives of Japan’s past. Over this illuminating weekend, we realised that food at its finest is a harmonious blend of many tastes: that of terroir, passion, technique and certainly culture. Here are the five main events that made up the Tokyo chapter of Marriott International’s Luxury Group Dining Series. Photo: The Ritz Carlton, TokyoHeritage by Kei Kobayashi Chateau Haut-Brion menu with wine pairing at Heritage by Kei Kobayashi This dinner was all about honouring traditions. Kei Kobayashi is easily one of the world’s most prolific Japanese che

新しい都市へ旅行する際、滞在日数がよほど長くない限り、どこからスタートすればいいのか少し迷うものだろう。そこでタイムアウトの出番だ。 我々は毎年、「世界で最もクールな街」を選び、ランキングを発表している。今年も世界中の旅行ライターと編集者のネットワークに呼びかけ、食べ物や飲み物、芸術や文化、ストリートライフ、コミュニティ意識などの住みやすさの指標に基づいて、それぞれの都市の中で最も活気がありにぎやかで、楽しい街について意見を求めた。 2024年のリストには、ブダペストの歴史的な宮殿地区からシンガポールの繁華街であるオーチャードまで、38の異なる地区が選ばれている。東京からは「学芸大学」が第15位にランクイン。東京で今、最もクールなネイバーフッドエリアであり、そして世界で最もエキサイティングな地域の一つとして浮上した。 Photo: イデア/PixtaAn undated stock photo of Gakugeidaigaku 正確に言うと学芸大学は実際の地区名ではなく、正式には目黒区鷹番として知られるエリアに停車する東急東横線の駅名だ。かつて大学街だったこのエリアの魅力は、同じ東横線でわずか数駅のところにある自由が丘や中目黒の影に隠れていて、それほど目立たっていない。 前述の2つ地区には大勢の人が集まるが、クールな若者やクリエーターたちは、学芸大学の過度に商業的過ぎず、落ち着いた雰囲気をたたえたこの街の良さを知っている。ここでは、家族経営の食料品店や銭湯といった昔ながらの施設と、クリエーティブなレストラン、カフェ、バーと共存しているのも大きな魅力の一つだ。 画像提供：WR 学芸大学で、タイムアウト東京英語編集部のお気に入りのスポットは、おいしいコーヒーの「WR」 、ふわふわのドーナツの「ヒグマドーナツ」、完璧な歯ごたえのうどんの「讃岐饂飩 恩家」、たい焼きの「目黒ひいらぎ」、炭火で焼いた焼き鳥店「焼鳥やおや ハナレ」、日本のクラフトビールの「アナザーエイトコーナー」などだ。 しかし、最近は「ガクダイ パーク ストリート（GAKUDAI PARK STREET）」として高架下がリニューアルするなど、毎月のように刺激的な新しいベンチャーが出現している。ほかの人々が追いつく前に、この街をチェックしてみる価値はあるだろう。 「世界で最もクールな街 2024」第1位はマルセイユのノートル・ダム・デュ・モント Notre Dame du Mont, credit: Marseille Tourism, Massimo Municchi また、ランキング上位に入った街も際立った魅力を秘めたエリアばかり。ここからは、今年のトップ3を見てみよう。 2024年の「世界で最もクールな街」となったのはフランスの都市、マルセイユのノートル・ダム・デュ・モント。同市6区にある反骨精神にあふれクリエーティブでリラックスしたこの場所は、かつては芸術家の街として知られた。今でもその名残は、多くのギャラリーや壁画に見られる。 タイムアウトマルセイユのライター、アリシア・ドリーはこの街について次のように語っている。 「ノートル・ダム・デュ・モントとは教会にちなんで命名されましたが、決して神聖な場所ではありません。この街はカラフルな袋小路、落書きだらけの路地、プラタナスの並木道、ジュリアン広場から続く曲がりくねった階段などが合わさり出来上がっています」 「地下鉄駅周辺のロディ通りのテラスで日向ぼっこをするのはパンクスや彼らの犬、カラフルなローブを着た女性、アルコール

Autumn is here, sort of. And while we wait for the leaves to turn their beautiful shades of yellow and red – which will probably happen in a month’s time according to the official forecast – Tokyo continues to host a barrage of events to make sure we are having the best time here in one of the world’s best cities. If you plan on staying in Tokyo this weekend, you can join a grand tea ceremony in the city’s most atmospheric outdoor museum, or sip on craft gin from Japan and around the world by the canal. Otherwise, take a short day trip to Kawagoe for a spectacular float parade, or to Enoshima for a mesmerising fireworks display.  Photo: SuppliedKawagoe Matsuri Kawagoe Festival, Saitama October 19-20 One of Greater Tokyo's most spectacular traditional matsuri, the annual Kawagoe Festival has been going on for more than 370 years. The matsuri is famous for its huge floats parading along the city’s kurazukuri (old architecture) streets. Make sure you stay until the evening when the floats are lit up and the festivities reach their peak in a cacophony of drums, bells, flutes, moving floats and dancing, for a spirited ritual known as hikkawase. The festival float parade is held in front of city hall on Sunday (around 1.30pm-4pm) while the festival float light-up takes place on Saturday (around 6pm-7pm). If you're only coming for the main event, hikkawase is held throughout the evening on both Saturday and Sunday. You'll also find fringe events on both days, including a tradition

It’s that time of year again when Time Out reveals the most vibrant and exciting places on the planet by way of the World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods ranking. And we’re proud to report that Tokyo’s Gakugeidaigaku made it to No. 15 on the 2024 edition of the list. Based on local insights and insider expertise gleaned through Time Out’s comprehensive network of on-the-ground writers and editors, the survey examined city neighbourhoods across the planet based on livability metrics including food and drink, arts and culture, street life and sense of community. Being one of the world’s greatest cities, Tokyo obviously has a spot in the index, and this year Gakugeidaigaku emerged as the capital’s coolest neighbourhood – and one of the most exciting in the world. Photo : Keisuke TanigawaYakitori Yaoya Hanare To be precise, Gakugeidaigaku isn’t the actual name of the neighbourhood, but the name of the Toyoko Line station that serves the area officially known as Takaban. But the station name has been widely adopted to refer to this vibrant and diverse part of Meguro ward. What we love about this one-time university enclave is that Gakugeidaigaku flies firmly under the radar, having always lived in the shadow of its more famous neighbours, Jiyugaoka and Nakameguro, which are both just a few stations away along the same Toyoko Line. This makes Gakugeidaigaku feel like an unexpected find with some serious street cred. Photo: Keisuke Tanigawa While the crowds flock to the two more well-k

Tokyo’s Roppongi district possesses a curious – and compelling – double identity: contemporary arts hotspot by day, and party central after the sun goes down. The annual Roppongi Art Night dynamically unites these two facets in a celebration of creativity that takes over major art museums, shopping complexes and the city streets themselves. Over three evenings from September 27 to 29, the 13th edition of Roppongi Art Night comprises over 40 programmes from 30 artists and art collectives, curated to reflect the 2024 edition’s theme of ‘A Festival of City, Art and Future’. Across an eclectic selection of exhibitions, performances, installations, digital works, music and more, runs a common thread of global-mindedness and continuation into the next generation. Alongside major ongoing art shows, including the spectacular Keiichi Tanaami retrospective at The National Art Center, Tokyo, Roppongi Art Night includes a whole host of exclusive presentations. Many take place in public spaces, and can be enjoyed without spending a single yen. Among these, here are just a few of the highlights. Rondo of Flowers, 2018. Photo: Mito Murakami A procession of glowing flowers lights up Roppongi’s streets 'PongiRing - Parade of Light Flower' is a one-night-only ‘living artwork’ created by Kyoto-born Kyota Takahashi. A crowd of people wearing flower-shaped, glow-in-the-dark rubber rings will walk from the National Art Center, Tokyo, through Tokyo Midtown and on to Roppongi Hills. LED lights on

六本木の街がアートに染まる「六本木アートナイト」が間もなく開幕する。会期は2024年9月27日（金）〜29日（日）。13回目を迎える今年は「都市とアートとミライのお祭り」をテーマに、30組のアーティストによる約40のアートコンテンツやプログラムを展開する。 六本木は昼と夜で全く異なる顔を持つ、不思議な魅力にあふれた街。日中は最先端のアートが息づく現代アートの聖地として知られ、日が暮れると瞬く間にパーティーの中心地へと変貌する。六本木アートナイトは、この2つの対照的な個性をダイナミックに融合させ、街全体を創造性で満たすアートの祭典だ。 期間中は美術館や大型複合施設、公共スペースなど六本木のあちこちで現代アート、デザイン、音楽、映像、パフォーマンスなどのプログラムをグローバルな視点で体感できる。その多くが、無料で楽しめるのも魅力の一つ。ここでは、2024年の六本木アートナイトの見どころを紹介しよう。 Rondo of Flowers, 2018. Photo: Mito Murakami 高橋匡太「ポンギリング ―ひかりの花のパレード―」 「ポンギリング ―ひかりの花のパレード―」は、光や映像を用いた公共空間でのパフォーマンスで活躍する高橋匡太が手がける一夜限りのパレード。参加者は花の形をした浮輪を身に着け、「東京国立近代美術館」から「東京ミッドタウン」「六本木ヒルズ」を練り歩くという、参加型のプログラムだ。 浮き輪に設置されたLEDライトは鮮やかに色を変えていき、夜景を幻想的な光景へと一変させる。 日程：28日 18時30分～19時30分、19時30分～21時 場所：東京国立近代美術館から六本木ヒルズ Photo: Ephemeral Collection, Atelier Sisu「Ephemeral Collection」  アトリエ シス「エフェメラル コレクション」 シドニーを拠点に彫刻やインスタレーションを制作するアートスタジオ「Atelier Sisu（アトリエ シス）」による同作品は、泡の壊れやすさを通して人生のはかなさを表現する、没入型の光と音のインスタレーション。巨大な半透明の球体は光を反射する素材で作られており、昼と夜とで、その姿を変えていく。 日程：27日 17時30分～23時、28日 11～23時、29日 11～20時 場所：六本木ヒルズアリーナ Tsai and YoshikawaBliss of Luxuriance – Daydream ツァイ＆ヨシカワ「豊穣の宝石 ‒ Reflection」 ツァイ＆ヨシカワは、ロンドンを拠点に活躍する台湾人のツァイ・シャオチー（蔡筱淇）と、吉川公野によるアートユニット。同作品は、地球上の生命にとって不可欠なエネルギーである水、光、空気 を表現した、巨大な抽象的な花彫刻だ。 アルミニウムで制作され蛍光色に塗られた彫刻は日没前に光を放出し、夜にはブラックライトの下でさらにまばゆい光を放つ。 日程：27日 17時30分〜29日 20時、9月30日（月）～10月14日（月・祝） 場所: 六本木ヒルズ ウエストウォーク 2階 Photo: Mao Yamamoto エレクトロニコス・ファンタスティコス！「六本木丘電磁盆踊り」 エレクトロニコス・ファンタスティコス！は、アーティストの和田永を中心に、役割を終えた電化製品を新たな楽器へと蘇生させ、徐々にオーケストラを形作っていくプロジェクト。六本木アートナイトでは、日本の盆踊りを大胆に再解釈したユニークなパフォーマンスを披露する。

Tokyo is so vibrant that it seems there’s never a quiet moment in the city. Every weekend is jam-packed with events, festivals and exhibitions of every kind. This September 27-29 weekend is no exception. In fact, you should brace yourself for a big weekend, as Tokyo is hosting a diverse line-up of festivals from contemporary art to traditional shrine parades. There’s even a rare late-season fireworks festival if you missed any of the summer pyrotechnic showcases a few months back. So get ready to go out and make the most of your weekend in Tokyo. Photo: Ephemeral Collection, Atelier Sisu Roppongi Art Night September 27-29 Tokyo’s Roppongi district is a contemporary arts hub by day and a party hotspot after the sun goes down. This annual event combines these two facets in a celebration of creativity that takes over art museums, shopping centres and the streets themselves. The 13th edition of Roppongi Art Night comprises over 40 programmes from 30 artists and art collectives, featuring exhibitions, performances, installations, digital works, music and much more. Alongside major ongoing shows, Roppongi Art Night includes a host of exclusive presentations. Many take place in public spaces, and can be enjoyed without spending a single yen. Kyota Takahashi’s ‘PongiRing - Parade of Light Flower’ will see a procession of people wearing flower-shaped, glow-in-the-dark rubber rings parade through the streets. Japan’s traditional Bon Odori festival, meanwhile, is reimagined by Electro

‘Under the Wave off Kanagawa’, or more commonly known as ‘The Great Wave’, is possibly the most iconic image in Japanese art. This universally recognised woodblock print, which features powerful waves rendered in vibrant blue and with the majestic Mt Fuji in the background, is the work of great ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). Recently on September 18, as part of its Asia Week New York, Bonhams auctioned off an early impression of the print circa 1930-31. The work was estimated to fetch between USD700,000 and USD800,000, but it exceeded expectations and went under the hammer for a whopping USD 889,500. That’s about ¥180 million. ‘The Great Wave’ is but one in a series of ukiyo-e woodblock prints known as the ‘36 Views of Mount Fuji’, which comprises a variety of landscapes in different seasons and climate. As its collective title suggests, all of the works depict the symbol of Japan – Mt Fuji. When Hokusai produced this series of dynamic prints between 1830 and 1832, he was at the height of his craft even though he was already in his seventies. Photo: Yosuke OwashiSumida Hokusai Museum If you want to learn more about Hokusai and the Japanese art of ukiyo-e, and even see an authentic print of ‘The Great Wave’ in person, make your way to the Sumida Hokusai Museum. Dedicated to the great master himself and housed in an avant garde piece of architecture, the museum offers not just a fascinating insight into the history and development of ukiyo-e as an art form, it

This September 21–23 three-day weekend marks the end of this year’s Silver Week holidays. And while it’s not as jam-packed as the blockbuster weekend we just had, there are still some fun things to do in various parts of Tokyo including Shibuya. The selection is pretty varied, so you’ll have no problem finding something that strikes your fancy.   Photo: Supplied Nakanobu Nebuta Festival September 21 With its illuminated ornate floats, the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (and its various regional siblings) is one of Japan's most instantly recognisable festivals. Less well-known is this Tokyo spin-off, held every two years in a sleepy neighbourhood just a few stops from Shinagawa. The Nakanobu Nebuta Matsuri is actually twinned with the festival held in Kuroishi, Aomori prefecture, and this year it will be hosting six of those eye-catching floats. There will be stalls selling street food and drinks from noon to 4pm, accompanied by local school brass bands and belly-dancing performances. The highlight, which is the float parade, starts at 5pm and ends just before 8pm.  Photo: Supplied Chofu Fireworks September 21 Chofu is hosting its annual hanabi (fireworks) festival by the banks of the Tama River with massive fireworks (including starmines) synchronised to music. It sees around 10,000 rockets launched over the course of an hour starting at 6.15pm, with some fireworks being choreographed to pop songs using computer-controlled audio and launch systems. Tickets for reserved seating at

世界一交通量の多い交差点の「渋谷スクランブル交差点」があるのだから、言うまでもなく渋谷は人が多い。世界的に有名なバー、多彩なレストラン、活気ある居酒屋、さらに数え切れないほどのショップなど、国際都市に求められるものが全て揃っている。 2024年9月13日（金）から16日（月・祝）にかけて、その渋谷で2つの日本の祭りが同時に開催される。東京で最もにぎやかな週末になりそうだ。晩夏の陽気に酔いしれ、渋谷のユニークな祭りを写真に収めたいなら、今がベストシーズンだ。  渋谷ねぶたまつり Photo: Nuvisage/DreamstimeAn undated photo of a previous nebuta festival  昨年9年ぶりに復活した「渋谷のねぶた祭り」が、井の頭通りと渋谷センター街をジャックする。 期間中は、ねぶた作家の塚本利佳が青森で手作りした大きな山車が、井の頭通りに展示。最大の見どころは、14日（土）17時30分からセンター街を練り歩く「ねぶた」だ。 色とりどりにライトアップされたねぶたが、地元の有志によって担がれ、踊り手や囃子方（はやしかた）の大行列とともに練り歩く光景は、圧巻だろう。 ※9月12～14日／渋谷センター街／入場は無料 渋谷金王八幡宮例大祭 画像提供：金王八幡宮大祭 渋谷最大の祭りが「金王八幡宮」とその周辺地域で開催。五穀豊穣（ほうじょう）、商売繁盛、子どもの健康を祈願する神道の伝統行事で、数百年前から毎年行われている。 今年は、神社の神楽舞台でインドのオディッシー舞踊、日本の民族舞踊、フランスのシャンソン歌唱など、幅広いパフォーマンスを披露。さらに、こだわりのグルメが人気の「高丸電気」によるフードや、創業100年を超える老舗銭湯の「改良湯」の人気ドリンク、「旬八青果」のかき氷などの屋台も見逃せない。 この祭りの最大の目玉は、15日（日）の正午から行われる巨大な「神輿パレード」だ。渋谷のさまざまな地区から14基のみこしが集結。みこしは青山を出発して渋谷スクランブル交差点をゆっくりと練り歩き、14時ごろに「渋谷（SHIBUYA）109」前の広場に到着する。 カルチャーの中心である渋谷で、日本の伝統文化に触れよう。 ※9月14・15日／11～20時／金王八幡宮／入場は無料 関連記事 『東京、9月12〜16日に開催される国際フェスティバル4選』 『東京、9月に開催されるアートフェスティバル4選』 『9月に行くべき音楽フェスティバル5選』 『東京、9月に開催される注目のジャズイベント5選』 『2024年、下半期見逃せない芸術祭』  東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら