Looking to stay on the cutting edge of food, drink and shopping trends in Tokyo? Sure, keeping track of all the new restaurants, bars, shops and stands opening across the city every month can feel exhausting and almost hopeless – but that's where we come in. Sparing you the trouble of wading through long lists of shiny promotional pics and hollow praise, we've again compiled a handy list of the top five spots to start business this month. Check out our editorial team's picks below, and make sure to leave a comment if you think we missed something.
1) Fujiro
Billed as 'a place where adults can mingle', there's more than enough to choose from at this one-stop Kayabacho building filled with Japanese cuisine of the more upscale kind. Set across four floors, Fujiro offers different types of eats on every storey: the ground floor is for yakitori, the second floor has teppanyaki and tempura, the third floor does sushi, and the fourth floor has a members-only bar lounge with cigars. Your main problem here may just be choosing a floor and sticking to it. Read more
2) Hemp Café Tokyo
In this heat, there are few better ways to freshen up after a day out in Ebisu than chilling at Hemp Café Tokyo. They serve fresh, organic food – all very herbivore-conscious – as well as some of Japan's favourite beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. One of the unique drinks on offer is 'Cannabia,' a beer made from hemp for those who wish to explore a hint of high in Japan. Although vegan-oriented, the café is worth visiting for anyone, especially if you're looking to cleanse your innards. Read more
3) Sison Gallery
Housed inside a traditional Japanese-style house from the 1930s, this Daikanyama gallery was remodelled as a multi-purpose space for art exhibitions, workshops and other events. The all-white interior makes for quite a contrast from the traditional exterior, but gives off a nostalgic feel to the entire space. Sison's inaugural event is the feline-focused Cat's Issue Archive Exhibition, which sees a wide range of purry items such as accessories and decorative items displayed and sold. Read more
4) The Alley Xiejiaoxiang
Right in the middle of an all-day shopping spree in Shinjuku? Take a break with some tea at The Alley Xiejiaoxiang, who run more than 20 shops in Taiwan and now land inside Shinjuku's Sanagi. Brightening up your day with unique mixtures such as the smoothie-like 'kiwi falling in love with a fragrance', 'Bonsai milk tea' and a 'triple-taste' milk tea made with coconut milk and tapioca, the tea stand offers all of The Alley's most popular flavours. Read more
5) Alternative Theatre
Headed by corporate giant Studio Alta, this new theatre in Yurakucho is trying to target a diverse crowd by hosting performances that can be enjoyed non-verbally. Entertainment ranges from European and American productions to domestic ones, but always with a Japanese twist. Now showing is 'Alata', which follows the unusual path of one very usual office lady. One day, she bumps into the samurai Alata, who has accidentally time-travelled from the Sengoku (Warring States) period to Tokyo in 2020. Read more