With more Michelin stars than any other city in the world and a culture that speaks of its ancient past, dynamic present and high-tech future, Tokyo is a captivating place to behold. From hushed shrines and tearooms to tall urban towers and bustling streets, here’s how to spend a perfect day in Japan’s alluring capital city.
From your refined suite at The Peninsula Tokyo, savor a leisurely start to the day with a Japanese breakfast delivered to your room; curated by the hotel's two Michelin-starred chef Kazuo Takagi, this beautiful tray arrives with braised vegetables, broiled fish, steamed rice, Japanese condiments, miso soup, coffee, juice and even dessert!
You're picked up by your private driver and guide for an insider's tour of Tokyo. First you head east to the city's most magnificent Shint? shrine, Meiji Jingu, which is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Beyond the cypress and copper-built shrine and its aweinspiring gates, is a vast forest of more than 120,000 trees collected from
across the country - an amazingly tranquil place set within the heart of a lively city. After this quiet interlude, you'll drive south for a quick look at the much-noisier Shibuya Crossing, the world's busiest pedestrian intersection in an area that's known as "Tokyo's Times Square". Next, you'll continue on to Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, where, hundreds of feet up on its 52nd and 53rd floors, the thought-provoking (and visually stunning) Mori Art Museum waits to be explored.
The morning has built up your appetite, so you're ready for a food tour around the Tsukiji Outer Market with a local culinary expert. Formerly home to the famous Tsukiji Fish Market (now relocated to Toyosu), the outer part of the market is still packed with restaurants and shops lining crowded lanes - the perfect place to experience some of the many intriguing facets of Japanese street food. Taste all manner of pickles, Japanese plums, squid dumplings, tamagoyaki (sweet rolled omelet), seafood izakaya, onigiri (rice balls), red bean paste croissants and much more.
It's time for a change of pace; the afternoon brings quiet and calm as you partake in a private Japanese tea ceremony, a practice steeped in history. In a traditional tearoom with a tatami (thick straw mat) floor, the master of the ceremony will carefully prepare matcha green tea, a ritual with many small and meaningful gestures. As you sip your tea, you'll learn about the importance of this ceremony in Japanese culture and its connection to Zen Buddhism.
After a busy day, take some time to unwind back at The Peninsula Tokyo. Perhaps you'll want to spend some time in the hotel spa's sauna and steam room, grab a drink at Peter: The Bar or simply relax in your suite.
For dinner, you have one of the greatest gets in town: a reservation at the three Michelin-starred Sushi Yoshitake, located just a short walk from the hotel. At this tiny, seven-seat sushi bar, legendary chef Masahiro Yoshitake demonstrates his mastery of Edo-style cuisine, preparing the freshest fish available with techniques that speak both to tradition and his innovative culinary genius.
Even after a full day, you've only just scratched the surface when it comes to experiencing this captivating metropolis; so many more layers of history, culture and cuisine await.
