En Route: Tokyo - NYLON SINGAPORE

boys and girls in the city

Every time i visit Tokyo, I ask myself why i don’t return to the city more often. Tokyo is clean, neat and safe, and i think they have the best food in the world! during my recent trip to Tokyo in December, I stayed close to tokyo station, which is conveniently connected to everything.

Photos shot on an Apple iPhone 7. By Adele Chan

HIGH AND ABOVE THE CITY: MANDARIN ORIENTAL, TOKYO

If you want to see Tokyo’s breathtaking city skyline, take a lift up to the 38th floor of the Mandarin Oriental and get your camera ready. And even if you’re not spending a night at the hotel, you can certainly dine at one of the many award-winning restaurants located in the building. My personal favourite: the Gourmet Shop on the ground floor, which is a bakery filled with delightful pastries (who doesn’t love pastries!). The hotel promises the best deals if you book through their official website; there are promotions depending on the period of stay, and they say that if you find a better rate online within 24 hours of booking through their website, they will match it and provide a further 10% discount!

ROOM:

Expect beautiful Japanese style in lots of woody tones, and an overall elegant design. We were greeted with Japanese kimonos laid out at the foot of the bed, and a little welcome gift — a furushiki (a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth), that we were able to take home. If you have little ones in tow, the hotel will provide mini slippers and a kid’s pack as well.

Looking out over the city from the hotel reception area.
Deluxe Premier Room at the Mandarin Oriental.

I can’t go anywhere without having my bacon and eggs.
The Gourmet Shop on the ground floor.
The view from the bar on the 38th floor.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, TOKYO
Address: 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8328, Japan
Tel: +81 (3) 3270 8800

Website: mandarinoriental.com/tokyo
Rates: from ¥85,000 per night for a Deluxe Premier Room
Check in time: 3pm
Check out time: 12pm

STAYING IN: AMAN TOKYO

When you step into the lobby of Aman Tokyo, you’re immediately greeted by a big open space and an immensely tall ceiling. Everything feels wide and spacious, and there’s a wonderful sense of calm; you just know your room is going to be great.

ROOM:

The rooms are a perfect marriage of modern and traditional Japanese aesthetics. Washi paper sliding doors run the entire length of the room and separate the bathroom from the sleeping and lounge area (yes, the rooms have a lounge area!). But the highlight of every room is the furo deep-soak bathtub that sits next to a million-dollar view of downtown Tokyo. Similar to Mandarin Oriental, you are high up in the sky, looking down on the rooftops of every other surrounding building. If you don’t have urgent business to attend to in the city, you’ll want to spend your time at Aman soaking in the tub and contemplating the meaning of life.

BOOK WITH:

Aman Tokyo can be booked through Mr & Mrs Smith, a travel club that guarantees the best price available for any of their listed properties. All hotels and resorts are curated by the Mr & Mrs Smith team, each one anonymously reviewed, and then recommended to members. Membership is free, and includes 24-hour support for your booking.

I was counting the helicopter pads…
The lobby of Aman Tokyo.
Neat and clean designs in the room.

The “Japanese breakfast” set at the restaurant in Aman Tokyo.
Your best bath ever.
Even the swimming pool boasts incredible views of the city.
This is me wishing I could just move in and stay here forever.

The bath tub in the Presidential Suite also offers amazing views of downtown Tokyo.
You can see how densely populated Tokyo is from the room.
This is what it looks like inside the Presidential Suite. Imagine how nice (and expensive) it would be to book this place for a week!
The bed in the Presidential Suite, where many celebrities and diplomats have slept in.

I had the best bacon at Shangri-La Tokyo. I would come back just for the bacon.
The Tokyo Station is right next door to the hotel.
The swimming pool was the most humid place in the whole building. If you need to be reminded of Singapore, here’s where you go.

TOKYO STATION

Tokyo station is a massive hub where there’s an abundance of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, pharmacies, bookstores, department stores, supermarkets and karaoke joints. If it’s your first time in the city, you’ll need at least two to three days exploring the Tokyo station area. try not to get lost.

There’s a sushi place at almost every corner of the station, and you won’t go wrong with any of them.
My first meal in Tokyo…a bowl of delicious brothy ramen.
Raw fish waiting to be cut up and served.
Sushi platter!

My best meal in Tokyo was this unassuming beef hot pot. Only took one picture because…too delicious, need to eat.
Family Mart convenience stores are found everywhere in Tokyo, including Tokyo Station; and they have a wide selection of ready-to-eat meals.
Seriously, though it’s pre-packed, everything is quite tasty — and value-for-money!
This bowl of spaghetti from the shelves at Family Mart was so good, I bought it three times.

Daimaru is connected to Tokyo Station, and there’s a huge supermarket in the basement.
The Daimaru food hall doesn’t disappoint. Just look at these bowls of sashimi!
There was a long queue for this sponge cake at Daimaru. I don’t know why because I didn’t queue.
Rows of ready-packed sushi in Daimaru.

Found around the corner to Tokyo Station! Big Echo karaoke!!!
Must sing while in Japan: Alphaville.

Finally hunted this down at Tokyo Station: Calbee+!!! Where my favourite Calbee chips are cooked fresh! Someone please bring this to Singapore.
Order off the menu at Calbee+.
Even the merchandise at Calbee+ is screaming at me to buy them…

15 MINUTES TO HAPPINESS

Everybody now! “M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E”! If I’m in Tokyo, I’m definitely in Disneyland. I still think Japan has the best everything, including an improved version of the most famous American theme park. sure, some of the songs are sung in Japanese, but that just adds to the quirk of the place. Altogether now! “ミッキーマウス” (mikki mau, mikki mau). . .

Getting there :

It’s super easy to get to Disneyland from Tokyo Station. Just look for the JR Keiyo Line or the JR Musashino Line, and then stop at Maihama Station where the Disneyland Resort is located. It’s a quick 15 minutes ride away!

How much:

A one-day adult ticket to the park is ¥7,400. You can purchase tickets online at: tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tdl/.

I can already feel the excitement as I walk towards the gates of happiness.
The entrance to Tokyo Disney Resort.
Star Tours!!!
The first of many things I bought: Japanese candy in an R2-D2 container.

I was so impressed by how orderly Japanese people are. I want to move here.
Must-take-selfies in front of the “Small World” castle!
These are exactly the droids you are looking for in this ride.
The must-queue “It’s a Small World” boat ride.

Hungry? Drop by the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall.
Beef, chicken and cake!
I counted at least six escape pods while queuing for Space Mountain. I’m sure there were more.
Not your birthday? Get a Happy Unbirthday cake to celebrate!