Restaurants, Bars and Cafés Beauty & Health Points of Interest

The very best of Old and New Tokyo Ginza (銀座), Marunouchi (丸の内) and Nihonbashi (日本橋) have maintained prestige and historical charm for decades, but they were in need of a serious revamp to compete with the newer neighborhoods on the other side of the city not three years ago. So, as always just in time in Tokyo, up went the grand Marunouchi Building (or just “Maru Biru” in the vernacular) quickly followed by the landmark Nihonbashi Takashimaya undergoing a major renovation. Designer stores like Chanel, Mikimoto and Hermès promptly followed with redefined versions of themselves, while restaurants and cafés sprung up here and there and… Voilá! Once again, as good as new, if not better.

Hibiya Koen (日比谷公園) park This was the first western-style park in Tokyo, and serves as a kind of Central Park to the city. Though not nearly as big as the one in New York, you’ll still find joggers, business people on their lunch breaks, grandma and grandpa taking walks and children feeding the pigeons. Its proximity to Ginza makes for a nice rest stop after a day of shopping or running errands. Free entry. Hibiya Koen, Chiyoda-ku 03-3501-6428 Station: Kasumigaseki (metro), Hibiya (Toei Mita line, metro), Yurakucho (JR), Sakuradamon (metro) more information...

Sony Building (ソニービル　銀座) showrooms Experience the newest Sony technologies. With eight stories above ground and three below―including cafés, restaurants and Sony Plaza shopping stores that sell non-Sony products―there’s something for everyone. Recommended: the stairs connecting floors B1 and 1 make piano sounds as you walk on them. 5-3-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku 03-3573-2371 Station: Ginza (metro exit B9) more information...

Hamarikyu Onshi Teien (浜離宮恩賜庭園) park Row, row, row your boat gently down Sumidagawa River via the Sumidagawa Boat Cruise, then get off at Hamarikyu station for a walk through the park complete with a tea house in the middle of the pond. A great way to entertain out-of-towners, or as a spot to rest the soul when you've had a bit too much of city life. Home to the Sanbyakunen no Matsu (三百年の松, the 300-year-old pine tree). Entrance to the park is ￥300 for adults. For the boat cruise, check website for schedules and prices. Hamarikyu Teien, Chuo-ku 03-3541-0200 Station: Park Shiodome (Oedo line exit 10) Boat Cruise Asakusa more information...

Tokyo International Forum (東京国際フォーラム) convention center A grand, maritime-inspired sculpture of a building encasing meeting halls, convention centers, small theaters, cafés, restaurants and gift shops. A must for architecture buffs, but nevertheless a magnificent sight for most everyone. Free entry, although most events within the different halls require tickets. 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku 03-5221-9000 Station: Yurakucho (JR International Forum exit; metro exit A4b) more information...