Get intimate with a new city

2014

My Secret

TOKYOEAT, DRINK & SHOP your way deep into the heart and soul of Japan’s capital with Girl Gone International and photographer, Rachel Sato-Banks

Address Book

SHOPPINGJ’ANTIQUES

If vintage is your thing or you’d just like to see where Ralph Lauren get its inspira-tion for visual merchandising then J’Antiques is the place to visit. Opened by famed collector Hitoshi Uchida, the store stocks everything from paper goods, buttons and vintage designer shoes (multicoloured 90s Jimmy Choos anyone??) to furni-ture and homeware. It’s basi-cally what my idea of heaven would be like. They have a huge following in fashion and design circles and are con-stantly ripped off so there’s a strict ‘no photography’ policy in place.

#101 2-25-13 Kamimeguro Meguro-Ku Tokyo 153-0051 Japan

LOFTOk, so Loft is like Tokyo Hands in that they are both ‘lifestyle’ department stores. Both are great, but for me, Loft has the edge.

You can find Loft concessions and stores all over Tokyo and they are experts in stationary, health and beauty products, homeware and everything functional, modernand cool in between.

www.loft.co.jp

Multiple locations.

PARCOParco is a fashion-focused shopping complex in the heart of busy Shibuya. It offers a lively mix of Japanese designers as well as international brands and is a one-stop-shop for any fashionista worth their salt. Be sure to pop by the Issey Miyake Bao Bao concession for serious drool-worthy bags. There’s also a bookshop in the basement with an inspiring selection of international and Japanese design, fashion, art books and magazines.

www.shibuya.parco.jp

Shibuya PARCO15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

DININGUSHIKOU-HONTEN

Attention carnivores!! If you like slices of marbled beef that melts in your mouth and silky noodles dipped in its juices then this is your kind of place. This traditional meat joint serves tasty sukiyaki (thin slices of grilled beef eaten with a hot pot of soup and veggies with a variety of dipping sauces) and shabu-shabu (similar to sukiyaki but less sweet) at a reasonable price.

It’s a bit hard to find, but it’s worth it when you do!

1-9-8 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyowww.ushikou-honten.com

BASSANOVABassanova has reached almost cult noodle status internation-ally.. ‘Basa’ as it’s affectionate-ly called, is the perfect exam-ple of how the Japanese can take inspiration from foreign influences and come up with something unique and wonderful but still very much Japanese. Their green curry ramen is a prime example of this. Even though it oozes creamy Thai flavours and spic-es, the base of the broth re-tains a strong tonkotsuessence that is the base of all ramen. The guys in the open kitchen are also super friendly. Give it a go!

1-4-18 HanegiSetagaya-ku, Tokyo

CAFE AND

DINING .. AND

PEOPLETechnically a cafe, I am a fan not of the slightly bland food but of their cakes and cock-tails! Oh and the decor, which is every bit as magical as their cheesecake.

10-2 Shin Tokyo BuildingUdagawa-cho, Shibuya, Tokyo

www.andpeople.co.jp

DRINKINGSHIBUYA’S NOMBEI YOKOCHO (Drunkard’s Alley)

Nonbei Yokocho is a district of tiny bars and restaurants next to the train tracks near hachiko. The alleys look like Tokyo before WWII with tiny buildings packed together side-by-side. Restaurants and bars here may only have three or four seats but people move around, spill onto the pavement and make it work!

There’s definitely a unique charm to this place. It’s actually where I’ve met some of my best friends in Tokyo over the years. There’s a tiny curry house in one of the dens – you’ll know it by the heavenly smell wafting down the alley!

1-25-10 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

808 LOUNGE808 is a teeny tiki Hawaiian bar in the ‘cool’ area of Shimo-kitazawa. The owner is called Uno-san. He has two passions – booze and ramen and often gets me hammered on the 60% proof homebrew he knocked up from plums.

This drink will put hairs on your chest so approach with caution ladies!

2-23-6 Kitazawa, Setagaya-KuTokyo, Japan

RHYTHM CAFEThis place is all fun – gigs happen here, DJs playing 60s Japanese pop happens and there is a constant stream of interesting people coming and going to a pulsating rhythm. The crowd is a mix of young things, older eccentrics, gajins (foreigners) and cool Japanese music types – which make sense as it’s run by Unity Records.

Ryuko Bldg Bekkan 1F, 11-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

www.rhythmcafe.jp