Tokyo City Views A Must See
The Tokyo Skyline Can Be Savored From Many Tokyo Bars and Restaurant
The vast urban sprawl of Tokyo’s neon, skyscrapers and twinkling lights has become infamous in recent years. Said to be the inspiration for Blade Runner’s nightscapes, and given new life recently by surrounding a brooding Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation, the night views of Tokyo are something to behold.
There are a plethora of restaurants and bars which offer stellar views of the Tokyo skyline. And increasingly eating and drinking establishments in the Japanese capital have been capitalizing on the public’s hunger for great city views. The following are a few of my favorites.
In Shinjuku
The New York Bar in the Shinjuku Park Hyatt ( 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan 163-1055 Tel: +81 3 5322 1234 ) may be the most infamous and trendy place to enjoy a Tokyo city view. Made famous by the aforementioned Lost in Translation, the place is usually crawling with foreigners trying to recreate their Bill Murray moment. The views are indeed fabulous; there are floor to ceiling windows around the perimeter of the floor. The ambience is jazzy and elegant.
Simply make your way to the 52nd floor of the building (accessed from the hotel lobby). Be aware though that drinks are a bit pricey ($8 for a coffee, $12 for a beer, $15-20 for a glass of wine or cocktail) and there is a cover charge after 8 pm (after 7 pm on Sundays). Hours are 5 pm- 12 am Sun.- Wed. and 5 pm- 1 am Thurs. - Sat.
In Tameike Sanno
Another classy bar with a great Tokyo city view is the ANA Intercontinetal’s Manhattan Lounge ( 1-12-33, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan, TEL: +81-3-3505-1111 ) on the 36th floor of the hotel. You can find the hotel near Tameike Sanno station. The ambience is chic, the lighting dim, the clientele trendy and the views of the Tokyo skyline are indeed breathtaking.
The bar is open all day (from 11:30 am - 1 am), but again drinks are expensive (same range as the New York Bar). However, you can arrive here after dinner and not have to pay a cover charge.
In Shibuya
One restaurant with a spectacular view worth mentioning is Coucagno in the Cerulean Tower. Located near Shibuya station, you can see Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills, and all the way to Yokohama on clear days. The food here is sublime as well, and it was just awarded a Michelin Star. The meals aren’t cheap (think $100 for a great value 5 course menu). It’s a great place to splurge though, especially if a bit of romance is in the cards.
