Oak Door at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Roppongi is a fabulous spot to meet friends for wine and good food. The weather this day was perfect for sitting outdoors. Appetizers are perfect for sharing. Caesar salad, Hokkaido scallops, Kagawa white asparagus with smoked salmon, an an amazing creamy burrata and tomato salad with fried…
Tag: hotel
Le Pristine
Dining well in Tokyo is easy. If anything it can be intimidating trying to plan the perfect itinerary for the best meals while in Japan. One tip is not to limit yourself to Japanese cuisine meals only. Japan offers amazing seasonal ingredients and I love tasting meals made by non-Japanese chefs working with what is…
Tochigi Rengetsu
We had the most fabulous stay at #NasuShiobara @rengetsu_natsu in #Tochigi. My kid has been wanting to stay here for a long time so we booked it way in advance. There is a private onsen bath on our veranda. The property also has a large hot springs area that also includes three private hot springs. I…
Nihonbashi Dormy Inn
If you’re on a budget in Japan 🇯🇵 on holidays check out the Dormy Inn chain. This simple room was less than $100. The basic room is small, but you’re in Tokyo, so most likely are only in the room to sleep and recharge. This Kodenmacho property in Nihonbashi Ningyocho has a hot springs on…
Nagoya Courtyard by Marriott
If you’re staying in Nagoya the Courtyard by Marriott is a nice property. Friendly staff. Comfortable bed. Spacious for a Japanese hotel. Modern facilities. A gym, but we spent enough time exploring the city, to use the gym. If the weather is cooler it’s probably about a 20-minute walk from the station. It was a…
Haneda Villa Fontaine
At Haneda Airport near Terminal Three is the Villa Fontaine Hotel with an onsen hot springs @izumitenkunoyu. The location is ideal if you have an early flight or a late arrival into Tokyo. The room is basic but I am mostly here for the onsen and for a bed that is near the airport so…
Park Hyatt Tokyo
The Park Hyatt Tokyo Appreciation Night was an evening for friends of the hotel to gather before it closes for refurbishments. A fabulous and luxurious fete including champagne, caviar, Japanese whisky, sushi, wagyu beef, and so much more. As a sommelier at the New York Grill and Bar I was humbled to see some former…
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Bidding farewell to the iconic @parkhyatttokyo. All the more famous since Lost in Translation was filmed here. I am hoping the penthouse New York Grill and Bar won’t change too much. Remember there was a big brouhaha about the lobby of the Okura Hotel? In the end after the refurbishment the lobby hadn’t changed too…
New York Grill
The infamous Park Hyatt Tokyo will be closing temporarily starting May 7th, 2024. The hotel will undergo a full refurbishment. The hotel is 30 years old. I went for one last lunch at the timeless New York Grill and Bar. It is one of Tokyo’s top steakhouses. The lunch is a luxurious buffet for appetizers…
Toyama Onyado Nono
In room #onsen #hotsprings at #OnyadoNono in #Toyama. Just press a button and the wooden tub 🛀 fills up with hot springs water. There is also a larger hot springs, both indoor and outdoor, on the property but this was perfect. Part of the #DormyInn chain there is a complimentary bowl of ramen after 9:30…
Shinbashi Isehiro
I have long been a customer at Isehiro yakitori in Kyōbashi since my days working as a sommelier at Takashimaya depachika. The original shop dates to 1921. Only recently did I discover that Isehiro has a branch in the basement of the Shinbashi Daiichi Hotel. I stopped by and the third-generation son said that his…
est
Contemporary French cuisine made in Japan is always fascinating as I love to see how the chef incorporates local ingredients. The menu at est at the Four Seasons Tokyo at Otemachi includes a map of Japan referencing where produce, meat, milk, cheese, honey, and more come from. Even the tableware artisans are included on the…
Gargantua
One of the best bites I have had in a while is this seasonal vegetable tart at the #ImperialHotel bakery #Gargantua. Perfectly sliced squashes in gorgeous circles over an herbaceous base. The ham and cheese bun was also amazing. There is a small eat-in area in the popular bakery. The Imperial Hotel is near Yurakucho…
Kyoto Potel
Umekoji Potel is a fun hotel in Kyoto. I loved the hotel room with the used artist brushes on the wall. There’s a small library with some books on Kyoto which were fun to peruse. There is also a simple snack bar with dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, juice, beer, and wine. There is a public…
Kyoto Hotel
The Mitsui Garden Hotel Shijō is a lovely hotel with an onsen hot springs near Shijō Street in Kyōto. I booked at the last minute and got a good rate of 8,500 yen ($60). The only twist was that it was a room with three beds in it. 😂😭 Shijō Street is wonderful as it’s…
Kyoto Tune Stay
I picked Kyōto Tune Stay hotel because I love books. Check out this wall of books! Most are in Japanese, but there are some English books in the library. The books cover a variety of topics. I kept carefully perusing the food books and could have stayed up all night. The rooms are a bare…
Park Hyatt Tokyo Valentine’s Day Chocolates
These chocolates are from chef Julien Pertinet of the Park Hyatt Tokyo. Valentine chocolates this year comes in three unique flavors that will be fun to pair with wine (or even saké). The chocolates are available through March 14th, White Day, at the hotel’s Pastry Boutique. 1. wine and figs with cheese and vanilla 2….
Nunohan Ryokan – Suwa, Nagano
When deciding where to stay while traveling in Japan there are many considerations for type of stay. When we can, we try to stay at local ryokan inns with onsen hot springs. Nunohan was put on my radar by a friend who lives in Suwa, Nagano. We loved it. The ryokan is kid-friendly, had lovely cuisine,…
Food Sake Tokyo 