Hot Summers Reveal a Cooler Side of Tokyo

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News & Topics

After a postponement, Otemachi One opened June 17

The impact of COVID-19, Tokyo continues to push back the opening of new large-scale facilities, but Otemachi One has begun operations. Facing the moat of the Imperial Palace, it’s a fresh new landmark located in the center of Tokyo’s business district and popular sightseeing area. This complex includes office space, a hall, and Otemachi One Avenue (shops and restaurants). The Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo in Otemachi will open its door in late Summer.
https://otemachi-one.com/ (Japanese)
#NEWOPEN #HOTEL #BUSSINESS #SHOPPING #TRAVELTOMORROW

Quintessa Hotel Tokyo Ginza becomes a “shelter hotel” to fight the spread of COVID-19.

The Quintessa Hotel Tokyo Ginza only opened in December, but now, under the supervision of a virology expert, it’s transformed into a “shelter hotel.” The hotel operates in strict accordance with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s infectious disease countermeasure guidelines to eliminate all potential traces of the virus.
https://quintessahotels.com/ginza/en/
#NEWNORMAL #HOTEL #TRAVELTOMORROW

Mori Building completed construction of Toranomon Hills Business Tower in January, and on June 11, Toranomon Yokocho opened featuring 26 branches of famous and well-established Tokyo stores.

With a touch of modern flair, it recreates the charm of the yokocho, a kind of side street with small shops that traditionally serve as a place for people to meet and socialize.
https://www.toranomonhills.com/en/toranomonyokocho/
Contact: International Media Inquiries Public Relations, Mori Building Co., Ltd.
koho@mori.co.jp
#NEWOPEN #SHOPPING #TRAVELTOMORROW #EATING

Cafe “iine! STAND Omotesando” opens in Tokyo’s upscale fashion area, giving children a taste of what it’s like to run a business.
https://valuesfusion.jp/news-release/2224 (Japanese)
Contact: Naoya Nagatake nagatake@valuesfusion.jp
#NEWOPEN #FAMILY #TRAVELTOMORROW
In the middle of Tokyo’s business district, is the new cafe “REWILD OUTDOOR TOKYO.” Come to enjoy an authentic camping experience after work. There’s plenty of space, so you can keep social distancing and enjoy a worry-free visit.
https://rewild-camping.com/cafe/outdoor-tokyo/ (Japanese)
#NEWOPEN #NEWNORMAL #TRAVELTOMORROW #EATING
Hostel “bnb + Toranomon” aims to reduce the risk of infection with the remote customer service mobile robot “RoBoHoN.”
https://corporate.jp.sharp/news/200520-a.html (Japanese)
https://bnbplus.jp/bookingdetail/1&0&0&0&0
#NEWOPEN #NEWNORMAL #HOTEL #TRAVELTOMORROW
The Nippon Foundation Volunteer Support Center's “Volunteer Guide Comedy Sign Language Theater” introduces sign language for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020! Learn sign language terms related to the Tokyo 2020 Games with videos on the special “Volunteer Guide Comedy Sign Language Theater” website. Explanations are given through rakugo, Japan’s traditional form of comedic storytelling.
https://www.volasapo.tokyo/guide/sign_language/ (Japanese)
Press Release https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000035.000034736.html (Japanese)
Contact: Public Relations Department Kurata Shinya / Kokubo Hideyoshi pr@volasapo.tokyo
#TOKYO2020GAMES #UNIVERSALDESIGN
Construction of the landing area and tideland in front of WATERS takeshiba is now complete enough for water buses and ships to use it. Operation of the Takeshiba area’s Waters takeshiba-mae harbor began June 19.
https://waters-takeshiba.jp/waterside/#port (Japanese)
#TRANSPORTATION #TRAVELTOMORROW
Ikebukuro is transforming into a city of international arts and culture and has added a stylish, creative hotel named "hotel Siro" (opening Friday July 3, 2020). The hotel was created by a group of 3 designers and features an area for glamping on the rooftop.
https://hotel-siro.jp/ (Japanese)
Contact:Yurie Ejiri ejiri@as-lead.biz
#HOTEL #TRAVELTOMORROW #ART


*【Updated】Useful information on COVID-19 in Tokyo

◆Updates on COVID-19 in Tokyo
https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/

◆Coronavirus (COVID-19) advisory information by JNTO (Updated)
https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/

◆Information related to New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) from Immigration Services Agency by Ministry of Justice (Updated)
http://www.moj.go.jp/EN/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/m_nyuukokukanri01_00003.html

Get Inquisitive

Tokyo remains an example of striking contrast on the world stage with an evolving culture that reflects both Japan’s reverence for tradition and forward-looking ambitions. In this section, each issue dives deep into themes around Food, Craft, Nature, Sports, Architecture, Nightlife, Shopping, and more.

When the Sun Goes Down, a New Tokyo Arises

When people think of beautiful Japanese scenery, they usually picture things seen in the daytime, like Mt. Fuji or sakura cherry trees in bloom. But that’s just one side of Japan. The other one comes out at night, especially in Tokyo.

The nightscapes of Japan’s capital are made up of neon signs, massive outside screens, passing cars, and blinking lights from the windows of tall, glass buildings. To get a handle on this contained chaos, you’ll need to go 270m (ASL) up to Sky Deck, the observation platform of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. A similar almost 230m-high deck, SHIBUYA SKY is available at the new Shibuya Scramble Square, the tallest building in Shibuya. Both platforms offer you unparalleled night views of living light in a sea of darkness.

But Tokyo after dark can also be calm and mesmerizing, like during a night cruise through Tokyo Bay or Sumida River, admiring the majesty of the Rainbow Bridge or Odaiba. If boating is not your thing, you can still have fun around Tokyo’s waterways and waterfront areas. Besides being historic (some of them go back to the 1600s), they also have been becoming Tokyo’s unofficial center for the arts like when the Tennozu area buildings were part of a nighttime projection mapping exhibition in recent years.
It’s really when Tokyo is lit up at night that it achieves ultimate beauty. You can see it for yourself by looking up pictures of the Senso-ji Temple or the Kanda Myojin after dark. If you’ve only seen them in the daytime, you’ve only experienced them halfway. The same can be said about Tokyo gardens, from Rikugien Gardens to Mejiro Garden in Autumn. For a more active appreciation of Tokyo at night, there are also traditional firefly events like the Firefly Fantasy at the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo in Summer.
*The firefly Fantasy event at the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo is open only to the hotel guests in 2020

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/see-and-do/nightlife/index.html

  Pick up Movies

Discover the history of Japanese swords on a virtual tour by “Token World”
You can watch the Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum’s Token (Japanese sword).

See video of the Japanese garden-themed foot bath at Odaiba’s Tokyo Oedo Onsen Monogatari hot spring resort. The garden was designed by a landscape artist who’s won London’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

“Discover Nippon” shares relaxing videos of Japanese seasons. Their new video, “Top5 Fresh green spot Tokyo,” shows the best budding green spaces in Tokyo.

 

The Kanda Matsuri is one of Tokyo’s most well-known and historic festivals. It was held this year on May 15. A video of the festival is online for those who couldn’t attend.

No matter the season, Tokyo Midtown is a cozy district that’s home to a variety of shops, restaurants, hotels, museums, offices, and a relaxing green plaza and art.

 

  Tokyo Event Calendar

Check out these annual festivals and events held in Tokyo. You can see the list of all major festivals, fireworks, parades, religious events, and other events in Greater Tokyo.
*Depending on the situation, festivals and events scheduled in 2020 may be canceled. Please check the official website for the latest information.

Open Calendar

  Download

Please click on the link below to download the photos, press releases and new opening accommodation list.

Download

From Editor

Summer is here! Usually, every summer, I throw on my yukata and head to one of Tokyo’s biggest summer events: the Sumida River Fireworks Festival. The festival started as a memorial service for those who died from an epidemic. It also served as a form of prayer, hoping the sickness would disappear. Sadly, this year the festival won’t be held, but I'm sure it’ll be back next year better than ever! This summer, I’ll wear my yukata to my local shrine in the evening, enjoying the cool summer breeze.

Kyoko Higashi / TOKYO NOW Editorial Staff  

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Issued by: Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Supported by: Tourism Division, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
E-mail: info@tokyonowsignup.com