The much-anticipated 10th edition of Time Outs' 101 Things to do in Shibuya has been released. The English guide map has been published every year since 2012, detailing a whole heap of useful and interesting information for those interested in sightseeing one of Tokyo's most popular locations. The new volume includes information on newly-built shopping complexes, the latest restaurants to hit Harajuku, the best bars to visits and more.   When Time Out launched 101 Things to do in Shibuya there were hardly any guides in English on Shibuya. There were many requests a guide map from foreign tourists during this time. Still today Time Out's guide map series of Tokyo is the most popular.   New famous spots showcased on the map include the shopping complex Shibuya Stream which opened in September this year, the renovated MAGNET by SHIBUYA109, the music bar and lounge Sankeys PENTHOUSE, the conveyor belt dessert cafe MAISON ABLE Cafe Ron Ron and more. Also featured is a list of hot restaurants in Harajuku such as the popular soba noodle bar Matsubara An.   The pro of 101 Things to do in Shibuya is that it is written by native English speakers who are able to write about Shibuya's many faces from a foreign perspective. The location line-up also includes many spots selected from a local perspective.   The guide map is free so pick up a copy yourself and find out all the information you need on tourist information centers, hotels, cafes, bars and more.

Time Out Tokyo, which posts information about Tokyo in multiple languages, have published the 4th edition to their "60 Things to do in Ginza" guide map (English) which is aimed at foreign tourists.

"60 Things to do in Ginza" covers all the exciting things to experience while in Ginza and is one of Time Out Tokyo's most popular city guide maps. They have continued to update it every year since the first edition was published in 2014. The second edition detailed shopping in Ginza, while the third focused on "experiences of traditional Japan" possible only in Ginza. The series has conveyed the attractive elements of one of Tokyo's most popular districts.

The new 4th edition is the latest release and collects together a plethora of different topics from food to shopping, experiences and more. It lists 60 spots that even Japanese people run to, including Bar Yu-Nagi which is known for its cocktails that are made with organic fruit and veg; Ginza Uchikuan which is lined with rich individual bonsai plants; Konparu-yu, a downtown bath-house that opened in 1863. The list goes on. The guidebook was made with the viewpoint of foreign tourists in mind and contains plenty of information for first-timers to Ginza and frequenters alike.

 

The map is folded into A2 size and is convenient for both travelers and those out for a walk. There are around 400 places highlighted in the book, including various facilities throughout Ginza, as well as airports, tourist information centers, and more.

"60 Things to do in Ginza" is an indispensable tool for traveling in Ginza, so be sure to get your hands on one and use it as reference.

 

 

The battle for best burger in Tokyo just got even more competitive. Umami Burger, coming straight out of California, hopped across the pond to open their first location in Japan on March 24.

Sitting pretty in Aoyama, just a hop, skip and jump from Omotesando Station, the eatery's name is a nod to the notion of umami, famously defined by Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda as a fifth, 'savoury' taste to complement salty, sour, sweet and bitter.

We showed up fashionably late on a bright Wednesday morning hoping to avoid opening week crowds, and even then there was a group gathered at the door, snapping pictures and eyeing fellow diners lucky enough to have already received their food. The queue disperses quickly though, thanks to a spacious interior designed to seat up to 70 people.

One bite of your first Umami Burger and you'll instantly understand the hype. The bun is oh-so-springy, soft and a bit on the sweet side, but the patty is what really makes the joint stand out – it tastes just like meat should taste, but they've somehow managed to make it melt in your mouth too.

A friend who tagged along put it best: 'It’s like they took a steak and ground it up to make the patty.' No messing around blending in pork to reduce costs here. For our vegetarian friends, they have a falafel burger that looks dangerously delicious. Budget around ¥2,000-2,500 for a burger, side and drink.

However, what had us looking forward to the opening of Umami Burger for months was the opportunity to finally satisfy our truffle craving without having to pay an arm and a leg for the pleasure. Their Truffle Burger comes topped with truffle aioli, truffle-infused cheese and a truffle-glazed beef patty, which we of course paired with truffle cheese fries.

Because you can never have enough truffle, we then dipped said fries in truffle ketchup, and all the world’s problems melted away in a truffle euphoria. The ketchup enhanced the flavour of everything it coated, so we’d really like to see them sell it in takeaway bottles – just so we can go home and eat it with a spoon without attracting too many awkward stares.

Everyone's favourite viral hit after 'Gangnam Style', Pikotaro's 'PPAP' topped the charts last year despite being only 45 seconds long (it even won a Guinness Book of World Records mention for that).

With everyone grabbing apples, pens and pineapples to emulate the ’70s-clad jokester, not only the singer himself benefitted from his tune's popularity: another big winner was fruits purveyor Dole, who deal mainly in – yes – pineapples.

Apparently pineapple sales spiked massively once 'PPAP' dropped, so to recognise such an extraordinary feat, Dole decided that it was high time to award Mr Pikotaro (he's not quite a 'Sir' yet) with a Pineapple Appreciation Certificate for his efforts in 'advancing the awareness and appreciation of pineapples', as well as presenting him with... a year's supply worth of pineapples.

Before the actual award was presented in Tokyo earlier this week, those of us in attendance were fed some pineapple trivia, including some etymology (it looks like a pine cone but is a fruit, hence the apple bit), and a few pieces of sound advice (if in doubt between two same-size pineapples, choose the heavier one, and the flavour of a pineapple differs from the top to the bottom).

Then it was over to Pikotaro, who told us how 'PPAP' came about: the beat was inspired by a decades-old song, and while he heard the track, a pen was sitting in his hand and an apple was nearby. When he looked across the room, there was an empty can of tinned pineapples he'd eaten earlier in the day. And the rest, as they say, is (Guinness Record) history.

Tokyo's hotel scene was long dominated by international mega-chains and soulless business hotels, but the immense tourism surge of recent years has brought with it an acute need for more rooms – and supply is finally beginning to catch up with demand.

In addition to the advent of Airbnb and smaller hotels springing up like mushrooms after rain, designer hostels such as Nui. have stepped in as alternatives, promoting themselves as 'local' and 'individualist' to attract customers.

The latest entrant into this growing niche is Wired Hotel Asakusa, which opened its doors to much fanfare on April 1 (no joke, we promise) and is part of the Café Company empire (the folks behind Wired Café).

Wired Hotel's design and overall branding are the work of Portland-based creative agency OMFGCO, known for their Ace Hotel chain, who teamed up with Café Company's resident designers for the project. Co-founder Jeremy Pelley and business director Danielle Higgins made the trip to Tokyo for the opening.

According to Pelley, 'Café Company contacted us about creating a hotel centred around the community. I'd say 90 percent of the work was really theirs – we just stepped in to disseminate Asakusa's and Wired Hotel's stories to an international audience.'

As Portland and Asakusa are both home to quite a few artisans, OMFGCO injected this aspect into the hotel. 'To realise a unique guest experience, we added products made by local craftsmen and displayed them in the rooms; guests will be able to buy some of the items too,' says Pelley.

Inside, the designer feel is very pronounced – no corners were cut here. If you really want to get a taste of what that means, make sure to book room 1001 (the penthouse). Upon entering, it feels as if you've left Asakusa and stepped into an expensive New York City flat; a look through the window is the only thing that proves you haven't, as the good old Hanayashiki amusement park appears in front of your eyes.

Remember to take a close look at the hairdryer bag, which is embossed with a design by Shin-Yoshiwara, a local brand that puts a bit of the Yoshiwara (Tokyo's red light district) of old back into Asakusa. For a room as big as 1001 but with more capacity, check out 507, which can accommodate four and even has a balcony.

Both of these rooms go for a cool ¥50,000 a night, which rules them out for business trip or extended holiday purposes (unless you really have cash to splash). But the regular singles offer a bit more value at ¥10,000 a night: their bathrooms resemble those found in your average business hotel, but the rest of the décor is just as sleek as in Wired's fancier rooms.

And if you're looking to spend even less, opt for a bed in one of the five dormitories. A night on one of the luxurious Swedish Duxiana mattresses will set you back ¥5,000 – for that price, we'd argue it better be a damn good mattress indeed.

Tokyo's sakura season is in full swing, but the hordes at the Meguro River, Yoyogi Park or Chidorigafuchi might be a bit too much to bear for those looking for a more serene hanami experience.

Enter the Sakurakan sento: this old-school public bathhouse down in Ota-ku's allows you to ogle at the pink and white flowers while going for a refreshing soak.

Opened in 1959, Sakurakan is set in a quiet residential area and is rather easy to spot with its green-painted exterior. Admission prices are similar to your average sento: ¥460 for adults, ¥180 for children of elementary school age – but you're getting a whole lot more than an average experience for your money.

Popular with locals for quite some time now, Sakurakan's high ceilings, big windows and an open roof mean you'll be able to spot the bathhouse's cherry blossom tree while you soak and scrub yourself clean. The sento has recently been featured on Japanese TV and various websites, leading to an increase in patronage, but there's still enough room for everyone.

To actually see the tree and its magnificent blossoms, you're best off in the outdoor bath (rotenburo) on the ground floor, or at the eat-in space upstairs. The former boasts colonnade-high walls and big windows, and the branches of the cherry tree span wide enough to virtually extend into the building.

As one of the regulars, who has been frequenting Sakurakan for over a decade, put it: 'The sakura petals float through the air and land in the tub when in full bloom. There really is no greater luxury in life – it's a similar warming sensation as drinking alcohol, and something you can't do at any other public bathhouse.' Now that's a recommendation.