Page 80 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

78  T OK Y O AREA B Y AREA

q Sengaku-ji a 19th-century chateau. The
Temple crowded central plaza is a great
spot for people-watching. To
the left of Mitsukoshi is the
 Sengaku-ji stn, Toei Asakusa line. small Yebisu Beer Museum
Museum: Tel (03) 3441-5560. Open with exhibits and vid eos about
9am–4pm daily (Apr–Sep: 4:30pm). & beer worldwide and in Japan,
and free samples.
This temple is the site of the
climax of Japan’s favorite tale e Daikanyama
of loyalty and revenge, retold District
in the play Chushingura and
many movies. Lord Asano was
sentenced to death by seppuku Yebisu Beer Museum, with a Tasting Room £ Daikanyama stn, Tokyu Toyoko
(suicide by disem bowel ment) for cheap draughts line. Art Front Gallery: Tel (03) 3476-
for drawing his sword when w Ebisu District 4868. Open 11am–7pm Tue–Sun. &
goaded by Lord Kira. Denied
the right to seek revenge, 47 An important archaeological
of Asano’s samurai, now ronin  Ebisu stn, Hibiya line. £ Ebisu stn, site, where ancient pit dwell ings
(masterless samurai), plotted in Yamanote line. Tokyo Metropolitan and well-preserved burial
secret. In 1703, they attacked Museum of Photography: Tel (03) mounds have been discovered,
Kira’s house and beheaded him, 3280-0099. Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sat Daikanyama is better known
presenting the head to Asano’s (to 8pm Thu & Fri). & ∑ syabi.com these days as a classy, low-rise
grave at Sengaku-ji. They in turn Yebisu Beer Museum: Tel (03) 5423- neighborhood. It is more popular
were sentenced to seppuku and 7255. Open 11am–7pm Tue–Sun with the smart set, who come
are buried here. Inside the (last adm 1 hr before closing; tours here to explore its trendy bou-
temple gate and up the steps until 5:10pm). tiques, restaurants, patisseries,
on the right is the well where and alfresco pavement cafés.
the samurai wash ed Kira’s head. The completion in the mid-1990s Some big name international
Farther ahead on the right are of Yebisu Garden Place, a fashion brands, such as Jean
the samurai’s graves, still tended commercial and residential Paul Gaultier, have outposts
with flowers. Back at the base of center, brought this area to life. here, adding more class and
the steps is an interesting The sup erb Tokyo Metropolitan distinction to an already chic
museum with artifacts from the Museum of Photography, to the district. The area, with its back
incident and statues of some of right of the entrance, has a lanes, shops, and home court-
the 47 ronin. Over shadowed by permanent collection of work yards full of greenery, makes for
the drama, the temple grounds, by Japan ese and foreign a pleasant stroll. Interest in the
approached through a small photographers, and excellent area first grew when Japanese
gate with a trad itional guard special exhibi tions. In the heart architect Fumihiko Maki began
house, merit atten tion. The of Yebisu Garden Place are a his on going Hillside Terrrace,
temple’s original main hall dates Mitsukoshi store, boutiques, an apartment, gallery, and
from 1612; the current building two cinemas, a theater, and shopp ing project along leafy
is a faithful recon struction. The restaurants, includ ing Chateau Kyu Yamate-dori, in 1969.
oldest structure, the Sanmon Restaurant Joël Robuchon, a Buildings have been added over
gate, dates from 1836. French restaurant that looks like the decades. The Art Front

Yebisu Garden Place skyscraper complex, lined with restaurants, shops, and museums

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