Page 105 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

WESTERN T OK Y O  103

favorite place for politicians to THE Sky restaurant, which
social ize. Limousines carry dark- serves Chinese, Japanese, and
blue-suited men to the many Western cuisine (diners can
exclusive establishments lining choose the ingredients and the
the streets here. chefs will prepare it on the
About 200 m (220 yards) spot), and offers stunning
along Aoyama-dori from 360-degree views across central
Akasaka-Mitsuke station is Tokyo and the Imperial Palace.
Toyokawa Inari Shrine In the grounds and open to all
(also called Myogon-ji). With is the 400-year-old garden of
its red lanterns and flags, and Kato Kiyomasa, lord of Kyushu’s
dozens of statues of foxes (the Kumamoto area.
traditional messengers of Inari, South of Akasaka-Mitsuke
a Shinto rice deity), this is station is the shrine
a pleasant place to of Hie Jinja, which
linger for a while. was erected in 1478.
Back past the Shogun Ietsuna
Flamboyant entrance to a station and over the moved it here in the
nightclub in Roppongi moat, you will see 17th century to buffer
a large building up his castle; the present-
deck, located on the roof, offers ahead that you may Ironware kettle in the day build ings are all
excellent views of the city, recognize from the Suntory Museum of Art modern. Each year in
especially at night. James Bond film You mid-June the Sanno
Almond (Amando in Japanese), Only Live Twice (1967), in which Matsuri is celebrated here with a
at the intersection of Roppongi- it featured. This is the huge, grand procession of 50 mikoshi
dori and Gaien-Higashi-dori, is luxurious Hotel New Otani. On (portable shrines) and people in
the main rendezvous spot in the 17th floor is the revolving Heian-era costumes.
Roppongi. Just around the corner
from Almond is The Pink Cow,
an American-owned Cal-Mex
restau rant and art bar, popular
with local expats. A couple of
blocks north of Roppongi
crossing lies Satin Doll, a
restaurant featuring world-class
jazz acts and French cuisine. The
area to the south is home to clubs
that come in all shapes and
sizes, most will welcome you
warmly, but check the prices
of drinks as they vary hugely.
To the north lies the complex
known as Tokyo Midtown,
which houses the Suntory A chinowa circle, erected for good luck, at Hie Jinja in Akasaka
Museum of Art. The museum
has an unrivaled collection of Youth Culture
Edo-era screens, depicting
scenes from the Edo court. Tra- In Japan youth sells, although, ironically, the average age of the
ditional decorative arts are also population is one of the highest in the world. Youth is seen by
well represented, with ceramics, most Japanese as the time when life can be lived according to
lacquerware, and tea utensils. personal choice, before adult responsibilities – in the form of
jobs or parenthood – take over. Products from beer and cars
to the latest in technology and fashion are
q Akasaka District aimed at the youth market, and are rapidly
Akasaka District adopted and then shed as individuals are
attracted by the new and the desire to keep
Map 2 E3–4, 2 F3–4.  Akasaka- up with their peers. A stream of teenage
Mitsuke stn, Ginza & Marunouchi lines;
Nagatacho stn, Yurakucho, Namboku idoru (idols) become wildly famous, mainly
& Hanzomon lines. & _ Sanno for singing pop songs or acting, when they
Matsuri (Jun 16, Hie Jinja). are young. When they reach their twenties,
the girls tend to marry and have children,
With the Diet Building (see p75) A Tokyo teenager on while boys move into becoming talk-show
and many government offices her cell phone hosts or game-show contestants.
just to the east, Akasaka is a

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