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Maduro Lounge Premium booze and all that Jazz at Tokyo Grand Hyatt.

It had been a fair few years since I had visited Maduro- the Tokyo Grand Hyatt’s plush Jazz bar located in Roppongi Hills. The entrance is a little hidden, its large wooden doors tucked away in between floors of the plush five-star property.

It’s a Thursday and the bar has just opened its doors, no band yet and it’s relaxingly quiet. Besides me, 3 suits are finishing off the day's business over a drink and two couples are having an aperitif before dinner.

The interior is exactly what you would expect for a luxury jazz joint. Tastefully backlit, comfortable chairs and round candlelit tables are around a typical jazz band stage. To the right is the bar, boasting a hefty selection of rare whiskeys-more on that later. I settle into a back table and peruse the menu.

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The Tavern - Grill & Lounge Brilliant creative food in a casual upscale atmosphere

An area that has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last few years is Toranomon 1-chome. This classic Tokyo business town has evolved into a modern, youthful promenade, thriving around Kanata Street. Towering over the district is yet another remarkable Mori Building Co. creation, Toranomon Hills. On the top 6 floors, nestled over a plethora of blue chip companies and the JOC, is the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills hotel, which is the focus of our attention. In particular the newly conceptualized The Tavern - Grill & Lounge, which under the creative brilliance of Executive Chef, Shaun Keenan, and his dedicated team, has come into its own.

Il Figo Ingordo Cosy Italian, in the Roppongi neighborhood

On a brisk January evening, I made my way through Roppongi’s lesser traveled streets to find what can only be described as a cozy neighborhood eatery not out of place on the streets of Milan or Rome. This encounter was not by chance though, on a recommendation from a seasoned Italian expat friend, who said with a wink “Carne Fantastico” I decided to come and see for myself.

Il Figo Ingordo has been in Roppongi for 10 years now and has a sister location in Daikanyama, the restaurants' owner studied in Italy before returning to Japan and building his team of chefs all of whom share his passion for Italy and their take on the Italian classics which keep you coming back for more...

GinzaSix The newest in Tokyo luxury

Just this past April, a new department store opened in Tokyo after much anticipation. GINZA SIX is located in Ginza’s sixth district and, unlike other shopping centers, is built with international clientele in mind. Ginza, one of the most luxurious shopping districts in Tokyo and the world, attracts visitors from all over with everything from the latest tech to exclusive runway pieces. Now, GINZA SIX promises to further delight and better assist discerning visitors.

Photo: By GinzaSix

Hot Jazz in Tokyo-- The City’s 5 Best Music Makes Magical Memories

New Orleans, Harlem… Tokyo? While Japan and jazz may not immediately go together in your mind, on any given night in Tokyo, there are hundreds of clubs playing vinyl jazz classics and dozens with live jazz band performances. Now ubiquitous to Tokyo nightlife, jazz was introduced at the beginning the 20th century by American soldiers via the Philippines. It’s been popularized in novels by Haruki Murakami, who ran a popular jazz bar in the 1970s. Although Murakami’s bar is long gone, while you are here on your golf holiday, you can check out these five spots to experience real Tokyo jazz nightlife!

5 Things to Know About Sake As a Souvenir The wine of Japan

You would be hard pressed to find a souvenir as perfect as sake to commemorate your time in Japan. Nihonshu, or the wine of Japan, is steeped in history, having been brewed here for over 2,000 years. For a simple beverage made up of only 4 ingredients- rice, water, yeast, and koji- sake comes in a startling array of flavors, representative of different regions and seasonal events. If you’ve decided to pick up some sake as a keepsake of your travels, here are 5 things you need to know.

Neon and Bottles cc from flickr by Jimmy https://flic.kr/p/7U57KK
La Cucina

Delicious food with breathtaking views Modern Chic Meets Italian Traditional in the Heart of Tokyo

Cristiano Pozzi, native of Cuomo in northern Italy and Head Chef of La Cucina, is rapidly building a reputation in Italian food circles as a chef with a delicate sense of balance, mixing the authentic with the experimental. Formerly a chef at Officina di Enrico in Omotesando and Giorgio Armani in Ginza, Pozzi has decidedly come into his own as he studiously oversees a talented young team in the creation of full bodied pastas, pizzas, risottos and La Cucina’s signature carne main dishes.
Interior of the Ryutenmon at The Westin Tokyo

Ryutenmon at The Westin Tokyo The biggest gastronomic attraction for Tokyoites whose demand for exquisite food and chic surroundings is as legendary as the city itself

Michelin-starred Ryutenmon at the Westin Hotel Tokyo in Ebisu remains the biggest gastronomic attraction for Tokyoites whose demand for exquisite food and chic surroundings is as legendary as the city itself.

Chef Keimei Chin’s reputation for bold yet delicate Canton-style cuisine has had people flocking to the restaurant for over a decade. The backdrop to this culinary treat is the beautiful Westin Hotel Tokyo. A gold-adorned and plush-carpeted staircase takes you from the lobby to the second floor, where the gates to superb Chinese dining await. The interior avoids gaudiness yet invokes the grand atmosphere of a classic Hong Kong restaurant.
Gordon Ramsay at the Conrad Tokyo

Gordon Ramsay at the Conrad Tokyo A culinary experience beyond compare

Among the definitive pleasures of the Conrad Tokyo in Shiodome is dining at the Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo, a French restaurant providing everything you expect of such a master under the expert supervision of Chef de Cuisine Maeda.The moody ambience of the Conrad Tokyo, ultramodern but with an emphasis on wood and natural tones, is carried seamlessly into the décor of Gordon Ramsay. Seven-meter-high windows remove the need for artificial lighting during the day and make possible low-key illumination after dark, allowing guests to enjoy a stunning meal while taking in the breathtaking light show that is Tokyo after dark.

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Top 10 Golf Shops in Tokyo

In Tokyo, as in the rest of Japan, golf is an immensely popular sport, enjoyed by the Japanese on meticulously kept golf courses and driving ranges. Not surprisingly golf shops in Japan are also high spec, and it is not hard to find stylish apparel and high-quality equipment from both international and domestic brands in Tokyo. Here Is our list of the top 10 golf shops in Tokyo.

S’Port Mizuno Go straight to the source at the Mizuno flagship store where the entire shop is dedicated to the Mizuno range of equipment and apparel. You’ll find all the latest products from clubs, balls, and bags to shoes, gloves, and accessories. Try the club fitting; employing the latest Mizuno developed technologies and techniques, it will match you with the perfect clubs for your...

Five Japanese Drivers for 2018 Buying guide for the latest J-Drivers

Currently, the driver club market has no end of new tech to salivate over, new ways of adjustability, added yardage and more forgiveness promising to take your game to the next level. But before we get into all of that here are some key things to remember before you start shelling out your hard-earned yennies!

Custom Fit

With all the different launch angles and designs it's important to have a go of some different models with a pro or fitting professional to check the data and see which suits your game best. Most of the large chains of Golf shops such as Nikki Golf, Victoria Golf and even some Golf partners carry have the correct equipment to give you a good fitting experience, plus they carry enough different brands to give you the best choice....