Your essential guide to Tokyo

SNACK

In the plush Coredo complex across the street from Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, take a counter seat at Tsuruya-Yoshinobu, the Tokyo outpost of a traditional confectioner established in Kyoto in 1803. Made to order in front of you, the artistic sweets go perfectly with a cup of green tea.

BROWSE

Also nearby is Japan’s oldest and most prestigious department store, Mitsukoshi. Founded in 1673 as a kimono shop, there’s now a mix of traditional and contemporary fashion across its eight floors, plus basement-level deli counters that offer a mouthwatering window into Japan’s culinary culture.

SHOP

The area by the hotel isn’t just about swanky complexes – it’s full of historic stores. Kuroeya has been selling fine lacquerware for more than 300 years, while the Ibasen fan store has been in business here since 1590. Haibara is another highlight, with notebooks covered in washi paper, folding fans and more.

DINE

To experience the subtlety of high-end Japanese cuisine, head to the 38th floor of Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo for Sushi Shin by Miyakawa. The intimate nine-seat counter affords an up-close inspection of the sushi chefs skilfully at work, coupled with sweeping city views through floor-to-ceiling windows.

SHOP

On Saturday or Sunday (10am-4pm), stop by the lively farmers’ market at United Nations University in fashionable Aoyama, whose stalls are heaped with organic and artisanal produce. Then stroll along nearby Omotesando-dori, home to international boutiques, along with striking modern architecture such as Tadao Ando’s Omotesando Hills, for a host of people-watching opportunities.

SEE

The Japanese and Asian premodern art at the Nezu Museum in Minami Aoyama, a short walk from the farmers’ market, is unrivalled in Japan. Ogata Kōrin’s 18th-century irises on gold-foiled paper screens are a highlight, but so, too, are the traditional garden and Kengo Kuma’s sleekly designed main building.

INDULGE

With more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city on the planet, Tokyo has serious culinary credentials. A short taxi ride from the hotel, RyuGin is one of 12 restaurants in the city with three stars, thanks to chef Seiji Yamamoto’s artistically arranged kaiseki courses – Japan’s seasonally inspired and subtly flavoured haute cuisine.

SIP

Tokyo’s ever-inventive mixologists are forever pushing new ground. To experience this for yourself, drop by the Mandarin Bar. Its classic cocktails come with a local twist, like the julep spiked with sansho pepper, while the signature gin and tonic is laced with Gyokuro green tea.

WALK

Tokyo is perfect for slowly discovering on foot, especially the warren of winding streets that makes up the Yanaka area. With small temples, a retro shopping street, quaint cafés and a smattering of hip art venues, it couldn’t be more of a contrast to the city’s high-rise centre.

EXPLORE

Just outside Tokyo, the city of Kamakura makes for a great trip, thanks to remnants from its time as the de facto capital of Japan between 1185 and 1333. Don’t miss the enormous bronze buddha statue at Kotoku-in temple, a weather-worn national treasure crafted in the 13th century.

CREATE

If you’re feeling inspired by the city’s artisans and creatives, sign up for a hands-on masterclass, arranged by the team at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo. The options include a private glass-engraving session, where you’ll decorate your own sake glass, along with a washi workshop, creating your own exquisite paper.

PLAY

If you are looking for things to do with kids, head to Tokyo Disney Resort. Spread across two separate theme parks (Disneyland and DisneySea), you’ll find everything from colourful character parades and attractions for toddlers to white-knuckle rides such as the scream-inducing Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster.

You won’t have to go far to track down some stellar souvenirs; Nihonbashi’s boutiques are brimming with beautiful and authentic mementoes. A 15-minute stroll from Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Ubukeya specialises in expertly crafted Japanese knives with hand-forged blades and exclusive designs, while Ozu Washi is even closer, stocked with countless sheets of beautiful handmade paper. A five-minute taxi journey away, Tsuduraya is a renowned lacquerware store that has been in the business since 1804. Head there for elegant sake cups, chopsticks and bento boxes galore.

- The concierge team at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo.

High above the city on Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo’s 37th floor, signature treatments at The Spa include Totally Tokyo: Five Journeys from Nihonbashi – a soothing 90-minute mix of full-body shiatsu massage and stretching, incorporating Japanese elements such as green tea and bamboo.

If you’re craving green spaces, the Imperial Palace and its beautifully-landscaped East Gardens are a 20-minute stroll west. The five-kilometre trail around the palace’s outer moats is also one of central Tokyo’s best jogging routes.

Alternatively, visit the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a prime cherry blossom viewing spot in spring that’s also home to formal and Japanese gardens, as well as an elegant, orchid-filled 19th-century greenhouse.