Taste of Nagatacho: A small town in Tokyo full of big luxury

Nagatacho is a small, lesser-known neighbourhood of Tokyo; however, despite its size and hidden nature, this little area has so many great things to offer. When it comes to exploring, the things you can discover range from great landmarks with cute parks around them to fine dining locations. In addition to this, Nagatacho also holds great political significance, therefore, it is not odd that the name is often used to refer to the elected Japanese government. Do you find yourself wanting to learn more about this peculiar piece of Tokyo? Then make sure to stay tuned and read on!

What to do?

First off, Nagatacho is a great place to take a stroll. This is due to the abundance of landmarks and statues scattered throughout the city. When taking a walk, there are a few things that you should check out. To begin with, make sure to check out Echoes Infinity – Immortal Flowers by Shinji Omaki.

This artwork is made of stainless steel with a mirror finish and urethane coating, giving the statue its characteristic kaleidoscope effect when looking at it from certain angles. The installation depicts a bunch of large, colourful flowers that bloom at the entrance to Kioi Tower, together with the butterflies that gather there. Next to this artwork is a Neo-Japanese style Bridge. Named Benkei Bridge, it was incredibly popular and well-used among the Japanese people during the early 1900s. Currently, it has been refurbished with more concrete than the original, but it has kept its Japanese-style railing and subtle arch. The bridge also has 2 seasons when it is particularly nice to visit. In winter, you can see the beautiful lights at the Tokyo Garden Terrace, where the statue can be found. Secondly, in spring, you can see Japan’s signature cherry blossoms on the quay, creating an equally magical landscape as wintertime.

Scattered through the neighbourhood are some small gardens that make for a picturesque visit. For example, the South Garden of the Diet Front Park. Whilst it may be small, in autumn and spring, with the change of the leaves and sakura trees blooming respectively, it quickly becomes adorned with beautiful colours. When making your way out of the park, you will come across another landmark, but this time quite a bit bigger, and it is probably harder to miss. This is the National Diet Building, which happens to be the epicentre of political activity in Japan. Its impressive structure is made up of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. If you are interested in taking a peek inside, tours of the House of Representatives take place daily, and tours of the House of Councillors are held on weekdays. One of the things that makes this building so impressive is the fact that no expense was spared when it was finally completed in 1936, following 17 long years of construction. Inside the Central Hall, the walls are lined with extensive murals, depicting the local area in the beauty of all four seasons. Furthermore, these murals are perfectly complemented by elegant stained-glass windows.

Echoes Infinity – Immortal Flowers by Omaki

Address: Japan, 〒102-0094 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kioicho, 1−2 東京ガーデンテラス

Hours: 24 hours

Website: https://www.tgt-kioicho.jp/facilities/art.html

Benkei Bridge

Address: 1 Chome-2 Motoakasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0051, Japan

Hours: 24 hours

Website: https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/228

National Diet Building

Address: 1 Chome-7-1 Nagatachō, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan

Phone Number: +81335815111

Website: https://www.sangiin.go.jp/japanese/taiken/bochou/kengaku.html

Major Shrine

Tokyo has a few important shrines, one of which is located in Nagatacho and belongs to the Shinto belief system. This belief is the indigenous faith of Japan and is as old as the country itself. It is also, even today, the largest practiced religion in Japan. This Shrine in particular is named Hie Jinja, which is said to be a so-called power spot. It is considered to bring luck to people who wish to find a partner, ones who are already or are going to be married, and to those raising children. This makes the sacred destination not only popular but also important to women and couples.

At Hie, there are so many things to see. First off, when you enter, you will see monkey statues scattered around, which carry significant meaning at the shrine. For example, a statue of a monkey mother with her baby, near the left side of the main hall. It is said that this sculpture is meant to bring blessings to pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant. Due to their spiritual meaning, it’s not uncommon to see visitors gently petting the monkeys. Aside from the statues, monkeys can also be found on the typical talisman amulets (omamori) and wooden wish plates (ema) that can be purchased at the shrine. These trinkets have significant meaning and work best when given to friends or family, thus making for a great souvenir. 

Secondly, there is the treasure house, which is where the historical treasures are kept. Admission to the house is free, so it is definitely a great place to check out when you are there, especially if you are a fan of Japanese history and the Samurai. This is because a part of the collection actually consists of real-life Samurai swords! However, if you are more into Japanese festive traditions, this building also houses the dolls used during the famous ‘’Sanno festival’’.

As you may know, many tourists often travel to Fushimi Inari in Kyoto to see the many red gates lined up, however, it is often really crowded there. So why not go to its alternative, with its own stunning, unique sight of lined up red? But what are these gates? These wooden structures are called Torii, and the line of ones at Hie is specifically named Senbon Torii. Senbon translates to ‘’thousand of”, referring to the many Torii that create a tunnel-like path. These traditional Japanese gates usually mark the entrance to a shrine. They symbolize the transition from the mundane world to the sacred, not to mention that they make for a memorable photo.

Hie Shrine

Address: 2 Chome-10-5 Nagatachō, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan

Hours: 7 days a week, 6 am – 4 pm

Phone: +81335812471

Website: https://www.hiejinja.net/index.html

Where to eat

Nagatacho may be small, but that doesn’t mean there is nowhere to eat! There is truly something for everyone, even for the adventurous among us. So to start, if you are out to try something new, then definitely check out Shunpanro.

This restaurant is quite famous and has received guests like Prince Ito Hirobumi, the first prime minister of Japan. Shunpanro specializes in Fugu, which is the Japanese word for Pufferfish, an infamously poisonous fish. However, this restaurant specializes in preparing this fish safely and making it taste delicious. 

Aside from this once-in-a-lifetime restaurant, the neighbourhood also has amazing sushi restaurants, one of which is Nagatacho Sushi Kanesaka. The owner of this restaurant, Shinji Kanesaka, also owns a self-made 2-Michelin-star restaurant that works together with highly rated hotels. At this restaurant, you can enjoy an Omakase set, where the chef hand-picks only the best items from the market to create a special one-of-a-kind dinner. Dining at Sushi Kanesaka is sure to be a delectable, unforgettable experience.

Overall, Nagatacho is almost exploding with high-end restaurants and cafes, which makes it a great place to pamper yourself with an amazing meal during your trip. However, there are also affordably priced dining occasions, such as Tonkatsu and Yakitori An Nagatacho, a deliciously affordable place to get your fill of tonkatsu and Yakitori. They specialize in traditional Japanese meals, and the dishes typically range from 1500 to 5000 yen per person, depending on how hungry you are, of course. Tonkatsu is a piece of meat (usually pork) that is breaded with panko (bread crumbs) and then deep-fried. On the other hand, Yakitori means grilled chicken, and the restaurant serves a wide variety of cuts.

Another great affordable option is Daichi-no Megumi Nagatacho. Though the menu is in Japanese, they offer a wide variety of courses. This restaurant specifically serves food items from Hokkaido. So, even if you can’t make it all the way up north, you can still get a chance to try Daichi-no Megumi.

Shunpanro

Address: Japan, 〒102-0093 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Hirakawachō, 2 Chome−7 平河町共済ビル ９JA

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11:30 am – 2:15 pm & 5 pm – 10 pm

Phone: +815017220151

Website: https://www.shunpanro.com/location/tokyo/

Nagatacho Sushi Kanesaka

Address: Japan, 〒100-0014 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Nagatachō, 2 Chome−7−9 鮨・かねさか

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 12 pm – 2 pm & 5 pm – 10 pm

Phone: +81368111533

Website: https://www.sushi-kanesaka.com/

Tonkatsu and Yakitori An Nagatacho

Address: Japan, 〒100-0014 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Nagatachō, 2 Chome−13−10 The Prudential Tower, 1F

Hours: 7 days a week, 11:30 am – 3 pm & 5 pm – 11 pm

Phone: +81335005720

Website: http://www.ystable.co.jp/tonkatsu-yakitori/menu.html

Daichi-no Megumi Nagatacho

Address: 2 Chome-17-17 Nagatachō, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan

Hours: Monday – Friday, 11:30 am – 3 pm & 5 pm – 11 pm

Phone: +81355014355

Website: https://gorilla.tottokun.com/ownedmedia/ownedmedia_immediately_s/NiBMK5JWQP4JhBA

It is safe to say that there is no end to the amazing things to do and see in this incredible little neighborhood. From an important government building, which can be part of a beautiful walk around the area, to one of the most important Shrines in Tokyo. Of course, there are also many, many delicious restaurants, both fancy and affordable, that are ready to keep you fuelled up for all of your daily adventures. Hopefully, you have some good inspiration for your next Japan trip and are now not only planning a trip to this hidden gem, but will also know how to enjoy Nagatacho’s beauty to its fullest. 

Featured Photo Credit: Fotokon

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