Lim Chee Wah

Forget ‘saving money’ in 2024. You know what your New Year’s resolution should be? Get out more. Do more stuff. See more of the world. Life is short, after all – and 2024 promises a tonne of unmissable festivals, art, food and music. There are openings and re-openings. Brand-new train routes criss-crossing countries and continents. Whacky places to party. And even if the cossie livs does have you tightening the purse strings, there are plenty of free and affordable events on this list, too.  So get your booking fingers at the ready: your 2024 bucket list awaits. This is our definitive guide to the coolest new things to do in the world next year. See you out there!  RECOMMENDED:😎 The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🌃 The best European city breaks for 2024🖼️ The world’s best museums and galleries

Tokyo is one of the world's top food cities. Not only do we possess the most number of Michelin stars in the world, we are also home to the best restaurant and pizza in Asia. However, it's not just the international accolades that make Tokyo a beloved foodie destination. This vibrant, cosmopolitan city has a diverse and dynamic restaurant scene, with countless new openings popping up on a daily basis. To help you keep track of all that's new in Tokyo, we've compiled in this list some of Tokyo's most buzz-worthy and high-profile new venues which opened within the last six months or so. Here you'll find a cool, contemporary take on izakaya fare, a surprisingly affordable wagyu beef bowl, modernist cuisines by way of internationally celebrated chefs who run Michelin-starred restaurants in their home countries, and more. RECOMMENDED: 8 best no-reservation restaurants, cafés and bars in Tokyo

With an abundance of art shows happening this season, it'll be hard to catch all of the latest installations before they disappear. Nonetheless, we've got a list of the top art exhibitions taking place in some of Tokyo's most popular galleries to help you figure out where to start – we've also included free exhibitions in this list. For a full day of art excursions, you should also check out Tokyo's best street art and outdoor sculptures, or fill your Instagram feed at the newly reopened teamLab Borderless. Note that some museums and galleries require making reservations in advance to prevent overcrowding at the venues.  RECOMMENDED: Escape the city with the best art day trips from Tokyo

In the heart of bustling Tokyo lies a world filled with vibrant green hues and irresistible flavours – the world of matcha. The finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea, matcha is more than a traditional beverage in Japan; it's a lifestyle, an art, and for many, an obsession. For matcha lovers, there's nothing quite like the rich, velvety taste of matcha desserts that carry a unique balance of sweetness and bitterness. From traditional tea houses to innovative dessert cafés, Tokyo is a veritable paradise for anyone smitten by this fascinating green powder. Here, we'll delve into ten of our favourite matcha dessert cafés serving everything from parfaits and pastries to rich, concentrated matcha ice cream.  RECOMMENDED: Best old-school Japanese coffee shops in Tokyo

The longest stretch of public holidays in Japan, the annual Golden Week happens at the end of April through early May. It's made up of four special days: Showa Day (April 29), Constitution Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4) and Children’s Day (May 5). Greenery Day was originally gazetted as a celebration of Emperor Showa's (1901 to 1989) birthday. It was later renamed Greenery Day, and as its name suggests, this is a day to appreciate nature and relish in the great outdoors. Better yet, on this day, many of Tokyo's top nature attractions, such as parks and gardens including a zoo and an aquarium, will be offering free entry. So slap on some sunscreen – we're going out to these lush green attractions in Tokyo on Saturday May 4 2024. It's one of the best days of the year to explore Tokyo for free. Recommended: Looking to pack in more over the holidays? Here are the best events in Tokyo during Golden Week 2024.

A ubiquitous Japanese comfort food, ramen is not bound by strict rules like many of Japan’s traditional cuisines. It’s also perhaps one of the most democratised Japanese dishes: it’s cheap, it’s widely available on every street corner at any time of day, and it has many different interpretations. These four styles of ramen are classic and they’re common across Tokyo: shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce), miso (from Sapporo) and tonkotsu (from Fukuoka). However, we’re seeing more and more chefs looking to reinvent the humble noodle soup with new – and sometimes experimental – flavours. Here we pick just five of Tokyo’s best modern ramen that break the mould – but they’re just as delicious and satisfying as the classics, if not more so. RECOMMENDED: If you’re looking for more traditional bowls, you’ll find Tokyo’s 22 best ramen here.

What a wonderful time to be in Tokyo! After a short delay, Tokyo's cherry blossoms are now blooming and they have hit full bloom as of Friday April 5 2024. To keep you up to date on how the blossoms are doing, we've done the legwork, visited different sakura spots in Tokyo, so you can check up on the blooming cycle before heading out. RECOMMENDED: Make this your best sakura season yet with our ultimate guide to cherry blossoms in Tokyo

Sakura, or cherry blossoms, are synonymous with Japan. Mention spring and, chances are, you'll imagine trees bursting with delicate blooms of white and pink lining the rivers and dotting the parks everywhere in Tokyo. There's a ritual of sorts (known as hanami) that locals adhere to when enjoying this fleeting season, which lasts only for a couple of weeks at most. However, rest assured, even after the flowers have withered, you'll still find the essence of the season in the city's many food and drink offerings, from sakura-flavoured lattes to pretty desserts featuring the beautiful petals.  Here we've pulled together a guide to help you make the most of the sakura season – yes, Instagram inspiration included. Plus, we've also compiled a list of sakura facts that will make you seem like an expert in no time.

タイムアウト東京 > レストラン＆カフェ > 東京、ラーメンガイド > 東京、モダンラーメン11選 ラーメンは、厳格なルールに縛られることなくどこでも食べられる日本のソウルフードだ。街の至る所に店があり、東京はラーメンの激戦区でもある。定番といえば、塩、醤油、味噌、豚骨の4種類だが、実験的な味付けでその常識を覆そうとする料理人も増えてきている。 ここではタイムアウト東京英語編集部が選んだ、正統派ラーメンに引けを取らないモダンなラーメンを中心に紹介。リストを参考に、その進化と新たな可能性を感じる一杯を見つけてほしい。 関連記事『東京、高級ラーメン12選』『東京、ネオクラシックラーメン11選』

Ticking off the main tourist attractions on a city break is all well and good, but it’s only when you veer off down a side street or stumble across a leafy avenue that you really get a glimpse of a city’s true character. Streets are the heart of local life; they’re where communities come together, where new local businesses become go-to staples and where urbanites go out, hang out and have fun.  So what are the world’s coolest streets worth a stroll right now? To find the answer, we reached out to our global team of local expert editors and contributors, who each made a case for the coolest street in their city. We then narrowed down the selection to create a definitive ranking of the best avenues, thoroughfares, backstreets and boulevards on the planet. And so you have it: the coolest streets in the world’s best cities. Over the last few years, street life has gone through something of an evolution. Outdoor drinking and dining, at one point a temporary measure, has become a staple on many of the streets on our hotlist; only bolstered by green initiatives like pedestrianisation and low-traffic avenues. In other words, these streets have become much more walkable and pleasant places to spend our time. On every street on this list, there are bold, creative new ventures in food, drink, nightlife and culture: from listening bars to repurposed heritage buildings, these streets are where you’ll find a city’s most exciting cultural trends. Ready for a wander?  RECOMMENDED: 🏘️ The w

Since 1923, Tsukiji Market has drawn crowds with its vibrant mix of street eats, colourful vendors, bustling market vibe and kitchenware shopping galore. While the inner wholesale fish market moved to Toyosu in November 2018, the outer market hasn’t gone anywhere – it’s still an exciting, fun-filled place for shopping and dining. Home to over 300 shops and restaurants, Tsukiji Market is a dense grid of lanes and interlinked alleyways just south of Tsukiji Station. Some require a little legwork to find, but you’ll be rewarded with excellent sushi, kaisendon, soba noodles, curry, sake and more. We’ve trawled the market to pull together our favourite restaurants and food stalls – so be sure to save time in between shopping to have lunch, and maybe breakfast and dinner, too.  RECOMMENDED: Best street food and snacks at Tsukiji Market

What makes a city great? Some would say it’s all about buzzing neighbourhoods, affordable food and drink and a mighty selection of things to do, from art galleries and museums to live music and theatre. Others might highlight things like the happiness of its locals, access to green space and strong community vibes. We factor in all that and more in our annual survey, which asks city-dwellers around the world to tell us what it’s like to live, work and play in their hometowns right now. Thanks to the opinions and insights of locals on the ground and our global network of city experts, we’re able to create a global ranking of the world’s best cities – and the 2024 results are in. As in previous years, the basis of the ranking remains our global survey of the people who know their city best: the locals. Working with research company Potentia Insight, we surveyed thousands of city-dwellers about the quality and affordability of food, culture and nightlife in their city. We also asked locals how their city makes them feel: are they happy there? Is it a beautiful place? Is it easy to make social connections? Their thousands of responses gave us a unique insight into the reality of living in the world’s greatest cities right now. Now that international travel is forecast to bounce back to the highest levels since 2019, many travellers will be planning a city break this year – so in 2024, we added a little extra weight to a city’s global appeal. Each survey respondent was asked which

Sushi Azabu is rather uncommon in that this restaurant is a foreign import – from the United States – rather than a domestic outfit with overseas locations, as is the case with many Japanese sushi establishments. Nevertheless, this beautifully designed eatery brings with it an impressive pedigree: its sister restaurants in Manhattan, New York and Miami Beach, Florida were previously proud owners of a Michelin star each. Sushi Azabu has the classic wood-dominated interior of a high-end sushi restaurant. But here the design feels fresh and modern, largely thanks to the bold strokes of contemporary calligraphy artist Rintaro Hashiguchi, whose artwork stretches across the entire wall behind the L-shaped counter. Despite its address in swanky Azabudai Hills, Sushi Azabu’s menu is surprisingly affordable. The restaurant sources its seafood from Toyosu Market, as any reputable food operator would, and turns it into multi-course omakase meals. Lunch offers the best deal: about 14 items including nigiri sushi as well as the restaurant’s signature sesame tofu served on a sizzling hot plate, all for just ¥4,800. Dinner is, of course, more sumptuous. For ¥9,800, you’ll get to enjoy around 17 items featuring premium seasonal fish and seafood, the likes of fatty tuna, uni and more. Online reservation is highly recommended to secure a spot at the 19-seat counter.

In the salaryman enclave of Shinbashi – think cheap and cheerful izakaya sandwiched between ramen joints and casual standing eateries – lies a new sushi restaurant that looks more suited for the glitz of neighbouring Ginza. While Sushi Restaurant Issekisancho may have the polish of a classy, upmarket sushi counter, its prices are friendlier on the wallet. The restaurant is one of a trio of sushi businesses under its namesake Issekisancho group, which established its own wholesale venture to procure most of its seafood directly from fishermen, thus driving down the cost. Plus, Issekisancho’s close connection with Yamayuki, one of Toyosu Market’s biggest tuna brokers, means it has access to some of the best tuna around. At Issekisancho you can enjoy an omakase sushi meal for just ¥8,800, which gets you eight pieces of nigiri as well as eight dishes including a light and jiggly sea cucumber chawanmushi that tastes of the ocean, and a buttery, foie gras-like monkfish liver that’s been stewed in a sweet-savoury mixture of soy sauce, sake and mirin. There’s also the more sumptuous Issekisancho full-course dinner at ¥13,000, where you get five extra pieces of nigiri sushi in addition to the aforementioned dishes. The offerings at Issekisancho are classic Edo-mae, or exemplary of Tokyo-style sushi. The shari (sushi rice) is made up of two strains of Niigata rice: the sushi-grade emi no kizuna is folded with shinnosuke, which brings some stickiness and a hint of sweetness to the mixtu

Chef Masashi Nagasaka who runs Ebimaru does not have any training in ramen. It’s his experience in French cuisine that led to the creation of this luxurious bowl of lobster noodles. The soup, which is the star here, is actually a rich and creamy lobster bisque that wouldn’t look out of place in a French restaurant. It’s made with Canadian lobster, brandy, wine and a plethora of herbs, vegetables and spices on a base of chicken broth. The most popular item on the menu, the whole lobster ramen (¥6,180, or ¥6,280 with cream) is a feast. It comes with a whole lobster (pan-fried and then roasted in the oven), slices of pork and chicken, chopped onions, and strangely, a smear of sour cream on a piece of baguette. The sour cream does help tone down the bold and punchy taste of crustacean, but we much prefer to add in the chilli oil to boost those sweet, roasty, shrimpy flavours instead. While we know it’s hard to resist licking the bowl clean, make sure to save some of the bisque for part two. Order a small serving of rice, a raw egg yolk and shrimp (¥600), pour in the leftover soup, let the waiter grate a heap of cheese over it, stir to mix, and you’ll have an exquisite risotto. Since the ramen here is built around the lip-smacking bisque, you can still enjoy Ebimaru's signature flavour without breaking the bank. The Basic Lobster Broth Ramen will only set you back ¥1,380 and it has everything – minus the whole lobster, of course.

This branch of the Yamawarau shabu shabu restaurant is easily one of the most accommodating restaurants in Ginza. For one, it specialises in solo hot pot, so that even those dining by themselves can partake in this classic Japanese cuisine that’s usually served communal-style. The restaurant is also spacious enough to accommodate groups – although this being Yamawarau, everyone will be getting an individual copper pot to cook their shabu shabu in regardless of party size. An O-shaped island with counter seats dominates the interior, while long tables are set towards the back.  As usual with shabu shabu hot pot, meat is the draw here, and Yamawarau procures some top-shelf selection. There are several types of wagyu beef on the menu, all of them featuring A4 grade marbling and above. However, the Yamagata, Matsusaka and Kobe varieties are the three most premium types of beef here. As for pork, Yamawarau serves the Yonezawa breed which is known for its clean, delicate flavour. Lunch is the most affordable time to be eating here, with beef shabu shabu sets starting from just ¥2,860 and pork from ¥1,760. The meal includes an assorted vegetable platter, rice or noodles, and dessert. Dinner options are more sumptuous, and not just because the portions are bigger. In the evening, the sets come with unlimited vegetables, rice or noodles, and your choice of appetiser and dessert (the matcha affogato is a crowd pleaser). Prices are slightly higher as well – beef shabu shabu will set you

This spacious restaurant, hidden in a multi-storey building near Shinjuku-sanchome Station, is not a Genghis Khan (Mongolian lamb barbecue popular in Hokkaido) restaurant, even though it specialises in lamb. It’s an elegant yakiniku (barbecue) establishment, but instead of beef, as is common for most such eateries, Lambne serves up various cuts of premium lamb sourced from Australia. The dinner menu is an encyclopaedia of edible lamb parts as the restaurant offers 16 different cuts including tongue, heart and liver alongside more common servings of loins, ribs and shanks. Don’t worry if you’re new to yakiniku. The restaurant provides explanation sheets (in Japanese only, though) detailing how to grill, and even instructional YouTube videos that are easy to follow. On the table you’ll also find a handy timer to help with the grilling. Lunch deals are really good here. On weekdays, the ¥1,870 lamb hamburg set offers a satisfying platter of four grill-it-yourself lamb hamburgs served with salad, kimchi, lamb tartare, rice and miso soup, plus a sorbet to finish. You can even order two extra pieces of hamburg at no extra cost. The other three lunch options (from ¥2,860) are more conventional barbecue offerings, with various cuts of lamb paired with rice, miso soup and side dishes. These are available any day of the week. While yakiniku is largely a communal dining experience, you’ll find that the counter seats at Lambne are suitable for solo patrons. There are tables as well, fitt

Sobahouse Konjiki Hototogisu is only the third ramen restaurant in the world to get a Michelin star (awarded in 2019, after Tsuta and Nakiryu). The signature shouyu soba is made from three types of soup stock – pork broth, wa-dashi (Japanese stock) and hamaguri clam dashi – and topped with truffle sauce as well as porcini oil and flakes for that bold umami punch. However, the restaurant recommends the shio soba – and we concur. The elegantly balanced base stock blends two types of salt (Mongolian rock salt and Okinawan sea salt) and it’s the perfect foil for the hamaguri clam and red sea bream soup’s distinctive seafood sweetness. The noodles are then finished with Italian white truffle oil, porcini mushroom sauce, pancetta bacon bits and inca berry sauce. This adds a pesto-like robustness and depth in the overall flavour. It is moreish, and you’ll be compelled to finish the soup till the last drop. There’s tsukemen (dipping noodles) too, along with add-ons such as eggs, chashu pork slices and more. You’ll find an English explanation sheet at the vending machine to help you with the ordering. Do note that there are only seven counter seats plus a couple of small tables for two. So expect to queue – but it’s worth it, especially since a bowl of Michelin-quality ramen here will only set you back ¥1,100. Numbered tickets are required to dine here, which will be distributed from 9.30am for lunch and 5.30pm for dinner.

The deep-fried pork cutlets at Tonkatsu Nanaido are textbook perfect: gently deep-fried in lard on low temperature, coated in a golden layer of crispy panko breadcrumbs that’s never oily, and featuring premium pork cuts that are tender and still oozing juices. Plus, they are served on gorgeous Imari porcelain plates. Everything is well executed, refined but still unpretentious; it’s honest good tonkatsu that perhaps deserves more than just its Bib Gourmand rating. Surprisingly, the chef, Takashi Imai, comes from a yakitori background. He trained at the illustrious Bird Land in Ginza before opening his own namesake charcoal-grilled chicken restaurant, which has been occupying the space next door since 2016. Hence it makes sense that the ticket machine at the door – where you place your orders before lining up – also offers a deep-fried chicken katsu option. Nevertheless, pork is why you’re here, and Tonkatsu Nanaido uses several types of brand pork. The selection changes from time to time, but we’ve seen Tokyo-X as well as the famous Hayashi SPF (‘Specific Pathogen Free’) pork from Chiba prefecture. All is served with shredded cabbage (refillable, of course), rice cooked in earthenware, pickles, miso soup as well as three condiments: mustard, pink salt and the beautiful house-blended tonkatsu sauce that has a hint of plum. Tonkatsu set meals start at an affordable ¥1,800, with mince and loins ranging from 140g to a hefty 240g. With the restaurant’s short opening hours and smal

This tonkatsu restaurant, located less than 10 minutes’ walk from Jiyugaoka Station, looks unremarkable on the surface, sporting a nondescript entrance and a rudimentary, functional interior. But all that is immaterial when you see the textbook tonkatsu that the kitchen churns out. Tonkatsuya Sato is known for its use of coarse panko breadcrumbs in the coating for a fuller and crispier mouthfeel. The pork cutlets are fried to a mouth-watering golden goodness and, more importantly, are dry on the outside, without a lick of grease. The meat, on the other hand, remains beautifully tender and juicy. With the set meal, you’ll get a big pile of fresh and crisp sliced cabbage on the side as relief from all that meatiness, plus rice, pickles and miso soup. As always when it comes to tonkatsu, you have a choice of rosu and hire – the former is the fattier loin with more flavour while the latter fillet is leaner and milder in flavour. Tonkatsuya Sato offers both in a few different qualities of pork, including the premium SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) Peach Pork from Towadako Kogen Farm in Akita prefecture. The finest thick-cut loin (250g) set meal will set you back ¥3,000 while the top-shelf fillet set meal (three pieces, 150g) costs ¥2,800. However, even the regular loin set meal is good enough and priced at only ¥1,400, which is a good deal for a Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated restaurant.   Somewhat unusual for a tonkatsu specialist, Tonkatsuya Sato also offers deep-fried chicken cutlets

Aozora Sandaime is a Tsukiji institution. This elegant Edomae sushi restaurant has been around for about 100 years, famed for its wild-caught tuna and seasonal fish. Its third-generation owner, however, has recently leveraged on the company’s reputation for quality seafood to introduce a new way of enjoying fish in Tsukiji through the new sister restaurant Tsukiji Yakiuo Ishikawa. Tsukiji Yakiuo Ishikawa has all the offerings of a good sushi restaurant. On the menu are sea bream, yellowtail, blackthroat sea perch, anago (salt-water eel), fugu (blowfish) and, of course, tuna in various levels of fattiness, from the lean cheeks to the unctuously rich belly, just to name a few. But instead of enjoying them raw as is, you’re meant to grill them very lightly over fire. And since these are sashimi-grade fish, they come without marinade, just a light seasoning of salt or soy sauce to accentuate their natural flavours. This fish yakiniku restaurant is a rare gem in the Tsukiji outer market, where a majority of restaurants offer barely distinguishable sushi sets or kaisendon (raw fish on rice). It certainly is a much needed respite from the sea of raw seafood restaurants. Tsukiji Yakiuo Ishikawa is spread out over two floors: the ground level is an open space with tables for two and four while upstairs features rooms that can fit up to four diners each. Every table is fitted with a gas grill. Come lunch or dinner, you can order a platter of different types of fish (lunch from ¥2,260,

The world-conquering ramen may have the reputation of being a pragmatic comfort food, but over at Ginza Hachigou, it’s elevated into a refined, elegant dish. Owner-chef Yasushi Matsumura’s training has much to do with this; once you realise he’s worked more than 30 years in French cuisine, you’ll see how this bowl of ramen came into being. Ginza Hachigou’s ramen soup is like consommé: a clear liquid gold that’s light yet complex and full of flavour. It’s made by boiling down Nagoya Cochin chicken, duck, scallop, dried tomatoes and shiitake mushrooms, konbu (seaweed), an heirloom green onion from Kyoto and surprisingly, cured ham. Where your standard bowl of ramen calls for tare, a sauce concentrate that acts like a seasoning, Matsumura eschews that for a sprinkling of French sea salt to round out the flavours. And it’s just phenomenal.  The bowl of noodles is then topped with strands of bamboo shoots, slivers of green onion and slices of chashu pork, and finished with a fresh crack of black pepper. Those fatty pork pieces are cooked so perfectly that the fat just coats your palette with a sweet, creamy, savoury goodness. Better yet, this Bib Gourmand-rated ramen will only set you back ¥1,200; throw in an extra ¥200 and you’ll get a perfect boiled egg with a gooey yolk. The interior of this discreet and unusually calm noodle shop in Higashi-Ginza looks just as refined as its sophisticated ramen. The tiny space seats only six diners along a counter that overlooks a surprisingly

We almost want to keep this nondescript stall a secret all to ourselves. There are so many things we love about this Chinese-style nasi lemak, and it all comes down to the variety of side dishes available. There’s a home-cooked quality to all of them, even more so when the dishes are all laid out in huge old-school tiffins. The dry pork curry is the stall’s claim to fame; the meat and ribs have been cooked down until the spice mix has fully seeped into the tender flesh, rendering them crimson red with a just-enough slick of oil. There are two types of chicken to choose from: the fragrant chicken rendang, and the ayam masak merah that’s laced with a slight assam-like tartness – they’re both equally good. It’s difficult to limit yourself to just a couple of side dishes (because there are also options like sambal sotong, chilli prawn, fried eggs, stir-fried kangkung, stir-fried cabbage, luncheon meat, hotdogs, fish cakes, and even sambal petai). The good thing is you don’t have to; this is one of the cheapest nasi lemak in town. A single portion of rice with chicken, pork, kangkung and a fried egg will only set you back around RM6. The sambal is good too – its sweetness keeps the heat in check, but never dominates. So remember to ask for more. Do note that the queue starts 30 minutes before the stall is even ready to serve, and they usually sell out within a couple of hours. To find it, just look out for Restoran Sayur-Sayuran Sentul on Jalan Sentul, opposite the BHP petrol stat

Kamachiku is quite possibly the most beautiful udon restaurant in Tokyo. It’s a special place, set in a lovingly restored century-old redbrick storehouse, complete with a modern glass-box extension which overlooks a verdant Japanese garden. The menu is just as impressive. The chunky, chewy udon – you can also opt for a thinner version – are of artisanal quality. Made fresh everyday and cut by hand, they are best eaten simple and unadulterated in one of two ways: cold noodles with cold dipping broth, or hot, where the noodles sit in a bowl of hot water and served with a hot dipping broth. You’ll also get a tray of condiments to pack more flavour and texture into the classic soy and dashi dipping broth: chopped negi (Welsh onion), grated ginger, tempura batter croutons and shichimi-togarashi (seven spice). The limited udon choices are more than compensated for with a substantial selection of quality sake and side dishes. Classic udon accompaniments are featured, such as onsen egg, tempura and pickled cucumber, but the restaurant takes it a step further by offering pub grub-style dishes that wouldn’t look out of place in a modern izakaya. Think grilled fish, shrimp with miso, beef sukiyaki, braised pork belly, smoke-cured horse meat and more. You’ll be glad to know that the udon portions are more than generous. So it’s best that you stick to the regular size and instead, order a selection of side dishes to make it a full and satisfying meal.

The signature restaurant of the hip and swanky Tokyo Edition Toranomon hotel, The Jade Room + Garden Terrace is one of the city’s most picturesque spots, thanks to a sky-high outdoor terrace offering an up-close and unobstructed view of Tokyo Tower. The restaurant pairs its lofty locale with an elevated modern-European meets Japanese menu by chef partner Tom Aikens (whose restaurant Muse in Belgravia now holds one Michelin star) and chef de cuisine Richard McLellan. Photo: The Tokyo Edition ToranomonThe Garden Terrace at The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon Aside from its regular fare, The Jade Room also offers a seasonal Terroir Japan tasting menu championing the country’s best produce. The second edition of this menu, named Terroir Miyagi, focuses on some of the Tohoku prefecture’s most celebrated ingredients. These include silver salmon, sudare shellfish, scallop, pure-bred Miyagi duroc pork from a small sustainable farm, seri (Japanese parsley), and strawberries. Photo: The Tokyo Edition, ToranomonMiyagi silver salmon, white asparagus, seri, whey The Jade Room has chosen to showcase these signature Miyagi produce using various techniques across seven courses. The sudare shellfish starter is paired with radish both smoked and pureed, plus green tomato jelly and consomme incorporated for freshness. The confit silver salmon, on the other hand, sits on a bed of white asparagus puree and Japanese parsley oil, and is finished with a creamy fermented white asparagus and whey sauce t

In Tokyo you’ll be spoilt for choice. For instance, you could take in the cityscape from Tokyo’s many indoor observation decks, but with this lovely spring weather, we’d much prefer lounging at a sky-high outdoor terrace. You’ll still get an unobstructed aerial view of Tokyo’s dynamic skyline, plus you can put that observatory entry fee towards getting drinks and snacks instead. Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi as well as The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon have opened their outdoor terraces for the season. They each offer a different view of the city, along with a well-curated food and drink menu that will have you chilling from lunch to sunset. Photo: Four Seasons OtemachiThe outdoor terrace at Four Seasons Otemachi's Pigneto restaurant Pigneto at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi The terrace at Four Season Otemachi’s Italian restaurant Pigneto is perched on the 39th floor, 200 metres above the bustling streets of Tokyo’s financial district. From this height, you’re very much guaranteed a front row seat to Tokyo’s contrasting skyline – the downtown skyscrapers as well as the lush gardens of the Imperial Palace, which is just a few steps away from the hotel. On good days, if you’re lucky, you might even spot Mt Fuji in the distance. Photo: Four SeasonsPigneto's sharing menu includes excellent pizzas Here you could treat yourself to a three- or four-course prix fixe lunch (from ¥6,900, last orders at 2.30pm) of classic Italian dishes but reimagined with local seasonal pro

今年の東京の桜の季節は、ちょっとしたドラマがあった。当初、ソメイヨシノは例年通り3月22日頃に開花すると予想されていた。しかし、その後、東京は寒波に見舞われ、日本を象徴する淡いピンクは期待通りに咲かなかった。気象庁が、靖国神社にある桜の標本木で11輪を超える開花を確認したのは3月29日と約1週間後である。例年より5日遅く、昨年と比べると15日遅かった。 それでも東京の桜は順調に開花しており、現在は各地で見頃を迎えている。ウェザーニュースによると4月4日に東京は各地で満開に達したようだ。この花の儚い性質を考えると、今週末以降には花が散りはじめ、間もなく明るい緑の新芽に変わっていくと予想される。4月6〜7日の週末の天気はどんよりと花曇りだが、晴れた日や青空が見え隠れすることもあるだろう。この機を逃さず、美しい桜の季節を満喫してほしい。 ここでは、いくつかの桜の名所の現状を伝えよう。 Photo: Lim Chee WahChidorigafuchi Moat cherry blossoms on April 4 2024 風光明媚な千鳥ヶ淵のお堀沿いの桜も4月4日時点で満開、今が見頃だ。ボート乗り場に近い木々が生い茂っていて、写真映えするのでおすすめである。「千代田のさくらまつり」も4月7日（日）まで延長開催されている。ただし、ボートの時間とライトアップの時間は短縮されているので、注意してほしい。 Photo: Lim Chee WahShinjuku Gyoen cherry blossoms on April 5 2024 「新宿御苑」も、4月5日時点で満開を迎え、多くの人でにぎわっていた。広大な庭園内にはさまざまな場所に桜が点在しており、大混雑という印象は持たないだろう。注目すべきはここの木の多くは成熟していて巨大であるということだ。枝が地面に触れるほどの花を鑑賞できる。 桜の開花時期の週末は、事前に入場券を購入する必要があるので注意してほしい。詳細は、公式ウェブサイトをチェックしよう。 Photo: Lim Chee WahTokyo Midtown Roppongi cherry blossoms as seen on April 4 六本木の「東京ミッドタウン」では、4月14日（日）までライトアップを実施している。毎年恒例のハイライトは、ガーデンエリアの桜並木200メートルのイルミネーションだ。17〜23時に全ての木々が白く輝きライトアップされるさまは、圧巻だ。 この時期は、少なくとも1つは桜のライトアップをチェックしてほしい。昼とは全く違う新しい雰囲気が楽しめる。多くは4月7日か14日に終了するため、見逃さずに。 ほかにも、素晴らしい桜の時を楽しむために、「桜の季節にしかできないこと」といった記事を用意してあるほか、桜まつり、水上で楽しむ花見などをまとめている。さまざまな目線で楽しんでほしい。 関連記事 『Tokyo's cherry blossoms have now reached full bloom（原文）』 『東京、桜の名所の開花状況2024』 『東京、桜の季節にしかできないこと2024』 『オーストラリアのスターシェフのレストランが西新宿に期間限定オープン』 『東京、夜桜イルミネーション2024』 『東京、桜まつり・花見イベント2024』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら

There's been a bit of drama surrounding this year's cherry blossom season. According to forecast, the somei-yoshino flowers – the most prevalent variety of sakura in Tokyo – was expected to bloom around March 22, as per usual. Then, all of a sudden, Tokyo was hit by a cold snap and the iconic white flowers didn't bloom as expected. In fact, blooming didn't start until a week later. It was particularly disheartening for tourists who planned their trip to Tokyo for the cherry blossoms. Based on the past few years, end-March was generally a safe time to visit Tokyo as the cherry blossoms were already blooming and nearing peak. But the erratic weather patterns that we've been experiencing lately had thrown a spanner in the works. After days of disappointment and heightened anticipation, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) finally announced on March 29 that the 2024 cherry blossom season was officially underway after spotting at least five blooms on Tokyo's sakura sample tree in Yasukuni Shrine. This year's blooms began five days later than usual and 15 days later than last year. Photo: Lim Chee WahChidorigafuchi Moat cherry blossoms on April 4 2024 Nevertheless, since last weekend, the sakura in Tokyo are blooming along beautifully and as of Thursday April 4, we have entered peak bloom. According to JMA Tokyo which made the official declaration, full bloom (or 'mankai' in Japanese) is reached when 80 percent of the trees have flowered. So now's the time to see the cherry blos

Hurray, after a bit of delay, spring is finally here – this year’s cherry blossom season is well and truly underway. If you prefer a leisurely cherry blossom experience with more elbow room, this list is for you. We’ve rounded up a few of the more spacious and less crowded (only relatively, to be honest) cherry blossom sites around Tokyo for you to enjoy. Photo: Picture Cells/PixtaKanda River cherry blossoms Kanda River The Kanda River is one of the lesser-known sakura spots in Tokyo. It has similar views to the Meguro River in Nakameguro, but minus the crowds. While several stations are within walking distance from the river, a good access point is Edogawabashi Station, whose Exit 1A leads you directly to the start of the sakura stretch. Double your blossom viewing with a stop by the pristine and scenic Higo-Hosokawa Garden, which is also along the Kanda River.  Photo: Lim Chee Wah Aoyama Cemetery Located in the upscale neighbourhood of Aoyama, this cemetery has been around since 1874. It’s where many of Tokyo’s most significant personalities were laid to rest. The site also has a lot of sakura trees, and it’s especially beautiful in spring. Since this is a cemetery, it sees less crowds and has a more quiet and subdued atmosphere.  Photo: Lim Chee WahKoishikawa Botanical Gardens Koishikawa Botanical Garden Run by the University of Tokyo, this botanical garden is out of the way and hence sees less tourist traffic. However, it has a huge sakura section, with some of the

It's been a week of guessing and hoping, with our emotions shifting from heightened anticipation to resigned disappointment, as Tokyo's cherry blossoms were expected to bloom last weekend but did not arrive as forecast. We now have good news for you – the wait is over.  Japan Meteorological Agency has announced that the 2024 cherry blossom season has finally begun in Tokyo. Earlier today, the agency observed that at least five cherry blossoms have bloomed on Tokyo's official sakura sample tree that's in Yasukuni Shrine. This iconic tree is used every year to gauge the forecast and more importantly, the official start of Tokyo's sakura season. You can read more about the methodology here (in Japanese only). So it's now official: cherry blossoms in Tokyo have start blooming today, Friday March 29. That's five days later than usual and 15 days later than last year. 【東京のさくらの開花】本日3月29日、東京でさくら（そめいよしの）が開花しました。これは平年（3月24日）より5日遅く、昨年（3月14日）より15日遅い観測です。#東京のさくら #さくら #そめいよしの #開花 #気象庁 pic.twitter.com/QdayO0Puzl — 東京管区気象台 (@Jma_Tokyo) March 29, 2024 With the cherry blossoms in Tokyo now blooming, you can expect the somei-yoshino sakura trees to hit peak bloom towards mid-next week.  Looking to make the most of the 2024 cherry blossom season in Tokyo? We have all the guides for you. 17 best places to see sakura in Tokyo 13 spectacular cherry blossom illuminations in Tokyo 19 best cherry blossom festivals and events in Tokyo More from Time Out Tokyo Final call: Gundam Factory Yokoh

The weather has been unpredictable lately, so much so that it's affecting the blooming timeline of the cherry blossoms in Tokyo. Initially, the warmer temperatures at the start of March indicated that the sakura in Tokyo would be blooming around the same time as last year, give or take a couple of days' difference. Then, when we got closer to mid March, reports from weather experts forecast that blooming would start around the March 23-24 weekend. As most of us found out in the last few days, the sakura trees in the city still looked barren and lifeless. Tokyo's weather took an unexpected chilly turn last week, with a sudden cold wave sweeping city, along with regular bouts of rain. According to several weather forecast services, this has caused a delay in the flowers, as the temperates are just not warm enough for the buds to unveil their pretty pink petals. For many of us who were expecting to see the blooms already, this is certainly disappointing news. However, several weather reports are now predicting that cherry blossoms will bloom within the next few days. Weather News now puts the latest blooming date as Friday March 29 while Weather Map predicts that sakura will arrive on Wednesday March 27. If this is the case, then next weekend (April 5-7) could be the best time to see the gorgeous cherry blossoms at their peak bloom. Photo: K@zuTa/PixtaCherry blossoms at peak bloom at Sumida Park In the mean time, start planning your sakura outings with our ultimate cherry blos

Quando o prestigiado Guia Michelin revelou a sua edição de 2024 para Tóquio, em Dezembro, a equipa da Time Out local notou que a cidade havia sido agraciada com menos 23 estrelas do que no ano anterior. Ao examinar a lista mais atentamente, descobriu que os três restaurantes de ramen de Tóquio que tinham estrela Michelin perderam esse estatuto no guia de 2024. Isso significa que actualmente não existe um único restaurante de ramen com estrela Michelin em Tóquio – ou qualquer parte do mundo, na verdade. O Tsuta, na sua encarnação original em Sugamo, foi o primeiro restaurante de ramen do mundo a receber uma estrela Michelin em 2015 (perdeu-a alguns anos depois). Nos últimos anos, até 2023, apenas três outros especialistas em ramen haviam sido premiados com uma estrela Michelin: o Nakiryu, pelo adorado dandanmen; o Konjiki Hototogisu, pelo excelente caldo de porco e amêijoas, e o Ginza Hachigou, pelo sublime caldo de ramen semelhante a um consommé. No Guia Michelin de 2024, nenhum destes três restaurantes de ramen manteve a estrela. No entanto, são reconhecidos com uma classificação Bib Gourmand (“restaurantes de boa qualidade e bom preço”), juntamente com outros 16 restaurantes de ramen, três dos quais são novos no guia deste ano. Estes três são o Ramen Break Beats em Meguro, o There is Ramen em Suginami, e o Japanese Ramen Gokan em Higashi-Ikebukuro. O Ramen Break Beats serve um ramen sofisticado repleto de umami, graças à adição de cogumelos porcini no caldo de shoyu (molho

When the prestigious Michelin Guide unveiled its 2024 Tokyo edition in December last year, we noticed that our beloved city was awarded 23 fewer stars than the previous year. On closer inspection, we found that all three of Tokyo’s Michelin-starred ramen restaurants lost their one-star status in the 2024 guide. This means there currently isn’t a single Michelin-starred ramen in Tokyo – or the world, for that matter. ソバハウス 金色不如帰Konjiki Hototogisu Tsuta, in its original incarnation in Sugamo, was the first ramen restaurant in the world to receive a Michelin star in 2015 (it lost the star a few years later). In the last few years right up to 2023, only three other ramen specialists had been awarded a Michelin star: Nakiryu for its beloved dandanmen, Konjiki Hototogisu for its excellent pork-and-clam broth noodles, and Ginza Hachigou for its sublime consomme-like ramen broth. In the 2024 Michelin Guide, all three ramen restaurants no longer hold a star. However, they are recognised with a Bib Gourmand rating instead, along with 16 other ramen joints, three of which are new entries in this year’s guide. The three new Bib Gourmand ramen restaurants are Ramen Break Beats in Meguro, There is Ramen in Suginami, and Japanese Ramen Gokan in Higashi-Ikebukuro. Ramen Break Beats in Meguro serves up sophisticated ramen packed full of umami flavours, thanks to the addition of porcini mushrooms in the shoyu (soy sauce) broth and freshwater mussels in the shio (salt) broth. The noodles at T

Now that we have properly eased into the new year, it’s time to set those 2024 travel plans in motion. But if you’re still undecided on where to go for vacation this year, you might want to check Tripadvisor’s Travellers' Choice Best of the Best for 2024. This annual ranking covers several categories including destinations, beaches, hotels, restaurants and things to do. To compile the list, Tripadvisor combs through user-generated reviews and ratings over a 12-month period. And in the Destinations category, Tokyo came out on top as the No 1 trending place to visit in 2024. Photo: Watcharapong Thawornwichian/DreamstimeAn undated stock photo of Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku According to Tripadvisor, Tokyo tops the list for its vibrant mix of tradition and pop culture. This is a one-of-a-kind metropolis where you can wake up at the crack of dawn to witness the world-famous tuna auction at Toyosu Market before heading to an ancient shrine for some Zen in the city. Afternoons could consist of scenic strolls under blooming cherry blossoms before ducking into the nostalgic alleyways of Omoide Yokocho for some ramen slurping, and then living it up at one of Tokyo’s most unique bars. Plus, if you're visiting this year, you should check out the new and improved teamLab Borderless that just reopened in a new central Tokyo location. Photo: teamLab, Universe of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather © teamLabUniverse of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather Judging by this

タイムアウト東京は、東京が世界で最も素晴らしい都市の一つだと信じ、日々情報発信を行っている。そんな東京が、タイムアウトが毎年行っている「ベストシティ」調査で、2024年度の世界第8位に選出。同調査では、都市に住む人々にそれぞれ暮らしや働き、遊ぶことがどのようなものかを質問。そこから世界各国のライター、編集者、都市の専門家たちが総合的に判断して、2024年の「世界ベストシティリスト」を作成した。 何千人ものタイムアウト読者が回答した、各都市の文化、ナイトライフ・シーン、食の質や手頃な価格についても評価に組み込んだ。また、ライフスタイルの側面だけではなく、都市生活での幸せについてや風光明媚（めいび）な魅力、そのほか人間関係を築くことに関しての回答からは、実際にどのような生活を送っているのか、ユニークな洞察を得ることができた。 さらに、旅行がパンデミック以前のレベルにまで回復してきた今、読者にどの都市に最も住みたいかを尋ね、その都市の世界から見た魅力を測った。 Photo: Kisa ToyoshimaAzabudai Hills 東京は、タイムアウトの「2024年世界のベスト都市ランキング」で8位にランクイン。優位性を与えている2つの要因は、都市の効率性とダイナミズムだ。東京の広範で時間に正確な公共交通機関は、世界の羨望（せんぼう）の的である。そして、絶えず変化し、改善・進化しているという点が大きく評価された。 グッチ オステリア ダ マッシモ ボットゥーラ トウキョウ（Photo：Hiroki Kobayashi） 東京には、常に新しい発見があると言っても過言ではないだろう。最近は「麻布台ヒルズ」が誕生し、ショップやレストラン、ギャラリーが無数にオープン。マッシモ・ボットゥーラ（Massimo Bottura）の「グッチ オステリア ダ マッシモ ボットゥーラ トウキョウ」、アントワープのミシュラン星付きレストラン「ル プリスティン東京」、ペルーにある「セントラル」の姉妹店で「2023年世界ベストレストラン50」に選ばれた「マス」など、世界の名だたるレストランが東京に進出している。 Photo: Kisa Toyoshima森ビル デジタル アート ミュージアム：エプソン チームラボ ボーダレス 2024年2月9日（金）にオープンする「森ビルデジタルアートミュージアム：エプソン チームラボボーダレス」は、間違いなく今年最も期待されている新オープンだ。この盛り上がりは、東京都民を陽気にさせるに違いない。都民の94％が、東京は本当に幸せな街だと答えている。 「2024年のベスト50都市」のトップ10は以下の通り。 1. ニューヨーク2. ケープタウン3. ベルリン4. ロンドン5. マドリード6. メキシコ・シティ7. リバプール8. 東京9. ローマ10. ポルト 「世界の都市ベスト50」の全リストはこちら。 関連記事 『Tokyo is ranked as one of the world’s ten best cities for 2024（原文）』 『東京が世界一に、トリップアドバイザーが2024年の「ベスト観光地」を発表』 『日本が再び1位に、2024年最強のパスポートランキングが発表』 『スカイスキャナーの人気旅行先ランキング、日本の3都市が10位以内に』 『麻布台ヒルズの新たな「チームラボボーダレス」4つの新作とは？』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら  

We at Time Out Tokyo are the cheerleaders of our city. We believe that Tokyo is one of the world’s greatest cities, and it’s validating to know that the world concurs. Time Out’s annual Best Cities survey has just ranked Tokyo as the No 8 city in the world for 2024. For this worldwide survey, we asked city dwellers what it’s like to live, work and play in their cities right now. Our roster of writers, editors and city experts from all over the world then weighed in to create this 2024 list of the world’s best cities. Thousands of Time Out readers assessed the quality and affordability of the food as well as the culture and nightlife scenes in their cities. But, we were not just interested in the lifestyle aspects of city living, we also wanted to know how a city makes people feel. Are they happy there? Do they think their city is scenic and appealing? What is the social scene like over there, especially when it comes to making friends and establishing relationships? These responses gave us unique insights into what life is really like in the world’s greatest cities. Plus, as travel has rebounded to its pre-pandemic levels, we also asked our readers which other city they would like to live in most, so that we could gauge the global appeal of a city. Our beloved Tokyo is ranked No 8 on Time Out's Best Cities in the World list for 2024. The two main factors that give Tokyo its edge are the city’s efficiency and dynamism. We all know Tokyo’s wide-reaching and punctual public tran