Going to Tokyo - where should I visit?

I'm going to Tokyo to visit my son in a few weeks. Does anyone have any recommendations for both tea houses (to drink tea) and tea shops (to buy tea)?

Thanks, Dean

Reply to
DPM
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Depends on where you want to go. No recommendations (never been to Tokyo yet), but try this: go to Google Maps:

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Click on "Find Businesses" tab.

In "What" text box, use this: 茶 or: tea

In "Where" text box, use this: 東京 or: 東京都 or: Japan, 東京都 or: Tokyo

Some may not be what you're looking for, but you just have to filter through the results to see. I don't speak Japanese - so that's the best I can do.

And that trick works for pretty much anywhere else in the world too.

Reply to
niisonge

Hi--

I tried sending you a private message yesterday about this, but I guess it didn't get through.

Does your son speak Japanese? Does he have Japanese friends who will be helping out?

TokyoB suggested department stores. In particular, I would suggest Takashimaya *in* *Shinjuku*. During daytime hours, they have multi- lingual interns at the service desk who can help out. Easiest way to find one of those people? Probably just go up to ANY clerk and speak English-- they'll probably smile, make motions for you to wait (or choke out the phrase "please wait")-- and call the service desk for reinforcements ;) This store *doesn't* have a particularly large selection of Japanese teas, but it has some very nice teas just the same, and the language help could facilitate things.

If you have more specific things you are interested in, please drop me a private note (holland AT hws.edu)

james-henry holland

Reply to
Thitherflit

I haven't bought tea in the big department stores, since it's so much fun to browse the tea-only shops. Never found one where they spoke English, but their unfailing courtesy still made it productive. In the ones I explored, teas seemed to be arranged around the shop by price, which helped a bit.

I did buy a fair number of kyusu and other pots at Takashimaya and some other big stores. Very reasonable quality and prices. If you have time, though, dedicated teapot shops are stunning in quality and variety. Stopping into one by happenstance near Ueno, I picked up a large, finely finished nut and bolt that were sitting on the counter. They were almost weightless. With my 300 or so words of Japanese (mostly for food) and the proprietor's complete lack of English, it took a while for him to explain that they had been made from the same fine-grain clay as the pots - possibly a production engineer having a little fun, or a promo gift for dealers? I immediately tried to buy them; not for sale at any price. I did select and purchase two fine kyusu (still my favorites), after which he kindly presented the nut and bolt to me gratis. Japanese courtesy is unexcelled in my experience.

Not to be missed by foodies: Kappabashi, the half-dozen blocks of restaurant supply shops. I learned about this area years ago when I asked a local Japanese restaurant owner where she got her sushi knives. She told me that the really good ones couldn't be bought in the US, and said that she traveled to Kappabashi-dori once a year to stock up. In three trips to the zone over a couple of decades, I picked up a multitude of culinary tools and toys, and was even recognized by some of the shop owners. Alas, with the yen no longer at 160 to the dollar, it might be a while before my next visit.

Enjoy!

-DM

Reply to
DogMa

Thanks for the advice. I'll go shopping with my son, who's Japanese is certainly better than mine.

Regards, Dean

Reply to
DPM

I highly recommend the Lupicia shop in Roppongi (4-2-35 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo), with a superior selection of Japanese teas, Indian blacks, and Taiwan wulongs. One can also sit and drink tea here. There are other branches in other parts of town.

Also recommended is the combination cafe/shop in Takashimaya just south of Shinjuku station. The fifth floor I think.

There is also specialty Chinese Tea Shop near Chinese embassy in Roppongi and another good one along Omotesando in Harajuku. Go south down the hill from Omotesando station, and it is on the left side of the road about 150m before the main intersection (the one with the Gap).

Reply to
joel.anselm.dietz

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